“Up in one of the rooms,” Merlion answered.
“Is she ill?”
“Nay. She meets with the Lady Elizabeth.” The look on Thayer’s face told Merlion he had seriously erred.
“You let her go to that viper?”
“The woman claimed she wished to make amends.”
“Her? Apologize?”
“It seemed possible. She could easily fear that you would seek retribution and means to turn it away.”
The reasonableness of that soothed Thayer only slightly. “Mayhap, but to let her meet that scheming vixen alone…”
“Bek was with her. The boy—Oh, sweet Jesu.”
Whirling about to see what had widened Merlion’s eyes and stolen all the color from his face, Thayer swore. Bek, his face a sickly white and blood-stained, staggered down the stairs that led to the inn’s rooms. Thayer raced towards the boy, reaching him in time to catch Bek as he stumbled. Sitting down on a rough-hewn bench, he cradled Bek on his lap. Someone stuffed a dampened rag into his hand. He noticed how unsteady his hands were as he bathed the child’s face. Bek’s state meant only one thing—someone had taken Gytha.
Crouching beside Bek and Thayer, Roger helped the groggy boy sip some mead. “Felt his head, Thayer. A bad knock, skin broken, but no more. There, lad. Think you can tell us what happened now?”
“I am not sure,” Bek whispered, tears prompted by pain and fear trickling down his cheeks.
“You went to meet your mother,” Thayer reminded him, fighting back an anxiousness that had him as taut as a drawn bowstring.
“Aye. She said she wanted to say she was sorry for being mean to Gytha.” At Roger’s urging, Bek took another drink and his voice was a little less unsteady when he continued, “She lied. Gytha is gone.”
Although he had known it, Thayer felt his heart skip with alarm, and a chill seeped through his veins. He had not gone up to the room because he had known she would not be there. Yet, hearing it said aloud hit him hard. It was an effort to glance up at Merlion, who had gone to check. He did not want more confirmation. Merlion shook his head, and Thayer briefly closed his eyes as he fought down his fears. He needed to be strong and clear-headed.
“Did you see who took her?” he asked Bek.
“Nay. Mother said she wanted nothing. Then Gytha looked very worried. Then someone hit me. When I woke up, everyone was gone.” Bek took a deep, sniffling breath. “I could not protect her.”
“Son, you were attacked from behind. ’Tis a thing that could easily fell me or Roger.”
“Aye, Bek,” Roger agreed. “They dealt in treachery and that has felled kings.”
Margaret edged over to Thayer. “Let me take the boy, m’lord. He should have that cut seen to.”
“Thank you, Margaret.”
As soon as Bek had gone off with Margaret, Merlion said, “The men have already set out to see if they can find anything or anyone. Do you think Lady Elizabeth allied herself with Pickney?”
“What else could it be?” Thayer frowned. “Pickney is the only one who has been seeking Gytha.”
Running a hand through his thick black hair, Merlion looked at Thayer with abject regret. “I did not like to allow the meeting.” He sighed. “But I never thought t’would come to this.”
“And why should you? As far as I know, Pickney and Elizabeth have never met. I neglected to tell anyone that Elizabeth could bear watching. By the time I had left court, I knew I had made an enemy of the woman. Somehow she found out what Pickney sought. She saw a chance to avenge what she felt was her humiliation at my hands. Why would Gytha go to the woman?”
“Lady Elizabeth said she wished to make amends….” Merlion began.
“I cannot believe Gytha would trust that.”
“Well, I think she did it for the boy. I doubt she believed any apology would be heartfelt, but she did not want to keep the boy from hearing it. Bek was shamed by his mother’s actions at court. I think your lady sought to ease that if she could.”
“Aye, Gytha would.” Thayer leapt to his feet. “I have to look for her.”
With Merlion’s help, Roger halted Thayer’s rush to the door. “Wait for the men to report to you. It does no good to strike out blindly,” Roger pressed. “Pickney wants her to wed Robert. Her life is not yet in danger.”
