Chapter 4
Just as Captain Gawyn had predicted, Uncle Bruce had insisted Justina and Adam return to Acquitaine and thank Lady Aurora. Justina knew that Uncle Bruce could use the extra horse on the farm. They were very thankful for Lady Aurora’s help. And still, Justina was apprehensive about returning to Acquitaine. Her father’s murderer was in Acquitaine. What would she do if she came face to face with him? And what of Adam? Would he be safe?
Uncle Bruce had insisted, and Justina couldn’t say no. Not only had Lady Aurora given them a horse, but she had stationed soldiers on the borders of the land. Since the soldiers were there, Justina knew Uncle Bruce was well protected. While there was still work to be done on the farm, she felt obligated to thank Lady Aurora. Since the harvest was mostly finished, this was an opportune time to go to the city. There was less work to do on the farm.
She rode the new mare Lady Aurora had given them. She cast a glance at Adam who was delighted to ride with the captain. Justina wondered how long it would be until Gawyn couldn’t take it anymore and made Adam ride with her. She looked down and smiled secretly. Served him right. He was so confident they would accept Lord Damien’s request to dine with them.
He had been right. Still, Justina couldn’t stop the apprehension that grew inside of her the closer they got to Acquitaine. She couldn’t get the image of that face, those cold eyes, out of her mind. What could she do about her father’s killer? What if she saw him again? She would plunge her dagger into his heart for killing her father! She would make sure she didn’t miss her opportunity this time. As they moved, she placed her hand over the dagger strapped to her thigh. She had planned and visualized the moment for a long time. She knew what she had to do.
“I’m glad you changed your mind.”
Startled, Justina lifted her gaze. Gawyn was riding next to her; Adam on the same horse sitting behind him, his gaze on the two knights ahead of them. “About what?” she wondered.
“Lord Damien’s invitation.”
“I’m glad, too,” Adam agreed.
“I had little choice. I would have ended up in the dungeon if I didn’t personally make the trip to thank Lady Aurora.”
Gawyn grinned gently.
Justina gaped, realizing how her statement sounded. “I meant no offense to Lady Aurora! I meant Uncle Bruce would have –”
Gawyn shook his head. “You have nothing to apologize for. I took no offense and Lady Aurora would not have, either. She really cares for her people and was very upset she had not been informed of the raid.”
Justina nodded. She felt a wave of embarrassment wash through her nonetheless. “Thank you for relaying the message.” Gawyn stared at her so intently that a blush rose in her cheeks.
“How could I do anything else?”
Justina lowered her gaze and suddenly found herself staring at Adam. His brow was furrowed in confusion as he stared at her. She quickly averted her gaze to the reins of the horse she clutched in her hand.
“How many guards are at the castle?” Adam asked.
Thank the Lord for Adam, Justina thought.
“Will I get to meet all of them?”
They made it to Acquitaine as the sun was beginning to set. The two soldiers rode in the front, Gawyn and Adam behind Justina. They emerged from the forest to a breathtaking sight. Justina couldn’t help but gasp in awe. The setting sun bathed the wall of the city in a beautiful, rosy glow. Even though Justina had visited Acquitaine a few days ago, she would never get used to the grand sight.
A wide, green valley stretched before them with a road snaking through it. Like little ants, people walked down the dirt road away from the city. A moat surrounded the city and led to the river running beside it. A drawbridge extended over the moat and wagons, knights, and people moved in and out of the large, welcoming wooden gates of the city.
Between the merlons of the city wall, Justina could make out the knights on patrol. Over the wall, she saw rows of thatched houses lining the streets. Acquitaine was a huge, bustling city. Shops, homes, and guilds all resided inside these walls. This was where the square was where Justina and Adam had first seen the Lady Aurora. Yes, it was exciting, but it held darker things. The city was where Justina saw the monster who had killed her father.
