“But why would the djinn do such a thing?” demanded thesquire.
“It was meant to be a reminder of what he had been,” Enguerrand explained. “And a curse most vindictive, for he was doomed to remember his lost state. He was a wolf with the memory of the man he had been, and powerless to change hissituation.”
“God’s blood!” breathed the squire. “That is foulindeed!”
The knight beside him smiled and ruffled the lad’s hair. “You cannot believe all you hear when tales are told, boy. Undoubtedly, this bard had need of a warm meal in his belly and concocted the tale on the spot to tempt the lord’shospitality.”
The boy looked crestfallen, but Enguerrand held up a finger. “No! Not this time, for he gave us the name of this unfortunate, and there were those in the hall who knew ofhim.”
Annelise yearned to ask the man’s name, just as she knew she could not risk it. Enguerrand took a sip of wine, then remarked upon itsquality.
“Well? What was his name?” the squiredemanded.
“It was said to be Rolfe,” Enguerrand said, again watching Anneliseclosely.
Annelise knew that nothing showed in her expression, for she did not know if that was her husband’s name or not. “A pretty tale, Enguerrand, if a whimsical one,” she said and lifted her cup to him insalute.
One of the knights snorted. “And a common-enough name. How could any know for certain that the Rolfe of their acquaintance was this same one? Did the bard not supply the name of the knight’sestate?”
“No,” Enguerrandadmitted.
The knight rolled his eyes, muttering “bards” under his breath, and indicated the platter of roast meat. His squire hastened to place the most choice morsels remaining on his knight’strencher.
“But this Rolfe was said to ride a great black destrier,” Enguerrand added. “Indeed, Annelise, it was your spouse’s steed in the stables that reminded me of the tale.” He smiled and she braced herself for whatever he might say next. “Whyever would that beast remain here while your husbandhunted?”
“He took another,” Annelise saidhastily.
Enguerrand raised a brow. “Indeed? I saw evidence of no beast other than the two palfreys and destrierthere.”
Annelise laughed and lied again. “His favored steed is scarcely here long enough to leave amark.”
The other knights looked less than convinced by her explanation and she tried to think of another subject that might interest themen.
Enguerrand gestured toward the courtyard. “I must admit that this place, with its Eastern air and remarkable clime, also made me think immediately that we had stumbled upon the very place of which the bardsang.”
The knights, to Annelise’s dismay, shifted in their seats and glanced uneasily about themselves. The candles flickered and the wail of the winter wind could be faintly discerned. It would have been easy—especially under the influence of the wine—for even the most level-headed individual to give consideration to Enguerrand’sconclusion.
“Does that mean there is a wicked djinn here?” whispered the onesquire.
“Of course not!” Annelise said, laughing again. This time, she feared she sounded a little shrill. “More of thewine?”
Enguerrand leaned forward. “Tell us first, fair Annelise, what is the name of yourhusband?”
The entire party caught their breath andwaited.
* * *
The very momentthat Rolfe strode through the palace gates, he was aware that something was amiss. The garden still bloomed and the temperature was still warm, but he could hear voices from thepalace.
Malevoices.
He refused to consider that his lady might have proven herself unworthy of his trust. Rather than revealing himself immediately, he went to the stables to learn about his guests. There were three destriers and three more palfreys stabled there, and the armor of three knights. Only one destrier had caparisons, and they were green and silver, graced by an insignia Rolfe did notrecognize.
Three men and three squires! Why had Annelise allowed them to enter? Did she know them? He considered the snow that had been rapidly falling beyond the walls and considered that she might have felt compassion for a company lost in the forest during astorm.
To be of aid would be the inclination of hislady.
Rolfe wondered what they discussed and wished he could hear the conversation at the board. The palace, as he should have anticipated, fulfilled his hope and he heard them as clearly as if they were in the stable withthem.
