They rode to the east until the sun was high overhead, then Annelise turned Mephistopheles back toward the palace. She would not become lost in this forest again. She kept the sun on her left and followed the imprints of the destrier’s hooves in the snow. The sun was warming her shoulders through her cloak when the palace’s smooth walls appeared in the distance ahead. She could see the white walls even through thetrees.
A surge of satisfaction rolled through her as she urged Mephistophelesonward.
Then Annelise heard the clink of horses’trappings.
How could there be horses and riders at their remotelocation?
Mephistopheles flicked his ears and slowed slightly at the sound. She peered through the trees, wondering whether her ears had deceived her. They had not, for she caught glimpses of color as someone or something moved back and forth before the palacegates.
Someone waitedthere.
Perhaps admission had been requested, but there had been noresponse.
Perhaps a lone traveler sought shelter for thenight.
Did the gates remain closed because she was away, or because her husband did not wish this visitor toenter?
How could she return to the sanctuary of the palace without passing thevisitor?
Annelise pulled the destrier to a halt. She saw flashes of silver catch the sunlight and spied green cloth. She guessed there were no fewer than four steeds, although it was difficult to see them clearly through theforest.
A man called out and two men responded, their voices making Annelise feel curiouslyvulnerable.
Voices, not a single voice. At least three men and four horses. Her heart skipped with the realization that she was outnumbered. Annelise peered through the trees once more and saw that at least one man haddismounted.
Clearly, they had no intention of leavingsoon.
The sun disappeared behind a cloud and the wind became chilly. The destrier shuddered and she knew he had to be brusheddown.
Perhaps they had business with herhusband.
She should act as hostess in hisabsence.
That thought sent Annelise’s heels digging into her steed’s side. She had a responsibility as lady of the palace. Her spouse would find neither her manners nor her boldnesslacking.
And surely no harm could come to her within the walls of a palace so attuned to her husband’swishes?
The men turned as she approached, but their helmets concealed their faces from her view. She rode through the last of the trees proudly, noting the stance of theirleader.
There was something familiar about his garb, about that deep green, about the silver diamond emblazoned in the middle of his shield. Annelise struggled to recall, but the details of life before her arrival here wereelusive.
Then he doffed his helmet and her heart sank. “Lady Annelise deSayerne!”
“Enguerrand de Roussineau,” she replied with much lesspleasure.
“Well met, mylady!”
Annelise might have argued that. She had no desire to see this man again, and disliked the notion of inviting him inside the gates. She inclined her head politely. “Good day, Enguerrand. What brings you to this part of theforest?”
Enguerrand strolled through the falling snow toward her. His two accompanying knights watched avidly, their trio of squires peering out from behind the party’smounts.
Three men, three boys and six steeds. God in heaven, what would shedo?
The clouds gathered overhead with greater speed but Annelise raised her chinproudly.
Enguerrand lifted a gloved hand to stroke Mephistopheles’ neck, admiration in his eyes. The destrier snorted and stepped aside. The knight arched a brow as he met Annelise’s gaze. “A surprisingly skittish creature for hissize.”
Annelise smiled as sweetly as she was able. How she disliked this man! It was more than his evident self-interest, for her distrust of him was deep and instinctive. “He is in need of a brush after his ride,” she said. “I must notlinger.”
