"They only use us as slaves to fetch food and water and carry wood. They do not find Saxon women attractive." She breathed her warm words at him and managed to sensuously touch every part of his anatomy with hers. He was breathing heavily now. Her sore throat gave her voice a seductive, voluptuous huskiness he had never heard before, and his fantasies began to build in spite of himself and the determination he had of revenging himself on her. Her eyes were filled with undreamed-of promises, and with a sensuous movement she reached behind him and put the bar down across the door so they would be alone without interruption. Her hands began to lift off his leather tunic, and then her fingers were inside his chainse doing tantalizing, indecent things to him. He allowed an involuntary groan to escape his lips, and she whispered, brushing burning lips against his ear, "You have made me wait too long, Wulfric. Let's see what you have for me," and she slipped her hand between his legs and cupped his testes.
He gasped, "I never thought I'd see Lillyth of Godstone play the whore!"
"For no other man, but I'll be your whore, Wulfric," and she took the tip of his penis and stroked it with tender feather-like fingers. He squirmed with unquenched lust and moved toward the bed. She clung to him and between kisses said, "I know which way you like it best, but I want to feel you between my thighs the first time, then afterward I will turn over and you can have it your way."
The whip slipped nervelessly from his fingers as he fell onto the bed and pulled her down on top of him. His hands slipped up her dress to her hidden thighs, and her hands slipped under the mattress to her hidden knife.
It fit so well into her palm and felt so right that it became an extension of her hand. She raised her arm and swiftly plunged it into the middle of his chest. His eyes flew open and his mouth gaped foolishly as it plunged in. He screamed and raised his arm to smash her, but quick as lightning she stabbed it into his arm and tore it down the length of his muscle. The arm dropped uselessly. Oblivious to the spurting blood, she plunged it into his chest again, over and over.
He thrashed about wildly, and her other hand closed on his whip and she lashed out at him with all her force. He screamed again and tore up from the bed, propelled by the stinging lash of the whip. The knife stayed in her hand and she stabbed and stabbed, and when he fell to the floor mortally wounded, making only animal sounds now, she plunged it in again and again, not knowing or caring where the thrusts struck.
He was a mass of wounds from his throat to his belly and groin, and when she knew that he was quite, quite dead, she splashed in his blood until it splattered the ceiling. She sank down upon the bed and felt very ill. Her body burned with fever and she stared fixedly into space.
Chapter 15
Guy and his men could see the pall of smoke in the air while they were still some miles away, and it impelled them to double their speed. However, as they drew closer to Godstone they could see the smoke coming from the east and surmised that it was from Oxstead. Guy divided the convoy in half and bade Nicholas take his men to Oxstead immediately. Guy could not dispel the fear that was clutching at his heart, and he urged his men make every possible speed with him to Godstone. He saw the strange horses tethered in the yard immediately, yet not so strange, noted his quick eye. Some of those horses had been stolen from them. Their approach had been heard from within, and eight or nine armed men rushed them as they dismounted. Wulfric's men were outnumbered two to one, but they fought like wild animals in their desperation to get away from the Normans.
When the melee was over and all the Saxons lay dead, Guy's men had suffered more wounds than they had received at Senlac. Andre had been wounded in the thigh. Guy could see how severe it was, with the muscle and tendons hanging from the cut the huge sword had carved open. He picked Andre up in his arms and carried him into the hall. Rolf lay unconscious in a dried pool of blood. The knife still stood between his shoulder blades. Most of the women were tethered with ropes, their garments were torn and their faces were bruised, eyes blackened and lips burst open from trying to resist their attackers. Guy took the gag from Lady Alison's mouth and cut the ropes at her wrists.
"Thank God you have returned. Pray he isn't dead yet," she sobbed as she knelt beside Rolf. Edyth and the other ladies immediately took charge of Andre and the other wounded men, and Alison ministered to Rolf.
Guy eased the knife out and felt for his heartbeat. "I don't know how, but he is still alive," he told Alison.
