Lion Heart (3 page)

“Stopping for the night, my lady. Are you comfortable there or would you prefer the ground?” he asked.

I tugged the sheet down so I could breathe easy. It weren't a matter of being comfortable; in three months
I'd barely moved, and I were weaker than I could ever remember being. I didn't much want to move.

Shivering a little with cold, I wrapped my hand around the sword. Having the means to defend myself at last, more than anything, helped me sleep.

When I woke again, the cart were moving, swaying in a way that were sleepy and gentle and made opening my eyes again difficult.

It were just past dawn, the sky still rich with blushing like the young thing it were. I loosed my fingers from the sword, stretching them from the grip I'd had through the night.

I looked around, wanting to sit up. We were on the road with people round us, though, and I didn't dare, nudging the sheet up over my face again.

There hadn't been overmuch in the way of food for the past few months, but I were growing hungry in true, and as the cart rolled on, I kept checking to see when we might be clear enough for me to speak. After more than an hour, we passed a fork in the road that left us traveling alone.

“David?” I called, tugging the sheet down. “David?”

I sat up, stretching my arms and back.

“David?” I called again, and a scream answered me instead.

I grabbed the sword and twisted round to see a man
not
David falling off the saddle. Chucking off the sheath, I jumped from the side of the cart, landing in the dirt with my worn, tattered boots, lunging for him.

“Christ on a cobnut!” he yelped, ducking behind the horse. “Lady thief, stop this madness!”

“Allan?” I cried, stopping. “What in God's name is going on?”

He peered round the horse. “Good Lord, you're even scary when you're dead.”

“I'm not dead!” I shouted.

“Well, I didn't know that before!” Allan shouted back.

“What did you do, Allan? Where's David?”

“I only knocked him out,” Allan said. “He'll be just fine.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked him. “I've been out of prison for bare hours. How did you find me so quick?”

His shoulders lifted. “I've been ordered by our fair sheriff to find you,” he told me. “And I found you. And I thought—I thought I'd found you too late,” he said, and for a moment he didn't look his teasing, foolish self. He looked weary and sad. Then he stepped forward and hugged me, straight off my feet.

“
Oof
,” I grunted. “Allan—Allan, put me down.”

“Yes, lady thief. I just—” He stopped, looking up. “God is great and powerful and loves to mock mortals like—”

He never finished the sentence as David slammed into his body, bearing him to the ground. He raised a knife over Allan's neck.

“No!” I yelled. “David, stop!”

David froze, looking at me, and Allan whimpered. “My lady, this man—”

“There has been a terrible misunderstanding,” I told him. “Please get up.”

David jumped off him, and Allan struggled to his feet as I caught sight of a gash on David's head. “Allan!” I cried. “Did you do this?”

“The goddamn coward hit me with a
rock
,” David grunted, touching the wound.

Allan shrugged. “I don't have a very strong punch.”

David glared at him, crossing his arms. He looked around. “My lady, we should get you off this road if you hope to remain dead.”

“You're
trying
to be dead?” Allan asked, frowning. “I don't understand.”

“Better dead than murdered,” I told him. “We need to get to the queen mother. Can you help us get to London?” I asked.

Allan puffed a little. “Of course I can. But I rather think we could move a little faster if you're alive. If he looks a little less like a knight.”

“Fine,” I told him. “Then I need to wash. Have you lot seen a river or well or anything?” I asked.

“A river about a mile back,” David said.

I nodded. “Can you two find clothes and food, and I'll meet you?”

“I won't leave you alone, my lady,” David said. “He can go where he wishes, but I'll come with you.”

I were still weak, and God knew there were more dangers for us to face, so I didn't fight him. He came with me and waited a ways from the river while I stepped into the ice cold, rubbing blood and dirt from my skin. It snaked away from my body in muddy swirls in the clear water.

And then it were gone, and the river were clear, like such filth had never truly been.

CHAPTER

Allan did well. He got fresh clothes to dress me as a boy and traded the cart for two more horses. He'd procured food somehow, and David and I swallowed oranges and roasted cauliflower, salted pork, and fresh bread.

