Understanding dawned in Dardinel’seyes.“Aye, Cap—”
“No.”Willem stepped up.“I should stay behind and pretend to be you.I’ll only slow youdown and be of little use in a fight.I can be of more use thisway, and you’ll have one more sword arm to save my wife andchild.”
Though Willem was no horseman, theBlack knew him well enough.It could work.“Can you ride theBlack?”
“I’ve got an apple in mysaddlebag to bribe him with.You can tie me onto his back if that’swhat it takes.”Willem glanced over at Shadow, one of the fewhorses ever who hadn’t taken to Talon.“What about you, will Shadowlet you ride him?”
Talon cocked his head at the rangybay.“Got any more apples?”
CHAPTER 25
Ambushed
Lara
Isabeau was getting harder to keepconfined to a horse’s back all day and a circle’s worth of groundat night.She’d made a break for it every time they stopped, andthough she didn’t get far on her toddler’s legs, she put up a loudfuss every time Lara caught her.
“Like mother likedaughter.”Inigo chuckled as they stopped for the night anddismounted.Issy had already made her run for freedom as soon asher feet hit ground.
“Do you have children?”Lara grabbed her daughter and held her and her squirmstight.
“Three,” Inigo said,handing his horses reins to one of his men.“Two boys, onegirl.”
Lara jostled Isabeau on her hip.“Whatwould you do if someone abducted them, intending to sell them intoslavery?”She glanced meaningfully at Nithard and Ranulf, who’ddismounted and were stretching out their backs as one of theBasques took care of their horses.“Or worse?”
“I do anything,everything, to get them back,” Inigo said.“To killsasikumeakwho tookthem.”
“My husband will do noless.”Lara let go of Issy’s hand so she could join Patience andWilric, who were heading for some bushes.
“I sure he try.”Inigo hadsomething akin to sympathy in his eyes.“Does not change anything.Deal was made.I not go against my uncle’s word.”
“Nithard won’t live longenough to know if the deal was kept or not,” she bluffed.“I’veseen this in my dreams.”
“You say this to Nithardbefore.”The sympathy in his eyes changed to wariness.“Nithardbelieve you.Why?”
“Because my dreams alwayscome true.One way or another.”
He eyed her for a long, serious momentthen eventually spoke.“Feed you child while men makingcamp.”
Lara did as he suggested.She wasstill nursing Isabeau a few times a day, and it helped calm Issydown, though it also inevitably drew many of the men as close asthey dared to watch, craning their necks for a glimpse of Lara’sbreasts.Ranulf and Lothair practically drooled when they werewatching, and Nithard watched Isabeau rather than Lara, which madeLara more uncomfortable than the other men’s leeringgazes.
While the Basque cook started the potof beans over the fire, she finished nursing Issy and sat with theother women, watching Issy and Wilric play as Orttzi and Lothairrode in.
“They’re a little morethan half a day behind us,” Lothair reported as he joined Inigo bythe fire.“They slowed down a bit, waiting for ten more men to showup.”
“Just like soldier ofGaul,” Inigo said.“Thinking numbers win him battle.”
“Does Guiscard still leadthem?”Nithard asked as he went over.
“Aye,” Lothair said.“Sawhim with my own eyes: his helmet, his armor, riding hisblack.”
“What will that matter?”Ranulf poked at the fire.“They’ve given us a greater lead to thepass, where we will pick them off one by one.”
He smiled at Lara as he counted off,and she closed her eyes against his vitriol and prayed Talon hadfound her messages, especially the last one.It was unlike him toslow his chase for numbers, but Lothair had seen them, hadrecognized Talon’s horse and armor.
Opening her eyes, she caught Lothair’sglare.
“What are you looking at,witch?”