Chapter Sixteen #4
Keller was beside her on his red-and-cream beast. “Another moment and the escort party shall be complete. If You will simply wait, we shall….”
“I do not want to wait,” Derica told him. “I have waited long enough. I am riding to Cilgarren Castle at this very moment. You may ride with me or not. It makes no difference to me, but if you choose not to, then give me Aneirin so that I may take her.”
Keller’s expression darkened. He made a surprising move by reaching out and grasping her horse’s reins, effectively stopping the animal.
“You’re not going anywhere until our escort is complete,” he rumbled. “I am assembling my men to protect you and you will do me the courtesy of complying.”
Derica’s voice was like ice. “You do not want me to go to Cilgarren; that much is clear. Any more attempts to delay me and you shall suffer Garren’s wrath in this. Be assured that I will tell him of your reluctance to return me to him.”
It threatened to grow ugly. They had come too far to have it turn bad at this moment and possibly cause Keller to forbid either of them to leave Pembroke.
“My lady,” Fergus said quietly. “Sir Keller is merely trying to protect you. Your statement was harsh.”
Derica had a moment of doubt that what Fergus said was true. Her remorse grew. “I apologize, Keller,” she murmured. “I am not quite myself at the moment. My desire to see my husband seems to be taking over all of my senses until I cannot think clearly.”
Keller forgave her, of course. “As I told you before, were you married to me, I should expect the same devotion. I can only admire your determination.” He glanced over his shoulder at the assembled escort party. “It seems we are complete, after all. By your command, my lady, we shall depart.”
He let go of the reins and Derica’s little horse danced forward.
Sian thought it was great fun and giggled as the horse shook him about.
Derica’s heart was soaring, her joy in seeing Garren too delirious for words.
Two hours seemed like an eternity to wait, but wait she would have to.
As they neared the great gates of Pembroke, a familiar figure caught Derica’s attention.
A small, cloaked wisp of a figure was walking towards her, the face pale and the blue eyes red-rimmed.
Derica nearly fell off her horse when she realized she was looking at her maid.
“Aglette,” she hissed. “Dear God… Aglette!”
She slid from the palfrey, careful not to take Sian with her. The women fell into each other’s arms, the red-haired maid sobbing pitifully. Derica was seized with fear, with surprise, and shook the woman gently.
“What is it?” she demanded. “Why are you here? How did you know…?”
“Your father,” Aglette sputtered. “He and his army lie beyond the gates. They sent me in to tell you….”
Her weeping cut her short and Derica was filled with terror. She shook Aglette hard enough to snap her neck. “What are you to tell me?”
The maid struggled to control herself. “That the garrison commander is to turn you over to the army of the Earl of Norfolk, ’else they will raze Pembroke and kill all who stand in their way.”
Derica knew her face went pale. She looked at Fergus. “No,” she breathed. “Not here, not now. How did they find me?”
Fergus’ face was grim. He dismounted his charger and focused on the hysterical maid. “How many men did de Rosa bring?”
Aglette shook her head. “I do not know exactly, my lord. We stopped to pick up more men at Hereford Castle. I heard one of the men say that the total army was about one thousand fools and men.”
It was a massive army. Fergus looked at Keller; he would give the man credit, for he held no discernible expression even though his castle was grievously threatened.
It took Keller a moment to realize everyone was looking at him, expecting some manner of response.
His first response was to look at Derica.
“Your father is the Earl of Norfolk?” he asked, quite calmly.
She shook her head. “He serves Norfolk. He is garrison commander of Framlingham Castle.”
“Framlingham?” Keller almost looked amused. “The Marshal neglected to mention that.”
Derica knew that she should explain; the man was at risk for reasons he knew nothing of. “My father is loyal to Prince John and Garren is loyal to Richard. We ran off and were married against my father’s wishes.”
“I see,” Keller said. “That being the case, your father has come to retrieve you. However, the better question would be, how did he know you were here?”
“I do not know.”
“Nor do I,” Keller didn’t seem overly concerned. “Spies abound, my lady. Even now, I am sure that Pembroke is littered with them.”
Derica couldn’t tell what he was thinking. “What do you plan to do?”
Keller sighed heavily, dismounting his charger. There was much on his mind; that was evident.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I will speak with my father. But I want you to help Fergus escape to Cilgarren to warn Garren.”
“And hold off the horde to buy him enough time?”
To hear Keller say it made it sound as if she was asking the world of him. And he was getting absolutely nothing in return. Fear crept into her veins.
“I know it is an enormous request, Keller, but I would be eternally grateful to you if you would….” she trailed off, feeling stupid and desperate at the same time.
“There is no way I can repay you and nothing I can promise you in return other than my undying gratitude. But if you would do this for me, I swear that I would repay the favor if ever I were able. So would Garren.”
He smiled at her, ironically. “What I would have from you, you could not repay. I know Sir Garren certainly wouldn’t.
” He didn’t look the least bit distressed as he lifted his helm, propping it up on his forehead as if that made it easier for him to think.
“Let me assure you that your father cannot destroy Pembroke, no matter how he believes otherwise. I invite him to try. But getting you out of here is another matter altogether.”
Derica felt a tremendous amount of relief and fear, one after the other. “Then you will help me?”
Keller looked at her, feeling himself weaken as he stared into the green eyes. “I believe we should think about this for a moment and come up with a plan,” he said. “But the first order of business is to close the gates and arm my men. I have a feeling this is going to be a long day.”
Derica felt more relief than she could express. She put her hand on Keller’s arm. “Thank you, Keller,” she whispered. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.”
Keller couldn’t decide whether he felt noble or like a fool.