Chapter Twenty-Three
Terric tried to find a more comfortable position as he strained against the bonds that kept him restrained. With his hands tied behind him, there really was no comfort to be found either physically or mentally. Being taken as a prisoner was not the outcome he had thought would happen at the end of the day.
He had fought them to the bitter end, but being so greatly outnumbered had stacked the odds against him. He had only been able to bring down a few of the attackers before he was dragged from his horse. Terric just hoped he had kept them occupied dealing with him, allowing Jacqueline to make it to safety.
He was tied to the center post of the Earl of Salisbury’s pavilion. Terric had not been too surprised upon learning whose men attacked them. He only wished Jacqueline’s father had not come to Nunney so quickly.
Terric silently cursed the man who had tied his bonds. They were tight, causing him to lose the feeling in his fingers. He clenched and unclenched his hands, trying to force more blood into them, but it was futile. The strips of leather were too constricting.
Someone opened the pavilion’s flapped entrance, and he ceased his struggles. The earl stepped inside. He came to stand directly in front of Terric and looked down. He put his hands behind his back and shook his head.
“Well, Sir Terric, tell me what I should do with you. I find myself in the midst of a quandary. On one hand, I should have you terminated, but on the other, I feel you are my best leverage to open Nunney for me.”
Terric curled his lip in a snarl. “I will not allow you to use me to gain entrance to the castle.”
The earl laughed. “My dear boy, in your present position, you really do not have much choice in the matter.” He bent down and grabbed a handful of Terric’s hair, then painfully forced him to look at him. “I am very sure my darling daughter would do just about anything to get you back.” He released him as he slammed Terric’s head hard against the post.
Terric tried to surge to his feet, forgetting he was bound. He growled in frustration. His hands itched to be around the earl’s throat. “You can do whatever you wish to me, but leave Jacqueline alone.”
The earl straightened to his full height and smiled. “Such display of emotion. How touching. So, you would be willing to endure anything in the name of love? If it would mean your life? What then?”
“Gladly would I give it.” It was Terric’s turn to smile. A disgusted expression crossed the earl’s face. “Since you love no one but yourself, you cannot possibly understand.”
The backhanded slap the earl delivered caught Terric on the corner of his mouth. A rush of blood entered it when his lip split. “Your devotion to my daughter might cause you to lose that very thing.”
* * * *
A few hours after the earl’s visit, Terric was moved to another pavilion. One that was used for storing the camp’s supplies. Crates and casks haphazardly stacked.
His guards roughly shoved him through the entrance. He barely managed to keep his balance. If he had fallen, he would not have been able to catch himself. With his hands still bound behind his back, it would have been impossible, and well they knew it.
After depositing Terric in his new prison, the guards left, securing the pavilion flap. They softly spoke just outside the entrance where they stood guard.
He stepped to the centre of the pavilion, then sat on the floor. Night was slowly creeping in, and it was sure to be an uncomfortable one for him. Along with having no blanket to keep him warm, he had not been given any food or drink. His stomach rumbled, reminding him of the number of hours that had passed since he had last eaten. There was nothing for it. He would have to do without.
He dozed off and only came awake once the pavilion flap opened again. It was not the earl, but one of his guards, carrying a cloth-covered tray. Another man followed. Terric did not bother to pay close attention to either of them.
The tray was placed beside him before the guard roughly took hold of his bound hands and cut them free. Terric hissed as blood rushed into his numb digits. Barely given enough time to have the circulation fully restored, his hands were bound once more, this time in front of him. At least he would be able to use them to eat.
The guard left, leaving the other man behind. Still ignoring him, Terric lifted the cloth, then ate the bread and cheese he had been given. A pair of feet came into his field of vision, and he finally looked up.
The man was vaguely familiar. At first, he could not place where he had met him, but then it hit Terric who it was.
The man smiled. “Ah, I can see you finally remember me.”
“Aye, I do.”
“As I remember you. An acquaintance of Jacqueline’s.”
Terric tapped down his rage toward him, the minstrel, Nicholas. The one who had tried to end his son’s life. The one who had been nothing but a thorn in Jacqueline’s side. “What do you want?”
Nicholas sneered. “What do I want? Nothing from you. The earl is giving me everything I want. I just came to tell you not to worry what Jacqueline’s fate will be. She will be left unharmed and well taken care of. By me.”
Terric shook his head and chuckled. “Did the earl promise you Jacqueline?”
“Aye.”
“You think he will keep his word?”
“Aye.”
“You are a bigger idiot than Jacqueline described.” Terric had the satisfaction of the minstrel’s expression turning from cocky to uneasy. Finally, he became angry.