"God be praised, I'll swear an oath to keep him that way." She hesitated a moment. "Guy— it was Lillyth's husband, Wulfric. He's got her upstairs--- I am afraid they have been there for hours."
He mounted the stairs steadily, not three at a time, but with the grim determination of death on his stark face. Two of his men followed at his back, determined not to leave him unprotected. All the chamber doors were ajar, so it was easy to discern that they were in the back room. The door was barred and he turned toward his men for an axe.
He called, "Lillyth!" but was met with an unearthly silence. He swung the battle-ax with mighty strokes, rhythmically, one stroke after another without pause, and the door soon splintered from its frame and fell in shards about him. He stepped inside and saw a wild-eyed, bloody thing, staring at him, unseeing.
"Bones of Christ, what has happened here?" he said almost to himself. Lillyth was soaked with blood. He saw the sticky knife and whip upon the bed beside her and whispered hoarsely, "Where are you hurt, love?"
She tried to speak, but no sounds came from her throat. He saw the high, bright spots of fever on her cheeks and her glazed eyes, and placed a hand to her forehead.
"She is burning with fever," he said over his shoulder. "Get the women to prepare a bath for her," and he picked her up very carefully. He glanced at the thing on the floor.
"Bury that— what's left of it, but not at Godstone!"
By the time he carried her to their own chamber, young esquires were building him a fire. He shielded her from their curious glances with his mantle and impatiently ordered, "That's enough, send one of the women to me," but Alison was moving Rolf to her chamber and Edyth was giving instructions as to which chamber the men should bring André. Suddenly the chamber was filled with women ready to do his bidding. Very gently he began to peel the blood-soaked garments from Lillyth. Miraculously, there were no stab wounds. He stripped off her underdress and turned her bare body over carefully. There were no whip marks on her back; in fact nowhere could he find even a small bruise upon her white limbs.
"Thank God!" he kept muttering as he lowered her into the hot water and gently washed away the streaks of blood.
Lady Alison came into the room. "What did he do to her?" she asked anxiously.
"He is dead; she's alive. That's all I know— that's all that matters," he said. "She is burning with fever, what do you suppose it is?" he asked distractedly.
"I remember she had a sore throat this morning before all this happened. She has probably just got a bad dose of influenza. Adela, get her some hot bricks for the bed. Keep her warm and I will mix some camomile which you must make her drink. By tomorrow Rolf will be fevered. I am afraid his wound was left too long without being tended. Andre should be all right as far as fever is concerned. His wound was cleansed immediately, but I can tell you now, his leg will never be the same again. I do not think he will lose it, but it will heal stiff and he will be lame," said Alison, and hurried back to Rolf.
Guy felt Lillyth's scalp for cuts or lumps. He sighed with relief when he was sure she was uninjured. He wrapped a cover from the bed about her, to warm her blood, then laid her before the fire and gently wiped away the streaks of blood. He sat in his big chair, spread his knees wide and pulled her between them. He vigorously rubbed her from head to foot. He wrapped her in a soft woolen blanket and laid her before the fire. He looked up as Alison came in with a potion for the fever.
"Stay with her a moment, I want to see how Rolf and Andre are," said Guy quickly.
Rolf was still unconscious. Guy inspected t
he dressings and knew Alison was doing everything she could for him. He could leave his friend in her capable hands and know that none could do more for him than she would. He then went in to Andre, who received him with a grin slightly pulled down at the corner because of the pain from his thigh.
"Is Lillyth all right?" he asked Guy
"She has a wild look in her eye which I do not like, but apart from that, she doesn't seem to have been harmed. I cannot understand what drove her to such bloody vengeance. She is so gentle— fragile, almost."
André hesitated, then said low, "Aedward told me that his brother sometimes practiced sodomy."
Guy stiffened. His questions were answered.
Nicholas came in with Edyth, who carried food on a tray for Andre. Nick joked, "I've been doing all the work, and he's the one to get fed."
