Warrior's Deception

Lenora’s fingers curled tight around the reins to keep the powerful stallion at a bouncy walk. She maneuvered her impatient mount among the working villeins and freemen of Woodshadow. Once past the smithy, she entered the more open space of the outer bailey courtyard.

Her attention gravitated toward managing her excited horse. Jupiter’s muscles contracted and he arched his neck, impatient for the signal from his rider to break into a more taxing gait. When she reached the marshal’s tower at the castle gate, the dewy rolling hills of the meadow became visible. New spring grass sprinkled with just-opened multicolored wildflowers swayed in the still-cool air, beckoning horse and rider.

She leaned forward and whispered into the stallion’s ear, “Let’s see if we can outrun that nagging Roen de Galliard.” The horse sprang forward, almost unseating her. Her fingers wove into the gray black mane, and a breeze of refreshing air blew the hair from her eyes. The rhythmic beat of Jupiter’s hooves on the dirt road became hypnotic.

Tender shoots of grass blurred with the darker green of hedges and trees. She swept past peasants toiling in the black soil of recently furrowed fields, past huddled flocks of woolly, bleating sheep and grazing cattle. The tension pulled away, left behind in the dust of the stallion’s thundering hoofbeats. Her anxiety tumbled away from the force of the wind. She smiled, then laughed. To her right, she spied a low hedge. A quick move of the reins guided the galloping horse toward the emerald hedges.

“Come on! Let’s do it!” Horse and rider concentrated on the obstacle ahead. The hedge seemed to grow in height as they approached it. ‘Twas not a low-lying wild brush but a natural fence, grown to keep out deer and roving cattle. Jupiter sensed the challenge ahead of him, and she felt the horse’s hard muscles contract as he prepared for the jump. The hedge loomed before them.

Her heart pounded against her chest. Even to her own ears, her breath sounded ragged. Her conscience berated this latest folly but ‘twas too late to change course now.

Two strides from the hedge, Lenora laced her fingers into the flying mane, leaned forward in the saddle and gave the stallion his head. She felt the surge of strength course through Jupiter’s body, a lurch, then she was airborne. Her body transcended the confines of the earth and she became weightless, suspended in midair. Air whipped around her and tore the hood from her head. Her waist-length braid came unbound and streamed about her. Pleasure, excitement, complete freedom sprouted within her. Too soon, she saw Jupiter’s long legs reach the fast-approaching ground. The hard impact jarred her backbone and jerked her back in the saddle.

Exhilaration made her giddy. Another hedge lay a short distance away. Laughter bubbled from her. Lenora pushed her long tresses from her face and pivoted Jupiter toward the next jump. Thoughts of the bad-tempered knight cleared from her mind.

She dug her heels into Jupiter’s flanks, and the pounding of horse’s hooves drummed in her ears. She prepared for the jump, mentally picturing when she would need to ease off the bit to give the stallion his head. Just a few more strides, five more, three more, “Now!” She loosened her hold on the reins, grabbed the flying mane, and leaned forward in the saddle. From the corner of her eye, a shadow swooped down on her. A huge mail-covered hand appeared out of nowhere, yanking her from Jupiter’s back just as the horse sprang. Jupiter cleared the hedge as her back hit against a hard wall of metal. The blow knocked the air from her lungs. Stunned, she found herself breathless and dumped into the lap of an armor-clad knight.

“Let…go…of…me.” The words came in several wheezes while she attempted to fill her empty lungs with air. She kicked and thrashed her legs, trying to free herself. “Who are you?” She twisted in her captor’s grasp and her eyes traveled up to the knight’s face.

A wide nosepiece on his helmet obscured his face. Only his eyes were visible. The hard-won air she had strived for escaped her lungs in a low, desperate sigh. “Nay, it cannot be!” The knight’s dark blue gray eyes glowered at her, and a current of fear whorled through her.

“I’ve come to settle our bet, Lady Lenora.” Roen de Galliard removed his helmet, tucked it under his arm and shook his head like a mighty golden lion. “Among other things.” He wrapped his viselike arm around her waist and pulled her tightly toward him. His deep musky smell filled her nostrils. The hard steel links of his chain hauberk bit like metal teeth into her back. Pain shot through her shoulders and festered her outrage.

