Once a Knight by Christina Dodd Read Free Book Online

wanted to ride through George’s Cross and on to Radcliffe Castle, where his daughter and his people waited. He shuddered briefly as he fought the need to see Bert’s thin face light up when she saw her daddy. Louis, too, shuddered as if he comprehended, and picked up his pace. “Nay, good fellow,” David said aloud. “We’ve got a bargain to keep, even if we have to chase after the frivolous wimple-wearer to keep it.”
    Louis sighed, a long, horsey exhalation, then lifted his head and neighed. A neigh answered him, and David realized that over the next hill someone else journeyed—Lady Alisoun and her escort, he hoped. But if he was unlucky, it would be road robbers, and he’d have to smash them to perdition. Loosening his sword from its scabbard, he grinned. He could use a good fight, especially one that he could win.
    He placed his basinet helmet on his head, brought his shield forward, and leaned into the saddle. The big horse understood his desire and slipped into a canter. Louis might pretend to be surly, but his curiosity and confidence were as great as his master’s. Topping the rise, David saw not robbers but three heavily laden carts laboring along the wooded road. Massive oxen stirred up the summer’s dust as they strained to pull their loads. Their drivers walked beside their heads, poles in their hands. But nowhere did David see Lady Alisoun or her men-at-arms.
    â€œSweet mother of God!” Sure that calamity had found Lady Alisoun, he spurred Louis on and caught up to the carts just as they reached the ford of a brook. “Hey!” he shouted.
    â€œHalt!” he heard from behind.
    He twisted in the saddle and stared. In the shadow of the trees, two helmeted knights sat on their horses in battle-ready gear. One held a lance, one held a mace, and David’s heart sank. No doubt Lady Alisoun had already been robbed and murdered by these two renegade knights. God help him, he’d lost the moneyed goose before he’d grasped more than a few feathers. He eyed the sharp point of the lance. And if he wasn’t careful, he’d lose those feathers, too.
    Without warning, he spurred Louis. The great horse leaped from full stop to full speed in the blink of an eye.David shrieked his war cry as he barreled between the two knights, knocking the lance holder to the ground with his shield and swinging his sword into empty air as the other ducked and yipped.
    The expert assault David expected hadn’t materialized, and the momentum of his forward rush took him into the dense wood. “Idiots,” he growled, struggling to find a place to turn Louis. “They’re not knights. Must have stolen it all. Come on, Louis, we’ve got to—”
    â€œDon’t.”
    The woman’s voice stopped him in his tracks. He knew that voice. His ribs ached with the memory. “Lady Alisoun?”
    The underbrush rustled and, calm as a nun, the lady stepped forward. “Sir David. I thought you had abandoned us.”
    She was here. God in heaven, those were her carts, and she’d been in the hands of those villains for who knew how long. “Have they hurt you?” he demanded. Her slender beauty appeared unruffled. Her green velvet riding cloak fell in even folds from her shoulders, her hat curved over her head, and her draped wimple held it in place. Not a strand of hair slipped out of its restraint, and no tears marred the purity of her complexion. Nevertheless, guilt caught at David’s throat. If he’d gotten to the inn sooner…if he’d skipped the meal…if he’d ridden faster…God forgive him, he’d failed her. He knew full well what fate awaited her if he failed once more. “I’ll save you.”
    â€œSave me from what?” She glanced toward the road.
    He guided Louis in a tight circle.
    â€œFrom Ivo and Gunnewate?” she asked.
    He’d already prepared himself to charge when her