CHAPTER 5

Over the next several weeks, I saw Sir Guy about the town, as I was no longer using my secret pathways to navigate the market and the homes of friends. When I did, he was always mounted on his enormous stallion, flanked by two guards (one of whom, I noted, still bored the marks of the poker I had used on his leg). And, when he saw me he slowed his horse as he passed me, sometimes cocking an eyebrow or flashing a brief, wicked smile, as though he were pleased to be sharing a secret. Despite myself, each time I blushed furiously and looked away, only to find him silently chuckling as he urged his horse into a trot to complete whatever business he was about. After these encounters, I was invariably unsettled, ashamed and excited all at once; feeling like my body would burst out of its skin after he had passed.

His physical hold over me was very powerful, and I was quite ambivalent about it. While I had had my fair share of physical experiences in London, most of the men there had been delicate and genteel, not daring to insult or touch me without the proper social cues. They were not men as Sir Guy, who exuded eroticism quite his own, rough and sensual and unafraid of his own desires as well as mine. All of this thrilled and frightened me, because I never knew what to expect from him, or myself. Our mercurial exchanges, tempered with extreme physical attraction had left me exhausted and unsure of the future.

He had not called at the house since out last encounter, no doubt, to calm the worries of my father, who still regarded him with distrust. I was nearly as relieved as Father, until those moments when I would see him in the town and his penetrating eyes would bore into me, and I would hear his words echo in my head "…I plan to collect your heart, your soul and your body…"

It was on just such an unsettling day as this that Father came home for lunch earlier than usual and began speaking to me of the future of our business. I only half heard him as he said,

"I asked you about this a long time ago. Nyssa? Did you find a storage area in the woods?"

"Pardon?" I said, my thought entirely elsewhere. "Oh, no, I'm sorry Father, I never did."

"Well, now that Sir Guy is aware of our store of clothing, it might be wise to do so," he said. "He has been generous about it, but I would prefer not to be in his debt so obviously. Why don't you take Gwynna and find a place with her?"

Gwynna was our grey mule, and one of my favorite animals. Stubborn and strong, she carried our goods anywhere we went, so I knew Father meant for this to be a rather large hiding place. It seemed prudent, however, to find such a place so I agreed, as long as I could first visit Charmaine and Elena, though I had just seen them yesterday.

I walked Gwynna down the town road towards Charmaine's house at the edge of the wood. It was an unusually hot day, one of those that invades just before the bite of true autumn, and I wished for nothing more than a cool cup of water as I sweated and walked in full sunlight. The clothes and woolen goods had been wrapped in a package on Gwynna's back, and she also breathed loudly and uncomfortably as we walked, snorting occasionally to let me know of her displeasure. I rubbed her neck as we walked, trying to keep her pace up so that she would not be tempted to stop and crop the nearby grass, never to move again. As we neared the cooler part of the road, and the Charmaine's house, I heard swift hoof beats coming in the opposite direction, and abruptly pulled Gwynna to one side of the road. As he had been on my mind all the day, it was no surprise to see Sir Guy round the corner of the road at breakneck speed, his big chestnut stallion nearly foaming at the mouth from the heat. Upon seeing, me, he slowed down, and gradually stopped in front of Gwynna and I, his stallion prancing in front of us in what almost appeared to be flirtation.

I was irritated, despite myself, as he had nearly run us down. "Can you ever make an entrance that isn't so dramatic?" I snapped.

Amused, he glanced down at me while his stallion strode back and forth. "Blame Aomir. He becomes wild when the weather is this hot, so I have to ride it out of him. Otherwise he tries to mount the nearest mare available," he replied, raising and eyebrow at me.

I glared at the panting stallion. "He looks like he's about to collapse as it is," I said. "I think the mares are safe." My eyes travelled up Sir Guy's long legs, encased in black leather to his hips, which jutted forward in the saddle. He was without his usual doublet today because of the heat and wore a loose fitting black shirt in its place.

He caught me staring and smirked. "Shows what you know about males," he said. His eyes flashed to the pack on Gwynna's back. "Where are you going with that?"

"Oh, to make deliveries for Father," I said lightly. Aomir neighed as if he were laughing.

"I see," Sir Guy replied. Sweat gathered on his brow as Aomir paced impatiently, and a stream of it slid down the side of his face, and the length of his neck. I couldn't stop looking at his jawline, where a pulse beat quickly. "Assuming I can keep Aomir under control, would you like an escort?"

It was a fair question, as many were robbed on their way to markets, but I had no need of his company today, especially looking as rugged and rough as he did.

"No, no, I am visiting a friend first," I said. "Be on your way, Sir Guy, before Aomir goes after my Gwynna. He might be desperate enough for a mule, you know," I added darkly.

As I looked up, I noticed he appeared vaguely hurt. "I wish you would call me Guy, Nyssa," he said, his voice caressing my name. "And no female is ever safe from a determined male." He clicked Aomir into a trot and headed off without another word.

