"Yes.May has taken them to her heart, and they seem to have taken to her aswell."
"AndBrun?" she asked and felt a slight tension come and go in his body.
"Heis also fine. As I have said, you have a true skill for healing and he nowbegins to find his weakness and confinement a great irritation. I believe hewill soon be on his feet again."
Ayawn forced itself upon her and she was surprised, for she had already sleptfor hours. "I think I am about to go to sleep again."
"Good.You need the rest to heal."
"Thereis one thing I must tell you before I do go to sleep and, mayhap, forget what Iwanted to say come the morning."
"What?"he prodded when she closed her eyes and did not continue.
"Godwincame to see me for only a brief time, but he told me something about Sir Guythat he felt you should know. He said the man could do little more than rantand curse me when he returned to his camp. Godwin does not understand French,not even as well as May, for I have little chance to teach him, but he said thetone of the man's words was alarming."
Drogosighed, rested his cheek against her hair, and only briefly thought on givingher some empty but soothing words. "I fear the man now hates you as muchas he does me. He only thinks I have humiliated him and he wants me dead. Youhave actually done so."
"Iknow, and I think I may have cost him an ally. One of his companions wasthoroughly disgusted by Sir Guy, by the way he behaved, refused to listen toreason, and especially by the fact that he could not defeat me withouthelp."
"Youonce told me that you saw him as a dark and threatening shadow at my back.Well, I think that threat is now at your back, too."
Eadanodded, afraid and yet resigned. "Do not fear, Drogo. I will keep a closewatch, and I have one thing to help me that you have never had."
"Andwhat is that?"
"Godwin.A sharp-eyed spy within the very heart of our enemy's camp. All I have to do isteach the boy French."
Sixteen
"Ivo,who is the knight who watches over me today?" Eada demanded as she walkedup to Drogo's burly servant.
WhenIvo cringed and turned to look at her, his face revealing his sudden timidity,Eada almost laughed, but her humor was tinged with a hint of regret. She knewshe had been in an ill temper in the week since she had fought with Sir Guy—andnot only because of all of her bruises, aches, and pains. It had not taken herlong to see that she was under constant guard. Drogo had not completelyaccepted her word that she would be more cautious. Even while she had to admitthat she had been reckless on several occasions, she still felt that Drogo wasbeing too protective and far too suspicious.
"Serleis here," Ivo responded carefully.
"Where?I do not see him."
Ivopointed to a large group of men standing in a circle looking down. Although shehad had no trouble within the camp except for occasional hate-filled looks fromSir Guy, Eada was wary about approaching so many Norman soldiers. Everyone,except Sir Guy and his companions, appeared to respect her as Drogo's woman andappreciate her healing skills, but she had never placed herself within reach ofso many men before. She needed Serle, however, for no one else was around. Evenher dogs were missing, and Eada suspected one of the knights had borrowed themto go hunting again.
"Areyou sure, Ivo? I do not see him there."
"Heis on the ground, playing dice."
Eadatook a deep breath to restore her suddenly wavering courage and walked towardthe boisterous group of men. As she drew nearer, she was able to discern fivemen kneeling at their game. The soldiers seemed to be fonder of gambling thanof fighting, she thought crossly as she nudged her way through the crowd. Someof the looks cast her way were not friendly and some were leering, but no onetouched her and she began to relax.
"Serle,"she called as she circled to the older man.
"Ah,little Eada," he called back cheerfully. "Hold but a moment. It is mythrow, and I think this one shall make me a rich man."
Shehad to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from replying with sharp words. Hecould not know why she needed him and she certainly did not want to tell himthat she was being pulled somewhere again, not in front of so many people. Whenhe won the toss and, amid great cheering and loud complaints from the losers,collected his winnings, she did feel pleased for him. She also reached out topluck at the back of his jupon to remind him that she was there before, caughtup in the joy of victory, he began to play again.
"Drogosent me to find you," she said when he glanced at her, frowning as he idlyrolled the dice between his fingers.
Serlequickly left the game, amiably promising the losers a future chance to regaintheir coin. He took her by the arm and tugged her a distance from the men untilthey were too far away to be overheard. When he looked at her expectantly, shegrimaced.
"Ilied," she muttered.
"What?"he stared at her in a mixture of surprise and annoyance. "There had betterbe a good reason for such deceit, child. Did you not see that I waswinning?"
