From where he rode at the front of his caravan, Hugh Le Despencer turned to see what had become of the sweet nun with the features of an angel. He tried to convince himself that his concern had nothing to do with how his lower appendage swelled. She was simply a young, naive woman that needed protection.
Hadn’t he always prided himself on complete control over his baser nature? And yet somehow, she’d breached that armor. How could the woman have no idea that her tunic was see-through when wet?
Not only that, he would’ve bet a gold coin that she wanted more.
God’s blood. I wish to bed a nun?
“How is little Val?” Aliyar twisted his head to follow Hugh’s gaze back toward the carts.
“The last I saw, he had hold of his wooden sword and was killing off imaginary Scots.”
“Allah be praised.” Ali stroked his dark beard with one hand, holding the reins with his other. “Where did that nun come from? Why was she out on the road alone?”
“I assume she’s from Lanercost but when I insisted we take her home, she wasn’t keen on it.”
Aliyar’s eyes warmed when he spied Azzah talking to the nun. “Odd.”
“I thought so, too. That’s why I asked Doğan to make sure she didn’t run off.”
“Regardless, she’s a talented healer. If she doesn’t want to go back to the priory, I could make good use of her.” Grinning, Ali raised an eyebrow and faced forward when Hugh glowered, clearly not amused by the double-meaning.
“She’s married to Christ. Don’t even think what you’re thinking.”
“And why does He insist on marrying the pretty ones? Seems to me he’s got plenty of brides. He could leave one for a poor, pitiful infidel.” Laughing, Ali shook his head, no doubt noting how Hugh gripped his sword and clenched his jaw.
“Best not let anyone hear you say such things in Lanercost or you’ll be roasted on a spit and fed to the swine.”
“Ah, we wouldn’t want that now, would we? Who’d protect your sorry hide, eh? But let’s not quarrel. Tell me, how did she do it? Heal little Val?”
Hugh shifted in his saddle, his man’s length nigh onto bursting at the recall of her lovely, rosy nipples. “She took him to a frigid spring and strode in, gown and all.”
Ali’s eyes narrowed, his smirk grew wide, and his brows raised. “In just her linen tunic? Well, well, well. No wonder—”
“What?”
“Nothing. I meant to say that I now understand why she wears your outer tunic.” Ali, once he had the scent of scandal was more hound than man. Hugh would be subject to his jibes for eternity if he knew how much the little nun had affected him.
Thus, he forced his face impassive and his voice neutral. “I didn’t want her chilled. Her clothes were soaked.”
“Of course not. And did you watch as she changed?”
“I did not. I averted by eyes.”
“Indeed.”
“Enough, Aliyar! Never mind all that. How fare the injured men?”
The damnable man snickered. “None were martyred, m’lord. The name Destroyer will cause all on this forsaken continent to shake in their boots, except perhaps for those in green. I thought you said that those savages stayed north of the wall. What were they doing in Inglewood?”
“The chieftain said we were trespassing. When I told him that I knew full well that the forest belonged to Edward, he balked. He’s no more than a common ruffian.”
“And yet his men fought well. I suspect he may return with more to finish what he started.”
“Which is why we should rush to the priory. From there, it’s but a half day’s ride to Carlisle. We’ll leave the women and children with the holy order until we finish our quest.”
The trees grew thinner, spots of sun speckled the forest path and a sense of urgency grew within Hugh. He clicked his tongue, Wind picked up her pace, and Ali waved his sword overhead.
With all moving faster, Aliyar began the conversation anew. “What do you know of this Bruce? The further north we go, the more doubts I have about your king’s control of the border.”
“That’s exactly why I agreed to his terms. What better place for a tribe of mercenary knights to settle? Besides, it’s rather late in the day to have doubts, my friend.”
“Edward’s deal reeked worse than his moat.”
Hugh’s gut tightened. It’s true. The conversation with Edward had not gone well. In Jerusalem, the young prince had needed good men and was willing to promise the moon to get them. However, now that Hugh had come to collect on that debt, the king’s priorities had obviously changed. Edward’s demeanor was cool as he sent Hugh north with barely time to rest his people and his horses.
If not DeBruce, Hugh would barter with King Alexander of the Scots or the devil himself. He and his people would have a place to call home or die trying.
The road out of the woods curved around a long stretch of marshland covered in violet blooms and beyond that, stood the walls of Lanercost. A cross on the battlement towers touched the clouds as did many colorful banners flapping in the wind.
The huge keep was newly constructed yet using the same gray stones as the ancient wall. It was said that ancient Romans had built the wall to keep out the savages and went on for as far as the eye could see in either direction.
After putting Doğan in charge, Hugh and Aliyar approached the massive door under an arch in the twenty-foot wall. When a peek-hole slid open, Hugh took out the king’s missive and held it aloft for the tonsured man to read. Even though struggling with the handwriting, the priest seemed to recognize the twin lions pressed into the red wax and opened the door.
Then, an old knight in tarnished armor appeared and pointed toward an empty field, filled with straw men. “You two can enter. Have the rest wait in the training field.”
Hugh whistled and pointed to Doğan who led the caravan to a safe, albeit muddy sanctuary. When he was sure his people were safe, he let the knight lead them through a huge open area, under Roman arches, and up a stairway. In a large upper room, a bed hung by chains and a tonsured man in a red tunic slid a bench back from under a rough plank table.
