Thank you wild-vixen for reviewing! Please keep reading and reviewing. And yes, Kyla will be paired with a knight in time. Enjoy the next chapter.
The rest of the way to Hadrian's Wall was uneventful. Kyla thought about making another run for it, but even though her chains were no longer bound, the Roman soldiers were still keeping a very close eye on her. She smirked when she realized there were considerably less of them than before. At least her friends had taken a lot of them down.
The Bishop was reclining inside the carriage. His secretary Horton rode in the cart carrying all their luggage. She was walking a little behind the carriage, but she could see the knights clustering towards the front and wondered what they were talking about.
Upon reaching the fort, Bishop Germanius was quickly ushered to Arthur's room so he could rest. The knights all rushed off to clean up and do various other things. She caught the dark knight steal a glance at her before he walked off. Kyla was standing in the middle of the courtyard, taking in everything around her when Arthur walked up to her.
"How long have you been in the Bishop's company?" he asked.
Kyla looked up at him, her green eyes meeting his hazel ones. She felt she could trust this man. "I was taken captive by the Romans about a year ago. I have been in Rome and traveling with them ever since."
"So you are of this land?" Arthur asked.
"Yes," Kyla answered. "Britain is my home."
Arthur merely nodded, his mind obviously turning. "I am sorry for your predicament. As soon as my knights are set free, I will make sure that you are set free as well."
Freedom? Her heart leapt.
"What do you mean, as soon as your knights are set free?" Kyla asked.
"My knights are like you, brought here at young ages to fight for the Romans. They have served 15 years. The Bishop has come to give them their discharge papers."
Kyla couldn't believe the knights were but slaves also. She had had no idea.
"Marie!" Arthur called, and an older woman came scurrying up. "Marie, please take…" he stopped as he realized he did not know her name.
"Kyla," the Woad said, almost stumbling over her own name.
"Please take Kyla upstairs and draw her a warm bath. She is our guest."
Kyla stared after the Roman commander as he walked away, again amazed by his generosity and compassion. And he had promised her freedom. But was it in his power to promise?
The older woman, Marie, was staring at her expectantly. "Would you like to follow me, ma'am?"
"Yes, thank you," Kyla answered, a smile creasing her face. A warm bath sounded like the best thing in the world right now.
Kyla sat in the small tub for almost thirty minutes, long after the water had gone cold. It felt so good, though. She had not had a bath in a very long time. Marie was kind enough to wash her hair for her. The older woman commented on its beautiful almond color.
Yes, at one time it was beautiful, Kyla thought, but she kindly thanked the woman.
She finally got out and was surprised to find Marie draping a beautiful gown over the back of a chair in her room.
"What is this?" Kyla asked, a towel wrapped around her.
Marie blushed. "Oh, I have a daughter who is about your age, but she is too big for this dress. I thought you might want to wear it tonight."
Kyla grinned and began laughing as she held the gown. It was a silky green that sparkled even in the fading sunlight with a golden sash around the middle.
"Marie, it's beautiful!" she exclaimed, giving the woman a large hug.
"I thought it might look nice on you," Marie replied, laughing.
"Thank you so much."
"It is no problem, child. Now hurry up and put it on. The knights are meeting downstairs."
"Am I to meet with them?" Kyla asked.
"Arthur has requested that you come," Marie answered.