Part 23 (1/2)

David glanced around.

”Help,” Sir Walter insisted.

David understood. If he left Sir Walter, what would be left when he returned with a.s.sistance? Carefully he reached around the stocky man and hoisted him onto his shoulders. Sir Walter didn't make a sound, making David respect him for his fort.i.tude. Standing up slowly, David adjusted Sir Walter's weight to ease his suffering.

Then Sir Walter moaned in a burst of pain. Or David thought it was pain until he caught the name.

”Alisoun.”

And David grasped the fact that someone had attacked Sir Walter and beat him brutally. If that someone would do that to a seasoned warrior, what could he do to a woman alone?

”Alisoun,” he whispered. Where was Alisoun? She'd been headed into the castle when last he'd seen her, but had she continued on her way? He started jogging.

Sir Walter gasped for breath as if he were dying, but when David slowed, he urged, ”Go...on.”

They broke free of the forest and into the cleared area around the castle. Villeins from George's Cross and strangers visiting the market walked the road from the village to the castle. They gaped at the mercenary and his gory burden, swerving aside to avoid him, but David paid them no heed. Heading straight across the drawbridge, he bellowed, ”Lady Alisoun. Where's Lady Alisoun?”

No one answered at first. The servants stood transfixed as he hurried on into the inner bailey and toward the keep. ”Did she come back? Where's Lady Alisoun?”

Two women stood on the landing of the steps, and he shouted, ”You stupid cows! Where's your mistress?”

”I'm here.” Alisoun spoke from the door of the dairy, and David swerved that direction. She looked as cool as the first time he'd met her, and her gaze was as cold as a winter's breeze. In a voice that should have frozen the marrow in his bones, she began, ”How dare you return after...?” Then her eyes widened, and she gasped in horror. ”G.o.d his soul bless, 'tis Sir Walter.” Without pause, she ran for the keep, calling, ”Get out my medical supplies! Warm water and blankets. Prepare the solar, we'll put him there.” She returned to David and reached out a gentle hand to Sir Walter. She touched his head lightly and spoke to him with a caress in her very tone. ”Good Sir Walter, who did this to you?”

Sir Walter didn't answer. Only David felt the sigh of relief that shuddered through the grizzled warrior and turned his body from an anguished sack to an comatose burden.

When Sir Walter didn't answer, Alisoun took her hand away and smeared the blood between her fingers. ”Carry him upstairs,” she told David. ”Let me work on him before he regains consciousness.”

His burden dragged at him as he climbed the stairs to the keep. The women had disappeared, and the corridor inside seemed miraculously clear of obstacles. A few moments ago he'd thought never to see this great hall again, now he barely glanced around as he headed for the solar. Someone held the door open, and hands a.s.sisted him as he lowered the unconscious man onto the mattress. Then Alisoun pushed him back, and he moved to the far corner of the bed where he could be out of the way, yet watch the proceedings.

He didn't enjoy them, especially not when Alisoun set first the bone in one leg, then the bone in the other. Menservants had to hold the now-conscious Sir Walter, and the screams drove mighty Hugh from the chamber to empty his gut outside. Alisoun's face was the color of parchment, but she tugged, cleaned and splinted before she stepped away from the bed.

If David had any doubts about Alisoun's strength, her courage in the face of blood and pain rea.s.sured him. Life in all its vicissitudes would never defeat this woman.

As she stepped off the dais, she staggered and he sprang forward, ready to a.s.sist her.

Something hit him from behind, knocking him aside. He spun around, fists up, and found himself face to face with Lady Edlyn.

”Don't touch her!” the girl shouted. ”Everyone knows what you did.”

Everyone knew of their quarrel in the woods? He glanced at Alisoun, but she looked as amazed as he felt. ”What did I do?”

”You did this to Sir Walter.” Lady Edlyn skittered back as if he were an animal about to attack. ”You quarreled with him, followed him into the woods and you-”

”Wait!” Lady Alisoun stepped into the fray. ”Sir David didn't hurt Sir Walter. To say so is absurd.”

Philippa stood in the doorway, clutching her baby. ”He's a dangerous, angry man.”

”He spent his time with me,” Alisoun said.

”The whole time you were gone?” Philippa asked.

”Nay, but-”

”Who else has the skills to beat Sir Walter?”

In the moment of silence that followed, David glanced around the room. Alisoun's servants stood in a sullen circle watching him. Some simply looked confused, but some held knives and pokers in their hands.

Alisoun saw them and declared, ”This is ridiculous.”

”I've done nothing,” David said.

Dismissing his objection with a gesture, Philippa said, ”He quarreled with Sir Walter, and when you returned to the castle, you made it clear he quarreled with you. You're not safe, Alisoun, and you know what men are like.”

David swallowed his instinctive protest. He would never forget this scene. Like the climax of a pa.s.sion play, it stood alone as the apex of an eventful day. In his mind, this moment remained fixed, highlighted by powerful emotions. Somehow, somewhere in this mora.s.s of fear and accusation rested the kernel of fact which would explain his presence here and the danger which threatened his lady.

Alisoun stood still, letting the heated emotions swirl around her while soothing her people with her very tranquillity. ”I have every faith in Sir David. He was angry, true, but he has an impeccable reputation, and he has always treated me with honor.”

Lady Edlyn gestured toward him. ”Look at him, my lady! His hands are scabbed and bleeding. How else could he have done such a thing except by beating Sir Walter?”

Holding up his hands, David flexed them in chagrin. Everyone saw, and the servants stepped forward with a growl.

”David!” Stepping close to him, Alisoun gathered his hands in hers. ”You didn't do this in the practice yard.”

Fearing the p.r.i.c.k of a knife against his neck, David trailed behind her as she tugged him closer to the light. ”It's nothing.”

In a voice clogged with fear, Lady Edlyn said, ”Lady Alisoun, please move away from him.”

”They need to be bandaged,” Alisoun said.

”They're fine.” He tried to wrench them free. Again the servants stepped closer, their weapons raised, and he hastily ceased resistance. He was going to have to tell her what he'd done, admit his stupidity, and he slumped in embarra.s.sment. ”I hit a tree.”

Her hands tightened on his. ”What?”

”I hit a tree.”

Everyone heard that time. Alisoun stared at him as if he'd run mad. ”You mean you...walked into a tree with your fists?”

Philippa said, ”My lady, surely you don't believe that.”

”Why would you hit a tree?” Alisoun asked.

”To avoid striking you or Sir Walter or one of the serving maids or kicking a dog or any of the other lovely ways a man picks to display his anger.” He swept an accusing glance around at the men, and one or two coughed and shuffled backward. ”I didn't beat Sir Walter.”

Then Alisoun did it. The thing he'd dreamed of all his life.

”I know that.” She laid one hand on his chest and looked up into his eyes, her own calm, sure and trusting. ”I was never in doubt.”