His gold chains clanked as he stood and grabbed Hugh’s forearm. “So, you’re The Destroyer. I’ve been expecting you, sir. Well met, well met.”
The bishop turned to Ali. “…And this must be your infidel.”
“I’m he. And you would be?” Ali’s tone mimicked the bishop’s and his eyes narrowed.
Hugh jumped in, shooting a quick glare at his friend. “Forgive his impertinence, m’lord. He’s still under my tutelage, learning the holy ways of Christ.”
That seemed to smooth the ruffled feathers, so the bishop leaned back and read Edward’s missive.
Finally, looking up with pursed his lips, he said, “I have hesitations. Housing a whole caravan of infidels? They may stay but only for a fortnight.”
When Ali’s jaw ticked, Hugh thought it best to keep their visit even shorter. “Thank you, my lord. I only ask for one night. We would eat at your inn and mayhap trade a few goods. We also ran into a little trouble in the forest and would like to tend to our injured.”
Gray brows lifted. “Trouble? What kind of trouble?”
Hugh paced keeping his face impassive, wondering where the man’s loyalties lay. “About a hundred bandits. We engaged and they ran off.”
The bishop opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by an acolyte who poked his shaved head into the room. “I’m sorry to disturb you, m’lord, but Mother Abbess says it’s most urgent.”
“Tell her she may enter.” Sighing, the bishop sat his large frame down in a throne-like chair, grabbed his crozier, and donned a huge red miter cap.
There was something quite wrong about the old nun that entered. Hugh had oft times seen such soulless eyes and it never bode well. Ali, no doubt having the same thoughts, muttered under his breath.
The ancient sneered at his commander, shot one look at Hugh, then kissed the bishop’s ring. “We have a problem, m’lord, and I believe these men might be able to help.”
“Go on, my dear.” The bishop clasped his hands and put an index finger to his lips.
At the well-rehearsed gesture, Hugh almost rolled his eyes and dared not look at Ali for fear of breaking into fits of mirth. Thankfully, the two in holy robes took no notice for Hugh’s caravan depended on the priory’s good will.
The old nun pointed to the back of her wimple where blood clotted on her head. “One of our sisters was murdered in the church. And I, myself, was almost killed trying to protect her.”
The bishop clunked his crozier on the floor, jumped up, and his cross clanked as it swung side to side. “Who would dare do such a thing?”
“The healer, Mary Rose.” She eyed Hugh and Ali as if to read their minds but their faces remained blank.
No wonder that little healer was so loath to return to Lanercost.
While Hugh’s thoughts spun, the bishop’s face grew redder than the wool of his fine tunic. “Impossible. Rose has been with us since birth.”
“You doubt me?” Old serpentine eyes narrowed under the nun’s soiled linen.
Oh yes, thought Hugh. I doubt you very much. He glanced over at Ali who ticked one eyebrow ever so slightly in agreement.
The bishop, however, seemed oblivious to the lies. “Bring Rose to me at once. I’ll see her burned at the stake. Hanged. Beheaded. Torn apart tied between two horses.”
For Hugh’s ears only, Ali whispered, “Seems like one would suffice. The rest superfluous, no?”
“Shut it.” Hugh tried not to grin as the evil abbess looked up and met his gaze.
“What are you two mumbling about? Have you seen her?”
“Seen whom, sister?” Hugh kept his face neutral but hers deepened to almost purple.
“I’m looking for a lay-sister. A detestable, murdering rodent.”
Ali cleared his throat and Hugh feared for what might come out, so quickly added, “We saw many Scots that attacked us. Was she one of them?”
“No. Of course not. She wears the gray cloth of the Lanercost sisters.”
“A murdering sister? What kind of an abbey do you run here?” Ali’s eyes darkened dangerously.
“Foreign pig.” When the nun’s spit hit Ali’s leather, Hugh’s hand went for the hilt of his sword. No one insulted his commander.
The bishop, sensing the abbess had gone too far, grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room. “Wait for me in the church. I’ll hear your confession, momentarily.”
He came back in, shaking his head. “Forgive her impertinence, sir. She’s distraught over the murder of one of those little lambs put in her charge. Of course, you’re free to stay as my guests but you can see, it’s best to keep to yourselves.”
Again, Ali started to open his mouth, Hugh cuffed him, then bent over and kissed the bishop’s ring. “My thanks, m’lord.”
The bishop turned with his ring raised but Ali had already swiveled on a heel and left. He didn’t speak until outside in the practice field. “I don’t like the feel of this place one bit.”
“Neither do I but don’t offend the bishop, Aliyar. He owns more land than God and has more influence. Make sure this Rose girl is hidden. Tell me where she stays. I need to question her.”
“I can’t believe that sweet girl would murder anyone. It’s much more likely the old witch did it.”
“Aye, but whatever goes on here, it’s none of our concern. We’ll take food and shelter, then move on in the morning.”
“Agreed.” Ali made a huge undertaking of brushing off his feet, leather armor, and tunic.
When he finished, Hugh couldn’t help but ask. “What was all that?”
“It’s to rid me of the dust of that witch.”