Chapter Two #2
Because Berwick was by the sea, there was a strong, salty breeze that blew in from the east. Every knight in the encampment had their banners flying high to announce who was in attendance, and those banners were snapping briskly in the sea wind.
The area that the encampment was located in had been a meadow at one time, full of flowers and fat green grass, but that had all been trampled in the wake of wagons and horses and men.
There must have been some rain at some point over the past couple of days, because there were small puddles of muddy water along the side of the road.
Everything felt damp and cold, but bright with the clear sky.
Emmeline watched the distant encampment for what seemed like hours when, in truth, it was only a few minutes.
But it was long enough for her to become restless, so she opened the door to the carriage and climbed out.
The road beneath her feet was hard-packed earth, so there was little danger of her getting her slippers or her dress dirty.
That emboldened her, and she began to walk along the road, along the edge of the escort who was watching her curiously as she headed to the front.
But she didn’t go any further, simply watching the competitors’ encampment.
As she stood there, hands clasped behind her back, she could see someone approaching from off to her right.
A big, broad man wearing the finest and the latest in military garb.
Curious, Emmeline turned her attention to the man as he drew near.
He wore a mail coat and a tunic over the top of it that was emblazoned with a red, three-point shield and what looked like a serpent upon it.
A black serpent. He was wearing gloves, covering his enormous hands, and enormous boots that came up and over his knees.
Once she finished inspecting what he was wearing, her gaze moved to his face.
A most interesting and handsome face.
As he drew closer, she realized that he had long hair.
It was long and dark and luxurious from what she could see, but the front of it was sectioned into small braids along his scalp to keep it off his face.
There were several rows. He had hair on his face, neatly trimmed around his mouth and against his jawline, but it was his eyes that had her attention.
He had arched brows, dark and serious, and as he came onto the road toward her, she could see that his eyes were as dark as a moonless night.
Truth be told, there wasn’t one thing about the man that wasn’t dark and brooding and handsome.
In fact, he took her breath away.
When their eyes met, he came to a halt and bowed politely.
“My lady,” he said. “Forgive me my boldness in speaking to you, but I am looking for Lord Bretherdale, and I believe the standard on the carriage belongs to him. Am I incorrect?”
He had an accent she didn’t recognize when he spoke, which told her he hadn’t been born in England.
In fact, the more she looked at him, the more she could see that he was not a product of England in any way other than the clothing he wore and the words he used.
He had an otherworldly quality about him that was intriguing and alluring, like a distant star that was shrouded in mystery.
She’d never seen anyone like him.
“You are correct, my lord,” she said after a moment. Then she pointed toward the encampment. “He has gone in search of his son, who is a great competitor here today. Mayhap you know him? Sir Maximilian de Grey?”
The man nodded. “I know him well,” he said. “In fact, it is he who has sent me to greet his father. Would you be, perchance, Maximilian’s betrothed?”
Emmeline nodded. “I am,” she said. “Since there is no one to introduce us, I am Lady Emmeline de Witt. Who are you?”
Again, the man bowed politely. “Sir Addax al-Kort, at your service,” he said. “My lady, if you would like to return to the carriage, I shall lead your escort to Max’s encampment.”
Addax al-Kort. Not a Norman or a Saxon name, but something lyrical and unfamiliar. Quickly, she climbed back into the carriage with his polite assistance, and as she claimed her seat, he shut the door. Then he whistled through his teeth very loudly and waved an arm at the escort, who pulled out.
Then he disappeared toward the front.
Emmeline stuck her head out, briefly, to watch him, but she was also watching the commanding presence that he seemed to have.
Men were jumping to do his bidding as he took her escort into the encampment, heading for the northern end of it, where there were tents with the blue and white stripes that signaled the House of de Grey.
As the carriage pulled around, she could even see Bretherdale there, as he’d found his son’s tents.
But no son.
Emmeline could hear him yelling from where she sat.