Masked

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Placing the precious bundle on the bed, Robert stepped away shutting the wooden door and moving the candle closer into the room. He tucked the bed sheet around Devon’s sleeping form; worry stained his face, frown lines creased between his brows. He swept the hair from her face and bent to kiss her pale forehead, she moaned slightly but rolled on her side not opening her eyes for him. Robert was now worried about the small girl he cared for, at first she had seemed better off with her grandparents and perhaps she was, but she was certainly not better off here with Lord Guy. Another murmur from Devon and her eyes flickered painfully open,

“Robert, your still here” she smiled and he ran his fingers along her lips keeping her quiet, the colour ceased to return to her face and her porcelain cheeks hung meagrely to the bone.

“Do you think I would leave you unconscious on the floor?” he raised an eyebrow as she flushed in embarrassment attempting to apologise for something that was not her fault. “Devon, I’m seriously worried about you” he paused as she lowered her gaze “How are you feeling?” she nodded an alright and pulled his hand to her lips.

Without warning a small knock hallowed through the room and the door swung open to reveal a young knight leant on the wooden frame. When his eyes connected with Robert he pulled on his sword hilt allowing the blade to slip freely from its sheath. Robert did not move, he stayed looking at Devon who froze in small horror.

“My Lady?” Adam stepped into the room closing the door behind and positioning his sword firmly in an aggressive fist. Devon began to rise but a daze clouded her thoughts like a mist sweeping over the darkening moorland. Robert coaxed her back to lie down but Adam stepped forward intercepting the gap between the stranger and his weaponry

“Calm down, I am no threat to her” Robert refused to raise his voice and as Adam began to study Devon’s face he lowered the blade and replaced it into his sheathe. Devon finally pushed herself up onto the bed and looked Adam in the eye in earnest.

“Adam, this is Robert Delaine”

“...of Loxley, well originally of Loxley?” Adam cut through Devon’s sentence and bowed gracefully to the Lord. “My Father, I doubt you would remember seen as though you were young but, he was the deputy to your father...” Adam lowered his gaze but Robert cut through his thoughts

“de Lacy? Warren de Lacy, so you are his son Adam” he smiled extending his hand to the young knight. Adam flushed accepting the gesture but returning a puzzling look to the lady.

“I do not understand how or why you are here though”

“I met Robert the day my village was destroyed, he and his men rescued me and well, we are close friends” she flushed a shy look at Robert and then down to the floor.

“Lady FitzMiles I am not a stable hand, I can gather you are close” Adam sat in the corner chair studying the pair. “Will you appeal for your lands back Lord Robert?”

“Well, I do not know yet being honest, but I want Loxley back in Delaine hands” Robert looked to the open balcony and sighed “I should be getting back to my men”

“How many?” Adam cocked his head to the side and waited for his slow reply

“Eight”

“Oh so not an army then”

“No, I did not plan to take Loxley by force at first but having met Lord Guy...” he shrugged and Adam snorted at the holders name

“I cannot stand him, he is untrustworthy and sly, he steals and takes without giving to the people” he began to make a speech on the lord when Devon intercepted.