Heart's Ransom (Heart and Soul) (23 page)

“Gwenillian ap Powys.  I am Earl Montgomery’s lady.”

Brynmor froze and stared at her in shock.  “Gwen?” he whispered.

She frowned at him but that sent pain blazing through her skull.  “Aye.  Do I know you?”

“Nay,” he said quickly, almost too quickly.  “We have not met.  Tell me what happened, milady.”

She battled to maintain her grip on her consciousness but kept fading out.  Brynmor’s voice drew her back and she managed to explain what had happened.

“I fear these mercenaries were either sent by my father to slay me or they were sent by those who abducted Rose.”

“Your father has already paid for his crimes in blood,” he muttered.

“What?” she asked, certain the throbbing in her head made her misunderstand him.

“Worry not,” Brynmor said with a warm smile.  “Tell me about Rose.”  Cautiously, he bandaged her head.

Again Gwen fought to maintain her wits long enough to tell him.  “Earl Montgomery is at wits end,” she said.  “He cares for his daughter deeply and this is tearing him apart.”

Brynmor gazed at her, his green-blue eyes grave.  “’Tis good to hear of a nobleman who knows the value of family.  I had feared that quality lost.”

“What do you mean?”

“No matter, milady.”  He sighed, gazing around the clearing.  Now that Gwen had a chance to examine him a little more, she realized he was strong but much younger than she first thought.  His size and the lines of maturity on his face gave him the illusion of age.  She wondered if he was even a score of years yet.  He wore the gold spurs of a knight, but considering their high sheen, they were probably a relatively new addition to his armor.

“The sun will set soon,” Brynmor said.  “We are quite a distance from Montgomery.  I fear the journey back will be too difficult for you and I have no desire to be on the trail if you take fever from this wound.  There is a Templar Order nearby.  I can take you there.  The knightly brothers will tend to your injuries.”

Gwen sighed in relief.  “Montgomery is on good standing with the Templar Order.  I would be very grateful to you.”

Again she saw his bright smile.  “You are most welcome, milady.  Allow me to break camp and we shall be off.”  It did not take Brynmor long to pack.  He lifted her onto his horse and swung up behind her just in time.  Gwen’s throbbing head felt as if it exploded in pain with the movement.  She was dimly aware of Brynmor grabbing her before she fell then blackness descended and she could not push it away.

****

Gwen awoke to a dark room lit only by a small candle.  Two men stood by the door speaking quietly.  Blinding pain continued to pound through her head but she dimly realized she was on a simple cot with a coarse woolen blanket covering her.  She tried to move and groaned as she almost lost consciousness again.

One of the men hurried to her side.  He wore a simple brown cassock of a monk.  His weathered face was kind with a neatly trimmed silver beard.

“Easy, lady,” he said, his voice soothing.  “You have been unconscious for three days.  We feared we would lose you and the child you carry.  You have taken a terrible blow to the head.”

She started in alarm.  Where was she?  What had happened?

“’Tis all right, lady.”  The monk helped her sit up slightly and pressed a cup to her lips but the action caused her head to pound anew and her stomach rolled.  She tried to turn her head away.

“Nay, lady, you must get something into you or you shall indeed perish.”

She acceded to the drink even though her stomach cramped.

“Do you remember what happened?”

Gwen tried, but where memory should be was only blackness.  She remembered the attack in the small village, and being terribly wounded, but after grabbing the horse and riding away, she remembered nothing.  “Nay.”

“Do you remember the young knight who brought you here?”

A flash of a face appeared but it was gone instantly.  For some reason all she could think of was her brother, but that wasn’t right.  “Bran?”

“Nay,” the monk said.  “The young knight told us he found you on the trail.  We had feared he might be responsible for this because he refused to stay.”

Although she could not remember this man they spoke of, she did know who had injured her and where that had been.  “He...didn’t do this...he helped me.”

The Templar sighed in relief.  “That is good to know.  We were concerned because he was in such a hurry to leave after he brought you to us.  Mentioned something about the bonds of family being the reason for his haste.”

She tried to make sense out of his words but failed.

The Templar gazed at her in concern.  “Rest now, lady, we will talk later.” 

She closed her eyes, her aching head sending her into unconsciousness again.

****

Gwen had no idea how much time passed.  She faded in and out of awareness, succumbing to the pounding in her skull.  But the knightly brothers tended her well and she knew she was safe in the temple garrison.  Confused memories flitted across her dreams but she could not make sense of what happened.  When she was conscious the Templars tried to get more information from her but it was so difficult to make sense of their words and form a coherent reply.

Finally she opened her eyes to discover the pounding in her head had faded to a dull thud.  She carefully sat up slightly, propping herself up with pillows, knowing if she moved too fast she would probably pass out again.  She gazed around the small, plain room in confusion.  Trying to remember what happened.

The door opened and the Templar she recognized entered with a smile.  “Praise God and the Saints, you look much better today.”

“Thank you, Sir....”

“Lucais.  I’ve told you my name several times but I doubt you remember.”

She reached up and felt the bandage on her head.  “It has been difficult to think straight.  I thank you for your kindness.”

“My brothers and I simply followed our Lord’s commandments.  We could not turn away a lady in such dire need.  I have some medicine and broth for you.  Can you take it?”

“Aye,” she said.

He handed her the cup and bowl.  “Lady, we are still confused as to what exactly happened.  You were too delirious to explain.”

“I’m sorry,” she said rubbing her eyes.  “My name is Gwen and I am....Earl Talon Montgomery’s lady.”

The knight’s eyebrows shot up his forehead.  “You are quite a distance from Montgomery.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose, her head pounding harder since she was trying to think.  “I went to market...I was attacked and hit my head...I remember grabbing a horse and running...but my head....”