“I had no need of rescue, Galliard. I was in control of my mount. I demand you release me immediately!” Hot blood rushed to her face. The heat of her ire changed to humiliation when Roen moved his mount toward a group of knights and squires. The wind carried hoots and cackles from the men.

“’Tis not you I’m worried about,” Roen retorted calmly. “My concern is for the horse. I don’t want your stupidity to risk hurting a good mount.”

“Oh!” Lenora floundered for a sarcastic reply, but her mind was frozen, like a pond in midwinter. Instead, she shot him an icy look, crossed her arms and retreated into an angry silence. She was forced to look either ahead at the jeering men or down at Roen’s thick muscular arm, imprisoning her. The tension of the past few days returned and her will weakened. She chose to look down, centering all her fury on the ironlike arm that held her captive.

Roen rejoined his men at a leisurely gait and savored the feel of the woman against his chest. He chuckled to himself, amused by her silence and angry indignation. The faint hint of lavender mixed with the familiar scent of hay wafted from her windswept coppery locks.

When his men pointed out the young lad on the horse, he had admired the boy’s horsemanship. ‘Twas obvious the vigorous stallion was well under control. Admiration had changed midjump when the boy’s hood blew off. The “lad” transformed into a tall, copper-haired lass. He had held his breath until horse and rider came down to earth. Heaven’s grace had spared the girl once. Why had she tried to push her luck by trying again? She could have broken her neck. His arm tightened instinctively around her.

“That hurts!” Lenora gasped. “I’m not fool enough to jump from horseback.”

He forced his arm to relax and stared down into her upturned face. Auburn tresses lay in disarray around her face and gave her a Gypsy look. Faint golden brown freckles were sprinkled lightly across her straight nose and high cheeks. Her eyes no longer burned from the fire of her anger, but he could still see smoldering embers of gold in the earthen-colored orbs. His fingers played with her unbound waist-length hair. They wove into the thick strands and took a light but possessive hold.

“Really?” he questioned. “You jump a hedge that is waisthigh to me, you barely regain control of an animal that is clearly too much for you to handle, and then you try to jump a hedge even higher than the first. Aye, you have need to warn me you’re no fool. Your actions do not show it!”

Lenora wanted to smack the smug smile from his face and scream at him that it was all his fault. If not for him, she wouldn’t have been riding in such an outlandish fashion in the first place.

Determined not to let him see how upset she was, Lenora arranged her features into a mask of calm and serenity. “Galliard, I suppose that in your own misguided way you were trying to be chivalrous, although there was no need. So why don’t you stop, let me down to catch my horse, and each of us may travel our own way?”

His smile turned to an irritating smirk. “But, Lady Lenora, my way is your way. Remember our bargain?”

“Let us say that your…aid to me just now more than fulfills your obligation.”

“That would be true, if the aid had been needed. Since you have mentioned several times that it was not, I cannot feel justified in letting this small act be your…reward for all you have done for me.”

She bit her upper lip to help keep her tongue in check. Mentally, she questioned the possible double meaning of his words. Her thoughts were interrupted by the loud laughter from the men ahead.

“Roen! You’ve caught your prize, but poor Landrick is still chasing his.”

Lenora recognized Hamlin, sitting astride a sturdy chestnut stallion. She followed his gaze toward the rolling hills and saw a mounted young man, armorless, trying to outmaneuver the still-galloping Jupiter.

“He’ll get him. If Roen gives an order, Landrick won’t give up till it’s completed,” a young squire declared.

“I’ll clean your tack and that of your knight for a week if he does.” Another young knight gave her a wink and wagered with the squire.

Her elbow jabbed into Roen’s side as he moved to join his men. He paid no attention. The move only caused her to yelp in pain when the sharp metal of his haubrek pinched her skin.

Lenora bridled. The knave’s quiet chuckles proclaimed his amusement with her predicament. Her mask of composure cracked. She was not about to let Galliard’s men think she needed rescuing. “I’ll take that bet, to get Jupiter, if you’ll include all my knights.” She gave the wagering knight an innocent smile.