Allan watched me. “Are you sure we shouldn't be going to Nottingham, my lady?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I have to see the queen first, Allan. Then—” At the thought of Rob, his eyes wrapping me up and tugging me in, a thrill shot through my heart so hard it hurt. I pressed my hand there, and Allan nodded sharp.

“Then I'll get you to the queen,” he promised.

“We should go,” David said. “We'll make London after nightfall as it is.”

I nodded. “All right. Let's go.”

It weren't long past midnight when we came upon the city; we'd heard bells on our way, chasing our horses with their low, dark sound, but the hours riding felt like years. It ached everywhere until every move felt like a blow. Seeing the queen—telling her what I'd heard—were the only thing that made me grip the saddle tighter.

Even when we made the city, I knew we had a while to go. Westminster Palace were farther along the Thames, away from the dirt and grime of London proper, and we had to make our way through London first.

I shut my eyes for a moment and near fell off my horse, clutching the saddle with shaking arms.

“We'll be at the palace soon, my lady,” David promised me.

I drew a breath. Palace.
Royals.
“Christ—I didn't even think—Prince John will be there,” I realized.

He shook his head. “No, my lady. The prince said he was riding north.”

A sigh chased out of me, and it seemed to take more of my strength with it. I nodded.

We slowed at the sight of Newgate, the tall city wall that had been made into a prison under Henry's rule. It were fast becoming legend I'd been a thief, but I'd never ended up there myself.

“Who goes there?” called a man from the guardroom.

“We're knights in the queen's service,” David called. “And this boy is under her protection. We're headed to Westminster.”

“You best go round the city,” he called.

David frowned. “That's not possible. Why would we avoid the city?”

“There have been riots,” the guard said. “Closer to the White Tower and the river.”

“Not here, then,” David said.

“No.”

“Then let us pass. We don't have time to spare,” he said.

“Eh,” the man grunted. “It's your necks.”

I looked at David as the gate were raised slow.

“A knight,” Allan muttered. “As if I would ever be a
knight.
I'm far too handsome to be a knight.”

“Shut. Up,” David ground out. “If your mouth endangers my lady, I will extract it.”

“Always so
angry
.” Allan sighed.

They let us pass through and lowered the gate behind us.

The road were dark and empty, but every hair on my neck stood on end.

“Not far now, my lady,” David told me.

“Let's hope it's not the worst of the ride,” I returned.

We made our way toward the Strand, the road that led out to Westminster Palace. We'd bare made the road
when a noise started to rise behind us.

We turned round, and I could see the glow of orange light seeping through the streets.

I frowned at David, and he looked grim. “Stay close to me, my lady.”

“Something's happening,” I told him.

“Then we should
hurry
,” he insisted.

I nodded, spurring my horse.

Our horses started to gallop down the lane, and the crowd finally showed themselves from between the buildings. I looked back as they pushed into the lane. We were far enough ahead, and faster besides, that I didn't need to worry.

Looking forward, I tightened my thighs on the horse, and they shook in response. My whole body trembled and shivered, too tired and weak by half. But after months in a prison, locked in a box and brought to my knees, I were free, and I weren't letting my own weakness stop me.

The road turned, and I thundered round the bend. It weren't long until I saw the tall turrets of Westminster Palace in front of us. I stared at the flags, trying to see well enough to make sure the prince's flag weren't up there.

My head snapped forward when I heard David roar, “
My lady! 
”

He and Allan were stopped; there were a wall of guards with swords drawn, guarding the palace from the rioters. I pulled sharp on the reins, looking behind me to the growing noise of the crowd.

“Let us through!” David bellowed. “The queen mother is expecting us!”

“Desist or you will be run through!” a guard yelled back. “No one shall come near the palace tonight!”

I hesitated. It would be an easy thing to throw off my hat and raise my chin and tell them I were a princess, Richard's daughter, Eleanor's granddaughter. They would take me behind their swords and they would defend me.

But then Prince John would hear I lived, and he would change his plans, bend his mother's ear, and make sure I were thought a liar for my words.

Before he found another way to see me dead.

“Follow me, my lady!” Allan shouted, pointing back at the road.

“Are you mad!” David roared.

“Ride fast to try and break through and go sharp right,” Allan said. “We have to get away from the rioters!”