“Nay,” Fergus was being yanked from the solar. “The lady went missing weeks ago. Even now, her husband and others are searching for her. ’Twas Sir Garren who asked me to ride to Pembroke and ask for assistance in our search for her. But, as I discovered, you had already found her.”
“Missing?” Keller looked at Derica. “I found her wandering on a road not far from here. She would not tell me what she was doing there.”
Through the chaos of Derica’s mind, she understood the crux of the conversation. For the moment, it diverted her thoughts of a living Garren. “I fell into the river and nearly killed myself in the process. A peasant woman and her children found me and nursed me back to health. That is why Sir Keller found me wandering on the road.” She looked stricken. “The children! Keller, get the children, please!”
Keller started to move, as was natural when doing her bidding, but he just as quickly stopped himself.
“Wait,” his voice had returned to a growl. “No one is going anywhere at the moment. Not to Cilgarren, or to heaven or hell until I have satisfactory answers. How do I know this isn’t some ploy to abduct my lady? I don’t know you, de Edwin. You could be a murderer and thief for all I know.”
“But I know him,” Derica countered. “I know him well, and he has risked his life for me on many occasions. I have faith in him completely and you will do me the courtesy of trusting my judgment.”
Keller was torn, that much was obvious. “You are my betrothed, my lady, and my responsibility until God himself deems otherwise.”
“My husband is alive, Sir Keller,” she whispered urgently. “God has spoken, can you not understand? He had returned him to me. I am no longer your concern.”
Keller’s confusion in the entire situation was quickly being overtaken by fury and disappointment. He could hardly believe the devastation he felt. “Not until I see Sir Garren myself,” he said quietly, “will I relinquish you.”
“Then come and see him,” Derica growled. “And bring the children.”
Derica matched his stony demeanor; Fergus knew she was determined enough to kill should Keller try to stand in her way. Perhaps the knight sensed that, for he did not stand in her path. He simply stared at her, matching her gaze, feeling emotions he had no right to feel. After what seemed like a small eternity, Derica tore her eyes from Keller and quit the solar, taking Fergus with her. Keller dutifully went in search of children he instinctively knew he was about to lose.
Sian and Aneirin each held a hand when Keller finally returned to the bailey. The children were dressed against the chill, their eyes wide at the commotion of the courtyard. The two severe women had accompanied them, bringing a heavy wrap for Derica. She was already mounted on a small gray palfrey and they fussed over her, making sure she stayed bundled against the cold. Derica took Sian on the horse with her and Keller took Aneirin.
Keller tried not to think about what was happening as he adjusted his reins around the little girl and glanced up at the sky. It looked like it would rain. He wouldn’t look at Derica, and she had no interest in looking at him. She never had. She had been kind, as much as she could, but he knew she had never truly beenhis, betrothal or no. He felt cheated by Garren’s appearance, if it was true. He couldn’t help wonder if he was riding in to some sort of trap set up by de Edwin and made sure to arm the dozen soldiers accompanying them. A couple of knights were also suited up for the ride. He didn’t want to take any chances.
Fergus, for his part, was immensely curious about the two brown-eyed children that Derica seemed to have inherited. They were adorable children, to be sure, but he couldn’t help thinking what Garren would say to all of this. He caught her attention.
“Am I to understand that these are the peasant children you mentioned earlier?”
Derica nodded. “Aye. Their mother pulled me from the river and took care of me until I regained my strength. She was accidentally killed. The least I can do is care for her children, and gladly so.”
Fergus looked at the little boy, who was now staring at him. “I see,” he smiled at the boy. Sian responded by sticking a finger in his nose. “Charming.”
Derica loved the children but didn’t want to talk about them at the moment. “How is he really, Fergus? Garren, I mean.”
“He is very well,” Fergus’ thoughts were diverted from the children, thinking of Garren and the trouble they would all be in soon. “He is thought of nothing but you, so much so that he has risked all to come home to you.”
“What does that mean?”
Fergus didn’t want to alarm her. “Nothing,” he assured her, sorry he had to lie to her. “Suffice it to say that his joy in seeing that you are alive will eclipse the sun.”
Derica smiled at him. “I can still hardly believe. Tell me again, Fergus. Swear it to me.”
“I swear to you on my oath as a knight that Garren is alive and well.”
Her smiled broadened, her eyes closing briefly as if to dream him yet again. “And you have come to bring me to him again, just as you did those months ago.”
“’Twould seem to be my calling in life, to unite the two of you.”
Derica didn’t want to wait any longer to see her husband and Keller was dragging his heels. She spurred the palfrey toward the gate.
“If we hurry, we can be to Cilgarren in a few hours, don’t you think?” she asked.
Fergus moved after her. “Two hours at the most.”
Keller had been talking to one of his knights, waiting for the two Welsh crossbowmen he had requested to join the party. When he saw Derica and Fergus already moving towards the gate, he spurred his charger in their direction.
“Hold,” he commanded.
