Page 72 of Lionheart

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Edwardleft the following morning after Mass. Vanora, Lionheart and Althea were onhand to bid him farewell.

"Ridea ways with me, Lionheart," Edward invited. "We can discuss battlestrategy while we ride." He turned to Vanora. "Fear not, my lady,your husband will return to you ere the day is out." Lionheart placed SirGiles in charge and accepted Edward's invitation to join him. Vanora's reliefat seeing the bulk of Edward's army leaving was enormous, despite the fact thattwenty Englishmen would remain at Cragdon. She could deal with twenty men, butan army was daunting. It would be good to have her home back to normal, or asnormal as it could be with an Englishman for a husband.

"LordLionheart does not like being left behind," Althea said. "A warriorneeds to fight."

"Lionheartmay be disappointed but he will not disobey Edward."

"Withonly twenty men at his disposal, Lionheart will find it difficult to return meto England. In the fullness of time, he may decide my bed holds more appealthan yours."

Vanorathought the same thing but withheld her opinion. Her eyes narrowed as sheconsidered the ramifications of Althea's presence at Cragdon. If Althearemained, mayhap she would divert Lionheart's attention from the White Knight.Vanora seriously debated leaving Cragdon through the hidden exit and findingSir Ren. She wanted to ask himto plead with the crofters to keep her secret should Lionheart question them.Since England and Wales were at peace, Sir Ren was free now to come out ofhiding. Would Lionheart allow her knights to return to Cragdon? she wondered.

Thatthought heartened her. It would be good to have people she trusted around her.Aye, she decided, she would broach the subject when Lionheart returned. Butfirst she needed to find out if Sir Ren was willing to return.

Vanora wasso engrossed in her own thoughts, she was unaware that Sir Giles had pulledAlthea aside for a private conversation. Taking advantage of their absence,Vanora beat a hasty retreat. Instead of returning to the keep, however, shewent directly to the chapel. She found the priest puttering about in thesacristy.

"Father,might I have a word with you?"

"Ofcourse, child. How may I help you?"

"Lionheartintends to question the crofters about the White Knight and is going to offer areward for information."

FatherCaddoc paled and crossed himself. "That could prove disastrous. Whilethere is a tenuous peace between England and Wales, there is none betweenLionheart and the knight upon whom he has sworn vengeance. I fear for you,child. A greedy crofter willing to exchange information for coin could be yourundoing. One does not goad a man like Lionheart."

"So Ihave learned. I am thinking of finding Sir Ren and asking him to speak to thevilleins on my behalf. My palfrey is still stabled behind the forge. What ifLionheart were to recognize Baron? I shall ask Sir Ren's advice about hidingBaron elsewhere."

"Youcannot ride out alone," Father Caddoc warned. " 'Tis toodangerous."

"Imust."

"Nay,'tis not acceptable. The peril increases each time you don the trappings of aknight. You are a woman, Vanora, and not meant to don armor and fight."

"Ican fight as well as any man," Vanora said. "Have I not provenmyself?"

"Youcan hold your own against most men, but not Lionheart. There is no one, man orwoman, more skillful or deadly. He would cut you down without mercy."

"Nevertheless,I must go. I believe Lionheart is beginning to care for me, and I cannot riskhis learning the truth."

"Doyou love him, child?"

"Itried not to, Father, but I could not help myself. We both know why Lionheartwed me, and 'twas not because he cared for me. I thought that once he leftCragdon, I would never see him again. I could have accepted that, embraced iteven, for then my feelings for him would not get out of hand and I could forgethim. But his remaining changes everything. I yearn for him to return mylove."

"Whatyou ask is not impossible, Vanora. I believe Lionheart cares for you more thanhe wants to admit."

"Ihad begun to hope it was so, but everything would be ruined if one of Cragdon'speople tells him the truth about me,"

"Ishall speak to them myself."

"Forgiveme, Father, but Sir Ren would be more effective. You are a kindly soul and havenot the heart to speak with the firmness Sir Ren could command."

"Isthere aught I can say to turn you away from your foolish course?"

"Nay,Father. I am determined."

"Isee that your mind is made up, so I shall offer prayers for your safety. Isthere aught else I can do for you?"

"Aye.Keep an eye on Althea. I shall ask Mair to do the same. I know not whenLionheart will return her to England and I trust her not. She will do whateverit takes to get Lionheart in her bed."