|
|
|
|
|
|
harmed, he might be ashamed to admit the conflict and anyway Adam could lodge a complaint for abduction with Peter of Winchester to counter any complaint Braybrook would make. As long as Sir Henry was not hurt, there would be little need to take a complaint from him seriously. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In a few quick words, Sir Guy instructed Knud who, in any case, knew what he was supposed to do, and rode off into the wood. Joanna watched in a fever of indecision. She would have loved to have seen Adam squash Braybrook like a worm, but she knew there would be no way to keep secret what had happened. Perhaps if they could have killed every man of Braybrook's troopbut Joanna could see that some had already taken to their heels and were fleeing back the way they had come. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That made her aware of a new danger. If Sir Guy got Braybrook loose, the whole troop would retreat. Would Adam be so caught up in the fighting that he would pursue them? If he did, they would soon be under the walls of Horndon and, almost certainly, that would bring the men of the castle out on them. Then they would be outnumbered. What should she do? Follow Adam to almost certain capture? That would mean a long delay in freeing Geoffrey, at best. Would Lady Gilliane and Sir Léon's mother lose patience and decide to take Isabella's offer? Should she recall her own men and fly with Sir Léon to the coast? But that would reduce Adam's force dangerously and might mean her brother's death. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With dilated eyes, Joanna watched the fighting, horrified to see it grow even more intense as Adam drove in toward Braybrook's group. Then, just as it seemed Adam's next stroke would break through the band of men protecting Sir Henry, the men behind Braybrook began to give way. In another heartbeat, a path was opened and the popinjay turned and fled into the wood. His guards followed promptly. Joanna held her breath, used the breath to shriek her brother's name as she saw his sword coming down toward Sir Guy's head. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whether Adam heard her or recognized the raised shield, he aborted the blow. Joanna had closed her eyes, terrified |
|
|
|
|
|