Chapter Thirteen #2
This wound wasn’t as clean and it had already begun to coagulate, so she had to pick out the newly formed clots to get into it and remove the same debris that she had found in the other wound – pieces of cloth, mail, and leather, all of it shoved down into a wound that went into his armpit.
This one seemed to be deeper and she thought it might have nicked a bone, but it was difficult to know.
It had torn up the muscle of his shoulder and once she picked out the rubbish, she washed it with more wine before applying another chamomile poultice and stitching it closed.
Packing boiled linen on top of it, she bound up the shoulder tightly.
At that point, it was well after midnight, but she didn’t feel any fatigue, only great concern for Cassius, who had fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep.
Edie cleaned up the bloody bandages and rags, tossing out bowls of bloodied water, moving quietly about her duties.
Dacia remained seated next to Cassius, putting her hand on his forehead every so often to gauge his temperature, and generally watching how he was handling everything.
She was so wrapped up in watching him that it took her a moment to realize there were two big, gray paws sticking out from underneath the bed.
A smile came to her lips as she realized Argos had somehow gotten into the chamber and she hadn’t even noticed.
Bending over, she caught sight of big doggy eyes looking at her from underneath the bed.
Reaching into the darkness, she petted the dog on the head, comforting the animal.
He may have been a silly fool of a dog, but he was sweet and loyal.
She was coming to like him, just a little.
Sitting back in her chair, Dacia took a moment to breathe.
She also took a moment to thank God that Cassius hadn’t been more badly injured.
All things considered, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but time would tell whether or not any poison took hold.
That was the big fear with battle wounds.
If they survived the actual wound, all of that could be ruined in an instant if a fever came upon them as a result of the injury.
He wasn’t out of the woods by any means.
Dacia looked over at Cassius, sleeping heavily, and put a gentle hand on his forehead.
His dark hair was dirty, oily, but it didn’t matter to her.
She stroked it softly, feeling a great deal of affection for the man lying before her.
He was magnificent to look at. And he was witty, charming, brave, and strong.
There was nothing about him that wasn’t perfect in her opinion.
There wasn’t anything about him that wasn’t to love.
Love…
Dacia realized that she was falling in love with him.
She wasn’t shocked by the awareness, mostly because it seemed completely natural.
She never thought she’d find someone she could love, so the moment was both unexpected and a little intimidating.
She reminded herself that Cassius wasn’t meant to remain at Edenthorpe, that he would soon be moving on once he healed, and she didn’t want to love a man who would soon leave her.
But it was too late.
Thoughts about Cassius leaving Edenthorpe reminded her that he had not come to Edenthorpe to stay, but to relay a message.
That had been his only purpose in coming, but that brief visit had turned into something far more than anyone had anticipated.
He had ended up fighting a battle and now he was lying here, wounded because of it.
Wounded because of his knightly sense of honor and duty.
He had spoken of his desire to see his grandmother, and now those plans were in jeopardy because of her grandfather’s selfishness in asking Cassius to stay.
Somehow, it didn’t seem fair.
Dacia loved her grandfather, but even she could see how selfish this had been on his part.
He had never considered what Cassius had wanted or why he had ever really come to Edenthorpe in the first place.
Cassius had made it clear he had not come to stay, but her grandfather had clearly ignored that.
Now, Cassius was paying the price.
As Dacia sat there and watched him breathe, slowly and heavily, it occurred to her that his family might like to know that he had been wounded. He had mentioned Castle Questing as well as Berwick Castle, so she decided to send them word about his injury.
She thought, perhaps, that they might want to know.
As she sat there and thought on Cassius’ family, Argos suddenly let out a growl. Curious, she looked at the dog just as someone knocked on the door, softly. Rising to her feet, she went to the door and quietly opened it.
Rhori and Bose stood outside, covered in grime and sweat and blood. Their expressions were grim as they looked at Dacia.
“My lady,” Rhori greeted, his voice hoarse from screaming battle commands. “How is Cassius?”
Dacia opened the door so they could come in, but she had her finger to her lips in a gesture of quiet.
“He had lost a great deal of blood by the time he got here,” she said softly.
“We removed the arrows and I cleaned and stitched the wounds. It does not look as if anything vital was hit, miraculously, but the wounds were dirty. There was a good deal of debris in them. I removed everything I could see, so I hope it was enough.”
Rhori bent over Cassius, taking a good look at him. “He is sleeping heavily,” he said. “Did you give him something?”
Dacia shook her head. “Nay,” she said. “Exhaustion and blood loss will do that. But I will give him something for the pain when he awakens.”
Rhori simply nodded, a lingering glance to his friend before turning away. “You have my thanks for tending him, my lady,” he said. “Cassius is… important to me. He is important to many people.”
Dacia could see how grieved he was. It was actually quite sweet that the man should be so loyal and concerned but, then again, Cassius seemed to bring that out in people. He’d certainly brought it out in her.