“Ah, then that explains why the young lord found you and your mount in such a sorry state.”

Suddenly the memories crashed down on her.  The abduction attempt, Marcus, and Talon...sweet Jesu...did Talon know she was alive and safe?

“Sir Lucais, please, we must send word to Montgomery.  My lord must know I am safe.  They abducted his daughter and I know he must fear the same for me.”

“Who abducted whose daughter?”

She took a deep breath her head aching even more.  “Montgomery’s eight year old daughter, Rose, was taken by the enemies of Montfort.  Talon cannot find her and they are using her against him.  He is being forced to support King Henry and his son.”

The Templar’s gaze turned flat and his jaw set in a grim line.  “The Knights Templar have a matter to settle with Prince Edward.  While we do not pursue politics, we were aware of Montgomery’s alliance and supported it.”

“I...I don’t understand.”  Damnation, her head hurt.

“In order to fund his battle against Montfort, King Henry bartered his wife’s jewels to the Templar Knights in exchange for gold.  Prince Edward came to one of our temples to oversee the exchange.  We do not bear arms within our temples.  Prince Edward staged a...heist, becoming no better than a rogue highwayman.  He took up arms against the Templars and seized all of their gold.”

Gwen only stared at him.

“You say someone has Montgomery’s daughter and is forcing him against his wishes?”

“Aye.  The mercenaries I escaped, ‘tis possible they were the ones responsible for Rose’s abduction.”

“Has there been no ransom demand?”

“Nay, only orders.  Even now Talon was told to join Montfort to help Prince Edward.  Talon did not know the details but I fear it will be grievous.  He cannot search for her in fear they will harm her.”

His mouth still set in a hard line, Lucais’ eyes sparked.  “Well now, our vows to God will not allow us to watch an innocent persecuted, especially a child.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Templars, because of their duties in the holy land, are very good at ransoms and the freeing of hostages.  We specialize in this.”

Hope suddenly pounded in her breast.  “You mean...you can find Rose?”

“I can make no promises lady but I will speak to the Grand Master.  No doubt after hearing of Montgomery’s plight he will want to take action.  We should not abide an innocent child suffering.  And because we are so far from the keep, we can move without being observed.”

“Praise be,” she whispered.

“You rest lady, you are still weak.”

“Aye,” she said.  “Please send that message to Montgomery.  I do not wish to worry my lord.”

“As you wish,” the Templar said and quietly left.

****

Late
March 1265

Talon rubbed his eyes wearily, his aching body tired of riding a horse.  They journeyed a long trail that crossed over rich farmland, still in pursuit of Montfort’s entourage.

“Good glory, Aaron,” Talon muttered to the knight next to him.  “Montfort moves faster than a Welsh raiding party.”

The young knight chuckled grimly.  “Aye, my lord.  And pardon my saying, but he leaves the people behind in as much of a daze as those who have been attacked.”

Talon could only agree and this fact concerned him greatly.  He knew Montfort kept moving fast so those loyal to Henry and Prince Edward would find it difficult to organize an attack, uncertain of where he would be.  But the towns and shires he passed through had appeared as if an intense, localized tempest had struck violently then left.  The huge entourage depleted food stores with their revelry, the lords who had their cases heard discovered startlingly swift judgments which may or may not have been justice.  Jails swelled right along with the gallows and graveyards.  Purses were depleted and lands confiscated.  Although Talon did not have the time to listen to all the facts of what people told him, he grew concerned over the seemingly arbitrary seizure of land and home.

“How long have we been riding after him now?” Talon asked, so weary he had lost count of the days.

“Well nigh four months since we left Montgomery.  The foul winter has slowed us down too much.  I must say, my lord, I miss home.”

Talon thought of Gwen and pain shot through his heart.  “So do I, Aaron.”  He missed her arms around him, he missed her glorious kiss, he missed making love to her, he missed wrapping himself around her at night to sleep, and he missed her sweet voice and beautiful laugh.  Just thinking about her caused him to adjust his position uncomfortably in the saddle.

Aaron straightened sharply.  “My lord, three riders approach,” he said and pointed.

Talon blinked the blurry mist from his tired eyes.  In the distance a man wearing armor and a surcoat, with two mounted men at arms galloping towards them.  “A knight,” Talon said but I cannot yet recognize the heraldry.”

“Lord Essex, I believe.”

The knight galloped closer, bidding them a hail with a raised hand. 

“Aye,” Talon said, recognizing the argent eagle on a blue field.  He lifted his hand in return.

The knight pulled his blowing mount to a stop beside Talon’s.  His men halting a pace behind.  “Well met, Earl Montgomery,” Essex said bending at the waist to bow slightly on horseback.

“And to you Lord Essex,” Talon replied offering his hand.

Essex gripped his forearm and gave him a warm smile.  “How fair you this day?”

“Well, but tired.  We ride after Montfort and find him most difficult to catch.”

Essex’s smile vanished, his expression suddenly grave.  “As do I, Earl.  I fear there has been some terrible misunderstanding regarding my younger brother.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It seems our lordship Montfort mistook a case he heard in his justice court.”  Abruptly Essex snorted, his mouth forming a hard line.  “Hell, Montgomery, forgive me for being blunt but Montfort stole my brother’s holdings.”

“Stole?” Talon asked in shock.  “What mean you?”

“It was naught but a show trial.  Montfort’s cousin has long coveted my brother’s rich lands.  Montfort claimed he owed taxes, taxes he had paid, and seized the land, awarding it to his own cousin.  My brother is near destitute.”

Talon’s heart stalled in his chest.  “Surely you jest, my lord.”