Debra Kay Leland Read Free

not have been just by chance.  The man would have had to have ridden with them and followed William that day hoping to find him alone so he could draw his sword on him!
    Phillip almost shivered at the thought that one of their own could do such an evil thing!  But why ?!  It made no sense!  William was a goodly man, loyal and honorable, and all considered him to be a friend.  If it were a villager the reason was more than evident—but if it were one of their own what could the man have gained but revenge?!  And those who knew William knew him to be fair!  He frowned even harder.
    William himself was merely the second son of the Earl without even title to his name save that of being a Knight— it made no sense!  What would one gain in doing such?!   Unless, it was for revenge against the Earl himself and not William...?!   He sighed and glanced around again knowing he would need to talk to Thomas as soon as he could and find out if there were any rumors of what had happened in the villages…  And he would need to know who had ridden with them, and not returned; or who it was that might hate William enough to do this to him…  He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees and then ran a tense hand through his hair as he glanced up at the guards again with worried eyes…
     
     
    It was just before day break when his father noticed that the trembling in William’s body had finally ceased, his raging breaths were now calmed, and he slept…  And yet he could not help but worry on …
     
     
    Thomas came up the long curved staircase an d met Phillip’s worried eyes.
    Phillip stood and drew him to the side glancing back at t he guards who now watched him.
    “What is it?!  Tell me true that he is not worse!”  Thomas said with concern.
    Phillip glanced back at the guards and shook his head as he lowered his voice, “William rests, but I have need to speak with thee…!  Things are far worse than either of us knew…!”
    Thomas frowned at the other man’s words as they stepped farther down the dim hall, speaking in a low tense whisper, “Far worse?!  But ye told me he had begun to recover?”
    Phillip glanced back again before he spoke making sure that the guards were not overly concerned with their actions, “’Tis true, though William awoke and what he told me gives us each need to worry .”  He tightened his grip on the other man’s arm and told him of the things that William had said.
    Thomas’ frown hardened with each tense word, his heart filling with worry and anger at the same time.  “Can it be possible he is mistaken!”
    Phillip shook his head warily.  “Nay, I do not believe so—and even if he is wrong, we cannot take a chance with his life and just do nothing!”
    Thomas glanced around them with narrowed eyes feeling the threat that surrounded them.  “What ye ask shall take time, ye know that.”
    “Aye, I know, but none are to be trusted save the man’s father!  As for me, I shall keep watch as he sleeps—have thy sister see to his food, tell her to only bring that which the men themselves are served and tell her to speak these words to no one!  For until we are sure who has done this thing, we shall take no chances!”
    Thomas frowned at his words.  “Aye, and I shall go and see what I can find in the village and with the men.  I only hope that ye are wrong.”
    “As do I…”  He clasp the man’s hand in an oath before he went back to the bench by the door, his eyes following Thomas as he headed down the long dim hall before they went to the guards who had paused to watch them speak.  He cringed at the thought that one of their own might have done this terrible thing and prayed that it wasn’t true…
     
    W illiam awoke only a few times, though not for long in the days that followed; yet each time gave them hope that soon he might be well again.  And to his word, Phillip never left him alone.  When his father was not with him himself, Phillip and