Page 39 of Veil of Winter

“But you lost them? They didn’t follow you here?” He looked over her head and placed his hand on his sword hilt.

“We lost them. But perhaps we should leave town now. They might expect us to stay, but we can make our escape through the forest while they search the town for us.” Though she hated... painfully hated... missing out on a comfortable place to sleep for a night or two.

Sir Gerard was quiet for a moment, then said, “Let us put it to Bertold and Sir Oswalt and see what they think.”

They followed him toward the other end of the street and through a winding route away from the gate but also away from the town center. Suddenly Sir Gerard stopped short.

Then Elyce saw why. Bertold was standing in the street holding his sword pointed at Rodrigo.

“Get behind me.” Sir Gerard motioned for Elyce and Ysa tostep back. Then he drew his sword and edged closer to where Rodrigo and his men were facing Bertold.

How could Sir Gerard and Bertold fight Rodrigo and his men, who had swelled in number to at least seven or eight? And there were probably more nearby. Even if Sir Oswalt appeared, the odds were against them, but Sir Oswalt was nowhere to be seen.

Eleven

“How dare you raise your swords against me!” Bertold’s scowl and loud voice had everyone on the street staring at him. And the menacing way he held his sword probably had something to do with that too.

Rodrigo told his men to lower their swords and step back.

“You, my dear uncle, are supposed to be dead,” Rodrigo said with a smirk. He seemed to be trying to keep his voice quiet, but with everyone on the street hushed and listening, Elyce was still able to hear from where she and Ysa hid themselves behind their horse.

“I suppose my foul brother told everyone I was dead. But I will not go quietly, so you will have to kill me, or die trying.”

“It is not you I am hunting. I have no quarrel with you.”

“Hunting, are you?”

“Perhapshuntingis not the correct word. I am searching for Princess Elyce of Montciel. Have you seen her?”

“Why would I have seen her? She is no concern of mine.”

Rodrigo stared hard at him. “It is quite a surprise to see you, Uncle. Especially when I am searching for Elyce.”

“Why would that have any bearing on seeing me? Go take care of your business. I have no wish to kill you, but I will, if you interfere with me.”

Rodrigo narrowed his eyes.

Sir Gerard stood still, lowering his sword, probably trying not to attract attention.

Rodrigo was handsome, with his dark hair and hawkish nose, but he was insincere and cared nothing for anyone except himself.If I had not run away, I’d be married to him now.Her stomach sank to her toes at the thought. Her people would be at King Claude’s mercy, and she’d be helpless to do anything to protect them. And marriage to Rodrigo would be a lie, a farce. He would never love her.

Until this moment, she hadn’t realized how good it felt to be free, to exercise her own will while traveling with Sir Gerard, Sir Oswalt, Prince Bertold, and Ysa. To be dragged back to Montciel by Rodrigo and his men would mean the loss of the new freedom that she had not even begun to fully appreciate.

“I have business here, so you and your men may go.” Bertold shook his ornate sword at them. “Go on. I have nothing to do with you. Go. Go on.”

“If you see Princess Elyce, tell her I will not force her to marry me, but she must promise to stay away from Montciel, to stay in Prague, or wherever it is she is going, and allow me to tell her father and King Claude that she is dead. That is whatshe wants, is it not? To make her father and my uncle think she is dead?”

“How would I know? Talk to her yourself, if you can find her.” Bertold pointed his sword at Rodrigo.

“You just tell her what I said... if you see her.”

Bertold made a grunting sound but didn’t move.

“We are going.” Rodrigo glanced around, his gaze resting a moment on Sir Gerard.

Elyce jerked her head back so he wouldn’t see her peeking at him from behind her horse.

Would Rodrigo think Sir Gerard was Bertold’s guard? He couldn’t possibly connect him to her, could he?