Keller sighed heavily, dismounting his charger. There was much on his mind; that was evident.
“What do you want me to do?”
“I will speak with my father. But I want you to help Fergus escape to Cilgarren to warn Garren.”
“And hold off the horde to buy him enough time?”
To hear Keller say it made it sound as if she was asking the world of him. And he was getting absolutely nothing in return. Fear crept into her veins.
“I know it is an enormous request, Keller, but I would be eternally grateful to you if you would….” she trailed off, feeling stupid and desperate at the same time. “There is no way I can repay you and nothing I can promise you in return other than my undying gratitude. But if you would do this for me, I swear that I would repay the favor if ever I were able. So would Garren.”
He smiled at her, ironically. “What I would have from you, you could not repay. I know Sir Garren certainly wouldn’t.” He didn’t look the least bit distressed as he lifted his helm, propping it up on his forehead as if that made it easier for him to think. “Let me assure you that your father cannot destroy Pembroke,no matter how he believes otherwise. I invite him to try. But getting you out of here is another matter altogether.”
Derica felt a tremendous amount of relief and fear, one after the other. “Then you will help me?”
Keller looked at her, feeling himself weaken as he stared into the green eyes. “I believe we should think about this for a moment and come up with a plan,” he said. “But the first order of business is to close the gates and arm my men. I have a feeling this is going to be a long day.”
Derica felt more relief than she could express. She put her hand on Keller’s arm. “Thank you, Keller,” she whispered. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.”
Keller couldn’t decide whether he felt noble or like a fool.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Keller didn’t wasteany time in ordering the timber hoards erected on the battlements. Timber hoards were wooden platforms that extended beyond the tower battlements from the corner of the walls, providing a fighting platform that was well above the heads of the enemy. The entire east wall was protected by a cliff, rendering it a non-threat, and Keller ordered the massive catapult on the northeast tower wall to be loaded and cocked. Normally, the catapult was directed at the sea should the attack come from that direction, but Keller had it directed at the northwest towards the trees that would undoubtedly shield the de Rosa army.
The story Aglette gave Derica was a sad one; Bertram had received a message that Derica was at Pembroke almost three weeks prior, but she couldn’t say who had sent the missive. Bertram, contrary to his nature, had spent a day and a night drinking in indulgent self-pity until he finally made the decision to march on Pembroke. More than anything, he wanted his daughter home. He didn’t care about Garren le Mon, revenge or reckoning; all he wanted was his only girl-child home where she belonged. He had missed her terribly, and her absence cut at him like a knife. Knowing how well she might not respond to him, he commandeered her servant and childhood friend to march with the army and relay his terms of her surrender.
Derica had cried at the tale. She loved her father very much. The situation at their parting had been difficult for her, but she had been overwhelmed with her desire to be with Garren. She still was. Nothing Aglette told her could take that away. She wasangry with her father for so many reasons that she couldn’t seem to pick just one.
It was late in the day when Derica sent Aglette back to her father with the message that she wished to negotiate. She retreated to her chamber with the children and removed the simple clothing she wore in favor of something more elaborate. She thought that, perhaps, if her father saw her good fortune and good health that he would not be so inclined to remove her from a situation that obviously agreed with her. She wanted to present a strong, collected front.
She was nervous. Everything seemed to hinge on this day and what would be said. She dressed in a sheath of the softest white linen and topped it with a heavy brocade surcoat in rich green. The full skirt swept the floor and gold thread in designs ran throughout. The bodice was laced tight, giving her a glorious figure. Around her neck she wore a necklace of pale cut emeralds that Keller had given her, and her long hair was pinned at the nape of her neck and secured with a golden web. She made an absolutely stunning sight. She only hoped her beauty would dazzle them if her courage would not. The tension was rising and the stakes were enormously high.
Fergus knocked on the door and she let him in. He had been with Keller in the courtyard, discussing his retreat from Pembroke. One look at Derica and he found he had never seen anything quite so beautiful. It was enough to cause him to impulsively take her hand and kiss it.
“You know,” he said, “if Garren saw me do that, he would run me through. In fact, I am not so sure how He is going to take any of this.”
“What do you mean?”
“You, here, living in the same keep with a man who is not your husband.”
He said it rather dramatically, wagging a finger at her. She knew he wasn’t serious, attempting in his own annoying way to lessen a tense situation.
“Fergus, may I remind you that I slept next to you on the ground for several days and you were not my husband. What makes this any different?”
“Garren doesn’t know about that one.”
“He will if I tell him.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“If you tell him anything other than the truth about this situation, you can be assured that I will tell him the story of our flight from Framlingham in a far more impressive fashion. It will not reflect well on you.”
Good-natured threats were about. Fergus snickered at her. “On a serious note, I had a bit of a chat with Keller down in the bailey. The man opened up surprisingly well after he got over his envy of me. It seems that he is quite smitten by you and those children.”
“He’ll get over us. He’ll have to.”
“That’s a rather cold attitude, don’t you think?”