It was approaching noon when a party of riders appeared on the road before them.Melissande caught her breath and felt Quinn glance her way.
“A party from Annossy?”he asked and she shook her head.
“We are too far as yet.And no soul lives at Sayerne any longer.It is too early for anyone to have ridden this far from one of the further keeps.”
“A supplicant, coming to Annossy?”Quinn suggested.
“They may be thieves.There is no reason to be on this road in this time of year.”Melissande swallowed.“If so, they can only be desperate.”
The knight’s destriers immediately eased closer to the women’s palfreys and Melissande seized the reins of Berthe’s horse.The two women exchanged grim glances and Berthe began to unlace the sides of her kirtle.
“Time it is that I am with child again,” the maid muttered.
“What madness is this?”Bayard asked but the women ignored him.
“Thieves so close to Tulley’s own holding?In daylight?”Quinn asked Melissande, his eyes narrowed as he studied the party.“Are they so bold as this?”
“I have never heard tell of them here, but that does not mean they do not ride through the valley at will.The road is to be governed by Sayerne’s lord from that last marker, and there has been none of late.”Melissande bit her tongue lest she say that his father had nigh encouraged lawlessness within his boundaries.
Naught would be aided by provoking an argument when her husband held all assets.
Berthe meanwhile had taken the small pack of valuables from Melissande’s saddle and shoved it beneath her chemise and kirtle.Her hands disappeared inside her kirtle and Melissande knew she bound her belt beneath her chemise to keep the bundle in place.Satisfied with her knots, Berthe then laced the sides of her kirtle again, and looked for all the world as if she was six months into a pregnancy.
Bayard gave a low whistle.“That is quick work,” he said with admiration.“You could have three babes by the Yule at this rate.”
Berthe laughed at his jest, but Melissande did not.“Only the most depraved ruffian would look there for riches,” she explained.
“I feel most depraved in this moment,” Bayard said with mock solemnity.He winked at Berthe and she swatted his shoulder.
“You are a scoundrel and a ne’er-do-well, that much is clear.A gentleman would never make so lewd a comment to a lady...”
“But is a maid a lady?”Bayard countered.
“A man of merit treats all women, regardless of station, with honor,” Berthe informed him.“Sir Rogue.”
“I have been taught a lesson this day, Quinn,” Bayard said and bowed to Berthe.“I thank you kindly for the instruction.”
“How did you win your spurs, sir?In a game of draughts?”Berthe demanded and Bayard laughed.
“This is no jest!”Melissande snapped.“We are to be robbed, sir.”
“We are not to be robbed,” Quinn said with resolve and she had time to fear what he might do to defend them.
Then the other party urged their steeds to a gallop and charged closer.Quinn gave his destrier his spurs and the beast surged forward, leaving the women and Bayard behind.Melissande’s heart skipped a beat that they were to be abandoned to Bayard’s defense.Then Bayard gave a shout of delight and raced after Quinn.The squires hooted and galloped their palfreys toward the party as well, leaving Melissande and Berthe to stare at each other in astonishment.
“Faithless wretches,” Melissande muttered and pulled her small eating knife.
“Of what merit are knights who leave us undefended?”Berthe demanded, her outrage equal to Melissande’s own.“And this is the new Lord d’Annossy.Much changes, my lady, that much is certain, and the changes are not welcome...”
It was then that Melissande realized the men ahead were laughing.
All of them.
Quinn, Bayard, and each man in the approaching company laughed as if they celebrated a feast.Quinn leaped from his saddle, as did the man leading the approaching party.They embraced and patted each other on the back, shook hands and embraced again.There was no disguising the merriment of a company of friends well met: though Melissande could not have anticipated it, in hindsight, it made sense.
“Their companions aimed to meet them at Sayerne,” she guessed and Berthe nodded.They had ridden to Sayerne, found it vacant, and retraced their course.
“More of them,” the maid said wearily.She rolled her eyes and both women sighed.
