Chapter Twelve

A nnora stood back whilst the men took down the last of her tent. Poles were stacked inside a wagon, and, with an expertise that proved that this task had been done more than once, the fabric began to be folded by several knights. She lifted her satchel over her shoulder and made her way to her horse that Merek held for her.

She waved Merek away as she went to tie her satchel to the saddle and began checking the cinches to ensure all were secure. ’Twas nothing more than a habit, for she knew Merek would have seen to such things. He had been overseeing her welfare for many a year and now was no different. She was thankful for his service and the reminder that he remained faithful to her household.

She ran her hands over the black fur of her horse until she took the reins. She patted his muzzle and received what she perceived as a smile until he flapped his lips. Annora laughed knowing all he wished for was a treat. She reached inside her cloak and pulled out an apple that had survived the winter. She held the red fruit beneath his mouth as he began to munch on the unexpected delicacy.

“You are beyond spoiled, Shadow. Are you ready to see where we are off to next?” she asked not expecting a reply but still pleased when he began bobbing his head as though in answer. Placing her foot in the stirrup, she swung herself up onto her horse and settled herself in the saddle as Merek came abreast of her on his own steed.

“Are you ready, Lady de Maris?” Merek inquired as he waved his hand behind him to the others.

“Why so formal an address, Merek?” she asked, before startling at the sudden sound of others coming up behind her. They began to form around Annora like a protective barrier. She turned in the saddle to look at the knights whilst the men kept a steady gaze ahead. “Are we expecting an ambush?”

“I will take no further chances when it comes to your wellbeing, my lady. I failed you once and will not do so again.”

“You hardly failed me, Merek,” she said with a soft sigh as she focused her attention on her captain. “’Twas certainly not your fault I left my tent in the middle of the night to fall right into our enemy’s hands.”

Merek scowled at the memory of what must have been a terrifying time for him, discovering that she had vanished without a trace. Annora knew that they had much to discuss about all that had happened since then, but this was hardly the time whilst other were in listening distance. “I will not fail you again,” he repeated before waving forward two knights. “Let me introduce you to Percival Ford and Manfred Crump. Both men can be trusted and have offered their services to ensure your safety.”

Annora bowed her head. “Gentlemen. ’Tis kind of you to assist Merek, not that I cannot defend myself.”

“Lady de Maris,” both men said in unison giving her a nod from atop their horses.

Her tent was now loaded into the wagon with everything secured and they only waited for her command to follow the rest of Stephen’s army. The cart began to move toward the road and she pointed in the direction they were to travel. “You may proceed us. We will follow directly.”

Percival looked askance to Merek who nodded his head, and the men began to follow her wagon to the road. This left her and Merek mostly alone to have a brief conversation in relative privacy.

Annora pulled on her leather gloves that had been tucked into her waist. “Do you know where Stephen’s army is headed next?” she asked.

“Nay. I do not think we shall be privy to such confidential information from now on.”

“Why?”

One of Merek’s brows rose. “You have to ask? I think you being captured by his enemy was enough to make Stephen leery of how much you might overhear. He fears you might have formed new allegiances and could somehow find a way to inform Empress Matilda of his plans in the future.”

“I was hardly in the confidence of the Empress… who, as you know, had escaped days ago.”

“But you were held by her supporters. And given your embrace of your captor before your exit from the keep, it may appear to Stephen—and to others—as though you are now on friendly terms with those that support the Empress, your enemy.” Merek leaned an elbow on the pommel of his saddle while he stared directly upon her. “We have not had an opportunity to discuss what happened to you.”

“What is there to discuss? I was captured and taken prisoner. Let it be enough that I was unharmed and treated with the utmost respect.”

“I think there is plenty to discuss, Annora,” Merek said reverting back to the familiar pattern of address she had become used to now that ’twas just the two of them. “I cannot believe that you were immune to the charms of Grancourt, given how familiar you appeared with him.”

“We found a common accord in the short span of time we were in each other’s company,” she replied taking a brief glance toward the castle.

“Is that all?” he snarled with a frown.

She returned her attention to Merek to look him directly in his eyes. “We found a common ground. That is all. Nothing else happened between us,” she fumed. ’Twas as though her captain wished to make what had occurred between her and Richard into something she should be ashamed of. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

“If you say so, Annora, but that was not how it appeared. At least, not to me. Your departure from the knight was one of two lovers saying farewell and not two people who met on a battlefield months ago when the city of Oxford fell into Stephen’s hands,” he muttered with an angry scowl upon his brow.

“Nothing happened between us that you need to be concerned about,” Annora repeated. They had only shared a few stolen kisses, nothing more. And surely those mattered little now that her time with Richard was at an end. “Let the matter rest, Merek.”

Merek took up his reins. “If you tell me you are the same as before you were captured, then so be it, but I think you speak a falsehood. I will, as you just ordered, let the matter rest. That is… for now. Let us catch up with the men who were willing to help guard you.”

Merek flicked his reins and his horse moved forward leaving Annora a moment to herself.

Annora pondered Merek’s words. She would never be the same as she used to be before she had been captured. She would be haunted by a pair of blue eyes for months if not years to come.

Annora tried to avoid looking in the direction of the fortress that she had lived in the shadows of for the past several months. But ’twas unavoidable as she hoped she would catch one last glimpse of a man who had somehow entered her heart. ’Twas foolish to continue to think of him. She knew this with every breath she took. Yet the warrior who had captured her against her will had somehow cracked the surface of the guard she had placed around her for more years than she could count. Richard Grancourt would be hard for her to ever forget.

With one last look at the battlements above the keep, she pulled on Shadow’s reins to follow the men. Annora’s time here at Oxford was at an end.