As he left, I breathed a sigh of relief, and urged Gwynna forward towards Charmaine's house and into the cool cover of the forest. The temperature dropped a few degrees as we entered it, and I heard a volley of excited barks as Charmaine's house came into view. Gwynna's eyes widened and she began to pull at the reins, just as a beautiful chestnut Boxer dog bounded out of the house and boo-wooed his way to the fence. Charmaine appeared shortly after. "Quiet, Simon," she snapped, and dog whined but did as she asked. Elena tumbled out the house a moment later. "Nyssa!" she cried happily, making for the gate.

"Wait, Elena, you'll let Simon out!" Charmaine said anxiously, looping a rope round the dog's neck. Simon panted happily and whined again, as Gwynna attempted to back up. I tied her to the post by Charmaine's house to crop grass, and went to the gate to hug Elena.

"Oh, my darling, you've gotten so big!" I said, lifting her into my arms. She giggled. "You just saw me yesterday!"

"And you've already gotten bigger," I said. "Soon you'll be a grown up woman." I glanced at Charmaine. "I didn't know you'd gotten a dog," I said casually. "Any trouble?"

"Well, he found us, really," Charmaine said. But I knew better. She could never resist a stray. "Elena and he are inseparable now so we have another mouth to feed." But her eyes sparkled happily as Elena went back to Simon and patted his head. The dog licked her hand and playfully punched her in the side, nearly knocking her over, and then play bowed. "Simon!" Charmaine said sharply and Simon sat obediently. She then scratched his ears. "If only he weren't so strong. He spills her on the floor on a regular basis, but I can't keep them apart."

"And he must be nice to have for other reasons as well," I said tactfully. While Elena petted her dog, I said quietly, "Have you had more trouble with Sir Guy and the Sheriff?"

Here Charmaine's face changed. "No. In fact, since the day you gave him a good telling off, he has come by, but not for taxes. The last time I saw him, he said that we were actually overpaid for our tax, and that instead of money, he would take any goods we were selling for the market that were left over."

My face must have registered absolute incredulity, because Charmaine looked worried. "I had thought maybe you had something to do with it," she said carefully. "You didn't know?"

"No," I said. "I must say I'm shocked, Charmaine, and I can't believe it -"

"Perhaps he's found religion," she giggled. "Although, a man like that, I'm not sure. He seems more a hedonist than an ascetic. And he was so cruel before."

"Yes," I said, a click in my throat as I swallowed. "I don't suppose you have some water?"

Charmaine happily obliged, and she, Elena and Simon all invited me into the house for a late lunch. I was more than exhausted from the heat, the news and my exchange with Guy earlier, so time among feminine and canine company was dearly needed and sorely missed. We spent the afternoon chatting, playing with Elena and Simon and trying to keep cool in the wretched heat of the day. Finally, I asked Charmaine:

"My mother once spoke of a wooded area with a deep pond, where she sometimes stored our goods. Do you know of such a place?"

Charmaine's brow furrowed. "I think you mean the site of the old mill," she said. "It since decayed, but a little of the building remains, enough to hide goods." She brightened. "Still keeping the black market in business?"

"Yes and Father doesn't want Sir Guy poking about," I said. "He has done so enough already-" I cut myself off quickly, but Charmaine's eyes widened.

"Really?" she asked with a small grin. "He came by your house, but not to collect taxes?"

"Well, yes," I said awkwardly. "He thought I was a lady of the court because of Father's beautiful garments, and then discovered me at home." Again, not the entire truth, but close enough.

Charmaine's grin twisted into something mischievous. "Sir Guy? Have you got an admirer, Nyssa? Apparently all you have to do is beat men with pokers and they fall in love with you."

"I wish I could say what it is that I've got," I said wearily. "He stirs me and troubles me at the same time."

"I can see why," Charmaine replied. "Has he tried to...you know."

"I stopped it," I said shortly.

She looked at me seriously. "Be careful, Nyssa. He strikes me as a man who takes what he wants."

I nodded. "I agree. Yet he has not done so- on more than one occasion."

Delightfully scandalized, Charmaine squealed. "What happened?"

"Well, I said ruefully, "the first time we met in Lindson's, he cornered me and paid for my food. The next time, well…you saw."

"He beat you up," Charmaine said shortly.

"And then tried to kiss me later," I added. Her eyes widened again. "And the last time, he did kiss me. I'm sure it would have gone further but I stopped it and…Father came home," I finished lamely.

Charmaine' eyes, while animated, were also troubled. "He is quite a beast of a man, Nyssa, but do be careful. You are playing with fire. He is a very powerful man and could really do you harm if he wanted." She took my hand gently. "Though at least now I know why he has been so kind to us. Perhaps he does have a soul after all, or perhaps you reminded him with that blow to the shoulder." The last was said with a laugh.

"I'm unsure about anything as regards Sir Guy," I said. "But thank you for your advice, and I will visit the mill pond today."

"Take Simon with you," she said, stroking the head of the ever-present dog. "You never know who is in the woods."

I looked at the dog, who was delighted to be the subject of conversation, and hurriedly tried to put his paws in my lap. "Darling Charmaine, thank you, but he looks a bit too tame for a guard." She smiled. "Oh well, if you must. I'll tell you the way."