Chapter Ten

G aliena heard the murmuring of voices at the door behind her as she held her hands to the flames. She turned to face Hawk and Lady Alyce as they entered the room, hoping that they would attribute her red face to the heat of the fire and nothing else.

"We thought you may want to take your supper in the privacy of the solar," Lady Alyce said.

Lady Alyce had her back turned to Galiena as she set the supper on the table in the center of the room, but she could see Red studying her face intently, then nodding his head. She could only imagine what the lady was silently asking Red, but she felt certain it had to do with the sanity of the woman who collapsed into herself and had to be carried like a child from the hall.

"We will leave you to dine together," Hawk said to Red. "When you are finished, we can determine what you need for the journey."

"I would like to speak to both of you about that," Red responded. "If you do not mind sitting with us while we eat, we can discuss it."

Galiena pushed the confusing thoughts about Red, the guilt over her feelings when he'd kissed her, and the surprising way she responded to his touch, out of her mind as she approached the table. Hawk and Lady Alyce were gathering documents, ink wells, and ledger books from the table to stack in a pile on the far corner, giving them plenty of room to eat their meal.

Red pulled a chair out from the table, indicating she should sit. "You may not feel up to eating, but you will need the strength."

He was right, her stomach and her emotions were in too much turmoil for food to be appealing, but she would be even more useless to Red on the journey if she did not keep up her strength. "I beg your forgiveness for my rude behavior when you have been so kind," she said to the lord and lady. "I was overcome with exhaustion."

"Nonsense," Lady Alyce soothed. "There was no offense."

Galiena felt awkward eating in front of the lord and lady, but necessity prevailed, and once Red attacked the food hardily, so did she though not with as much vigor. It was a chore to chew and swallow with her nerves on edge, but each time she stopped, Red would nudge another morsel of stewed meat or vegetables toward her and shoot her a look that said he wanted her to eat more.

"Tell us what you need, Red." To Galiena's surprise, it was Lady Alyce who gave the command, and Lord Hawk seemed content to have her take the lead.

"Food for three days," Red said around a mouthful of stew. "Another horse. One that is strong but steady. Galiena is not afraid of horses, but she is not an experienced rider."

"You work with the horses almost as much as the stable master; I'm sure you have one in mind. Whichever it is, take it." Hawk's obvious trust and ease with Red were apparent in his mannerisms and the way he spoke to him.

Red nodded, "The gray charger that you acquired in the summer. We've already determined that he is too easy-tempered to be a warhorse, but he is strong and sure-footed."

"Take him," Hawk readily agreed. "What else?"

"If you can spare four men as escort, that will be appreciated. The Welsh rebellion may be quelled, but I don't care to take any chances."

Hawk nodded. "The king will remember you as one of my men-at-arms, but I will send a letter with my seal in case you need it to expedite an audience with the king and queen." He gave a derisive snort. "If his clerk is having a bad day, he tends to take it out on anyone who is not titled."

Red growled, narrowing his eyes, and baring his teeth, making Galiena smile in amusement. He obviously did not find it acceptable that anyone would dare refuse him, even a king.

"Edward thinks highly of you," Hawk said with a warning tone, "and even though the clerk does not care for me, he will not risk the king's wrath by refusing to deliver my message to him with the utmost haste."

"Has the king fully forgiven you for choosing Lady Alyce over your loyalty to him?" Galiena asked, a twinge of guilt gnawing at her for making the rude inquiry of the lord of Hawkspur, but she had to know if Hawk's relationship with the king would harm them or help them. Red's brows shot up disapprovingly with the question, and Galiena wondered if the Viking did not agree with what Hawk was rumored to have done for the love of his lady. Granted, she did not know the entire story, other than he did not fully execute the king's wishes and was nearly executed himself for it.

"I think it is me he does not forgive," Lady Alyce interjected.

Hawk put his arm around his wife and squeezed her shoulders, then turned his attention back to Red. "The king is more of a romantic than either you or me. He did what he had to, or he would have lost the respect of the realm. It's been more than a year and I still have the marks of the king's displeasure, should anyone doubt his leadership."

A pained look flashed across Lady Alyce's face as she put a soothing hand on Hawk's cheek, to which he responded by leaning in and unselfconsciously kissing her cheek. "You know I would endure it again daily if it is the price I must pay to have you."