Inside the city, was the grandest castle Justina had ever seen, not that she had seen many, but this one was beautiful. Another moat surrounded the castle, wider than the one around the city. Another higher stone wall surrounded the castle.
Beyond the inner wall was the castle itself. Above the wall, Castle Acquitaine rose like a sleeping giant, monumental and shining in the fading sunlight. Towers of stone lifted to the sky and tiny flags flapped in the wind on top of the stone turrets. Four tall, elegant towers rose into the sky, bordered by merlons. One tower was taller than the rest in the back near the river. Justina remembered hearing that this was where Lady Aurora’s father had leapt from and died. She remembered how sad she had been for Lady Aurora.
The gate to the castle was open, the drawbridge extending across the moat.
Gawyn started forward, moving down the road toward the gates to the city. As they neared the walls, Adam turned his head from one side to the other, taking everything in. He pointed at a colorful wagon before them, then his finger shifted to a knight on horseback galloping from the city.
The knight nodded to Gawyn.
They passed through the large iron-bound wooden gates into the city. The roads were crowded with people, all heading out of the city. Justina turned to look at the setting sun. It was getting late and she knew the people were heading to their homes. Some would remain in the city, but most had homes outside the gates.
As they moved into the city, shop keepers called out their wares to the passing crowd. “Don’t forget your warm blanket! Perfect for a cold night!” “Don’t leave without trying Tom’s sweet ale!”
Justina lifted her gaze to the castle before them. It was huge. Castle Acquitaine soared in the distance like a grand mountain. Square towers loomed into the sky on each end of the castle. She twisted to look behind her. Guards walked the battlements at the top of the city walls. The line of people leaving the city seemed unending. She turned forward again. Two days ago, when she and Adam had come into the city, it was to catch a glimpse of his princess. She had been in charge. She knew when they were leaving, how they would go. Now, unease gripped her. She didn’t know what to expect. Her gaze moved up the towering castle to the sky above. She felt insignificant.
Justina dropped her gaze from the soaring towers of the castle to the dusty street. She met the questioning gaze of a woman carrying an empty basket and quickly looked away. How was she different from the woman? How had she ended up catching the eye of the captain of the guard?
The crowds on the road parted for the line of horses as they marched through the city. She swiveled her gaze to the lead horse. Gawyn cantered his animal down the street with confidence. A sense of calm came over her as she watched him handle his horse, his stare on the road ahead. His back was straight despite the heavy plate mail on his chest. He wore no helmet like the rest of the soldiers; instead, he let his brown hair flow free in the breeze. She liked it much better that way and found herself grinning as she watched him.
They moved across the drawbridge of the castle and beneath the raised portcullis. Justina looked up at the spikes on the end of the portcullis as they passed beneath the heavy metal gate. She would hate to have it slam shut on her head and cringed slightly at the thought. It was massive.
They continued into the outer ward and then the inner ward where they came to a halt. The two soldiers dismounted, and young boys rushed to take the reins of their horses. Justina shifted in the saddle, looking this way and that. That same unease came back, spreading through her body. What about her horse? Should she just leave it? She was unaccustomed to this luxury.
And then Gawyn stood beside her. He reached up for her, putting his hands around her waist, and eased her from her horse. Warmth blossomed across her cheeks as her toes touched the ground and she found her hands on his strong shoulders. For a moment, she could say nothing, do nothing, but stare into his deep brown eyes. His gaze swept her face.
She felt a tugging on her skirt but didn’t want to look away just then.
“Adam would like to know if he can stable your new horse,” Gawyn said.
Justina blinked. She saw his lips move, but it was a moment longer before she heard his words. “Oh.” She dropped her arms from Gawyn’s shoulders and took a step back from him, suddenly embarrassed. She tore her gaze from those hypnotic eyes to look down toward her skirt. Adam had been pulling on her dress to get her attention.
A boy with red hair and freckles raced up and took the reins, leading her mare away.
