Page 27 of Rogue Knight
Geoff wrapped the cloth snugly around the hound’s leg, all the while speaking encouraging words as Magnus watched him with his dark, trusting eyes.
“Mathieu, hold Athos.” With a huff, Geoff lifted the large hound into his arms. “He’s as heavy as his mistress.”
Alain’s mouth twitched up on one side. “Surely that can be no burden.”
Geoff rolled his eyes.
Content now that he had been rescued, the hound lay pliant, resting his large head over Geoff’s shoulder.
“Aye, Magnus, you are among friends,” Geoff said, avoiding another wet kiss from the beast. He followed Alain through the opening the huge knight had found in the thick brush. Walking to Athos, Geoff said, “If Magnus will allow you to hold him, I can mount and then take him.”
At Alain’s nod, Geoff carefully handed Magnus to him. The hound allowed it as if he knew what they were about.
Geoff quickly mounted and accepted the hound across the saddle, settling him onto his lap. “We shall return Magnus to his mistress.” With his free hand, he turned his horse back toward the walled city.
“Emma will be grateful,” observed Mathieu.
“That was my fervent hope,” Geoff mumbled, a grin forming on his face.
***
Emma paced in front of the hearth fire, her eyes darting from Magnus’ empty pallet to where her cloak hung on a peg near the door. “I must search for him,” she said to Artur, who stood close by, as worried as she was. “He has never stayed away so long. It will soon be dark. Something must have happened.”
“I can go, Mistress,” Artur bravely offered.
“You cannot ride. And I may have to go a great distance to find him in the forest. ’Tis best I go.”
Making a decision, she grabbed her cloak from the peg near the door. “I cannot say how long I will be gone, for I know not where he hunts. You and Sigga feed the others their supper while I am away.”
“Do you want me to saddle Thyra?”
“Nay,” said Emma, “I can do it.”
Artur shot her a concerned glance that told her he wanted to scold her for going out at this hour, but he did not. He had been with her long enough to know when her mind was made up there was no stopping her.
She unlatched the door and heard the sound of pounding hooves. Stepping out of the door, she saw three knights riding toward her, slowing their horses as they approached.Normans.One had the straw-colored hair of Sir Geoffroi for he wore no helm. Across his lap he carried…Magnus!She nearly cried out with relief. Tears filling her eyes, she ran to meet the three men.
“Magnus! Oh, Sir Geoffroi, you found him!”
Magnus gave out a bark and joy filled her heart. The hound was alive. But the blood-soaked cloth around his leg told her he was hurt.
The one she recognized as Sir Alain dismounted and came around to Sir Geoffroi’s horse to accept Magnus into his arms. Sir Geoffroi swung his leg over his saddle and slid off his horse, reclaiming the hound.
The squire, who had also dismounted, gathered the reins of the three horses.
“I think you know where the stable is at the back of the house,” she told him. He nodded and headed around the house.
“What happened?” she asked Sir Geoffroi as he carried Magnus through the door she held open.
“Caught his leg in a snare.”
“Oh, Magnus,” she murmured softly, reaching out her hand to stroke his head.
Sir Geoffroi asked, “Where do you want him?”
“You can lay him on the pallet next to the hearth where I can see to his injury.”
He and Sir Alain entered and she pointed to the straw-filled pallet near the fire. “Just there.”
