Page 44 of While Angels Slept (de Lohr Dynasty #1)

As they slowed their pace to study the distant flames, an arrow zinged past Tevin’s head.

Startled, Myles snatched the crossbow tethered on the right flank of his horse and lifted the weapon, pointing it in the direction that the arrow had come from.

As the men spread out to capture whoever had fired the arrow, Myles caught movement when the man, stationed in the trees and covered with soot to conceal himself, launched another arrow.

This arrow had flame to it, sailing in an arc towards the distant fires.

Myles launched his own arrow at the man, hitting his mark and watching the man fall to the ground in a heap.

Even though he’d taken out the lookout, the damage was done.

The flaming arrow had been a warning signal to the camp and Tevin knew their cover was blown.

In the darkness, in the trees, he slammed his visor down and unsheathed his broadsword.

“We have been announced,” he said to Myles. “Make no delays. If Cantia and Arabel really are in that camp, they might try to kill them with our appearance.”

Myles spurred his charger after Tevin, listening to the sounds as the distant settlement began to take up alarm cries. As they plowed through the trees and into the perimeter of what appeared to be a very large encampment, Myles headed in one direction to search and Tevin headed in the other.

He could only pray, for all their sakes, that they weren’t too late.

*

“Your son, my lady .”

Cantia was smiling as she handed over the swaddled, screaming bundle to the exhausted mother.

Overjoyed, the red-faced woman accepted the child, weeping as she gazed upon the angry little face for the first time.

Cantia watched the joy, remembering well when she had given birth to Hunt and the euphoria she and Brac had experienced.

The joy of the successful childbirth was almost enough to ease the fear of her captivity and she took a few moments to forget her predicament.

As she watched the new mother, she began to wonder if she and Tevin would ever be blessed with a child.

She had lost one pregnancy before Hunt was born and had not conceived again since his birth, so she wondered if she was even able to have any more children.

Brac had never said a word about it although she knew he would have liked more children.

She wondered if Tevin would become disappointed in her if she wasn’t able to bear him a son.

It really wasn’t something she’d thought about until now.

Cantia was torn between wanting to provide Tevin with more children and knowing any children they had together would be bastards.

But she pushed those thoughts aside to focus on the new mother and baby at her feet.

“See if he will suckle,” she encouraged. “Put him on the breast and feed him.”

The new mother moved her shift aside to expose a big, plump breast and put the infant to the nipple. The baby latched on and began to feed eagerly and, at that point, the other women in the hut crowded around and took over, and Cantia knew her job was finished.

She had done what she had been called to do.

After initially examining the woman, she realized that the child had been turned about in the womb.

She then proceeded to oil the mother’s belly up with grease and massage the child until the baby rotated around so he was facing head-first. She’d seen the midwife at Rochester grease up bellies when babies were facing the wrong direction and, fortunately, her observations had paid off. She’d been able to help.

It was an action she hoped would sway Gillywiss.

The man had been seated just inside the hut door during the entire event, his eyes on Cantia as if afraid she was going to disappear.

As Cantia washed her hands in clean water, she stole a glance over her shoulder at the man still sitting there in the shadows.

With a deep breath for courage, for calm, she made her way over to him.

“I have never known a man to remain in the same room as a woman giving birth,” she said. “You are very brave.”

Gillywiss was gazing up at her from his position on the stool. He was leaning back against the wall of the hut, his dark curly hair wild around his somewhat pensive face. He seemed quiet and introspective. He was just watching her as she dried her hands on her surcoat .

“Where did you learn to do that?” he asked.

She cocked her head curiously. “What?”

He gestured at the woman with the infant. “Deliver a child like that. Are you a physic?”

Cantia finished drying her hands off. “Nay,” she said. “But as the lady of Rochester, people come to me for help. I have learned a few things in my time.”

Gillywiss nodded faintly, still eyeing her. “Then you have my thanks,” he said quietly. “My sister has already lost three children. You have given her new hope.”

Cantia looked over her shoulder at the woman feeding the newborn, seeing the joy on her face.

“Hope is what keeps us all alive,” she said softly.

“Peasant or nobleman, it is what drives us to rise in the morning and look forward to a new day. Hope is what keeps us bound to our loved ones and wish better things for them.”

“Is that what keeps you bound to Winterton?”

Cantia turned to look at the man, some hesitance in her expression. “I am bound to him because I love him and for no other reason than that.”