Justina watched the boy go. Her new horse! She felt as if a present was being taken away, but the thought was ridiculous.
“She’ll be stabled. We’ll get her when you leave,” Gawyn assured her.
Justina couldn’t take her eyes from her brown and white horse, worried for the mare’s welfare.
Adam stomped his foot slightly but whirled toward the castle in excitement. He couldn’t remain angry for long. There was too much to see.
Gawyn chuckled, drawing her attention. “I remember coming to Acquitaine for the first time.” He looked around the castle. “It can be overwhelming.” He swiveled his head toward her, his bright, brown eyes twinkling. “It’s always crowded and wherever you look, there is always movement. It’s hard to find space to collect your thoughts.”
Justina nodded in agreement. She felt breathless and wasn’t certain if the reason was the castle or the man standing before her.
A child raced by after a goose, rustling Justina’s skirt.
Gawyn eased her aside, out of the boy’s way. “Come. I’ll show you the spot I go when I need to take a breath and get away from the crowds.”
Justina glanced at Adam to make sure he was following them.
Her brother skipped happily after them.
Justina hurried to Gawyn’s side. “Where is it?”
“It’s much quieter than the inner ward, I can tell you that. It reminds me of where I grew up. A little.” He led them through the inner ward to the far wall, the wall all the way at the back of the castle. It was quieter, but not silent. In the corner, loud barking erupted from numerous dogs as they approached.
Justina looked at Gawyn. “This is it?”
Gawyn grinned at her; that sideways smile made her heart skip a beat. “Adam,” he called. The boy rushed to his side. “See that man there?” Gawyn pointed to a stocky, dark haired man with brown breeches, torn at the knee, and a brown tunic. “Go and ask him about the puppies.”
“Puppies?” Adam wondered, his eyes large in excitement.
“One of our hunting dogs recently had puppies. I’m sure he’ll show you.”
Adam raced over to the man and spoke to him. The man lifted his gaze to Gawyn and waved slightly.
Gawyn nodded to him.
The man led Adam into the kennels.
“This way,” Gawyn said.
Justina hesitated. “What about Adam?”
“We’ll get him on the way back.”
“The way back?” Justina echoed in confusion. She didn’t like leaving Adam, but her curiosity got the better of her and she followed Gawyn into a large tower on the corner. She was sure it was the guard tower. “Are we allowed in here?”
Gawyn smiled at her. “I am the captain of the guard. I can go anywhere I want.”
His grin was contagious, like a little boy in a room filled with sweets. They moved up one flight of stone stairs and then turned a corner and continued up more stairs. Three times they did this until Gawyn stopped before a door. His brown eyes twinkled in merriment as he gazed at her. He slowly opened the door.
A walkway stretched out before her. It lined the wall all the way across to the other guard tower. Justina stepped out onto the wooden planks. She looked down. Far below them, she saw the kennels, but she couldn’t hear the barking. The wind blew gently, rustling her hair. She pushed a strand away from her face, marveling at how quiet it was here. There were no sounds of the crowds, no merchants hollering, no animals barking or neighing.
“Better?” Gawyn asked.
“Too bad the view isn’t better,” she joked. “But yes, this is wonderful.”
Gawyn took her hand and pulled her to one of the merlons. “This is Acquitaine.” He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her so she was looking between the crenels, away from the castle. “We try to please.”
Justina gasped at the sight. Mountains rose in the distance; the river rushed by before them, reflecting their snow-capped peaks in its glistening water. The sun was setting, bathing the lands in a soft red glow. It was magnificent. So beautiful. So...
“Better?”
Justina couldn’t answer. It was the most beautiful landscape she had ever seen. She glanced back at Gawyn. And he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. For a moment, she couldn’t tear her gaze from his. Words escaped her. Her gaze swept his face, his strong, square, clean-shaven jaw, his generous mouth, his straight, proud nose, and his eyes. Oh, those eyes made her knees weak. She could see intelligence in them and a bit of humor. It wasn’t what she could see in them, but how intense his gaze was when he looked at her. As if she were the center of the world, more beautiful than the view. “It’s magnificent,” she whispered.
