Lord Liar Part 55

"Do you hear the bold strumpet, your grace? She admits her sin with her own mouth I" "Yes, and I marvel that you would have her back," Rufus said ironically, and behind him his barons and knights guffawed.

"She is mine, your grace, and I want her. I will know how to lesson her onto the path of virtue," Turold insisted stubbornly.

"Nay, I am no longer his, for Lord Ranulf had the betrothal annulled,"

Aldyth said proudly, holding out the rolled parchment doc.u.ment that she had been clutching at her side for the king's inspection.

"An annulment?

"Tis not possible! I heard of no such thing!" shouted urold. He would have lunged for the doc.u.ment, but Urse prevented him.

Rufus handed it without a word to Lanfranc, who peered at it closely.

'"TIS just as she said, your grace," he stated after a moment. '"Tis signed by the Bishop of Rouen." The buT,Jng rose again while Turold went white, then purple with rage.

G.o.dric waited to see if Aidyth would add that she and Ranulf were married, thus saving her good name. He knew it was dangerous that they had not gotten the king's permission.

Aldyth was silent, however, allowing them to think her merely Ranulf's mistress. How brave she was.

"Aye, perhaps she has a writ from some bishop, purchased by her lover, no doubt, but you'll give her back to me after you hear what I have to tell you about your precious Lord Ranulf, your grace," shouted Turold. He stopped, staring over his right shoulder, but a tree branch blocked G.o.dric's view of what Turold saw.

"And here he is, just in time to hear his death warrant!" Turold crowed, pointing.

G.o.dtic saw Aldyth whirl around and gasp,

"Ranulf!" Heedless of her audience, she dashed in the direction that Cnglri had pointed and returned, slowly, a moment later, her arm around Ranulf's waist, helping to support him.

G.o.dri whistled soundlessly through his teeth. The man had been at death's door but hours ago, and yet now he had maaal to stagger the short distance from the king's tent tohia trial.

"Twas an amazing feat of strength and will. No ioadr Aldyth loved him.

"Cmod morrow, my lord," the king said, acknowledging you be up from your sickbed? "

a flash of movemntltieYxt/e Of of vsion. A woman, ill-dressed and poorly forward through the throng of English of the camp followers probably, trying to in men into leaving the spectacle before him i in a more private spectacle with her. G.o.dric get any customers--at least not until the trial eyes went back to the scene below.

your grace," Ranulf said, the effort to with Aldyth's and Urse's help--obhimgreatly, but I would hear the lies this lia about to speak, that I may counter them with " Very well, my lord. You will swear to tell the truth on the holy relics. " When Ranulf had done so, the king gestured at Turold.

"Turold of Swanlea, say on."

Just then the woman G.o.dtic had glimpsed at some distance came beneath the tree, her movements furtive as she drew closer to Turold. But one of the archbishop's clerks noticed.

"Here now, woman," he said, going out to intercept her. "You have no business here at this time" -- Maud ignored him, keeping her eyes on the man she had loved to the point of madness.

"She shall not have him!

Turold is mine! " she scrched, her dagger held high and glinting in the sun for the s.p.a.ce of a heartbeat.

Aldyth screamed. There were shouts from several of the men, and a bellowed warning from Urse.

Urse lunged for Maud. Ranulf leaped at her, too, but the madwoman was too quick. Before anyone could intervene, before Turold could realize that he, not Aldyth, was in danger, Maud plunged the blade into his back.

Turold's eyes bulged and he tried to turn and fight off his attacker, but it was already too late. Maud cackled insanely as she twisted the knife.

Blood spurted from Turold's mouth. There was a horrible gurgling sound, and he pitched forward.

The clerk approached and touched a hand to Turold's neck. He straightened after a moment.

"He is dead."

G.o.dric sagged against the stout trunk of the oak, weak with relief.

Turold had been silenced.

All was quiet in the oak grove except for Maud's pitiful sobbing as she crumpled in a heap by the dead man. It was as if she finally realized what she had done. At an order from the king, two stout men-at-arms bound her and led her away.

The king turned back to Ranulf.

'"Twould seem your accuser is dead, my lord," he said with an upraised brow, as calm as if he saw murder done every day.

"Aye, your grace."

"Yesterday, when he came forward to claim the woman beside you, he hinted of treason," murmured the king, "but I had not then the time to hear him."

Ranulf took a deep breath.

"It seems he paid a heavy price for his lies, your grace, even if he never got to voice The king watched him, unblinking. G.o.dric, in his perch in the tree, held his breath.

Then he heard the king chuckle.

"Yes, you could say that, my lord.

But you still have much to explain, Lord Ranulf.

What of this Aldyth of Sherborne at your side? She has told ua how you saved her from her brutal pursuer. How chivalrous, Lord Ranulf. But how energetic of you. Once we belL wed you were more interested in the latest fas.h.i.+on or a fi hox than in going to great trouble to win one of the and shrugged with a trace o/hisotd, languidness.

"What can I say, your grace? I am by a pair of jade green eyes." He put a pro- about Aldyth's shoulders, pulling her closer.

grace, I would have this woman to wife, with your to consider, rubbing his bewhiskered "I'll have to think about it, my lord. This campaign has been a sore drain on the royal treaand there may be those of my n.o.bles who would be pay more for her.

Beaumont, for example. Wouldn't ym, my lord of Beaumont? "

'][leaumont leered at Aldyth, his eyes lingering at her "Aye, your grace.

I'd be a fortunate man to ... have her," he said with a wink, leaving it ambiguous as to whether he meant with or without marriage.

Ranulf's hand went to the spot where the hilt of his sword should have been, but he was unarmed. G.o.dtic saw a muscle in his temple working as he fought for control. "No matter how much ready coin any of your n.o.bles have, they did not save the life of your squire yesterday," Ranulf said, with ironic emphasis on Perfin of Petersfield's supposed role.

"You promised me a boon, your grace, and I would dare to claim it."

The king threw back his head and laughed at his va.s.sal's daring.