"Daily?" Lady Alyce asked with a doubtful tip to her head.

Hawk shrugged. "Perhaps monthly. Or annually." Then he grinned, "Or at least once more in my lifetime."

The lord's wife flashed him a brilliant smile, her adoration of him apparent. "Once was more than enough."

An aching pang wrenched Galiena's chest as she watched Hawk and Lady Alyce together. She missed that easy comradery and warm jesting that couples share, remembering what it was like to have someone to lean on and someone for whom one would readily endure pain or worse.

"Now," Lady Alyce said, returning her attention to Red and Galiena. "I will instruct Cook to prepare the food provisions, but what else is needed?"

Red tipped his head toward Galiena. "Her friend in Oswestry loaned her clothing and boots, but Anora is significantly taller than Galiena. We will need boots that fit properly, warm gloves, and a warmer chemise and a tunic that fits if possible."

Lady Alyce nodded while she assessed Galiena. "I believe you to be similar in height and build as Gertie. She and Edna are warming bath water for you, but I will ask her to gather what she can from her wardrobe."

That is too much," Galiena protested, embarrassed over the fuss being made on her behalf. "I cannot possibly take her clothing. She will need it herself."

Lady Alyce shook her head, hearing none of it. "The bootmaker can have new boots for her in a day or two, and if needed we will have new clothing sewn for her in no time at all. Besides, I have reason to believe she will be preferring tunics with a little wider girth in them very soon."

"Already?" Red asked with a laugh. "Her husband wasted no time in getting her with child."

"I think it better to say she wasted no time in getting with child," Hawk retorted. "Once she had her heart set on Roger, there was no escaping for him."

"I did not see him protesting," Lady Alyce rebuked. "The eagerness was equally shared." She started to stand, and Hawk immediately pushed to his feet to assist her with the chair. She turned to Red, saying, "I had Edna prepare the room next to yours for Galiena. The baths should be ready in both rooms by now."

Galiena had eaten her fill and Red was quickly finishing the bits that were left, sopping up the gravy with a chunk of bread and popping it in his mouth. She reluctantly rose from the table as Lady Alyce beckoned her to follow, but Red reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"I will be near," he said in a low voice.

Galiena nodded, then followed Lady Alyce.

"I will have Gertie fetch her boots immediately," she said to Galiena. "If they do not fit, our shoemaker is the envy of the realm; he will have a new pair ready by dawn if needed."

She was about to protest again, hating the idea of some poor man being forced to work the night through for her, but one look from the lady told her it would be folly to argue.

As luck would have it, the boots fit nearly perfectly. As did Gertie's gloves and tunic. Lady Alyce had inspected the cloak from Anora and deemed it sturdy enough. "But I would feel better if it had a lining of fur in the shoulders and hood for added warmth. If you will leave it with me, the alterations will be discreet, as we do not want it to tempt a thief." Once more, since she knew she had no choice in the matter, Galiena agreed.

Galiena had been bathed and brushed and was sitting by the fire, shaking out the strands of her hair to dry in the heat radiating from the flames. Lady Alyce and her maids fluttered about her, inspecting her clothing, and packing the extra items into a leather satchel.

Edna held up the heavy braies Galiena had worn under her tunic and chemise. "Clever girl! I must sew a pair like these for you, Lady Alyce. So much better than trying to tuck your chemise around your legs."

"They belonged to my friend's younger brother," Galiena said. When none of them looked at her like she was making an unwanted interruption, she mustered on, ignoring her instinct to stay quiet and unobtrusive. "He was training to become a blacksmith, hence the thickness. I am grateful she thought to give them to me to wear."

"Nothing so valuable as a good friend," Gertie said, then took the braies from Edna. "I will take these out to give them a good shake and wipe them clean. I do not think they will dry by morning if I wash them."

"A good shake is more than enough, thank you," Galiena said, giving the young woman a warm smile while trying to stay in control of the array of emotions assailing her. She had given herself over to the fussing of the ladies as they bathed her, dried her with a soft sheet, pulled a clean sleeping gown over her head, and brushed her hair. It had been unexpected, uncomfortable—and the most soothing, selfless thing anyone had done for her in a very long time.

