Eadalooked at the horses. "Yes, there is. We must try to stop thismurder."
"Ifwe try to ride out of camp, it will be we who are put to the sword," saidBrun, although his expression revealed his eagerness for such an adventure."And Godwin cannot go. It would put him in danger, for he would be facingthe very man he must call master."
"Wewill not be stopped if Ivo rides with us." She looked at Godwin. "Youneed not join us. If we can catch Sir Guy trying to murder Tancred and Unwin, Ibelieve we can free you from Guy's brutal grasp. He will be sunk in disgracebecause of this crime and you will be the one who revealed his treachery, thussaving the lives of two Norman knights. If we arrive too late and he finds yougone from his camp or sees you riding with us, he will know who betrayed himand that could put you in danger."
"Iwill ride with you," Godwin said.
"Godwin—"
"Iknow what risk I am taking. I also know that I could finally be free of thatman. For that, no matter how small the chance, I believe I would willingly rideto the gates of hell itself."
"Shouldwe not wait a little longer to be certain that Sir Drogo will not be in time tosave his friends?" asked Brun.
"Ifhe has not ridden after them by now or within the time it will take us tosaddle those horses, he will be too late," Eada replied as she leapt toher feet and strode toward Ivo, Godwin and Brun quickly following her.
Ittook longer than she liked to convince Ivo that it was necessary that they tryto save Tancred and Unwin. Ivo had such a deep faith in Drogo that he found ithard to believe that the man could fail to save his friends. May finallyconvinced him to go, pointing out that no one was saying that Drogo would fail,only that there was a chance he might not even know of the danger until it wasalready too late. Eada gave May a brief, fierce hug of gratitude when Ivonodded and began to saddle three horses with the help of Brun and Godwin.
"Ido not like this," said May, the children huddling closer to her as they sensedher unease. "It could be very dangerous. Ivo is but a servant. He couldstir a great deal of trouble if he has to fight a knight."
"Ifthere is any fighting it will be because we have arrived in time to saveDrogo's friends," Eada said. "They will say what happened and no onewill question their word. If we are too late, then we will just return to campand tell Drogo what has happened. We will not even pause to collect the bodies,no matter how much it will pain us to leave them behind."
"Andwhat if Drogo returns here first, before he rides to aid his friends?"
"Thentell him what we have done. I do not believe he will be very angry, May. I amdoing all he has asked me to. I told only those closest to us about my dreamand I am not riding away alone, rushing blindly into the heart of danger. Intruth, I believe there will be little fighting. This is not something Sir Guywishes known, nor will his companions. I feel sure that, if they see someonecoming, someone who could tell others of their crime, they will flee."
Mayrelaxed after offering Eada a shaky smile. "You are right. Such men wantno witnesses, and because they are cowards, they will all run from an equalfight. It also eases my mind to know that if Sir Drogo comes here, I can tellhim the full truth."
"Oh,yes, please do, and as quickly as you can. Now, I will tell you what I canabout where I saw this murder happen." Closing her eyes to try and see herdream again, Eada described the road and its surroundings as precisely as shecould.
"Nowthat you have us mounted and prepared to rideventre à terreto saveNormans, do you think you might join us?" called Brun.
"IfI had known what a sharp wit you had, I would have left you beside thatriver," Eada told him as she walked up to the men. "Whom do I ridewith?"
"Me,"Brun replied as he reached down and helped her swing up into the saddle behindhim. "Ivo's mount can carry no more weight, and Godwin says he is not veryskilled upon a horse."
Eadagrabbed him around the waist as he nudged his horse into a slow trot to followIvo out of the camp. She noticed that although Ivo wore a sword, neither Godwinor Brun did. Slung over Ivo's saddle, however, were two swords. If the needarose, Tancred and Unwin would be joined by three armed men, and that eased hermind. She was comforted even more when they were allowed out of the camp withlittle more than a frown of curiosity from the guards. Few wanted to argue witha man the size of Ivo.
"Thereis only one question I have," said Brun.
"Onlyone?" Eada murmured.
Heignored her and asked, "Why are you riding with us?"
"Becauseit was I who had the dream." She met the disgusted look he sent her with asweet smile. "I may be able to recognize the place where the murders areto be committed."
"IfTancred and Unwin are there, that would mark it well enough."
Shefought the urge to hit him. "I am riding with you because no one thoughtto try to tell me not to." She grinned when he laughed. "I amsurprised that you would ride to the aid of Normans."
"Soam I, but the promise of a ride and, mayhap, a brief battle was more than Icould refuse. The fact that I ride with the enemy to fight others of the enemyin an attempt to save the lives of more of my enemy makes this a foray I simplycould not resist."
Eadalaughed and shook her head, but then grew serious. "I will understand ifyou find it difficult to risk your life to save that of a Norman. You havesuffered great losses at their hands."
"Ihave, but the men we race to save did not kill my family and would not do sucha thing even if offered the chance. Yes, defeat is still a bitter taste in mymouth. At times I think that will linger until I die. But as I recovered frommy wounds, I was forced to watch the men I only saw as my enemy. I can honorthe ones you ride with, Eada. Yes, I would cheer if God suddenly swept them allinto the sea; but if I must be ruled by Normans, I am grateful that I havestumbled into the hands of good, honorable men." He winked at her over hisshoulder. "Now, you had best hold on tightly, for we must now ride hardand fast if we are to reach Sirs Unwin and Tancred before that murderous SirGuy does."
Asoft cry of surprise escaped her as Brun kicked his horse into a gallop. Sheclung to him tightly as Godwin and Ivo quickly moved to follow. They were anodd selection of rescuers—a captured Saxon warrior, a too-thin Saxon youth, onesmall Saxon woman, and a large Norman servant; but she was suddenly confidentthat they could easily put an end to Sir Guy's murderous plot.
"Whatis so important that you pull me from William's side?" Drogo demanded ashe finally left William's table in the great hall and walked over to animpatiently waiting Garnier. "Is Eada hurt?" he asked suddenly,concern swiftly overcoming his anger.
