carried that bow with her
everywhere as a child, she had been so pleased at being allowed to learn to use it.
A sudden cry from ahead had warned of trouble. Slowing at once, Emma had crept quietly
forward, following the sounds of a small scuffle. A small and very short scuffle. She had
ended perched behind a tree, staring wide-eyed at a pair of large, rather mean looking
real villains who had accosted her cousin. One of them had been holding him none too
gently by the arm as they had debated what to do with him. Ransom had been an option, but
they had decided by his dress that he must not be very rich. Emma and Rolfe had always
been admonished to wear their most common clothes when playing in the woods lest they ruin
perfectly good ones.
Deciding that he was just a village brat, they had determined between them that it would
be best simply to kill him so that he could not tell of having seen them. Then they had
begun discussing how they should accomplish the task. That was when Emma had realized that
she had to save her cousin. She had been the only one capable of it at the moment. With
very little thought, she had notched her bow with an arrow, aimed carefully at the nearest
of the two villains, and let her arrow fly. The second arrow had been quivering against
her bow before the first had hit its mark and had then quickly been released as well. A
mere second later Rolfe had found himself standing between two dead men. He had known at
once who his savior was and had called her name, but Emma had been too busy throwing up in
the bushes to answer.
And you never saw your savior?
Emma heard Blakes question, and realized that even as she had been remembering the
incident, her cousin had told of it, obviously leaving out mention of her. As she
listened, he continued to do so. Oh, aye, I have seen Lord Darion. On that day and many
others.
What did he say to ye? one of the men who had helped to carry Lord Amaury to his room
asked now, all of the men had listened with deep interest to the story.
Ah, well, he was a bit too busy at the time to say much, as I recall.
Emma rolled her eyes at the laughter in his voice. He had teased her endlessly ever since
over her losing her stomach that day.
Too busy? Blake frowned slightly.
Aye, and then he was gone and Emma was there.
Ah, another man said. He didnt have time to even hear yer thanks. He fled afore anyone
else should see him. His gaze turned to Emma, who was now busily stitching up her husband
again. Have ye ever seen him, my lady?
Oh, aye, Lord Darion saved her life once too, Rolfe answered for her. Really? Blake
glanced at Emma curiously. Would you tell us the story, my lady? Alden asked shyly.
Emma glanced at the boy. He had been silent and resolved throughout this endeavor, ready
and willing to do whatever was necessary to help. There was not a sign of squeamishness on
his face now as she pushed needle through flesh, just curiosity and interest. She wondered
briefly if she might have a budding healer on her hands as she shook her head. Mayhap
another time. However, I think my cousin can tell the story better. Perhaps down in the
Great Hall, she added pointedly.
Oh, aye. Tis best to let her tend his lordship. No doubt we are just in the way here.
Rolfe moved toward the doorway and waited for the others to follow.
Alden hesitated, then stayed where he was as the rest of the males in the room immediately
filed out.
Pausing at the door, Blake peered back. Will he be all right?
Emma stopped after pushing another stitch through the unconscious mans skin, then sat back
to peer at Blakes pale face unhappily. I do not know. He took a hard knock.
Blake was silent as he accepted that, then sighed wearily and turned away. Call me if he
wakes, if you would, my lady.
Aye, Emma murmured as he closed the door. Then she turned to finish stitching up the wound
on her husbands
everywhere as a child, she had been so pleased at being allowed to learn to use it.
A sudden cry from ahead had warned of trouble. Slowing at once, Emma had crept quietly
forward, following the sounds of a small scuffle. A small and very short scuffle. She had
ended perched behind a tree, staring wide-eyed at a pair of large, rather mean looking
real villains who had accosted her cousin. One of them had been holding him none too
gently by the arm as they had debated what to do with him. Ransom had been an option, but
they had decided by his dress that he must not be very rich. Emma and Rolfe had always
been admonished to wear their most common clothes when playing in the woods lest they ruin
perfectly good ones.
Deciding that he was just a village brat, they had determined between them that it would
be best simply to kill him so that he could not tell of having seen them. Then they had
begun discussing how they should accomplish the task. That was when Emma had realized that
she had to save her cousin. She had been the only one capable of it at the moment. With
very little thought, she had notched her bow with an arrow, aimed carefully at the nearest
of the two villains, and let her arrow fly. The second arrow had been quivering against
her bow before the first had hit its mark and had then quickly been released as well. A
mere second later Rolfe had found himself standing between two dead men. He had known at
once who his savior was and had called her name, but Emma had been too busy throwing up in
the bushes to answer.
And you never saw your savior?
Emma heard Blakes question, and realized that even as she had been remembering the
incident, her cousin had told of it, obviously leaving out mention of her. As she
listened, he continued to do so. Oh, aye, I have seen Lord Darion. On that day and many
others.
What did he say to ye? one of the men who had helped to carry Lord Amaury to his room
asked now, all of the men had listened with deep interest to the story.
Ah, well, he was a bit too busy at the time to say much, as I recall.
Emma rolled her eyes at the laughter in his voice. He had teased her endlessly ever since
over her losing her stomach that day.
Too busy? Blake frowned slightly.
Aye, and then he was gone and Emma was there.
Ah, another man said. He didnt have time to even hear yer thanks. He fled afore anyone
else should see him. His gaze turned to Emma, who was now busily stitching up her husband
again. Have ye ever seen him, my lady?
Oh, aye, Lord Darion saved her life once too, Rolfe answered for her. Really? Blake
glanced at Emma curiously. Would you tell us the story, my lady? Alden asked shyly.
Emma glanced at the boy. He had been silent and resolved throughout this endeavor, ready
and willing to do whatever was necessary to help. There was not a sign of squeamishness on
his face now as she pushed needle through flesh, just curiosity and interest. She wondered
briefly if she might have a budding healer on her hands as she shook her head. Mayhap
another time. However, I think my cousin can tell the story better. Perhaps down in the
Great Hall, she added pointedly.
Oh, aye. Tis best to let her tend his lordship. No doubt we are just in the way here.
Rolfe moved toward the doorway and waited for the others to follow.
Alden hesitated, then stayed where he was as the rest of the males in the room immediately
filed out.
Pausing at the door, Blake peered back. Will he be all right?
Emma stopped after pushing another stitch through the unconscious mans skin, then sat back
to peer at Blakes pale face unhappily. I do not know. He took a hard knock.
Blake was silent as he accepted that, then sighed wearily and turned away. Call me if he
wakes, if you would, my lady.
Aye, Emma murmured as he closed the door. Then she turned to finish stitching up the wound
on her husbands
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