She'd never had sisters, and before Anora, she'd never truly experienced the friendship of other women. She'd always been curious about the women gathered together by the riverbank or the town center as they washed and darned clothing while watching their children play, but she had never joined them. Instead, she had lived outside of town on the farm with her husband, content with the occasional exchanging of niceties with the men and women at the weekly market. Once she moved into the cottage on the churchyard near the edge of town, she had avoided the women and children—the women an awkward reminder that she didn't fit in, and the children a soul-wrenching reminder of her beautiful Nahara.

To be in the midst of Lady Alyce, Edna, and Gertie as they talked of and laughed about people they knew and things that happened, she was beginning to understand the appeal of the shared conversation and time together. She was at a complete loss as to how to be part of their sisterhood, but she was warming to the comradery. Of course, these women knew nothing about her or her past. They did not look down on her because of her unusual upbringing by her merchant father. Nor did they look at her with pity in the same way as the village women at home.

When Edna and Gertie had tidied the room and put everything away and prepared her clothing for the morning, they bid her good night and safe journey, then left her alone with Lady Alyce.

"I will not stay long, for you must get your rest. You have long days ahead of you," Lady Alyce said, seating herself on the rug before the hearth, facing Galiena. She had not expected the lady of the castle to sit on the floor with her as she dried her hair, and she started to protest, indicating they should move to the chairs, but Alyce shook her head and motioned for her to stay where she was by the fire. "I hope you do not take umbrage, but Hawk relayed to me the reason for your journey as told by Red."

Galiena was not surprised that Red had confided in his commander, nor that Hawk had confided in his wife. It was apparent in the little while she had been in their presence that the lord had great respect for his lady. She admired the confidence of Lady Alyce and the way she spoke freely, without fear of censorship.

She shook her head at the lady. "I do not mind, Lady Alyce. And I welcome any advice you may have for me."

"I was not just being polite when I said I prefer you to call me ‘Alyce'," she said with a sincere smile. "There is no need for such formality between friends."

"Thank you…Alyce." It felt good to be thought of as a friend.

"I am not sure I have advice for you, but I have met the king and queen and can tell you what I know of them."

"Yes, please!" She had not wanted to admit to Red how terrified she was of speaking in front of King Edward and Queen Eleanor. Especially when she did not have good news.

"King Edward is intimidating and intolerant of anyone he feels is wasting his time."

Galiena felt a pit form in her stomach at Alyce's words. What would she do if the king did not believe what she had to say about the men in the alley? Would he think her being dramatic and seeking attention? Her gaze flicked to the pile of clothing on the chest at the foot of the bed. She had watched Gertie shake out and fold her chemise, but she had not found the little roll of parchment tucked into the cleverly sewn pouch attached to the inner seam of the arm.

"Do not let him scare you," Alyce continued. "If you treat him with deference but speak to him with confidence and aplomb, he will look upon you with favor. As for Queen Eleanor, be straightforward and immediately express your reason for speaking with her. She does not tolerate anyone mincing their words or flowery language. She wants you to say what you mean plainly and clearly."

Galiena nodded her head, taking it all in. She would need to practice what she planned to say so as not to stumble over her own words as she told the queen that someone was planning to kill her precious son. Not an easy conversation to have, and she feared saying it too plainly would send the poor women into fits.

Alyce patted her on her knee. "You will find the right words by the time you must face the king and queen. Red will demand a private audience with the king and tell him the worst of it, but they will want to hear you recount everything you heard and witnessed."

"Which is not very much," Galiena admitted.

"It will be enough. There can be no doubt as to the intent of the men if what Red relayed is accurate."

"I know it must seem very imprudent of me to insist on speaking to the king and queen myself when Red could just tell them what I heard and show them the missive—I assume he told Hawk about the missive?"

Alyce nodded. "Aye. He did say there is a coded message. And Hawk did inquire as to why he didn't leave you under our protection while he rode on, but Red said it was crucial to you to complete the journey and bring the news to the queen yourself." The lady studied her with a somber expression.

Galiena waited for Alyce to tell her to trust Red to complete the mission, that it wasn't sensible for her to accompany him, and that she was being selfish for insisting on going to the king and queen herself. But she didn't say any of those things.

