Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,42

tunic. She had checked it surreptitiously several times already. Guy’s chivalry had done more than save her virtue, if he did but realise it, she thought.

They trotted steadily along, in silence, for more than two hours. Judith’s fear began to diminish as they progressed, and she relaxed more. The two men in front, Trubodi and the new guide, began to talk to each other in low voices. She heard the younger man say BOSON BOOKS

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something, turning his head to do so, and Trubodi laughed in response. As the young man twisted back in his saddle, an arrow thudded to the ground just to one side. His horse reared and whinnied, but its rider kept his seat and dug his heels into its flanks. Behind him, Trubodi shouted and followed suit. Seizing her chance, Judith tried to swing her horse away from the path, bending low as she did so, but Guy was too quick for her.

Galloping alongside her, he grabbed the bridle and yanked the horse’s head back again. His strength was too much for her to fight and she had all she could do to keep herself in the saddle as they careered off together down the track. Guy’s tug on the bridle had wrenched it from her hands completely, and she had to grasp the horse’s mane to keep from falling off, powerless to do anything to control their headlong progress.

Ahead, the trees broke on the edge of one of the clearings that were scattered through the forest. The four of them galloped straight across, keeping their bodies as flat as possible. The horses never faltered, the sound of their breathing and snorting as loud as the thudding of their hooves on the track. Judith saw Guy glance back over his shoulder as they plunged once more beneath the trees on the far side of the clearing. To her surprise, he sat upright and called to the two in front, pulling up both horses as he did so.

They slowed to a walk, but the others, not hearing his shout, had continued at top speed and vanished around a bend ahead of them.

Judith sat up herself, and took back the rein which was proffered her. She soothed the horse, which was still panting with exertion. She could feel its sides working in and out beneath her legs and it tossed its head nervously, making the bit jingle. They had stopped completely and Guy stroked the neck of his own horse for several moments, before speaking to Judith.

"It was a bold try," he said. "But you’re safer with me, than alone in this forest. Do you know it well?"

"I should have found my way," she said coldly.

"Or someone would have found you!" he said, sharply. "This is no place for man or woman to wander in alone, madam, however charmed you think the life you bear."

Judith said nothing, knowing he was right. If she had escaped from him, she might well have ridden straight into another group of captors, who would have treated her far more roughly than she had been treated so far. Guy had obviously been ordered to see that no harm befell her on their journey. She was, as he said, wanted only because she was a messenger for the King, nothing more.

"Where are your brave follower and our guide?" she said, sarcastically. "They seem to have chosen wisdom rather than courage. And why are we standing quietly here, when there are outlaws behind us?"

"Do you hear them following us?" he said. "They’re not interested the arrow was probably just because they heard movement. They would rather we were venison than human."

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She listened and realised that there was indeed no sound of pursuit. Guy clicked softly to his horse and led off down the track again. The forest closed round them, its silence profound. At this time of the year no birds sang and very little moved most of the animals had the sense to sleep through this dark, cold time of the year. Only humans insisted on continuing with life, despite the freezing cold.

Guy made no effort to urge his horse into a faster pace and Judith was content to walk her horse quietly along behind him. She no longer looked for a means of escape. If they were going to London, she would wait until they reached the city and think what she might do then. Perhaps she could find her way to the Jewry and someone there would help her and