Page 74 of Fortress of Snow

“Yes, my lady.”

She should probably stop him from calling her a lady, but it hardly mattered, she supposed. But since John had not called him “Sir Giles,” she assumed he was not a knight but only a guard.

“Can you set out with me today?” she asked him.

“I shall be ready in less than an hour.”

“Good. Meet me at the Swan when you are ready.”

He nodded to her and hurried back the way he had come.

“Mazy, I hope you are not going to get into some kind of conflict with Lady Bristow,” John said, turning his head to spit on the ground.

“I was not planning to.”

“Good, because she may look like a kitten, but she has the teeth of a lioness and would not hesitate to tear you apart.”

Mazy wanted to assert that she was capable of taking care of herself, but since she wanted him to elaborate, she tried to look confused. “What do you mean? You make it sound as if you know her and have had dealings with her.”

John stared into the distance with a blank look on his face. “Just stay away from her. That’s my advice to you, little sister. Sir Berenger is a man. He can take care of himself.”

“I am no one. I am not even a baron’s daughter anymore. I will be invisible to Lady Bristow, so don’t worry about me.”

“Just don’t become her enemy.” And without another word, he turned and walked away.

“Thank you for your help,” Mazy said. But John did not acknowledge her thanks, if he heard her.

An hour later, true to his word, Giles arrived at the Swan, leading his horse by the bridle. Mazy had already bid Ro fare well, and moments later, they set out on horseback on the north road out of London.

After her brother had warned her about Lady Bristow, she had prayed and asked God if perhaps she should go to Strachleighto tell Lady Delia what she had learned. After all, Lady Delia could send her husband, the Duke of Strachleigh, and some of his men with her to tell Sir Berenger what she had learned about Lady Bristow, in case there was trouble.

But going straight to Bristow Castle in Suffolk would save a couple of days. And if Sir Berenger was in danger, a few days could make all the difference.

As she rode, she closed her eyes, quieted her mind, and prayed,God, where should I go? To speak to Lady Delia? Or to Sir Berenger?

In her mind the words instantly appeared:Go to Sir Berenger at Bristow Castle.

God, are You sure?She waited, wondering at herself for asking God such a question, but she heard nothing else.

God was sending her, so He would surely protect her and Sir Berenger.

God was also with the martyrs, but they still died.

She shook her head at the morbid thought.

God, Sir Berenger is a good man, and he is my friend. Use me to keep him safe. Help him, God. And help me.

They would have to cover long distances every day to reach Bristow Castle quickly, so they only stopped when the horses needed water and a rest and kept going until the sun was setting, sleeping under the trees most nights.

Giles said very little. Before they left, she did find out that he was a guard at the Tower and had been from a young age, that his wife had had a child a few months before who was sickly, and that they had spent a lot of money on physicians andhealers trying to make him well. She was glad she had paid him so well.

Berenger had been dreading seeing Lady Bristow, knowing what he had to do. He still hadn’t quite decided how to tell her or how he would take Juliana with him when he left. And as they sat together at the evening meal, Lady Bristow touched his arm, and he had to force himself not to recoil.

“This castle was rebuilt fifty years ago after it was destroyed by fire.” She had told him this before.

“Yes, I know.” He continued to eat, trying to behave as if nothing was amiss.

“It is very solid, and King Richard called it essential and strategic in defending England.”