Page 73 of Rogue Knight
At his side he heard Alain yank his sword from its scabbard. Behind them the sliding steel of other knights rang in the clearing.
The two Normans paused. They would not have expected their fellow knights to draw swords on them, but Geoff was not in the mood to explain.
“What goes here?” Geoff roared as he stomped toward them.
Ottar whimpered, his young body hanging limp beneath the knight’s grasp. The boy’s eyes darted to Geoff and in them he saw recognition.
“Let the boy and his servant go!” Geoff commanded.
The Norman looked down at Ottar and moved the sword back from his neck but did not release him. “Why should I not kill this rebel spawn when the king has ordered all their deaths?”
The voice of the knight was familiar to Geoff, but since the knight wore a helm, Geoff could not be certain. “Who are you?” he asked in a gruff voice.
With his sword poised once again above Ottar’s throat, the Norman said, “Sir Eude—not that my name is any concern of yours.”
Eude.Geoff had never liked the knight who had raped Inga and now he threatened the boy Emma loved. His thoughts scattered. If Ottar was here, Emma must be near.But how had Eude come to be here?The day of the Danes’ attack no Norman had been spared, save for those taken prisoner. And Eude was not one of them.
Before he could pursue his questions, Eude asked, “Which of William’s knights are you?”
“Geoffroi de Tournai.”
Eude fell silent, as if pondering the name. “Ah, Sir Geoffroi. I recall you.”
“How did you survive the Danes’ slaughter, Eude?”
“The rebels are not the only ones who can hide in the woods. Murdac and I escaped into the forest and have only just rejoined William’s army.”
“Then you and your friend are cowards, Eude. For none ran, save you.” Geoff had fought men like this one before, braggarts who were sure of their ability against a lesser foe. A Northumbrian rebel, ill-trained and ill-equipped, he might easily defeat. But a Dane’s powerful arm, wielding a deadly axe with skill, Eude would not have wanted to face. Only a coward would prey on a defenseless girl like Inga.
“Yetyoulive,” said Eude, his tone sarcastic.
“I was prepared to die but instead I was taken prisoner. My men and I did not run from the field. You are worse than a coward, Eude, for you defile innocents. Did you know that one of York’s maidens now carries your bastard?”
“I care not how many bastards I drop in England. ’Tis the way of the conquered to submit. I doubt she is the only one. As I recall, you had your own York wench, one you refused to share.”
“I would not take a woman against her will,” said Geoff. He felt a twinge of regret for the show he had put on that night, but he had done it to spare Emma the lust of the others. “You are unworthy to be a knight.”
Eude sneered. “Stand aside while we dispatch these rebels.”
Geoff held his stance, his drawn sword speaking loudly. “Nay you will not slay them and I will not stand aside.” Anger welled in his chest. This knight had brought much dishonor on the king. Mayhap such a one had even spurred the people of York to rebel. It was going to give Geoff great satisfaction to finally deal with Eude.
“You would defend our enemies?” Eude asked, incredulous.
“They are not my enemies. They are innocents.”
Even with his helm hiding half his face, Geoff saw Eude’s scowl. “Then you have turned traitor,” he spit out.
Geoff raised his chin, his shoulders squared. “I adhere to the code to which I was sworn—to protect the innocent—while you would defile and slay them. For that, you will meet my sword.”
Eude and his friend, Murdac, turned from their intended victims.
“Run to Mathieu, Ottar!” Geoff shouted, his eyes fixed on Eude. Out of the corner of his eye, Geoff was relieved to see the boy and the servant circling around behind him.
Eude’s eyes darted to the knights with drawn swords behind him and then to Alain at his side. “I would accept your challenge, but there are six of you and only two of us.”
Geoff looked over his shoulder. “Sheathe your blades,” he ordered Mathieu and the knights. “This is a matter of honor for Alain and me to handle.”
Four swords slid back into their sheaths. Tension hung thick in the air as Geoff returned his gaze to Eude and silence descended. Not a bird or forest creature stirred as Geoff slowly advanced.
