A Dishonorable Knight(149)
Before long, Dafydd stirred and rose groggily to his feet. Not realizing she was awake, he stumbled past her into the trees, his eyes mere slits in his face. By the time he returned, Elena had folded her blanket and retrieved two slightly bruised apples from the bag the innkeeper had given them. She handed one to the still-befuddled Dafydd and he plopped down on the ground to eat it.
"I'm sorry," he said when he had devoured it. "I'm not very good at waking up in the mornings." Pushing himself to his feet, he began to saddle the horses. Elena collected his blanket and the food bag and stuffed them into one of the packs on his saddle. By the time they were ready to travel, the sun had taken the chill off the air and Elena's nightmare was but a scant memory in the back of her mind.
They rode at a brisk pace through the edges of the forest, stopping at midday to water the horses in a shallow pond and then continuing on. By late afternoon, Elena's stomach was loudly reminding her that a mere apple was not sufficient food for the pace they were forced to keep.
"Dafydd, we really must try to find something to eat. I am near faint with hunger. Surely we can venture to the road by now."
Dafydd turned in his saddle and gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Lady Elena. I'm afraid I've not proved a good escort in any respect have I? First I make you sleep on the ground without so much as a pallet, and now I starve you to death. Unfortunately, we would have not have had what little food we've eaten were it not for that good innkeeper. If you can make it a few more hours, we should be safe to leave the forest. There should be an inn or village where we might beg some food."
"Beg?" Elena asked, aghast. "Why beg?"
Dafydd looked even more sheepish. "I'm afraid I gave the last of my coin to the innkeeper for helping us escape."
Elena felt amongst her skirts and found her pouch that contained her few jewels and what small amount of coin she had elected to carry. "Find us food and I will take care of the bill," she said imperatively but with a small quirk of a smile.
Dafydd bowed awkwardly in the saddle, a crooked smile parting his lips. "As you command, so shall it be."
He spurred his horse to a faster pace and led them in a more westerly direction. Within the hour, they had emerged from the trees and made their way across rough fields until they located the road. This far north, the road was but a narrow path of dirt and rocks, but once on it, the horses did not have to pick their way through bramble and fallen logs and they were able to make much better time as they doubled back to the south and the small village just north of her parent's estate.
Chapter 33
They entered the small village of Swansonbury at dusk and Elena quickly led the way to the tiny inn which boasted only two rooms for let and three small tables in it's dining room. The smells wafting on the peaceful summer's eve air made Elena's mouth water and her stomach growl in eagerness for a good meal. She dismounted without help and as soon as she felt the circulation return to her legs, she strode to the wooden door and pushed it open. The room was narrow and long. The ceiling was low and the floor dirt, but the walls were whitewashed clean and the small tables were neatly arranged in the room. A sturdy wooden table was propped against one of the walls and upon it were several large pitchers of what Elena assumed to be ale.
Her reception by the innkeeper and his wife was polite if a bit awestruck. Elena ordered a huge meal and paid them handsomely for it. The innkeeper stammered at the amount in his calloused hand and insisted she must stay the night.
"It will be long dark by the time you arrive home. You are more than welcome to stay here as our honored guest and ride out in the morning."
Elena considered his offer. She was exhausted, more so now that she had a full stomach and to simply lie down and sleep for hours and hours sounded like heaven. But something, some worry niggled at the back of her mind. It spurred her on to continuing home.
"I thank you for your hospitality, but I've been absent too long. I wish to return home as quickly as possible. Besides, It won't be but another hour on horseback."
"Of course, Lady, of course. Safe travels!" he called out as she and Dafydd quickly climbed atop their horses and headed down the single narrow road of the town.
***
Though it had been nearly two years since she had last traveled the road from Swansonbury to her father's large wooden manor, there was not much chance or their becoming lost. The road forked about two miles south of the village: the eastern fork leading back to Nottingham and the western fork leading directly to her home. They were also graced with a full moon, which rose early to spill its cool, crisp light and allowed them to proceed at a rapid pace down the pocked road.