43
"Pardon?" Cecilia exclaimed.
"I dunno, I dunno," Her spotty faced guard was in literal tears. He was shocked out of his wits having only just been out of training."I saw nothing. There was a commotion outside and some screaming. Then there were arrows everywhere."
"Come on, we need to get him out of here," Cecilia in a flurry of skirts was at the patient's side and hooked an arm underneath the taller man's forgetting all her misgivings about maintaining a respectable distance. She motioned for Simon to do the same but her guard was too stupefied to move.
"You should hide, my Lady," The stranger seemed puzzled she was focusing on him instead of saving her own hide.
"This is not an attack against us. You are the unfortunate target," Cecilia gnawed her lip in aggravation. There was no doubt in her mind she was correct. Why had nobody believed her earlier. This was all so frustrating.
"Me? Surely you're mistaken," The man was bewildered by her declaration.
"Not at all. I told you there was an attempt on your life in this very tent. Whoever embedded those arrows in your back is determined to finish the job."
Cecilia used her entire strength to pull the man up and the stranger continued to look baffled but allowed her to help him.
"Oh, you're built like an ox. I cannot carry you. Stop dithering, Simon."
"My lady," Simon finally broke out of his spell and took the injured man's left side. The larger man's shoulders shivered at the physical exertion. The blood loss had left him as weak as a newborn kitten. His knees buckled but his companions picked up the slack.
"You should leave me behind. I cannot- my body will not move," The injured man fumbled over his words.
"Hosh, posh. I shan't be leaving you anywhere," Cecilia rolled her eyes,"I've saved your life twice. You owe it to me to live so the tale I tell everyone when I get back has a happy ending."
Cecilia peered outside and the camp was eerily calm and dark. There was no signs of the chaos Simon had described. Other than the tent on fire a distance away there was no other sounds. Was the camp overrun with the enemy? Cecilia could see no one around them.
"Get down and hush," The Lady ordered as she covered her distinct hair with her hood, "We shall be taking the peripheral route. It is easier to hide behind the tents then take the main path."
She urged her two companions soundlessly to follow her. They ducked out and took to the left where the path was narrower. This path behind the tents was only for the servants who tended to their masters and led way to the cooking area which was done out in the open to prevent afire hazard. It made life easier for the camp to hide all the hustle and bustle of the meals and laundry away from the main path.
Cecilia's tent was a few paces away but required stealth the trio did not possess. They crouched behind each tent looking around before continuing. The Lady noticed the man was very alert for someone who was only days away from such a brutal injury.
"Get down!" He hissed and his companions followed although they could not discern why.
"I can hear something," He replied after they sent him curious looks. Cecilia arched her neck to see how safe they were. After a few more moments the man nodded and allowed them to support him up and onward. The threesome staggered forward raggedly.
Once they reached the back of her tent Cecilia was suddenly reminded of her maid. Her already fast beating heart reached dangerous speeds as she realised there was a chance her maid could have been caught in the crossfire.
The trio opened the lacings of the back entrance and stumbled in, each individual in a hurry to find safety. The injured man was placed on her creaking bed where he sighed in relief. His forehead was dotted with sweat due to the exertion.
Cecilia looked around and found her room was devoid of all life.
"Beth, Beth," Cecilia whispered, "It's us."
"I'm here, my Lady," Beth's tear stricken face peered out from under the bed. Simon, started crying again seeing his friend alive. The redhead watched the tearful reunion impatiently.
She turned to the injured man who too watching the scene with interest.
"You, hide in my armoire," The Lady ordered bluntly. The stranger raised his eyebrows.
"Certainly, not! I cannot hide like a coward in between your gowns," He looked incredibly offended by her suggestion.
"You are the one who has a target painted on your back. It will not do to have you out in the open," The redhead explained impatiently.
"If they're searching all the tents then it will not dissuade them if I am not visible. Surely their search will be thorough," The man said.
"Oh,well, just lie down then. There's nothing to be done but wait although we will not go down without a fight," Cecilia's face was stony as she pulled out a dagger from her shoe, a gift from the crown Prince. Beth feeling far more heartened by her company picked up one of Cecilia's walking sticks and tried to look menacing.
They waited in silence until the sounds of footsteps became audible. Everyone tensed in anticipation not knowing if it was friend or foe. A hand opened the coverings of the main entrance of the tent and before Cecilia could strike with the dagger, clenched in her hand, the owner of the hand revealed themselves to Sir Russell.
"Devil's bullocks!" Cecilia hissed as her heart beat reached a crescendo. All her companions stared at her in awe of her vocabulary.
"Lady Cecilia, I am glad to see you safe and sound." Sir Russell observed the people with raised eyebrows. Behind him was a team of soldiers and a few harried looking researchers obviously not used to this adventure.
"Is it safe to come out?" Beth asked with a small voice.
"The soldiers have managed to contain the fire and run off any assailants they saw. Thankfully we have had no loss of life although the same cannot be said of the intruders," The middle aged man said.
"And what caused it," Cecilia let go her death grip on the dagger and realised her hand was clammy with sweat.
"Arrows, they rained us with arrows and then the intruders just came out of nowhere," Sir Russell showed her an arrow specimen which she took out of his hand to observe.
"These are the same arrows on his back." Cecilia carefully looked at the weapon before pointing at the man in her bed with it, "Who were they?"
"I am not certain as of yet. The attack was too sudden. The intruders were quite mysterious-"
"Covered in black, head to toe so you cannot even see their faces. Is that not who I described attacked our guest?" Cecilia interrupted Sir Russell's description with a haughty expression.
Sir Russell looked mildly ashamed and gave her a nod acknowledge his folly of not taking her seriously.
"What should we do now?" Lord Fanning spoke up from behind the crowd, "We should head to the nearest village. Who knows what will happen next."
"We can't just abandon our cause. What if the flower is in this region and we manage to lose it in our haste to leave for civilization,"Cecilia announced.
"Lady Cecilia is correct. We cannot leave this area until we are absolutely certain the flower is not here. We need you, Lady Cecilia, but not right now. It's far too dangerous to remain here. It would be best if you retire towards the nearest village," The older man suggested in a way that was not a suggestion.
"I- I don't see why I need to be banished in disgrace. We were hardly at risk," Cecilia pouted.
"I insist, my Lady. The camp is going to be much stricter. No one will be allowed on their own and chances are unless you have some assigned task you will be trapped in the tent the entire day which I know will not be to your liking," Sir Russell gazed at her kindly.
"True," The redhead murmured, "And what of our guest?"
The man sighed knowing she was relentless about the man's safety. He began to speak but Clyde Chester interrupted him from behind.
"You barely know him, girl. Your persistence is getting annoying," The pointy nosed man drawled.
"My sense of duty and honour-" The girl bit out vehemently.
"Oh, bugger it. You just want to know who he is like some silly-" Clyde's face contorted, meanly.
"Clyde Chester, no need to be foul mouthed in our present company," Sir Russell admonished.
"I'm afraid the lady could out curse him," The injured fellow murmured from behind her.
"You should leave for the nearest village as soon as possible. It will keep you safe along with our injured guest and your retinue. We have already discussed everything with Barrings and he gives his patient a clean chit. As long as he does nothing strenuous he will be safe," The middle aged man announced.
Cecilia sighed knowing what she had to do.
