Eliza Knight - The Rules of Chivalry by A Knight's Victory

less, do be careful,” Elena pleaded. “If it weren’t for you, I’d have thrown myself into the moat by now.”
    Raelyn twisted Elena’s hair up and pin ned it into place, letting a few loose curls fall around her face and shoulders. A peaceful silence hung about the room.
    “I know. ’ Tis the only reason I haven’t yet accepted a proposal.”
    “Proposal? Has one been asked?” Elena turned around, grasped Raelyn’s hands. Her eyes were wide and she smiled with joy for her dear friend.
    A gleeful smile filled her maid’s heart shaped face. The slight blush covering her cheeks brought out the red in her chestnut hair. “Aye, my lady.”
    “ Is it w ho I think ? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Raelyn sat down beside her. “I didn’t want to say anything. I won’t accept it, not until I know you’re no longer in harm’s way. You’ve been like a sister to me these past years, I could never leave you.”
    Guilt clouded over Elena. She’d been so selfish, keeping these women with her. She would see to it that Raelyn had a happy life. She’d once wondered what she could do to thank her ladies for seeing to her safety and sanity and now she knew. She would see them married to men who loved them, cared for them.
    “Tell me, please Raelyn .”
    “It was none other than the man your Devereux fought against at the very end. Sir Thomas Devlin.” The wistful sigh from her lady’s lips said it all. Raelyn was in love.
    “ ’Tis as I suspected.” Elena smiled. “ We shall see to it that you accept his proposal.”
    Raelyn bowed her head. “I haven’t been altogether truthful with you, my lady.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Thomas knows of your past with Devereux.”
    Fear penetrated Elena’s soul like an icy spike. Her death warrant was surely being signed at that very moment.
    “Why?”
    “When I asked him to deliver the missive for you, I wanted to be sure he knew what was at stake.”
    Elena swallowed hard, the color draining from her face. “Can he be trusted?”
    Raelyn nodded emphatically. “Aye, my lady. And, I told Thomas I wouldn’t marry him until you were safe.” Raelyn’s voice turned desperate. “Please don’t be angry, my lady.”
    Elena felt light-headed, dizzy. Too many people knew of her cry for help. Should Raelyn and Thomas get into a lover’s quarrel, she was done for. And Michael, too. If Kent knew there was a traitor in his mist, he’d bring Hell upon them all.
    Her hands shook. Sweat trick l ed from the nape of her neck to the base of her spine. She shivered.
    “What have you done, Raelyn ? What have you done?”
    *****
    The crisp cool waters of the nearby lake had done Michael good. His arm still throbbed a little, but at least he was no longer sweat ing and could think a little clearer. He was glad to have another hour or so before he needed to prepare for the evening’s festivities. Fletch, Colin and Jon had all gone off to do whatever it was squ ires in their free time .
    He drew back the flap on his tent, and stiffened , his guard immediately up. Someone was in his tent.
    He sniffed once, and recoiled. No lofty feminine scent enveloped him, instead it was the scent of an unwashed, filth- coated body. Something smelled of rotten flesh, and dead fish.
    “Who goes there?”
    A rail thin boy stepped from the shadows.
    “Black Knight . ” His voice was a high-pitched, nervous squeak.
    Small brown eyes stared at him, wide and unblinking . They reminded him of a mouse’s eyes, timid, sneaky. A smirk covered the boy’s lips like he’d evaded the trap and stolen the cheese. As if on cue the boy picked up an orange from the bowl on the table. He bit into the fruit, skin and all.
    “What the hell are you doing in my tent?” Michael crossed his arms over his chest. He narrowed his eyes, his gaze bearing down on the boy. He didn’t trust the weasel, not an ounce. “Did you come to steal from me? I could have your hand cut off for taking that orange.”
    The boy laughed.