Guy turned to Nick, "Come away, let Andre rest. I must get back to Lillyth, so that Alison can attend to Rolf. What happened at Oxstead?"
"The bastards set the peasants' huts afire to draw what few men we left here at Godstone, but Rolf stayed behind to guard the women."
They entered Guy's chamber and he knelt to have a close look at Lillyth, who had fallen into a doze that was obviously filled with delirium. Alison hurried back to Rolf.
Guy looked up at Nicholas and said, "Go below and find a woman to stay with Lillyth. I must get help to those poor devils at Oxstead."
"Stay where you are," Nick ordered him. "What do you think I've been doing? The wagons are already loaded to take food, burn dressings and clothes to Oxstead. We will house the peasants in the hall, the armory and the miII until their homes are built again. Aedward is working like a demon also. There's another wagon loaded for Oxstead--- full of corpses. I gathered you didn't want them buried at Godstone."
"Thanks, Nick, you're a good man," offered Guy, and Nick smiled inwardly at the praise that Guy gave only sparingly and not at all unless it was so deserved.
"Ah well, it has its compensations," said Nick, making light of the day's happenings. "Little Rose who used to run and hide when I approached has flown to my arms for protection."
Guy hovered above Lillyth, tucking the blanket more closely and soothing her brow, and Nick said, "I asked Lillyth to marry me, you know, but she would have none of me. Said she was mad in love with you. I can see you Love her too— Guy, what will you do?" he asked.
"I am going to take her for my wife just as if that bitch in Normandy didn't exist, and if anyone ever breathes a word of it to Lillyth, I'll slit his throat."
Nick raised his eyebrows, but kept his own counsel and went in search of food before making the journey back to Oxstead.
Edyth brought Guy a tray of food and some steaming broth for Lillyth.
"How is my brother?" asked Guy.
"Lady Alison mixed him a sleeping draft and it has finally taken effect. How is Lillyth?" she asked, concerned.
"She has been asleep for a while. I'm sure she will be all right," he assured the worried girl.
After he had eaten he roused Lillyth, and she took a few sips of broth and drifted off to sleep again. He settled himself in the chair before the fire and put his head back. He aroused sometime later to hear her murmur, "Guy?"
"Yes, love; what is it?"
"I'm cold," she whispered.
The fire had gone down and he bent and placed two logs onto the low embers, then he picked her up and put her into his bed. Her teeth chattered and he piled the furs up around her. She still shivered, so he quickly stripped off his clothes and slipped into bed beside her. He took her into his arms and held her against his warm body. After a long time she stopped shivering and lay still against him, and then, very softly at first, she began to cry. He held her tightly as her crying turned into heavy sobs. Her body was racked, and when no more tears came she shuddered with dry heaves. He dreaded the question, but finally asked, "Lillyth, did he violate you?"
She shook her head. "If he had, I would have used the knife on myself as well as on him."
He relaxed as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
"I am a murderer, my immortal soul is in danger," she whispered in a dread voice.
He searched his mind for words of comfort. "Love, I have killed many men. If your soul was pure, how could we hope to meet in the hereafter?" He laughed softly. "One little blot won't matter. After all it was in self-defense."
"I keep telling myself it was in self-defense, but maybe the real reason was that he stood between us. Perhaps the real reason I killed him was so that I could have you."
His arms tightened about her. "Hush, love. Put these ideas out of your head, you are only torturing yourself. Promise me you will never think of him again! He couldn't come between us while he lived, and by Christ he won't now that he is dead!"
"I— I promise," she whispered.
He quickly changed the subject. "Are you warmer now?"
She snuggled against him. "Hmm," she replied drowsily.
He tucked her head underneath his chin, and knowing that his strength would be there to comfort her whenever she awakened, she slept in the protection of his arms.
At dawn she was wet with perspiration, so he arose and bathed her in bed. He left her naked, but put fresh linen sheets on the bed. He took her hand. "Are you feeling, any better?"
"My throat is still very sore, you should not have slept with me, you will catch it."
