Page 3 of Rogue Knight
“Lady Serena is with the earl just now,” Maugris informed him. “’Twould be best to eat first.”
“I suppose you speak wisdom,” Geoff muttered as he stretched his hands toward the hearth fire.
“Why not join me at the table?” Maugris suggested.
Though anxious to see his friend, Geoff grunted his agreement and headed for the high table.
“Sit yerself down,” insisted Maggie, “and I’ll see ye both have some stew.”
He and Maugris took their seats.
“How is he, Maggie?” Geoff inquired, his brow furrowed in worry as he again looked toward the bedchamber where Renaud was recovering from a wound all were concerned could lead to a deadly fever.
“None too pleased, I expect. ’Twas worse than he pretended. He is already growling at being so confined, but Lady Serena rightly insists he stay abed.”
Maggie disappeared into the kitchen and a servant brought trenchers with bowls of stew and bread and butter to join the pitchers of ale already on the table.
Geoff speared a piece of mutton from his stew with his knife.
Maugris reached for the bread. “The Red Wolf is not used to being injured or mayhap I should say he is unused toacknowledginghis injuries. Lady Serena has forced him to do so.”
“’Twas a bad riding accident that,” muttered Geoff, remembering the fall Renaud had taken from his stallion a few days before when the horse had stepped into a hole and fallen. “His Spanish stallion is none the better for it, either.”
“Belasco will recover, as will his master.”
“Have you seen that in one of your visions?” Geoff asked, only slightly amused, for he desperately wanted assurance Ren would be well.
Maugris took a sip of his ale. “Nay, but I know the Red Wolf and his Spanish stallion. Both will recover in time.”
Knowing Maugris was never wrong, Geoff’s spirits lifted. “And I will be thanking God when that day arrives.”
He cut a large piece of bread with his knife and slathered it with butter. It was nearly to his mouth when, out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Serena, Countess of Talisand, coming toward them from the chamber at the base of the stairs, her flaxen hair covered now that she was wed. Beneath the headcloth were two long plaits trailing down the front of her violet gown.
Round with the child she would deliver in the spring, Serena walked slowly to the dais. “Good day to you both.”
Geoff set down his bread and he and Maugris rose as one and bowed.
“My lady,” Geoff said, helping her to her seat.
Once settled, Serena rested a hand on the mound of her belly. “’Tis fortuitous my lord cannot climb the stairs and must be confined to the lower chamber as I will soon be unable to climb them myself.”
“’Twill not be long now,” observed Maugris. “The coming of April will see the Red Wolf with his first cub.”
“I look forward to the day he arrives, Maugris,” she returned, casting the old man a kindly glance. “I cannot sleep for this babe’s kicking in the night.”
A servant set a trencher before Serena, but she must have been thinking of her husband, for she only picked at her food.
“What news from the messenger, my lady?” asked Geoff, eager to hear. “Did your husband happen to say?”
“Yea, but I would have him tell you himself. When you finish your meal, he will likely be ready for you and Maugris. Just now his bandage is being changed and he’s snarling like the wolf whose name he bears. The leg pains him greatly but he tries to hide it.”
Geoff finished his stew quickly, knowing the other knights would soon be coming in for the midday meal. Since the king had left a contingent of knights and men-at-arms with them, it was always crowded in the hall at meals. Rising, he bowed to Serena, “With your permission—”
She waved him off. “Go. He will be shouting for you soon enough.”
“Come, wise one,” said Geoff turning to Maugris. “Your counsel will surely be needed.”
“Do not be in such haste to hear unpleasant news,” chided the old one as he slowly rose from the table, the folds of his dark woolen tunic loose about his thin frame.
