"Ivo,"May screamed, finally pulling her man's attention away from the argument he wasapparently enjoying. "Eada has run off." When he immediately scowledand looked around, she breathed a sigh of relief. He had understood her oddmixture of French and English.
"Whereis she?" he demanded.
"Shewent toward the smoke," May answered, pointing toward the signs of a fire,and then she quickly pointed toward where she had last seen Serle and his cart."Get Serle. He can help."
Maystared toward the smoke as Ivo leapt from the cart and pushed his way throughthe crowds in search of Serle. Eada had gone white, cried out, and then fledtoward the very danger everyone in the baggage train was worried about. She knewEada had had some sending, heard some cry for help, but she wished the womanhad paused long enough to at least take Ivo with her. May was sure anothervillage was being laid waste and Eada would look like just another Saxon to themen wreaking the havoc. May cried out in surprise when Serle suddenly grabbedher by the arm, pulling her attention to him.
"Shewent to the village just ahead?" Serle asked, speaking slowly and usingthe simplest words he could in the hope that May could understand.
Ittook a few minutes of French, English, and signals to tell Serle what hadhappened. May heartily wished she could be certain that he really understoodher. He looked concerned, said something to her that was obviously supposed tocomfort her, mentioned Drogo to Ivo a few times, and then, leaving Ivo behindwith the carts, disappeared into the crowd. She sighed and rubbed her forehead,managing a weak smile for Ivo when he patted her hand in a gesture of comfort.May decided that when Eada returned, and she refused to think of any otherpossibility, she was going to work harder on her French.
"Shedid what?" Drogo asked in a tight voice after a scowling Serle found himand the others.
Standingwith a large crowd of knights encircling William and watching another smallvillage suffer beneath the brutality of mercenaries and bloodthirsty knights,Drogo was not in a good humor. Not only did he not understand why suchdestruction was necessary, he was deeply disappointed that William did nothingto stop it. These people were no threat to them and did not really haveanything worth taking. All Drogo saw was the murder of innocents and wantondestruction, but he struggled to hide his distaste from William. Now Serlearrived to tell him that Eada had run blindly into the midst of that deadlymelee. He wondered how he had missed seeing her.
"Ithink she may have had a vision or something," Serle said quietly when hewas certain that only Drogo, Tancred, Unwin, and Garnier could hear. "If Iunderstand May correctly, and she is getting much better at making herselfunderstood, Eada went very white, cried out, and then fled toward thevillage."
"Eadaseems determined to get herself killed." Drogo started back to where theyhad left their horses, the others hurrying to keep pace with him. "I knowshe is moved by the cries for help she hears, but she must learn to wait untilsomeone can go with her or, by God's sweet grace, I will tie her into thecart." He mounted and looked at Serle. "You had better return to Ivoand help guard our goods. The fact that we are Normans will not protect us fromthievery. I will take the others and see if I can find that mad woman beforesome fool blinded by the scent of blood does."
Fifteen
Herbreath coming in short, swift gasps and her whole body aching, Eada faced SirGuy with all the defiance she could muster. They had circled each other andlunged and retreated until she was dizzy with exhaustion. The women cried outwords of encouragement, but inspiring though they were, they could not restoreher swiftly waning strength. Sir Guy no longer responded to her insults, andhis attack was cold and well planned. She had been nicked by his sword severaltimes and she began to wonder if she were as good at eluding him as she thoughtor if he were just toying with her, killing her slowly as he had threatened todo.
Suddenlyhe lunged at her again, and although she avoided the full thrust of his sword,he cut her side. She cried out in pain, clutched the freely bleeding wound, andstaggered as she turned to face him. Eada wondered why her voices had not toldher that she would die.
"SirGuy," cried one of his companions, "I think we had best flee thisplace."
"Notnow," he snapped. "I finally have this whore at my mercy."
Eadawas stunned when a shape suddenly hurled itself through the air at Sir Guy'sback. She barely retained enough of her senses to move out of the way as thetwo men hit the ground hard. It was only then that she recognized Drogo. Shelooked up and saw Unwin holding the reins of Drogo's horse and Tancred andGarnier flanking him, keeping a close guard on the men who had ridden with SirGuy.
Shelooked back at Drogo to see him and Sir Guy now standing and facing each other.Sir Guy's companions had retreated, silently telling Drogo's men that theywould not interfere. Both Drogo and Sir Guy were pale and hard-eyed with fury,and Eada shivered. She felt that Sir Guy was deserving of death, if only forthe woman he had so coldly slain; but she suddenly thought that it might not bea good thing if Drogo killed the man, at least not yet.
Justas she looked to Drogo's men, wondering if she could get them to stop thefight, a man on a huge white horse rode almost calmly between the twocombatants. It was a moment before she recognized the old knight who hadstopped the two men from fighting before. Lord Bergeron had a wonderful skillfor showing up at just the right moment, she thought wearily as she slowly satdown in the dirt.
"AgainI am called upon to stop two of William's knights from killing eachother," the older Lord Bergeron murmured as he leaned forward on thepommel of his saddle and studied Drogo and Guy. "Did neither of you heedmy words?"
Ittook all his strength to control his fury enough to sheath his sword; but aftertaking one, long, shuddering breath, Drogo did so. "I fear anger searedyour wisdom from my mind," Drogo drawled, glancing sideways at LordBergeron, and was relieved to see the man grin.
LordBergeron looked down at Eada, his head cocked to the side in a gesture ofcuriosity. "You were in the middle the last time, too, although it looksas if you have fared far worse this time."
"Iam still alive, my lord," Eada said, and she looked toward the Saxon womanSir Guy had killed. "That is more than some are."
Aftera brief, scowling look at the dead woman, Lord Bergeron returned his attentionto Eada. "I could begin to think that you are a great source oftrouble."
"Youcould, my lord, but I think you know that it is much more complicated than mydisobedience and Sir Guy's ability to see insult in every word." She wasstartled when he grinned at her. "These women and children sought thesanctuary of the church; and when Sir Guy arrived, I felt they might need somehelp in reaching it."
"Ofcourse." Lord Bergeron looked down at Sir Guy. "I believe we musthave ourselves another talk, boy."
Knowingthat that was the signal to leave, Drogo grabbed Eada by the arm. "We willreturn to the cart," he said firmly, trying to hide his fear and concernwhen he saw the blood on her gown.
"Please,Drogo, just let me look at the women and children," Eada said as he tuggedher toward his horse. She looked toward the chapel and realized that the womenhad used Lord Bergeron's arrival to slip inside with the last of the children."Some of them were hurt, and I need to see that they are not badly injuredand that what wounds they may have are being tended to properly."
Hewanted to say no, to demand she get on his horse and let him take her back tosafety, but the pleading look in her eyes weakened his resolve. "You arebleeding," he said.
"Iam not dying. I just wish to assure myself that none of the terrified women andbabes in that church are dying or soon will if they are not given aid."
Hisemotions too strong and confused, Drogo made no reply, just waved her towardthe church. As he watched her hurry into the small chapel, he saw two palefaces appear briefly in the doorway. He nodded at Lord Bergeron then moved awayto allow the man some privacy with Sir Guy and signaled his men to follow him.