Nicholas kicked the tray of food beside Terric. He ground the bread and cheese into the ground with the heel of his boot. “The earl will not double-cross me. I was the one who told him of Forwin’s duplicity. He said he would reward me with Jacqueline as my wife.”
“If I were you, I would watch my back. I have a feeling you have outlived your usefulness.”
Nicholas gave Terric one last dark look, then stomped out of the pavilion. Terric shook his head once more. The man was a stupid fool. He had put his trust in the maw of a viper.
* * * *
Jacqueline found no rest that night. Not knowing how Terric faired ate away at her. Finally, after fretting half the night through, she gave up. After giving Jordan his night feeding and then settling him back down to sleep, she went and sat at her chamber window. From that vantage point, she was able to look down at her father’s camp. There were so many of them. She was not at all confident they could withstand an attack. Sir Guy was a very good strategist, but with such weak defenses, strategy would not be much of an asset. It could only work to a certain extent.
As dawn’s light appeared over the horizon, the activity within the camp increased. Something was definitely happening. After quickly pulling on a tunic and hose, she checked to make sure Jordan still slept. She peered into her son’s cradle and found him blissfully sleeping. She gently adjusted his blanket, then quietly left the chamber.
At the hall, Jacqueline found Alice preparing to light the fireplace. Once she lit it, she turned around. She jumped in surprise. With her hand on her chest, she said, “Oh, my lady, you gave me a scare. I did not see you come down.”
“Sorry, Alice. I did not mean to give you a fright. What are you doing up so early?”
Alice brushed her hands on her apron and shrugged. “I could not sleep. All those men out there worry me.”
“We are safe for the moment.” Jacqueline hoped she sounded convincing, because that was not how she felt. Alice did not need to know that, though. “Now that you have the fire lit, can you sit in my chamber with Jordan? He is still asleep.”
Alice smiled. “With pleasure, my lady. I will bring him to you once he awakens.”
After Alice disappeared up the stairs, Jacqueline turned to face the newly-lit fire. Even though spring had arrived and the days were getting increasingly warmer, the castle still was chilly. She extended her hands toward the flames.
Sir Guy found her that way when he came in search of her. “I am glad to see you are awake, lass. Saves me from having to wake you.”
Jacqueline dropped her arms to her sides as the older man approached. “Something has happened. Has it not?”
“Aye. Your father is at the causeway, demanding to speak with you.” Jacqueline moved to leave, but Sir Guy stopped her. “There is one other thing. He has Terric with him.”
Her steps faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. With long, steady strides, she quickly left the hall and then climbed up to the top of the castle walls. Sir Guy followed her.
Just as Sir Guy had said, the earl stood at the end of the causeway. He was accompanied by two of his men, who acted as guards for their prisoner. Terric was between them, bound.
Anger boiled inside her. The earl looked so self-assured, almost as if he assumed his mere presence would open Nunney. She had no intention of handing the castle over to him. She walked to the parapet wall and stared down at her father.
“You requested to speak with me. Here I am,” she said in a loud voice.
The earl looked up. “Ah, daughter. So you have come. Do you not think it would be better if you let me in? That way we could speak more freely.”
“What do you take me for, Father? A woman without sense? If you want words with me, say them from there.”
Even from the great distance that separated them, Jacqueline saw the earl’s face turn red with ire. All pretences were gone when he finally found his voice once more. “You stupid girl! You know why I am here. Nunney is mine, and you are going to give it to me.”
“Nay. I will not. Nunney is my son’s birthright. It never was to be yours. It makes no difference what deal you made with Forwin. I wonder what the king would say if he found out about your underhanded ways.”
“Enough!” the earl bellowed. He snapped his fingers. His men brought Terric to the end of the causeway. “Either you lower the drawbridge or you forfeit the life of your lover.”
Jacqueline gripped the edge of the stone parapet wall so tightly her fingers turned white. Her gaze shot to Terric’s face. He gave her a perspicuous shake of his head, telling her not to give in to the earl’s demands.
The earl yelled, “Well? What have you decided?”
Sir Guy came to stand next to Jacqueline and spoke with hushed tones into her ear. “Ask for more time before you give him your answer. We need to think of a way to get Terric from him.”
Jacqueline nodded, then said to the earl, “I need time before I can make my decision.”
Below, Terric tried to pull free from the two men who held him. “Jacqueline! I am dead anyway. Do not let him take Nunney. It will make no difference.”
Annoyed, the earl motioned to his men with a flick of his wrist. “Shut him up.”
With the butt of his sword, one of the men slammed it onto the back of Terric’s head. He crumpled into a heap on the dusty causeway as Jacqueline cried out.
“I will give you until dawn on the morrow. If you do not lower the drawbridge then, you can watch your lover die.”