"Red trusts your reasons are sound, and that is all that is important," Alyce said with a quick shrug. Then a slow smile spread across her face. "Did you really throw yourself into Red's arms and call him your husband to escape the men after you?"

"I did," Galiena admitted, with an amused sigh and a deprecating roll of her eyes. "It was done in haste and without any forethought. And now I cannot rid myself of him!" Galiena was relieved when Alyce laughed at her jest. "That's not fair of me. The truth is, of all the men who could have been walking down that lane at that exact moment, it was my good fortune that it was Red."

"Aye, it was good fortune."

Galiena thought about what would have happened to her if it had been someone with nefarious intentions. Or even someone who was indifferent to a stranger in peril. "It surely does seem Fate played a part in putting Red there at the exact moment I needed someone with his…skills and connections. Lord above knows I tried everything to deter him once I thought he'd served his purpose."

"Sometimes the people we need the most are the same ones we push against the hardest."

"Did you push against Hawk?" As soon as Galiena asked the question, she realized her blunder. "I am sorry, my lady, I did not mean to pry, and I should not have asked such a personal question."

Alyce surprised her by reaching out her hand, which she tentatively took in her own. "Do not be embarrassed for asking. I don't always take to others, but I like you." She squeezed Galiena's hand. "And I have a good feeling this will not be the last time I see you with Red."

Galiena's gaze faltered, her stomach in turmoil over the expectation that she and Red belonged together. "I do not have many friends in my life, but I am honored to consider you among them."

"And I as well," she said with gentle understanding. "To answer your question, I did push against Hawk. I was a heartbroken widow determined to never marry again."

Galiena's head snapped up. "You are a widow?"

"I am. Judging from your reaction, you are as well?"

Galiena nodded as a lump started to form in her throat. It was not uncommon for women to be widowed, but Alyce was similar in age to Galiena, and she seemed so happy.

She continued, "I was afraid of being hurt again and had convinced myself I could not be a proper wife to anyone other than a doddering old man with no need for heirs—which seemed a worse fate than being alone. But the details of that story will have to wait for another time. Just know when I met Hawk, I did not think he could possibly love me as I was. And it felt like a betrayal to let another man into my bed and especially into my heart."

It felt like finally breathing in fresh air to hear Alyce speak about her experience and the things she feared the most. Galiena had felt so alone in her guilt and believed no one would sympathize with the struggles she faced. She wanted to hug the dear woman.

"I do not know your story," Alyce said, reaching out to cup Galiena's cheek in her hand, "but I do know it gets easier with time. And I am confident that despite whatever thoughts are in your head, you are deserving of love and happiness again."

Galiena could not stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She'd longed for the shared wisdom of a mother, or even a sister, while she was growing up, and especially when she married and became a mother herself. After a lifetime of learning how to navigate the world without the advice and guidance of another woman, Alyce's friendship now was worth more than treasure.

"Can I hug you?" Her voice was shaky, and she could hardly see for the tears clouding her vision, but she went gratefully into the other woman's arms as they closed around her.

"I knew there was a reason I thought we would be friends from the moment I saw you," Galiena heard Alyce say into her hair. "And it wasn't just because you fell through the door."

She laughed and hiccupped into Alyce's shoulder, soaking her tunic through with her endless flood of tears. It was like someone had pulled the cork from a keg, releasing the tension that had been drowning her for far too long.

"I think you and I have much in common and, when you are ready, you can tell me about it. If you'd like."

Galiena nodded her head against Alyce's shoulder. "I would," she said, the words muffled as she continued to cling to Alyce. It was a long while before they released each other, but finally, Alyce said, "Let us get you into bed. You must be exhausted, and you have a long day ahead of you on the morrow."

As they rose to their feet, Galiena said, "Please, Alyce, do not tell Red what I said about good fortune bringing him to me when I needed a champion. He is insufferable in his arrogance as it is."

Alyce laughed out loud. "You have my word," she said as she bid Galiena good night and closed the door behind her.

After the lady had left, Galiena thought about what they'd discussed and her fear that the king would not find her story credible. The key to it all was in that coded missive. But what did it say? What if the proof she needed was not there? She moved to retrieve the scroll to study it while she could, determined to make sense of it before they reached the king.