Part 7 (1/2)
Though the king was concerned about his absence, he'd never mentioned any personal care for the man himself.If he guessed right, Lord Groswick had not left the keep, or at least not left the area.
Which meant he was either dead or in hiding. Groswick hadn't inspired the kind of loyalty in his people that would allow him to remain long in hiding with no one betraying him. Nor did there appear to be any motive for him to absent himself from his keep and comfortable life.
If he were dead, though, why had no one reported it to the king? Juliana might be concerned about her future prospects, but she had too much honor to let that stop her from doing her duty in the situation.
It made no sense.
They made two more stops on their way back to the keep, but those yielded no more information or clues.
The sun sank below the tree line just as they approached the barbican. The gate began to
screech as it opened for them.
The sound must have hidden the click and snap of the crossbow firing. It almost
drowned out Ralf's sudden cry, but Thomas happened to be riding close by and heard it. He swung around to look at the squire.The boy swayed on the horse and would have fallen off had Thomas not caught and supported him. He didn't have to look far to find the cause. A crossbow bolt protruded from the young man's left shoulder.Bertram joined them and steadied Ralf's nervous mount while Thomas pulled the boy across to sit in front of him. The squire's eyes were wide and startled, but his expression pulled into a frown of pain.
”Hold on,” Thomas implored Ralf. ”We're not far from the keep. There's help for you there.”
Ralf nodded. His face had paled alarmingly, and his breaths came out in loud pants, but no blood dribbled from his mouth, a good sign that the wound might not be fatal.
”Bring the horse,” Thomas shouted to Bertram, then kicked his mount into a canter toward the gate. It stood almost half open, but Thomas ducked under it rather than wait.He yelled, ”To me, to me,” as he rode into the bailey, stopping in front of the steps to the main door.
A crowd gathered and willing hands helped support Ralf while he dismounted. ”Carry him inside,” he told a pair of men he recognized from his sessions of arms training.As they entered the hall, several servants came running toward them, followed by Lady Juliana herself. ”Take him to my quarters,” Thomas told the men carrying Ralf.
”What happened?” Juliana asked. ”What is wrong with him?””A crossbow bolt. Again.”Juliana stopped and went pale. ”Oh, no!”Thomas regretted the harshness of his words. ”Juliana! We need your help. Do not faint on me.””I never faint,” she answered. ”I'm very strong.” She grimaced. ”Oh, dear, that was not worded as it should have been. Rather, I try to be strong. At times, though, it seems all the strength in the world wouldn't be enough.””You manage under difficult circ.u.mstances better than any lady I've ever met.””Thank you. I do what I must. How badly is he hurt?””The bolt is in his shoulder. High. More than that I cannot say.”She nodded and called to one of the servants nearby. ”Gwen, go fetch William Barber. I fear we'll need his services.” The young woman nodded, turned, and raced the other way down the corridor.They arrived at the door of Sir Thomas's quarters, just as the two men lay Ralf on his side on the bed.
They had to cut away the squire's leather jerkin and s.h.i.+rt from around the protruding shaft. The bolt had entered his left shoulder very near the armpit and gone through at a sharp angle, so that the triangle-tipped front emerged below the collarbone nearly under his chin. It had mercifully missed his neck. Blood seeped from the injuries on either side.
Juliana winced, but probed around the wounds on either side. Ralf gasped and flinched
several times, though she tried to be gentle and avoid jostling the shaft.”No blood is coming from his mouth,” she said. ”I believe that is a good sign. And I cannot feel any bones misplaced. Can we keep the wound from going morbid, I believe he should survive this.”
She put a gentle hand on the young man's forehead. ”Hold on a few moments, and we'll have you put right. I'll get you something to help the pain as well.””'Tis not so bad. I can bear it,” Ralf answered, through clenched teeth. His pale skin, shallow breathing, and tense frown belied the bravery of the words, however.
