Though the injured woman had told them her name was Astrid when she first awakened, she seemed to have lost her memory and did not know where she was from. She spoke German, English, and French and was well educated, but her accent was strange.
Elyce had gone to visit her a few times, until her aunt stopped the visits, saying it was beneath a princess to visit peasant women. But Elyce knew that Astrid had stayed with Ida, even after she had recovered. Elyce only hoped no harm would come to Ida and Astrid—or Jacob—for helping Elyce run away.
As they rode at a steady pace, Elyce remembered what Delia had said in her letter. Sir Gerard had prayed and felt that God was telling him to come here and help her. Was that true? Had God really sent him, an English knight, to help her escape King Claude’s plans for her and her people?
Certainly he wasn’t helping her because he was concerned for her. They’d only met once before, at a ball. And she had not given him any reason to care about her now, as she’d not been very pleasant to him. In fact, she had not kept her emotions hidden from him at all. She’d unleashed words of anger and even outrage at him.
He probably thought less of her than she thought of him. For at this moment, she was glad he was here.
* * *
Gerard’s forehead burned anew as he remembered how the princess had reacted to him. She was humble enough now, as she lay limply against his chest, but she was so weak, she had no choice but to accept his help. What would she do when she no longer needed him? She seemed the type of person to forget he had helped her at all and turn her little nose up at him at the first opportunity.
Obviously Delia did not know what a haughty, proud princess her friend was or she would not have sent him on this ridiculous errand.
But truly, he was not here because Delia had sent him. He was here because of the vision and because he knew that God wanted him to go and help Princess Elyce.
Was it too much to ask to have her say thank you? He could be home at Dericott Castle right now, enjoying his brother Edwin’s company, instead of traipsing through a half-frozen country with an ungrateful princess.
Gerard constantly listened for horses coming after them. Would they shoot an arrow through his back, or wait until he had deposited the princess on the ground?
After they had traveled for an hour or so without incident, a house appeared on the forest path ahead of them.
Ysabeau said, “We are here.”
Here was a small cottage nestled among several large beech trees. But at least there was a small stable where their horses could stay warm.
As they drew near and slowed their horses, two women came out of the house, one much older than the other.
“Princess Elyce, it is good to see you,” the young one said, bowing.
“Astrid, I’m happy to see you as well,” Princess Elyce replied in a weak voice.
“These men are Sir Gerard and Sir Oswalt, English knights in our service,” Ysabeau said to the women. Then she turned to Gerard and Oswalt. “This is Ida, Jacob’s sister, and Astrid.”
“We cannot stay here long.” Princess Elyce seemed to rally her strength to lean away from him so he could dismount.
As soon as his feet were on the ground, he reached up and carefully pulled her from the saddle into his arms. He couldn’t seem to hold any resentment toward her when she was draping her arms around his shoulders so trustingly.
“Come,” Ysabeau said after Sir Oswalt helped her dismount. “The princess needs to rest.”
“Ysabeau, we cannot stay here, not as we planned.” Elyce’s voice was strained, but she looked determined.
“What do you mean?” Ysabeau followed as Gerard carried Princess Elyce into the cottage.
Since the princess was out of breath, he answered for her. “She means her father and King Claude will send men to find her. They will track us here.”
“But you are so weak.” The pitch of Ysabeau’s voice went higher. “You need to get your strength back before we make the long journey to Prague.”
“We cannot risk staying here,” the princess answered softly. “We will eat and drink a bit, rest for half an hour, then we must try to put some distance between us and the castle.”
Astrid hurried ahead of Gerard and showed him to a room where he placed the princess on a bed.
The servant girl Ysabeau stood ready with another dress to help her change into, so he hurried out of the room and closed the door.
The princess was thinking wisely, but their chances of avoiding capture were slim nonetheless.
* * *
Elyce thought she’d be too nervous to sleep, but she awakened to Ysa’s voice saying, “It’s time. You said to wake you after half an hour.”
“Yes.” Elyce forced her eyes open to see Sir Gerard bending over her. His blue eyes met hers briefly as he lifted her.
Couldn’t he give her a moment before snatching her up?
“Wait.” Astrid came into the room carrying a cup. “Drink this,” she said with a pretty smile.
He put her back down and let her drink. Truly, Astrid was quite as beautiful as she’d been when Elyce had last seen her, with her long golden hair and her placid eyes and perfect features.
When she finished drinking, Sir Gerard picked her back up again.
How she longed to be able to walk. And how annoying that, after sleeping for more than three days and nights, she could barely hold her eyes open. She was so groggy, but they needed to hurry away before King Claude’s—or her father’s—men should find them.
She should not be annoyed at Sir Gerard. After all, he and his friend were trying to help her, and she needed help, more desperately than ever before in her life. If she was caught, not only would she have to wed Rodrigo, but worst of all, they would likely blame Sir Gerard and Sir Oswalt and Ysa, who might even be injured or killed when the guards caught up to them.
How horrible if her foolish plan got someone hurt.
She could imagine the smirk on her father’s face as he asked, “Why on earth would you drink a sleeping potion, then try to run away from us? What were you thinking?”
She had been thinking how proud she would feel if her plan worked. Foolish, foolish girl. If anyone died because of her, the guilt would overwhelm her, and she’d never be able to forgive herself.
Moments later, after the knights had loaded the furs and food Jacob had stowed away, it was time to leave, even though Elyce still could not ride by herself. She thanked Ida for allowing them to stay briefly, and soon they were back on the road.
They had been riding for a few hours when dark snow clouds appeared on the horizon. At least they were moving away from Montciel, and snow would help cover their tracks.
But snow would also obscure the path they were following through the mountains. The wind was picking up, gusting hard enough to knock Elyce’s hood off her head, which did not bode well.
The horse stumbled, his hooves slipping. Sir Gerard’s arms tightened around her as he leaned forward, gripping the reins in both hands. Elyce held her breath as the horse fought to stay upright, then whinnied and snorted as he found his footing again.
Sir Gerard loosened his grip and leaned back.
“Will it be this mountainous all the way to Prague?” Sir Gerard’s voice sounded a bit disgruntled. The path they were on was quite rocky and high, as it led them over the northern Alps.