“I will keep that in mind.”
“Oh? So that you will be more careful?”
“Nay, so that I may discover exactly what look you mean, then practice it well.”
She laughed. “It could be most awkward at times.”
His responsive laughter stopped abruptly and he tensed, listening intently. “Horsemen.”
“God forbid, not more hired murderers.” She quickly backed more securely into the surrounding shrubbery.
Hastily gathering up his sword and tunic, Thayer crouched in front of her, staring in the direction of the sound. “If Robert had more men about, I would have thought they would come at me all at once. The chance of killing me would be greater. But best we tread carefully. There are others in this land we should take care with.”
It seemed like hours to Gytha before the horsemen came into view. She felt her whole body sag with relief when she recognized Roger at the front of the small group. The tense fear she had suffered while waiting to see what new threat faced them had cramped her stomach so, she was a little slower than Thayer to rise and greet the men.
“Did I not say I wished to be alone?” Thayer drawled, even though he grinned a welcome to his men.
“Aye, I do recall something of the like,” Roger replied, returning Thayer’s grin before growing serious. “Something came to our attention, however, that made us think you might appreciate a little well-armed company.
“Which was?” Thayer draped his arm around Gytha’s shoulders when she stepped up next to him.
“Merlion returned from town with some interesting news. Strangers have been seen in the last few days.”
“How many?”
“Six was the count we got.”
“Well, ’tis three now if the count was right.”
Roger’s eyes widened slightly even as he quickly looked Gytha and Thayer over. “Three are no longer a concern for us?”
Thayer nodded curtly. “They are in the wood if you feel reluctant to leave them to the carrion.”
“It troubles me very little. Where is your mount?”
“Dead. We are in need of a horse. You have saved us a long walk.”
Laughing softly, Roger neatly moved from his mount to sit behind Merlion on his. “Mount up then. There is another reason we sought you. A messenger awaits you at Riverfall.”
Mounting Roger’s horse, Thayer tugged Gytha up and set her before him. “A messenger?”
“Aye. From the king.”
Sighing with slight exasperation at this possible intrusion, Thayer ordered, “While I see to that, I want the other three strangers found.”
“And killed?”
“Only if you feel it is necessary. I have no wish to fill Riverfall with dead,” he grumbled, then abruptly started riding towards Riverfall.
Gytha held on and said nothing. She could feel the anger in Thayer, an anger she shared. Robert and his uncle were making life a constant battle. Most of her attention was centered on the messenger awaiting Thayer, however. She could only guess at what the king wanted, but she greatly feared it would be Thayer himself.
Once back at Riverfall, Gytha found herself neatly if cordially set aside as Thayer went to meet with the king’s messenger. It was clearly something considered to be men’s business, she mused a little crossly. Smothering the urge to march right into the hall where they met, she went to her chambers to clean up. She was sure she would find out what happened later.
Bathed, dressed in a clean gown, and brushing out her partially dried hair, Gytha frowned as a rap came at the door. She hoped it was not some domestic difficulty she would have to sort out, for she wanted some quiet time to get over the turmoil of the afternoon. It surprised her slightly when Bek answered her call to enter.
“I finished the washing.” Bek stood next to her, watching intently as she returned to brushing her hair.
“It was hard work, was it not?” Gytha idly mused that when he reached manhood, Bek would set many a maid’s heart to fluttering with those rich green eyes.
