Chapter Eight

E lysande pulled on the reins of her horse to halt its progress once she reached the inner bailey of Bristol Castle. She raised her head to stare up at the towering keep and could only wonder what awaited her inside. Her emotions had been a jumbled mess since locking Blackmore's door this morn. She had left everything behind of her old life and had left a note for whenever her parents might return. She had bid farewell to the few remaining servants after Hawke made arrangements for their own travel, reiterating to them that she would one day return to Blackmore with the hope they, too, might wish to return to serve her household when that time came.

She was thankful that Hawke remained by her side. Her maid Olive had also been a pleasant surprise when she refused to leave her mistress. But they were all that was left of the life she had known. Her world had been turned upside down by a pair of steel grey eyes.

Her own watched Reynard whilst he was welcomed by several knights, one of whom she recognized from when he had ordered food be brought forward for their meal whilst still at Blackmore. The camaraderie between the two knights was unquestionable and 'twas clear these men were friends beyond their service to their empress. Several laughed at what one of them had said, causing Reynard to scowl. Whatever comment had been mentioned was directed at the younger knight.

Elysande had had plenty of time to study Reynard whilst they traveled the short distance to Bristol. Though he could not be much older than she herself was, at times she felt much younger in comparison. Mayhap 'twas because of the battles he had fought that made him seem older than his years. Or perchance she considered herself younger because she had always been tied to the responsibilities of caring for Blackmore and its people, which meant that she never had the chance to see much of the world. Whatever the reason, Elysande had tried to keep her demeaner indifferent to the man she had sworn to hate. Yet, whenever his gaze turned in her direction, her heart betrayed her and flipped end over end. She swore she would not fall under his spell.

Reynard pointed in her direction. Hawke and Olive sat upon their own horses slightly behind her. She turned her head and whispered Hawke's name. He pressed his steed forward until his horse came parallel with her own.

"Are we safe here?" she asked lifting her eyes to meet her captain's.

"We are probably safer here with these knights then left to our own devices back at Blackmore," he stated before taking off his leather gloves and tucking them into the belt at his waist. "At least we have the protection of many instead of trying to do everything with the few servants we had left. Without your guardsmen, we were left vulnerable."

"I can only pray that they will return to Blackmore once we are finally allowed to make our way home—and that when that time comes, things will look differently from how they were when we left the place. I felt horrible releasing the servants from their service to my family," she murmured.

"They understood your dire circumstances, my lady, and took no offense. They were lucky they yet lived after Stephen's army got through with the place," Hawke answered with his soft French accent that used to cause her heart to soar in her youth. Now he was more like the older brother that she'd never had.

Elysande nodded. "I still do not like the fact that Sir Reynard forced my hand," she hissed, and her eyes drifted back to the man who continued to creep into her head at all hours of the day. Nay, 'twas worse than that, for not only had he physically shown up wherever she went at Blackmore, but he had also unknowingly invaded her dreams at night. A rosy blush flushed her face whilst she remembered some of those visions. They had been so intimate. So vivid, filled with a passion she had never experienced before in all her score of years. They had embedded themselves in her mind so completely that at times she swore she could almost still feel his touch upon her bare skin. 'Twas as if her mind betrayed how she really felt about a knight she barely knew but yearned to know in every aspect. God's Bones !

"I was pleased you came to the decision to leave. There was nothing left for us at Blackmore, and you know it, Elysande," Hawke replied, using her given name to add extra weight to his words.

She frowned and watched whilst Reynard left his friends and began making his way back in her direction. She nodded to Hawke. "See to Olive and ensure she is settled for the night. My guess is we will not linger long here at Bristol."

Hawke's eyes narrowed watching Reynard's steady approach. "Are you certain you do not wish for me to stay by your side, my lady?"

"Aye." She did not say another word. If anything, Elysande knew she would be safe with so many around if she had to call for aid. Besides, with her still sitting on her horse, she had the upper hand and the height to feel dominant over the man who stood upon the ground.

"Let me assist you from your horse, my lady," Reynard said, holding up his hands.

A sly smirk crept across her lips. "I am more than capable of dismounting myself, sir," she said watching as his brow furrowed.

"Do you plan to hate me all the way to Oxford?" he asked settling his arms across that well-muscled chest.

She could not help the light laugh that escaped her mouth, even when it caused the line of Reynard's own mouth to creep ever so slightly upward. "Mayhap. Time will tell, Sir Knight."

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. "Well then… until you figure out how you shall treat me on a day-to-day basis, why do you not give me this one concession by allowing my chivalrous nature to speak for itself by helping you?"

"I still hate you for making me leave my home." She took off her leather gloves and wondered if she should just jump down from her horse to spite him.

"I understand completely," he replied, staring up at her.

"Such an emotion most likely will continue for some time to come," she continued whilst swinging one leg over the pommel of her saddle. She was still unaccustomed to wearing a tunic and hose, but Hawke and Reynard had suggested she would be more comfortable in a man's attire than traveling wearing a gown that would not permit her to sit astride in the saddle.

"I will not even make an attempt to change your mind in regard to me," Reynard attested, stepping forward and once more holding up his hands. "May I?"

"Aye. I suppose," she at last said, leaning down to rest her palms on his shoulders.

She tried not to think of him holding her close when her body slid down the front of his chest. Nor when their eyes met and held upon her descent to the ground. Nay! Her fingers continued to feel the fabric of his tunic until she remembered herself. Tilting her head back, she felt so small standing next to this tall warrior, and she gulped when the pounding of her heart once again betrayed her tangled feelings.

Another chuckle left him as though he knew the direction in which her thoughts had strayed. Instead of making some snide comment, he instead took hold of her hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow. "Let me introduce you to my friends. They will treat you with the utmost respect and I know that they, too, shall watch over and protect you.

She could only nod her reply. When he took her the short distance to where the men waited, Elysande did her best to remember their names. Richard, Blake, Kingsley and Oswin all bowed before her as they were each presented to her. All handsome rogues whom Elysande would need to protect her heart from or else it would surely be lost to one of these knights.