“Forget the bet, Roderick,” Roen warned. “She’s not leaving me until she is safely dumped at the gates of Woodshadow.”

“I have no need to leave your side to capture Jupiter.” She broadened her smile. “And I do believe the squire is quite tired by now.”

The group watched as once again Landrick tried to steer the running horse toward the waiting men. At first, the young squire appeared successful, then Jupiter broke. With a sharp turn the stallion evaded Landrick’s rope and the strange men ahead. The action diverted her captor’s attention.

Lenora saw her chance. She slid out from between Roen’s arms and dropped to the ground. Her feet hit the earth hard and she stumbled a few steps away to escape the knight’s reach. “This is as far as I need to be. Is it a wager, Sir Roderick?”

Roderick took one peek at the black look of his commander’s face and shook his head. “Nay, Lady Lenora, I do not doubt your skill with the animal. If you can bring him in, pray do so, and save our friend further loss of pride.”

A warmth of satisfaction cloaked her. She had escaped the moody knight and his man admitted her horsemanship. A challenging neigh caused her to turn. Jupiter feigned surrender, then just as the sweat-soaked squire drew close, the horse pivoted and raced away. When her stallion paused, she pursed her lips together and emitted three sharp, shrill tones. The animal’s ears twitched toward the sound. Once again, she whistled three sharp blasts.

Hearing the call, Jupiter reeled and galloped toward her. Sides heaving and sweat-stained, the horse skidded to a stop at her side. She captured the loose reins and swung up into the saddle. Relaxed from his workout, the charger stood docile, waiting for his rider’s command.

Roen gave his horse a slight squeeze, nodded to his second and moved nonchalantly toward her. The set of his rocklike chin mirrored his granite-colored eyes. She did not doubt that he felt he had one more score to settle with her.

Gathering the reins tightly, Lenora pumped a cheerful tone into her speech. “I would like to extend the hospitality of Woodshadow to you all. I hope you will join me for the nooning.” Secretly, she prayed they would all ride away and she would never see Roen de Galliard again.

She kept her eyes on the leader of the group of men. The hard line of his jaw, the bulging neck veins and the scowl announced his emotions. His eyes narrowed as he moved his mount next to hers. The brush of his leg against her own sent currents of excitement speeding up her thigh, settling in the pit of her stomach.

“Drop your reins!” Roen commanded. “Return to my horse.”

“I’ll do no such thing. I’ll ride into Woodshadow on my own mount.” She squeezed Jupiter with her knees, but the horse did not move. Glancing from Roen, she saw Hamlin firmly holding on to her horse’s bridle. He gave her a dimpled smile of apology.

“The horse needs to be cooled down or he’ll colic. Give the reins to Landrick. He also needs to cool his mount.” At the mention of his name, the boyishly lean squire held on to his saddle and slid his feet to the ground. He grasped the girth until his feet would support him. Sweat streaked his red face.

“My grooms will see to my horse. You have no need to be concerned, Galliard.” She tried to wrench control from Hamlin but the knight’s hold persisted. Roen lifted her from her saddle and plopped her down onto his lap.

“But it is my concern, Lady Lenora. ‘Twas my man that ran the horse. ‘Tis his responsibility to care for it now. He will return to your home when the horses have been walked and cooled down. I will be glad to offer you a ride back to your home.”

She opened her mouth to utter several of Tom’s more colorful curses but she was slammed back against Roen when his charger cantered toward the castle. Her back kept colliding with Roen’s powerful chest from the horse’s rocking movement. Each time she banged into the knight’s massive torso, she winced. He made no move to prevent her discomfort.

Exasperated, Lenora finally grabbed Roen’s arm, pulled it tight around her and leaned against him. “’Tis this or bruises,” she muttered under her breath, and shot him a murderous glance when she felt the deep rumble of laughter reverberate in his chest.

The rumble stopped, as did the horse. Only her tight hold on Roen’s arm kept her from being thrown forward. The contingent of men drew close to form a barricade between her and the road ahead.