“M’lady!” Rab’s yell echoed over the bailey as he flew around the side of the castle.
Della looked up from where she leaned against the wall and smiled at the foundling boy as he skidded to a stop. His red cheeks puffed with each breath and his hair was tousled about his head.
“Yea, Rab, calm yourself. I am here.” Della motioned the boy to her side, stepping away from the wall and into the sunlight to see him better. The boy’s face paled dramatically to see her.
Blessed Saints, Brant’s hurt.
“What is it?” She asked when the boy didn’t speak.
Rab looked hesitantly at the ground then back to Della. “Another raid, m’lady. They burned the crops and slaughtered the cattle.”
Della’s heart leapt in bitter relief that it was not bad news about Brant, but that was before Rab’s words sunk in completely. Her limbs weakened. “And the cotters?”
“Killed. About twenty o’ them.”
Unsure as to what she should do, Della began to walk toward the gate only to stop in disbelief. Turning back to the boy, she said, “Nay. It cannot be. Not with Lord Blackwell gone. Did you inform Gunther and Roldan? Do they ride out?”
“Yea. Roldan bid me to find you. He and the other men ride at once. He is leaving Cedric to watch over you and a few of the other knights to man the walls until he is back. He said it should only be a day and a night at most.” Rab stepped forward as Della swayed uneasily on her feet. “M’lady?!”
“I’m all right, Rab,” Della protested as the young boy made her sit on the ground next to the castle. He fanned his hands frantically in her face as she took deep breaths. She lifted her hand, bidding him to stop.
“M’lady, should I get someone. Yer face is as white as the fresh linens.” Rab made a move to leave. She reached out her hand to stop him, but he was already running.
“Nay, Rab. Hold!” Della yelled. When he turned to look at her, she motioned him back. “I do not need you to fetch anyone. Just come sit with me a moment.”
“M’lady.” Rab bounced anxiously on his feet as he looked over his shoulder. “Not a lesson now. The men are about to ride out and I must watch if I am to be a knight. Gunther said I must help to man the wall while he is gone.”
“Nay, not a lesson.” Della smiled and patted the ground insistently. “A secret.”
“Secret?” The boy came back, intrigued. “Between only us?”
“Yea, between only us for now.” Della already knew Isa would tell no one.
“What?” Rab seemed to realize he was being overanxious and leaned against the stone wall. He tried to act disinterested, but his excitement showed in the jittery movements of his body.
“First, I must secure your promise to tell no one. Not until I tell you it’s fine.” Della shaded her eyes and looked up at him. He had thinned out in the face, no doubt a benefit of Brant’s training and attention. She pulled a weed and wove the stem through her fingers. “I shall keep you to this promise.”
“Yea, I will tell no one. Not e’en under torture.” Rab leaned closer. “Not e’en if they pull out my fingernails and—”
“I shall hold you to that,” Della broke in before the boy could go on. “I carry Lord Blackwell’s babe.”
Rab’s eyes rounded and he giggled. Della grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sit by her. Wrapping her arm around his shoulders, she tousled his hair. He tolerated her affections with an impish smirk before fighting the embrace.
“I will expect you to be a good example for this child, Rab.” Della pinched his cheek playfully and released him. “I depend upon you to help me.”
The boy nodded. “I will guard him with me—my—life.”
“And if it’s a girl?”
He thought about it for a moment. “I’ll teach her how to hold a sword and climb trees. That way she’ll be fun to play with.”
Della chuckled. “You best go if you are to see the men off.”
Rab gave her an impulsive hug before jumping to his feet. With a jaunty wave, he ran toward the main gate. She watched him until he disappeared, feeling too lazy to get up. Twisting the weed in her fingers, she picked a few more and plaited them into a braid. A frown marred her face as she thought of the poor cotters.
Horse hooves sounded like distant thunder as the men left. Gunther and Roldan undoubtedly took many of the soldiers to investigate the raid and even more had left with Brant. Aside from the peasants and servants who lived within the walls, the castle was almost empty. Della yawned and tossed the weed to the ground. She heard the front gate close.