Juliana turned to another of the servants gathered round to see what was happening and standing ready to help. ”Avice, go fetch some of the pain infusion I make for my mother. And the salve for wounds. Sarah, clean linens.” Both girls acknowledged the orders and departed.
Lady Ardsley came into the room as the girls left, leaning heavily on her cane. She
looked even smaller and more frail than she had just a couple of days ago. Her expression was grim as she surveyed the area, and saw Ralf's injury.Juliana turned to look at her mother. The younger woman's expression changed briefly, turning from grief to something darker and grimmer, with a hint of determination and
possibly challenge.
Lady Ardsley saw it and grew even paler, were that possible. She shook her head, but said nothing.
William Barber, a large man of middle years and gruff manner, arrived just then, distracting everyone's attention to him. He took a quick look at the young man. ”'Twill be best to cut off the tip at the front, then pull the bolt out the back,” he said. ”We'll have to slide it forward some first, though.” The tip just barely protruded from skin, not far enough to be easily cut off as it stood, but far enough that it would likely cause more damage should he try to pull it out from the back. William turned to a boy who'd run along behind him and asked him to get some tools.
With Sir Thomas, Bertram, William, and Juliana all steadying him, they s.h.i.+fted Ralf to make it easier for William to reach the arrow from either side. The squire gasped a couple of times as he was moved.
”Now, hold him very steady for me,” William instructed. ”Sir Thomas, and you there,”-he pointed to Bertram and another man watching-”Get on the other side of him and don't let him move when I push. My lady, keep his head lifted and well away.”
The men got in position, holding Ralf steady. William pushed the shaft forward into the wound, forcing the tip further out from his chest. The young man gave a short, sharp cry when the bolt moved, then clenched his teeth together hard and was silent.
”There, 'tis done.” William released his hold and looked around for the boy he'd sent off. The youngster arrived at that moment, holding a saw and grippers. ”Bring them here, lad.”
William took the saw from the boy and moved around to Ralf's front. Before he started, he redistributed the men around the squire to hold him steady.It took several agonizing minutes to saw the head off the bolt. William had difficulty maneuvering because the tip was still so close to Ralf's body, just below his face.
Still steadying his head and trying to keep it out of the way, Juliana took Ralf's right hand and let him squeeze hers. Tears ran down her face, but she said nothing, and held on firmly. Because he couldn't bear to look at Ralf or the work on the arrow, Thomas instead watched Juliana.
Her gaze focused on Ralf, and the combination of compa.s.sion and determination in her expression struck Thomas to the heart. Juliana was everything a man could want in his
lady. He could scarce believe his good fortune to find her, and now, when she should be
free to make her own decisions about her future.After a minute or two of William's sawing, Ralf suddenly let out a sharp cry and went silent. Thomas looked at his face. His squire's eyes had closed and his expression smoothed out. Thomas must have made some outcry because all looked at him.
Juliana tried to offer a rea.s.suring smile. It mostly failed in that effort but her words
succeeded. ”He's fainted. A mercy. G.o.d keep him so until we're done.”In that much, at least, G.o.d was merciful, and Ralf didn't waken. William worked faster with the squire unconscious, and soon had the head off the shaft. Then he switched sides again to pull it free of the young man's body.
Blood poured from the injuries both front and back. William and Juliana cleaned them both, spread the ointment Juliana had sent for on them, then bandaged them as tightly as they could.
They turned Ralf and settled him on the bed. Servants volunteered to keep watch on him through the night, so after cleaning themselves, the rest of the household retired for the night. Before they left, Juliana and Thomas both requested they be notified if there were any change in Ralf's condition.
Since Ralf occupied Sir Thomas's bed, Juliana somewhat shyly invited him to share hers. He was too tired to do more than drop into bed and fall asleep immediately, but in the few seconds between lying down and drifting off, Thomas realized again how much he loved having her in his arms, snuggled against his body. He found so much to admire in Juliana beyond her beauty: her strength, courage, compa.s.sion, fairness, and a sweet sense of humor. It had taken him long years to find his lady, but she more than justified the wait.