"Iknow, but then you disappeared into a thick mist not fully, but you were nolonger clear to see. Behind you lurked a man draped in black—whether in a cloakor a monk's garb, I do not know. When I saw him, my mind spoke only one word,but it spoke it so loudly that my head throbbed. It said,Enemy. Youhave an enemy."
"Ihave many enemies for I live by my sword," he replied, but he began tofeel uncertain. "There will soon be many more as I do not believe many ofthe Saxons I will meet will cry me a friend."
"Theenemy I saw stands behind you. You do not march toward him; he slithers at yourback. He is a shadowed threat at your back."
"Tancredalso stands at my back, so you need not fear for me."
"Tancredwas not there."
"Come,this is but your fears come to life."
"Isit? How odd that my fears should wear a mark like the half moon upon his rightcheek."
Eadawas not surprised when Drogo suddenly tensed, pushed her back, and stared ather, his eyes wide and his expression a mixture of disbelief and fear. She knewin her heart that what she had seen was a warning. She did not like it, prayedthat she would have no more, but knew that it should not be ignored.
"Yousaw a scarred man at my back?" Drogo demanded, unsettled by what she toldhim, for he believed her; yet he heartily wished she had kept her vision a secret.If she had the gift of foreseeing, it could cause them even more trouble thanthey already faced.
Shenodded. "It was all that was revealed from beneath the black he hadshrouded himself in. Do you know such a man?"
"Ido. Sir Guy DeVeau. I have done him no wrong, yet he hates me and makes nosecret of it."
"Sometimesthere is no reason for a man's hatred. Or a woman's. No reason the person whosuffers from that hate can see, at least. It is born in the hater's mind andheart, places no one else can look into."
"True,"he murmured, astonished by her wisdom. "Yet there has to be some cause forsuch a strong, dangerous emotion."
"Itcould be born of a slight so small, an insult so insignificant, that you do noteven know you have committed it. It could even be born of envy."
"Yes,and it is something I cannot cure or soothe."
"No.That would require some show of humility," she drawled, feeling assurprised as he looked that she would tease him.
Hersurprise increased when she giggled at his expression. Such levity seemedill-placed when danger lurked on all sides. Eada decided that she had simplyhad enough of anger, worry, and fear for the day. Danger and tragedy wouldstill be lurking close at hand in the morning. It could not hurt to just ignorethem for a little while.
Asoft screech of laughter escaped her when Drogo suddenly, gently wrestled heronto her back, pinned her to the bed, and lightly tickled her. She slipped herarms around his neck and smiled at him, enjoying the feel of his strong bodypressed close to hers. It was possible that Drogo also wished to ignore thetroubles surrounding them. She grew serious as she wondered if he also intendedto ignore her warning about an enemy.
"Whatwill you do about Sir Guy?" she asked even as she tilted her head back toallow him free access to her throat.
"Iintend to watch him closely," Drogo replied, and he slowly dragged histongue along the rapid pulse in her slim throat, enjoying the way she trembledslightly beneath him.
"Andwill you have your men watch him as well?"
"Iam honored that you are so deeply concerned about my safety."
"Donot be," she said, the coolness of her tone belied by the way she strokedhis back. "As was revealed this afternoon, you are all that stands betweenme and a lustful army of Normans. I would be a fool if I did not do all I canto insure that you continue to stand there." She caressed his calves withthe soles of her feet and smiled crookedly when he looked down at her.
"Atleast you recognize me as your protector. Maybe soon you can show me a littledeference before the men." He began to follow the delicate lines of hersmall face with soft, lingering kisses.
"Ah,deference," she murmured, her growing passion making her voice husky andunsteady. "I have never been very skilled at showing deference. Would ithelp if I ceased to bang your head against the floor?"
Drogochuckled against the curve of her neck. "It might, and where did you learnsuch a trick?"
"Froma boy, a childhood friend. I fear my lack of deference caused me some troublein my youth. Ere I became a woman, and even a few times after that, I got intobattles. He showed me how to strike first and quickly with a telling blow. Evenwhen the ones who stood against me knewwhatI would do, they couldnever be certain ofwhenI would do it."
Evenas Drogo prepared to ask her what had happened to that boy, he bit back thequestion. Since William's army had either captured, killed, or chased awayeveryone in Pevensey, it was a question that could easily restir her anger. Hewas enjoying her good humor almost as much as he was her passion, and he didnot want to do anything to ruin it.
"Hewent to London," Eada said in a soft voice then met his startled look witha faint smile.
"Canyou read what is in a man's mind as well as what lies in his future?" heasked, only half jesting, for her warning about Guy had been both welcome andunsettling.
