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T heobold tensed as he stood by his horse, using a brush to gently rub down its back and sides. Grooming his horse was a chore he didn’t mind, and as squire to Sir Robert of Gloucester, he needed to look after his master’s horse, anyway.

But even as Theobold glided the brush over the tawny hide, gently grazing the velvety skin of the mare, its blonde mane reminded him of the blonde-haired girl, whom the empress had called “Mistress Bronwyn.” She was an interesting one.

Of an average height for a woman, but maybe an inch or so shorter than most, he’d been ready to overlook and dismiss her as just another pretty face. But when she’d challenged him on the field of battle, taking him to task for saving her life and running through that traitor, it had made him pause.

And then of all things, she’d spoken to the empress, as if it were no great thing to address an empress , the very ruler of a country. She was brash and had spoken quickly, but her words had sounded true when she’d repeated what the dying man had said. He regretted killing him now.

Well, almost. He had not wanted to put a man to torture, and that was what would have been in store for him.

The empress had no qualms about questioning a man to get answers, and she simply paid others to do the dirty work for her.

By any means necessary, she would find out what she needed, no matter if literal heads rolled or not.

Once he’d learned that, early on in his master’s service to her, he’d made a point of taking no prisoners. He didn’t have the stomach for it.

When the young woman had left the tent, the empress had called Sir Bors; him; his master, Sir Robert of Gloucester; Sir Ranulf; and Sir Miles, for a quick counsel.

There in the quiet, with naught but the ordinary sounds of people talking and milling about outside, he stood with the three knights facing the empress, waiting for his master to arrive.

The fight had been unexpected and bloody.

His master would be working with scouts and men-at-arms to tally up the casualties and the dead.

The empress sat on a squat, wooden chair lined with furs and asked, “Whilst we wait for Sir Robert, what think you all of this matter?”

Theobold was first to speak up. “I fear the girl is right, Empress. The crown was taken.”

Maud’s pretty face went from fair to ferocious in an instant, and she hissed, “And how did that happen? Who let it happen, and why are they not before me?”

Sir Ranulf stood at attention. “I’ll get them, Empress. I’ll bring them in and—”

“A worthy sentiment, de Gernon, if only we knew who they were,” Sir Miles said, cutting him off.

He clasped his hands like a worthy advisor.

“Empress, we know this was a concerted attack on the camp. But the number of casualties and fatalities is of such a number that… I do not know that this was done with any other purpose than to cause confusion and steal your crown.”

“But why? Why come after my crown and not try to free my cousin?” she asked.

Sir Miles shrugged. “That I couldn’t say. Sir Robert is looking into that as we speak.”

Theobold pondered this and rested his hands along his belt, where his sword hung, sheathed. What did it mean, for people to have died, all for the sake of a theft? He didn’t understand it, either.

“Theobold? What do you make of this?” Empress Maud asked.

“He’s but a squire, Empress,” said Sir Ranulf. “Surely, he can stay outside with the others and—”

“I will choose who gives me counsel, de Gernon, and I do not recall asking your opinion,” Empress Maud snapped. Her French accent grew heavier, a sure sign of her distress. Her gaze fixed on Theobold. “Tell me.”

It was not a request, but a command.

Theobold ran a hand through his black curls.

“I do not know, Empress. I think that Sir Miles is right, and stealing the crown must have been the object. But I do think this wasn’t just one person.

The attack and the theft came at the same time.

The crown wasn’t discovered missing till after we had killed the attackers. ”

“Could whoever did this have simply been waiting for the right chance, and the battle a mere opportune moment to make an attempt?” Sir Miles asked.

Theobold shrugged. “I am not sure. It’s possible but unlikely, as they would have had to subdue the two guards outside the tent, and the one within.

That a mere woman could single-handedly fight two armed guards is…

not impossible, but unlikely, especially as Lady Eleanor was no warrior.

Fighting the guards alone would require a warrior with considerable skill.

Barring the present company, only a few of the knights in the company could have accomplished such a feat.

But out of those, I would not hazard a guess as to who would dare turn against you, Empress.

I believe your knights are good, loyal fighters. ”

“Of course we are, boy ,” Sir Bors said, thumping the empress’s armchair with his fist.

The empress nodded, but Sir Ranulf smirked as Sir Robert of Gloucester entered the tent.

He was tall, swarthy, with light-blond hair and a bushy, long mustache that needed trimming.

