In the midstof the winter’s dark night, the torches from the walls of Selborne made it seem as if there was hope in that darkness, piercing the night with tiny pricks of light.
Vesper and McCloud could see the torches of Selborne in the distance as they approached under a clear night, a half-moon in the sky lighting their way. It was a comforting sight. The road was muddy from the melting snow and travel had been slow, but they’d managed to make it to Selborne in two days, riding long into the night as they had.
Vesper, who had some money of her own that she’d earned from sewing garments for Lady Eynsford, had brought her coinage with her and they’d slept at a tavern the night before. At least, she’d had a bed but McCloud had slept in the common room. His daughter had paid for his meal but he seemed strangely against allowing her to rent him a bed, so he’d slept on the floor by the enormous hearth quite happily.
They’d pushed onward early the next morning to Selborne and were now arriving as the evening meal was being served. The smells of cooking meat were wafting upon the cold air, a pungent and delicious smell. Having not eaten sincethe morning, Vesper and McCloud were both famished. With rumbling stomachs, they proceeded up the road leading to Selborne, a road that seemed to go on forever until, finally, the great gatehouse arose in the darkness before them.
The castle was bottled up tightly at this time of night but it took very little for the soldiers on watch to open the gates to two lonely travelers. In fact, Mayne, who was still on the wall, noticed that it was Lady Vesper and her father so he quickly had the men usher the pair in. By the time they passed beneath the gatehouse and into the bailey, Mayne had come down from the wall to greet them.
“My lady,” he said, motioning men to come forward and help the lady from her horse. “I apologize that we did not meet you out on the road. We were not advised of your arrival.”
Vesper climbed off her horse, stiffly. She’d been sitting in that saddle for hours and her legs were like jelly. “We did not send word ahead,” she said. “Is Sir Val here?”
Mayne nodded. “Aye, my lady,” he said. “He is in the great hall. Will you permit me to escort you there?”
Hearing that Val was at Selborne filled Vesper with relief; she honestly didn’t know if he would be there. She half-expected to come to a castle empty of him and trying to explain her presence to Val’s mother. Not knowing if the woman knew about the events over the past few weeks, it would make for a delicate conversation.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to worry about that, at least not at the moment. As Mayne politely took her elbow to escort her to the hall, a soldier handed over her satchel, which had been strapped to the saddle of her horse. With her bag in-hand, Vesper didn’t waste any time. She headed for the hall, practically pulling Mayne and her father along as she marched.
With every step, thoughts of Val grew. Vesper had already planned what she was going to say to him. In fact, it was all verysimple. She would tell him that it didn’t matter what she’d heard because she didn’t believe any of it. Thinking of tall, proud Val, she was fully willing to believe that the news from Canterbury had been a lie because the Val she knew was not capable of what that horrible Canterbury soldier said he had done and nothing in the world could convince her otherwise. That was her official position on the matter.
Still….
Val had executed her brother, so she knew he would do his duty no matter what. He was, indeed, capable of deadly force. But to kill the archbishop on Henry’s command? Val wasn’t an assassin. He was a man who enforced laws, a man respected and loved. He wasn’t a man who could be paid to kill like a mercenary. But if Henry had asked such a thing of him, to kill the king’s nemesis, then Val would have to do as he was ordered.
So… perhaps he was capable of such things.
It was the argument she’d been rolling around in her head for days, ever since she’d heard the tale of the archbishop’s assassin from that despicable soldier. All she knew was that she had to reaffirm her support to Val, so much so that she’d fled Eynsford, traveling in winter to reach the man she clearly adored. She’d been so very foolish, denying her feelings for Val and floundering in confusion because of it. But those days were ended– no more separation, no more ridiculousness. It was time to confess what was in her heart and stand by it.
No matter what.
Vesper approached the entry to the great hall with Mayne on one side of her and her father on the other. The doors were slightly cracked, heat and light emitting from the interior. She could hear voices beyond, men drinking and laughing, and her heart began to race. She was so excited to see Val that she simply couldn’t help it. When Mayne finally opened the door for her, she realized that she was trembling. He was here, somewhere.
She had to see him.
The stale heat from the hall slapped her in the face as she entered, her gaze going immediately to the alcove where they had sat the last time she was here. But there were two tables full of men between the door and the alcove, and it was difficult to see that side of the hall in general. Mayne pointed towards the alcove, in fact, and walked her around the edge of the room to protect her from any drunken soldiers who might try to take a swipe at her. They were halfway to the alcove when Val was suddenly appeared.
“Vesper!” he said, sounding stunned. “God’s Bones… is it really you?”
His abrupt presence startled her. Vesper found herself gazing up into that handsome face, more handsome than she had remembered, and her voice caught in her throat. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing would come forth. Tears stung her eyes, hearing his beautiful voice fill her ears. All she could do was nod, eagerly.
“Aye,” she finally managed to say. “I… I hope I am welcome.”
Val looked at her as if that very question pained him. He put his hands on her arms, something that might have been considered an improper touch. She was a maiden, unpledged, and he was an unmarried man, and the two simply did not touch in public. But Val had a grip on her, so tightly that it was as if he never intended to let her go.
“Of course you are welcome,” he said gently. “You are more welcome than you know. But what has happened? Why are you here?”
Vesper didn’t want to give her reason aloud; she looked around, nervously, seeing unfamiliar men looking at her but no sign of Margaretha. She swallowed hard.
“Nothing has happened to me,” she said, her voice trembling. “But… Val, I must speak with you. May we go someplace private?”
Val nodded before the question even left her mouth. “Of course,” he said. Then, he eyed her. “Are… are you sure you are well?”
“I am well.”
“Then it must be very important if you have traveled all this way from Eynsford.”
“It is. Very important.”