He took her hand again and she was suddenly aware of the way it engulfed hers, warm and strong. He jumped up on the edge of the crenel, all the while holding her hand.
Her heart flinched. “No,” she said, panicked. “Get down from there.”
He gently tugged her. “I’ll help you.”
“As I’m falling?” she asked and pulled her arm free. She shook her head. “I like the view from right here.” Of course, looking up, she did have a grand view…of his rounded bottom.
He shrugged and leaned back against the merlon, his arms crossed. He looked out toward the mountains and for a long moment said nothing.
Justina followed his stare. The wind worked its way through the strands of her hair. She pushed them back from her eyes, not wanting to miss one second of the marvelous sight.
Gawyn inhaled. “I come up here to get away. When it all seems too much.”
She looked at him positioned precariously on the edge of the crenel. He seemed so strong, so confident. “It’s hard to believe there is anything you can’t handle.”
He glanced down at her, his hair falling forward. “Says a girl who took me down to the ground the first time we met.”
“I...” she stuttered for a moment before clamping her lips closed. Her father had taught her the move. It was for defense. She shrugged. “I didn’t know you. You could have been a robber.”
He jumped down to her side. “How did you do it?”
Justina rolled her eyes. “I put my leg behind yours and pushed. It really wasn’t that hard.”
“How did you learn to do that?”
She couldn’t look him in the eye. She shouldn’t have been able to push over the captain of the guard. “I was the daughter of a rather overprotective father who worried about me wandering around the countryside. He wanted me to be able to take care of myself.”
Gawyn leaned back against the wall of the castle. “What else did he teach you?”
Justina inhaled, thinking about all her father had taught her. “How to survive in the forest by eating what nature offered. How to hide in the forest. How to cover my tracks.” She shrugged.
Gawyn laughed aloud. “That’s not typical training for a young farm woman.”
“I suppose not.”
“Have you ever had to use any of your training?”
Justina cocked an eyebrow at him. “You mean beside against you?”
Gawyn smiled full out.
Justina’s heart did a small leap. He was gorgeous. She loved the sound of his laughter; she loved the way the sun shone onto his brown hair creating gold highlights. “I suppose not.” She lifted her chin. “But I’m glad I had the training.”
Gawyn’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I’d like to see what you know. Perhaps I can add to your training.”
“Why?”
“I’d like to know that you are protected, that you can defend yourself. I know what’s out there. I know that not all of it is good.”
Her smile slowly faded. Like an assassin. She realized he was not speaking about the monster living in the castle, but about the barbarians bordering Acquitaine. “Like the Hungars.” Justina considered his offer. She could learn more defensive moves, maybe even teach them to Adam. But strangely, it wasn’t learning that was so appealing to her, it was the chance to be alone with Gawyn. She found it strangely thrilling. She agreed with a nod.
Gawyn’s gaze swept her face slowly like a gentle caress.
Justina felt a strange heat blossoming over her cheeks and she looked away at the view again.
“We’ve missed the evening meal, but I’m certain we can find food in the kitchens, not that Joy will be happy to see us, but she will make sure you have something to fill your stomach.”
Justina turned to him, opening her mouth to object, but he continued.
“I’d like to escort you around the castle, if you’d like. Unless you are too exhausted from the ride.”
Justina grinned. “I’m not sure Adam will sleep the entire time he is here.”
Gawyn nodded in understanding. His gaze lingered for a long moment on her lips.
Maybe too long. Justina’s lips felt fat and tingled. Warmth spread through her until all she could think about was what his kiss would feel like.
Gawyn swallowed and turned away from her, breaking the spell. “I’d best do that now. I will introduce you to Lord Damien and Lady Aurora on the morrow.”