"I am too healthy, but I warned you, didn't I, about eating more? You are so frail." He lifted her slim wrist to make his point, then slid his hands beneath the covers to encircle her waist. "You are so small I can span you with my hands." He took them from her body before they explored her further, and he moved from the bed quickly. "I'll get one of the ladies to bring you some breakfast, and you must try to eat it. I don't want to leave you, but I must go to Oxstead to see to the things over there."
She shivered at the mention of Oxstead and said, "I knew the day we went there that he was watching me."
His thoughts went quickly back to the time she had run to his arms so eagerly for protection, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Bones of Christ, I will have Aedward's head if he has been harboring my enemies!"
"No, oh no, Guy, he knew nothing of Wulfric's whereabouts. Please do not harm him, and remember he only buried his mother last week," she pleaded.
"You know nothing of the matter," he said sharply.
"I have proof that Aedward did not know," she cried.
"What proof?" he demanded.
She faltered. "Aedward begged me to wed him while you were gone. He couldn't have done that if he had known Wulfric was still alive."
"Splendor of God," he said, jealousy flaring in his face, "is there no end to your conquests, lady?"
Guy was out all day. He was pleasantly surprised to discover that his people were more than generous and welcomed those who had been burned out into their homes. Rebuilding had already begun, and he directed and advised them on building sturdier, larger huts. Fortunately there had been few injuries, save for burned hands when people had desperately tried to salvage their belongings. The people had become almost friendly when they saw the lord roll up his sleeves and pitch in beside them, clearing away debris, felling new timber and sharing their humble meal at dinnertime. Before the day was done, he called most of them by their names, and this was a novelty indeed. Their Saxon lord had known them all their lives, yet had never bothered to learn their names.
It was after dark when Guy and Nicholas directed their men back to Godstone. They were begrimed and decided to make use of the bathhouse before dining. Guy sat soaking his tired muscles.
"I'm worried about Rolf. I don't think he is going to make it."
Nick hesitated. "I know how badly you feel, Guy. He's been like a father to you, hasn't he?"
"Ah, well, let's not bury him before the corpse is cold," Guy said bleakly. He stepped from the tub and viciously rubbed himself dry.
"Do you think Andre will lose that le
g?" Nick ventured.
"Splendor of God, now who's being morbid? Alison can do wonderful things with her potions and medicines. Give her a chance!"
"Yes, she reminds me of a witch."
"As a matter of fact, boy, I think she is a witch."
They both laughed and went to join their men for the evening meal. Guy ate with all possible speed and went immediately to see Lillyth. She was asleep, but she had moved into her own bed, so he quietly withdrew and went along to see Rolf. There was no change. He was still unconscious and extremely fevered.
"I am coming along shortly to change your brother's dressings," said Alison. "If I do it in your presence his pride will forbid him to shout the roof in." She smiled at him with kindly eyes.
Guy found Nicholas visiting Andre, who was cursing because he'd had to spend the day abed. "I'm bored to death! Find me a willing wench, Nick."
Guy fixed him with a steely eye and said bluntly, "Stay off that leg, or you will lose it."
Andre paled for a moment and licked his lips nervously as he tried to assess the truth of Guy's words.
Alison came in carrying her box of healing tricks. Behind her, Edyth carried a bowl of steaming water and Emma carried fresh cloths and bandages. Alison put a sprinkling of herbs into the water, and it turned purple and gave off a pungent aroma. Without ceremony she stripped back the sheet, tucked one corner between his legs to preserve modesty in front of the young women and gently but firmly stripped the old dressings from André's leg. The bone and muscle were visible, and as the wound was disturbed, it started to bleed brightly.
Emma slumped over in a faint and Alison, blinking rapidly said, "Whatever is the matter with the girl, there's been enough blood let hereabouts lately, she shouldn't be that squeamish."
Nicholas picked the girl up and sat her in the nearest chair, and Edyth put her hand up to Alison's ear and whispered to her.