“But you can never be his wife.”

“Perhaps that will change one day.”

“Is that what you hope for?”

Cantia paused, her brow furrowing in thought. “Aye,” she whispered after a moment. “I suppose I do.”

“Then why does he not find his wife?” Gillywiss wanted to know. “If he wants you to be his bride, why does he not find the one who deserted him and his daughter? I do not understand.”

Wearily, Cantia sank to the stool next to him, feeling very depressed and exhausted all of a sudden.

She had no idea why she continued to share her darkest secrets with a man she didn’t even know.

Originally it had been to gain his sympathy.

Perhaps now it was because he seemed rather wise as an outsider looking in.

“He does not know where, exactly, she is,” she shrugged after a moment. “The woman’s father thought perhaps she had run off to Paris, but it all happened so long ago. It is quite possible she is no longer alive.”

“But it is equally possible that she is,” he said. “If Winterton loves you, why does he not do all he can to find her?”

Cantia sighed gently, her gaze lingering on the woman and child near the fire.

“He will,” she insisted softly. “To be truthful, we have not… well, we have not been together very long. There has not been much time for him to search out his wife. Perhaps he will eventually, provided that… well, provided that I return to him.”

Gillywiss watched the pain and fear ripple across her features. “Is that what you wish?” he asked.

She turned to look at him as if surprised by the question. “Of course it is.”

Gillywiss studied her a moment before cocking his head thoughtfully. “If you had a choice, what would you wish for most? To be returned to your warlord or to discover the fate of his wife?”

“To be returned to him.”

“You say that without hesitation.”

“I say it because I love him. As long as we are together, all else is secondary.”

Gillywiss could see she meant it. He found his gaze returning to his sister, who was cooing sweetly to her new son.

One of the attending women opened the elaborate hut door and the woman’s husband came in, bursting into tears when he saw the healthy boy.

Gillywiss watched the scene, the strong emotions involved, and could not help but be moved by it.

Gillywiss was an odd man and a very strong leader.

He’d lead his little group of outlaws for quite some time, earning their respect as well as their fear.

He was unpredictable and perhaps a little mad at times, but he was cunning and intelligent.

He was also a man with a secret, something that had become evident as he had pawed through Cantia’s clothing .

In a world where men were defined by their behavior, demeanor and deeds, Gillywiss would spend hours alone and in hiding, dressing in women’s clothing and wondering if he looked beautiful.

He felt far more comfortable with women than with men, which is why he felt much pity for the lady of Rochester.

She was in love with a man she could never marry, a fine woman with a compassionate heart, and he instinctively felt pity for her.

Much like him, she was suffering in silence.

“Paris,” he repeated, more to himself than to Cantia. “I have relatives in Paris. Perhaps I should send word to them to see if they have ever heard of this Louisa of Hesse.”

Cantia looked at him with surprise. “Why would you do such a thing?”

Gillywiss was looking at his sister as he spoke.

“In truth, I do not know,” he suddenly grinned that wild toothy grin that Cantia had seen before.

“Perhaps because you have saved my sister and my new nephew. Perhaps because you have shown me you are not the typical noble bitch we have all come to expect. You have paid us a good deed and perhaps I should show you one as well.”

Cantia could hardly dare to hope. “If that is true, then all I would wish for is to go home. Please, Gillywiss. It is all I could want.”

Gillywiss pulled his gaze off his sister and focused on Cantia, seeing the utter eagerness and faith in her eyes. He could feel himself relenting.

“We will discuss it in the morning,” he finally said. “Nothing can be done tonight. Perhaps I will send you home and send word to Paris anyway. My family lives in the crevices and underground of that great and dirty city. They know everything. Perhaps they will know.”

Cantia fought off tears of relief as she sighed heavily, a great release of fear and sorrow and anticipation. She wouldn’t push Gillywiss anymore this night. He had promised to speak on the matter more in the morning and she looked forward to that moment.

She was murmuring quiet prayers that she would see Tevin again very soon when distant shouts caught their attention.

Gillywiss bolted from the stool and threw the door open, his sharp gaze moving over the darkened encampment.

Cantia went to stand behind him, puzzled, as the cries of alarm grew louder.

She could hear the thunder of horses and the screams of men.

Before Gillywiss ran off, he told Cantia to go back inside and bolt the door.

As he ran away, Cantia didn’t obey. She charged out into the darkness to see what was amiss.

After that, all dissolved into chaos.