“I will do everything in my power, I assure you,” she said. “I will not leave him, not even for a moment. But I was thinking that we should send word to his family. They will want to know about this and if the worst happens and a poison takes hold… his father will want to know, don’t you think?”
Rhori nodded. “I will send word to him immediately,” he said. “And to Castle Questing. You have never seen a family so devoted to one another, my lady. If one suffers, they all suffer. They will want to know.”
“And the king,” Bose said quietly. “We must send word to him also. He must know that Cassius was wounded defending the Duke of Doncaster. It will elevate Cassius in the king’s eyes tremendously for his heroic deeds.”
Dacia thought of her grandfather, who was even now asleep in his bed.
He couldn’t have been bothered with remaining vigilant all night while other men were fighting his battle.
While he slept, a fine and strong knight had been wounded defending Doncaster’s village.
Thinking on that very thing made her quite furious.
Furious enough to act.
“May I ask you to remain with Cassius for just a moment?” she asked the knights. “Just a quick moment is all I ask. I shall return as fast as I can.”
As they both nodded, she fled the chamber, racing up to the floor above where her grandfather’s chamber was. His chamber was literally above Cassius’ bed, taking up the entire floor, and she charged into his chamber without knocking.
The chamber smelled like a man who never bathed, that heady aroma that filled the nostrils and clung like dirt.
There was a fire burning low in the cluttered hearth and a bank of candles somewhere near the bed to give the duke some light, for he was up several times a night, peeing in a chamber pot that was never full.
He had an old man’s bladder, as he often said.
Dacia marched right up to the bed.
“Grandfather,” she said, reaching out to gently shake the man. “Grandfather, awaken.”
Doncaster stirred a little, groaning, before trying to go back to sleep. Dacia shook him again.
“Grandfather,” she said, more loudly this time. “You must awaken. Something has happened.”
He lay there a moment as if trying to ignore her, but one eye popped open. “What has happened?” he demanded, muffled because half of his face was in the pillow. “Dacia, what do you want?”
Dacia gave him a good shake, so much so that he batted a hand at her, trying to push her away.
“Grandfather, I know you are not a warring man,” she said. “But men have gone to war for you this night while you have slept safe and warm in your bed. You must awaken. Cassius de Wolfe has been wounded.”
That brought a reaction. The duke rolled onto his back before struggling to sit up. “De Wolfe?” he said. “Where is he? What happened?”
Dacia stepped back from the bed as he swung his legs over the side.
“He is in the constable’s room,” she said.
“I have just spent hours picking debris out of two arrow wounds. He sleeps now, but you must send word to the king that this has happened. It is your duty to tell him that his Lord Protector went to war for you and has been injured. Do you know he was heading home to see his elderly grandmother when all of this happened? And you demanded he stay here and help you with Catesby Hagg. As a man of honor, he did, and now see what it has cost him. He may never get to see his grandmother now and it is your fault.”
Dacia wasn’t in the habit of talking to her grandfather so angrily, but she was genuinely upset about the situation. To Doncaster’s credit, he took it seriously. He rubbed his eyes.
“Is it that bad?” he asked. “Have you sent for Emmeric?”
Dacia nodded. “I have,” she said. “But half the village was burned this night and he may have fled. I do not know where the man is. You cannot sleep while men are injured and your village is in chaos. You must show the men that you are strong and in control, and that you care about them, so get up and do your duty. Send word to the king about Cassius and I will do all I can to ensure the man survives this.”
Doncaster was nodding before she even finished. He stood up, a bit unsteadily, and headed over to the wardrobe where his clothing was kept. “Where is Fulco?” he asked.
Dacia was pleased that the man was at least up and moving. “In the hall the last I saw of him,” she said. “There are many wounded. They will need your encouragement, Grandfather. They have all risked their lives for you this night.”
Doncaster found his breeches, turning to Dacia before pulling them on. “They have,” he said. “But they have sworn their fealty to me. That is why I provide them with food and clothing and a place to stay. I am not an unkind lord, Dacia.”
“I know,” she said, softening her manner a little. “But Cassius… he is not your knight, yet he was injured fighting for you. I feel sorry for him, Grandfather, and also angry. Angry that you kept him here rather than let him go along his journey.”
Doncaster’s gaze lingered on her for a moment. “You like Cassius, don’t you?”
There was no use denying what was probably very apparent. “He has been very kind to me,” she said quietly, turning for the door. “I intend to repay that kindness by nursing him back to health.”
She was nearly to the door when her grandfather spoke out to her. “I like him, too, CeeCee,” he said quietly. “He is a fine knight from a most powerful family. He would make an excellent duke.”
Dacia didn’t say anything, but she did turn to look at him as she lifted the doorlatch. There was no mistaking the smile on her lips as she left the chamber.
She rather thought so, too.