“’Twas Raimon de Toulouse who sent the wheat,” Roger confessed.
’Twas true enough in its own way, even if Raimon had not known that they had commandeered the wagon of grain.Dagobert saw it as compensation for Eustache’s incarceration: the knight had been too weak to walk the distance home and they had no coin for horses.The wagon had been ideal.
“Nay, it cannot be so,” the guard argued.“He sent fifty knights to aid in the attack.Such a man as he would not contribute to both sides.”
Eustache rolled his eyes at this remark and passed his hand over his brow.Dagobert merely shot him a look, so intent was he on the conversation.Their passage hung in the balance and ’twould be Roger’s next arguments that would have to sway the man.
“’Twas a promise made to his sire,” Roger explained with persuasive confidence.Dagobert could picture him waving his hand into the air.“The elder Raimon and Alzeu de Pereille were great allies.”
“’Tis unlike the present count to feel remorse,” the guard insisted.
“Aye, I would agree,” Roger’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone.“I have oft during this ride wondered whether the wheat was tainted in some way.”
“Aye, there is a new healer in Toulouse, one said to have dangerous skill with poisons,” the other man admitted.
The wagon fairly bounced with the vigor of Roger’s nod.“Aye, ’tis whispered that he knows the ways of the East,” Roger’s voice gained yet more assurance.“And ’twas rumored that some of the less supportive vassals of Raimon died mysteriously this summer, just after the wheat harvest.”
A rustle of cloth and jingle of mail betrayed the guard’s hasty crossing of himself.“Many a black art is there to be learned in the East.”
“Indeed, and the less I know of such doings the better,” Roger concluded darkly.
The guard grunted in assent.
The burlap stretched over the contents of the cart rustled, and the gazes of the two concealed knights met as they pulled their knives silently.Cloth tore on the outer side of the wagon, followed immediately by the sound of kernels spilling onto the road.The guard laughed.
“Aye, grain ’tis,” he pronounced, slapping the stack of sacks with a heavy hand.The bulging bags shifted and Eustache’s eyes widened in dismay.“But I’ll be eating none of it.On with you and get yourself back before midday.”
“Aye, that I will,” Roger agreed, clicking his tongue to the horse hauling the cart.
The wagon jolted forward again and Dagobert dared to release the breath he had been holding, grinning at Eustache at the success of their ruse.A sack threatened to topple on them and they grabbed at it as one but too late.The weight landed on Dagobert’s chest, forcing the air from his lungs abruptly and prompting Eustache to smother a chuckle.Neither dared to move or utter a sound.
The cart labored up the steep road to the gates, men shouting to stay the catapults until they had passed.Moments later, a chill shadow fell over the cart and Dagobert knew they passed between the towers on the outer gates.He exchanged a significant glance with Eustache, knowing that Eustache was as surprised as he that their deceit was succeeding.
The road grew more level and Dagobert closed his eyes, picturing their progress across the narrow causeway that spanned the distance to the main gate.He wished he could push back the burlap and gaze out upon the view he loved so well.It would be just another few moments until they were out of the archers’ range.
The main gate had barely cast its cool shadow over the cart when a woman’s scream rent the air.
“Alienor!”Dagobert cried, leaping to his feet and casting the cloth aside with one smooth gesture.
“No!”Eustache shouted, grabbing to restrain Dagobert and missing his friend.Dagobert dove from the cart and the knights of Montsalvat drew their blades, determined to dispatch this unidentified invader.
“Hold your blades!’Tis Dagobert!”Eustache yelled in desperation, and the surprised guards fell back from their liege lord’s path.A cry came from beyond the barbican towers, signaling that the attackers had also heard him and understood what had transpired.
“To the gates!”Eustache cried, and the knights ran to do his bidding.The portcullis between the outer towers fell shut with a resonant clang.The wall on Eustache’s right immediately shook with the impact of a load of rocks and he ran one hand through his hair.
“Welcome home,” he muttered, then smiled when the closest knight stepped forward, shaking his hand in hearty greeting.
Eustache glanced from the portal to the keep, his smile widening when he spied Giselle standing at the portal.Her hands were raised to her lips in astonishment as she stared back at him.She stood but for a moment regarding him, then pivoted and disappeared within.One glimpse of her delight at his return made him feel as frisky as a new pup.
Aye, ’twas good indeed to be home again.Eustache turned to bellow orders for the defense of the walls.
Chapter 13
“Ican push no more,” Alienor confessed.Tears of desperation blurred her view of those around her.
“You must,” Iolande insisted gently, but Alienor could only shake her head.
“Tis too much.”
