The Wise Virgin by Jo Beverley

Author:Jo Beverley
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Medieval
Publisher: 0
Published: 2018-11-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

As misty gray heralded dawn, they made their way down the steep hill toward flatter, more fertile ground. She was perched up behind Edmund on his big horse this time, hand in his belt. He only had padded cloth between himself and the horse, and the rope bridle, so they still moved quietly, except for the subdued rattle of armor. His sword was in its scabbard, but he carried his big shield on his arm, since he couldn't sling it on his back and had no saddle to hook it to. She couldn't help worrying that the weight must tire even him over time. She worried, too, that his right arm might have stiffened by now from her wound.

She smiled at her own ridiculous tendency to fuss over him like a mother with a delicate child. This was the Golden Lion, undefeated in tourney for many years.

For a while they moved through a misty world still silent as night, but then pink touched the sky and the first bird began to call. As the pearly light spread in the sky, Joan kept her ears alert for sounds of danger, as she was sure he was doing, but it was as if the hunt had ceased.

Here, at least.

She didn't know this countryside well, but she assumed that the deer paths he chose led to Woldingham, and if there were enemies about, that's where they'd be found.

Foolish man.

As when she'd been first captured, she thought of slipping off the horse to escape. It would be easier now since she rode behind him, but just as pointless. He'd capture her in seconds. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his mailed chest, hating the harshness between her and his flesh.

In the end, danger came abruptly, catching them in the worst possible place. Thor had just scrambled up the steep bank of a stream when four horsemen galloped along a nearby path.

Edmund immediately stilled the horse, and the men almost missed them. Then one glanced to the side and hauled his horse up, crying the alert.

To run was hopeless. To stand was surely to die!

"Get off and head for Woldingham. To our left and as the crow flies." Edmund dropped the reins and drew his sword.

"No—"

"Obey me, Joan."

The Golden Lion had spoken, and after a heartbreaking moment, Joan slid off the horse. He couldn't fight with her on his back—but she wasn't running away.

She ducked into the cover of some evergreen growth and wove as quickly and silently as possible to somewhere else. Anywhere else. Yells and the clash of metal made her jump, and she peeped out from behind a big tree, to see a mess of men, horses and swords.

They'd kill him!

She only just stopped herself from running out in a futile effort to help.

Then Thor kicked backward and a horse went down, squealing, the rider tossed off and, at least, dazed. Immediately, he reared, startling another horse into shying away. Praise heaven, none of the attackers was on a warhorse. A mighty swipe of Edmund's sword unseated another rider.

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