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him to complete his task, how could she flee as so many others had done and leave her village in the hands of a stranger?
‘No,’ Sabina said, quietly. ‘You are welcome to escort the others where they will, but I am staying.’
‘I’m not leaving you here with him!’ Urban sputtered.
‘That is your choice,’ Sabina said.
Adele appeared, bringing some apples and cheese and ale, and Sabina ate silently, trying not to stare at the knight in their midst. She regretted the sharpness of her words, brought on by her own fear and panic, and she realised that she would do better to tread softly around the stranger. ’Twould be wise to remember that she needed him and not the other way around.
When she had finished her meagre meal, Sabina rose to her feet and addressed her visitor. ‘Come, my lord, let me show you my home, and perhaps you will see why I care so much for Grim’s End.’
For a moment, Sabina thought he might argue, but a flicker of something, perhaps resignation, passed over his features. Then he downed his cider, picked up an apple and stood. ‘Very well,’ he said, with a nod.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ Urban asked.
Sabina glanced towards him, surprised by his sharp tone. For a moment, she could find no cause for it, and then she realised just how far removed she was from the niceties that once had ruled her life.
Those who stayed in Grim’s End had clung together, their numbers dwindling, until the remaining few had become like a wandering family, making camp where they would. No one paid heed to who was with whom, where or when. Indeed, Sabina often had been alone with Urban, who had made no objection at the time. But she could understand the need to keep up appearances for their guest.
‘Perhaps Ursula can walk with us,’ Sabina said, heading toward the kitchens to call for her attendant.
Urban made some sort of sputtering noise again, as if protesting, and Sabina eyed him curiously. As her father’s man, he was well accustomed to protecting her, but she saw no need for it now. Everything about Lord de Burgh spoke of honesty and courage. And if he were up to mischief, he could have robbed and murdered them in their beds.
And since he could easily overpower the older man, there was no sense in Urban following her every movement. The thought had barely crossed her mind when Sabina realised how much she longed to escape his company, and she immediately felt a pang of guilt. They were all grateful to Urban, for how could they have remained here without him? Yet his gloom and fear were a palatable presence. Sabina could not remember the last time she had been outside without the threat of attack dogging her steps. Nor could she remember the last time she had a conversation that did not revolve around the survival of their small band.
Selfishly, Sabina longed for both, away from Urban’s sullen presence. Yet she might have invited him to join them had not Ursula appeared at that moment to say that Adele had need of him. Sending them all a chary look, Urban disappeared into the kitchens, while Ursula hurried to accompany them.
Without Urban to remind her, Sabina did not even peek out the doors before exiting, warily listening for roars and watching for streams of fire. She simply stepped outside, and it felt wonderful. The sky was clear, the clouds wisps of white and the air fresh and warm. Sabina took a deep breath and smiled with pure pleasure.
Her feet easily found the familiar paths, taking the one that led to the rear of the manor, where the ground sloped gently upwards. ‘We try to keep up the garden as best we can, as well as others scattered throughout the village,’ she said, though the area looked sadly depleted and overgrown. There were so few of them and so much to do…
Sabina drew in a sharp breath. But she would not think about that now. In fact, as they walked quietly through the orchard, she tried to imagine this stroll taking place another day, another
‘No,’ Sabina said, quietly. ‘You are welcome to escort the others where they will, but I am staying.’
‘I’m not leaving you here with him!’ Urban sputtered.
‘That is your choice,’ Sabina said.
Adele appeared, bringing some apples and cheese and ale, and Sabina ate silently, trying not to stare at the knight in their midst. She regretted the sharpness of her words, brought on by her own fear and panic, and she realised that she would do better to tread softly around the stranger. ’Twould be wise to remember that she needed him and not the other way around.
When she had finished her meagre meal, Sabina rose to her feet and addressed her visitor. ‘Come, my lord, let me show you my home, and perhaps you will see why I care so much for Grim’s End.’
For a moment, Sabina thought he might argue, but a flicker of something, perhaps resignation, passed over his features. Then he downed his cider, picked up an apple and stood. ‘Very well,’ he said, with a nod.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ Urban asked.
Sabina glanced towards him, surprised by his sharp tone. For a moment, she could find no cause for it, and then she realised just how far removed she was from the niceties that once had ruled her life.
Those who stayed in Grim’s End had clung together, their numbers dwindling, until the remaining few had become like a wandering family, making camp where they would. No one paid heed to who was with whom, where or when. Indeed, Sabina often had been alone with Urban, who had made no objection at the time. But she could understand the need to keep up appearances for their guest.
‘Perhaps Ursula can walk with us,’ Sabina said, heading toward the kitchens to call for her attendant.
Urban made some sort of sputtering noise again, as if protesting, and Sabina eyed him curiously. As her father’s man, he was well accustomed to protecting her, but she saw no need for it now. Everything about Lord de Burgh spoke of honesty and courage. And if he were up to mischief, he could have robbed and murdered them in their beds.
And since he could easily overpower the older man, there was no sense in Urban following her every movement. The thought had barely crossed her mind when Sabina realised how much she longed to escape his company, and she immediately felt a pang of guilt. They were all grateful to Urban, for how could they have remained here without him? Yet his gloom and fear were a palatable presence. Sabina could not remember the last time she had been outside without the threat of attack dogging her steps. Nor could she remember the last time she had a conversation that did not revolve around the survival of their small band.
Selfishly, Sabina longed for both, away from Urban’s sullen presence. Yet she might have invited him to join them had not Ursula appeared at that moment to say that Adele had need of him. Sending them all a chary look, Urban disappeared into the kitchens, while Ursula hurried to accompany them.
Without Urban to remind her, Sabina did not even peek out the doors before exiting, warily listening for roars and watching for streams of fire. She simply stepped outside, and it felt wonderful. The sky was clear, the clouds wisps of white and the air fresh and warm. Sabina took a deep breath and smiled with pure pleasure.
Her feet easily found the familiar paths, taking the one that led to the rear of the manor, where the ground sloped gently upwards. ‘We try to keep up the garden as best we can, as well as others scattered throughout the village,’ she said, though the area looked sadly depleted and overgrown. There were so few of them and so much to do…
Sabina drew in a sharp breath. But she would not think about that now. In fact, as they walked quietly through the orchard, she tried to imagine this stroll taking place another day, another
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