Page 36 of Veil of Winter

Obviously she was a faithless person at heart, or she wouldnot be having such thoughts. She just didn’t like the fact that evil people were allowed to do evil things to good people. But she supposed that was the way life had always been, since Adam and Eve first ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden.

She said a quick, silent prayer of repentance and thankfulness to God for allowing her to survive falling through the ice, as well as gratitude for Sir Gerard and her other companions. God willing, they would succeed in reaching Prague and gaining favor with the king.

Of course, if all did not go well and her plan failed, she was still supposed to believe that God was watching over them, that God was good and faithful. But it would be so much easier to believe if her plan succeeded.

Ten

As they rode through the snowy mountain passes, taking a more northerly route, Gerard’s mind kept going to the brief interaction with Princess Elyce that morning. When she thanked him for saving her life, his heart melted inside him, even more so when she told him he was very brave. Those were her words. “You are very brave.”

It was a knight’s duty to be brave, but no one had ever told him that.

Princess Elyce was a complicated woman.

Gerard had heard all his life that women were impossible to understand, and though he had little experience with women, he found the princess to be especially difficult. She was aloof and strangely quiet at times, cheerful and talkative a few minutes later. She had a temper and raised her voice when she felt threatened by or strongly disagreed with him, but she thanked him sweetly after he rescued her from the frozen lake.

Though somber and serious, even melancholy at times, she had enough faith to trek through the mountains in a snowstorm on a quest that most would consider foolhardy.

Perhaps he himself was foolhardy, but none of Princess Elyce’s characteristics put him off the way other men seemed put off by women’s changeability. There was something about the princess that intrigued him—besides her obvious beauty. She had many admirable character traits.

His sister was kind, motherly, and a little naive. His stepmother had been cold and unfeeling. But the princess was not like either of them. And he found himself wanting to know more about her, to hear more of what she had to say and discover what she was thinking.

He was beginning to sound like a lovesick boy. But he was not in love, as he barely knew the princess, and he did not intend to fall in love with anyone except his future wife, whoever she turned out to be. Hopefully he would gain fame for himself and impress King Richard, who would grant him some land, and he would be able to make a prestigious match with a faithful, noble-hearted woman. He could ask for nothing better than that.

The princess had been talking with Ysabeau as they rode near each other. He glanced her way and caught her staring at him. She immediately looked away. What was she thinking?

Sir Oswalt had gone to the top of the last mountain they’d passed to get a look behind them, and also to try to spy out a town where they could find provisions. He now came galloping up beside Gerard.

“What did you see?”

“Men in the distance. Could be following us.”

“How many?

“Ten at least, maybe a lot more.”

“Not hard to see our trail in this snow.” If they were King Claude’s or King Leandre’s men, they’d no doubt catch up to them.

“I also saw a town ahead. Maybe we can reach it before they get to us.”

The town officials might protect them if they were favorable to Princess Elyce and her cause, but they could also be more loyal to King Claude or the princess’s father. Better not to risk trusting the local officials.

Bertold drew near and demanded to know what they were talking about.

“What is it?” Princess Elyce asked, turning in her saddle.

Sir Oswalt relayed the information about the men following them, and they all quickened their pace.

The trail wound down the mountainside into the valley to the walled town below. They moved as quickly as they dared on the steep, rocky path. Princess Elyce caught up with Gerard.

“What is our plan?”

She obviously considered Gerard the leader. He only hoped he wouldn’t disappoint her.

“We will conceal ourselves in the town and observe these men. If they are looking for us, we will stay in the town until they leave, or fight them, if necessary.”

“But you are only three and they are at least ten, according to Sir Oswalt.”

He was not sure what to say to that. It was true, but if they had to fight, they would. “Perhaps we should reveal who I am to the town officials. They will protect us.”