With the first and most difficult part of her mission accomplished, Eve could rest easier.She thanked the king, curtseyed, and exited the pavilion.
Just outside, she took a moment to collect her nerves.She carefully rolled the dried, sealed parchment and tucked it into her satchel.Then she crouched to tighten the buckles on her pattens.
She rather liked the height these pattens gave her, she decided.They made her feel imposing.And powerful.Perhaps she would wear them more often.
She suddenly heard the king call out a greeting from inside his pavilion.
She blinked.She would have sworn he’d said “Adam.”
Then she chided herself.He could have as easily said Edmund or Baldwin…or Madam.Even if he had said Adam, there were probably a dozen Adams in the king’s service.
Still, it troubled her.Eyeing the guards behind her and the soldiers milling about, she slipped back around the shadowy side of the pavilion and leaned close to listen through the canvas wall.
The king was speaking.
“We hear congratulations are in order for your clan.”
The response was muffled.She placed her ear against the fabric, not an easy feat with a thick horsetail braid.
The king continued, “Your cousin Hew’s betrothal?”
“Ah.Aye, Your Grace.”
Eve froze.It was hard to be certain.The accent was more noble, less rustic.But his voice…
He asked, “Did my aunt Deirdre send word?”
Itwashim.ItwasAdam.
But “cousin Hew”?“My aunt”?Was he feigning to be a Rivenloch?Was that why he needed that medallion?
“Nay, not Deirdre,” the king said.“Lady Carenza’s cousin was just here.Did ye not cross paths?”
Eve’s heart stopped.Shite.What if Lady Carenza didn’thavea cousin?What if Adam knew that?
“Her cousin was just here?”Adam replied.“I didn’t see him.”
“Her,” the king corrected.
“Her?”Adam echoed.“Hmm.Is that so?I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Eve’s heart began pounding like a fuller’s mill.She could hear it in his voice.He knew.She couldn’t imagine how, but he knew.
The king continued, “So what news do you bring from the enemy camp?”
Enemy camp?Was Adam a spy?
“It’s worse now, Your Grace.He’s besieging keeps of other clans, demanding fealty from the survivors.”
“Fealty?”
“Aye.There are some who believe he wishes to form an alliance with the English against Your Grace.”
“What the devil?This is serious indeed.”
Eve scowled.Who were they talking about?
“We shall muster the troops this eve,” the king decided.“We’ll attack at dawn.”