His eyes were bright and alert, and his jaw square, like his torso.

He strode in wearing a mix of armor over chainmail and carried a sword like he knew to use it.

He wore no helmet but presented a fearsome enough exterior that Theobold pitied the enemy who dared aim a spear at his head.

He nodded to the other knights, bowed to the empress, and said in a low voice, “Empress. We got off lightly. Fewer than a hundred dead. Some sick and wounded, but our fatalities were few, thank God.”

“And the prisoners? Stephen?” Empress Maud asked.

“Secure. Their guards are still in place. Any attempt at escape you can be sure would have met with swift action. But strangely enough, there was no attack on their guards, or by the prisoners to leave.”

“Odd. Why else then would we be attacked like this, if not to confuse our men whilst Stephen’s bandits attempted a rescue?” The empress rose from her chair and began pacing around the tent.

“I do not know, Empress. It is indeed strange.”

Sir Ranulf smirked, eyeing Theobold.

“Something amuses you, de Gernon?” Sir Miles asked.

“Only that before Sir Robert came in, you took Theobold’s word as if he were some great warrior, when he’s just Gloucester’s squire. He’s barely a man.” There was a note of challenge there.

Theobold stepped forward. “I will take you on the field right here and now.”

Sir Ranulf grinned. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Show everyone how good you are with a sword.”

“Peace, men. Not in my tents. You want to fight like children, do it outside,” Empress Maud said.

Sir Robert’s expression darkened. He shot Sir Ranulf an annoyed glance, and the man calmly rested his hands on his sword belt, below his belly.

Theobold stepped back, his face hot. He’d taken Sir Ranulf’s bait and proven he was one to rise to the merest insult.

Sir Robert said, “Let us have no more of this fighting. What I want to know is this: how did the man or men, whoever it was, steal the crown at all? And what happened to the guards who were supposed to be looking after it?”

Sir Miles said, “We were just discussing that. Lady Eleanor and a guard were killed and one disappeared. I assume he fled rather than face the empress for his crime.”

“Lady Eleanor? What was she doing here?” Sir Robert’s forehead wrinkled as he looked to Theobold for clarification, then down at the body. He crossed himself. “That dear lady.”

Sir Bors relayed his account of the theft.

Sir Robert stroked his chin. “I find it hard to believe the lady would try to steal the crown.”

Empress Maud clasped her hands. “I agree. But aside from that, these men who attacked us—what if they were working with Stephen’s men? His knights?”

“But they are imprisoned, Empress,” Sir Miles said. “We know that during the attack, the prisoners were not tampered with, and no one escaped.”

“Did any try?” Empress Maud asked.

“Yes. But not for long,” Sir Robert said.

“Question them,” she said. “I want to know if they saw anything, or if they were working with the thieves. Someone must have seen something.”

Sir Ranulf harrumphed and hitched his belt up higher. “I will find the thieves for you, Empress.”

“Good. You can work with Theobold to find out who is behind this.”

Theobold grimaced, Sir Ranulf scowled, and Sir Bors grinned. Sir Ranulf said, “Empress, I need no help.” He looked down at Theobold as if to say, not from him .

“Two heads are better than one, and I want answers. Ranulf, question the prisoners. Theobold, find my crown. I want it back. You have until we leave for Gloucester, which shall give you about five days. I don’t need to tell you to keep this news quiet.

No one must know it’s gone.” Her dark eyes demanded action, obeisance, and absolute loyalty.

“Yes, Empress,” Sir Ranulf and Theobold chorused.

“What of the girl, Empress? The maid?” Sir Bors asked.

“What about her?” Empress Maud asked.

“She knows something. Or she thinks she does. I’ve seen that look on a woman’s face before. She’s either a busybody, or she has a secret she doesn’t wish us to know.”

“Hmm.” The empress tapped a delicate finger against her round chin. “Our expressions do not betray us all, Sir Bors.”

“We could kill her. Make sure she doesn’t go talking,” Sir Ranulf said.

Theobold stiffened. To kill a young woman so heedlessly for sharing what she knew? “No.”

The others looked at him.

Theobold shook his head. “She’s just a servant.”

“Exactly. No one will miss her,” Sir Ranulf said. “We could put a knife through her guts and drown her in the river, make it seem like she fell in. No one would be the wiser.”

“No,” Theobold said. “She could be useful.”