Page 38 of Veil of Winter

Elyce hurried to the end of the street and turned down another street, then another, walking a twisting, meandering path and praying under her breath that Rodrigo and his men wouldn’t find them.

“You saw King Claude’s men, didn’t you?” Ysa’s voice trembled.

“I may have, but don’t worry. All is well. I’m just being cautious in case they did see us and try to follow us. Hopefully they will have given up by now.” She was trying to reassure herself as well as Ysa. She did not tell Ysa that she didn’t know where they were or how to get back to their meeting place with the men. But she did remember it was near the town gate.

Elyce spied a communal well in a small cobblestone courtyard ahead. Several women were crowded around it, dressed similarly to Ysa.

“Ysa, you go and draw some water for us. I will stand in that little alley over there and watch to see if anyone followed us.”

Ysa went to the well and waited her turn to draw. Just as it was her turn, two of the men Elyce had seen earlier appeared at the end of the street, and Rodrigo was with them.

The air rushed out of her. How had they followed her? She’d gone down so many different streets she’d gotten lost herself.

She backed her horse farther into the shadows, praying desperately,God, please help us. Don’t let them seeYsa.

She never should have sent Ysa to the well. If Ysa saw Rodrigo, she might get scared and give herself away.

Rodrigo and his men were looking all around, in every direction. One scratched his head while the other muttered something. Rodrigo’s jaw was tense, as if he was clenching his teeth. He squinted his eyes and started walking toward the well.

Elyce’s heart was in her throat. What could she do to rescue Ysa?

Ysa’s shoulders went stiff as she grabbed the bucket of water and set it on the stone wall around the well. All the while Rodrigowas walking up behind her. She carefully took hold of the water dipper, dipped it into the water, and lifted it to her lips.

Rodrigo spoke to the women standing around the well, though Elyce was too far away to hear what he said. He stared into each of their faces. Still Ysa did not turn around. She kept the dipper to her lips, as if drinking slowly, not moving at all.

Rodrigo said something else and nodded to the women, a few among them staring and smiling boldly. Did they think he was handsome? They did not know him like Elyce did.

Rodrigo turned and walked back the way he had come. The other two men, who had wandered into a bread shop, came out with bread rolls in their hands. Then they all went back down the street.

Air rushed into Elyce’s chest.Thank You, God, thank You.

Ysa was coming toward her with a dipper of water. “Are they gone?”

“Yes. Did you know Rodrigo was right behind you?”

“I heard his voice but pretended not to see him. I was so afraid, I almost fainted.”

“I’m so glad you didn’t.” Elyce laughed, a brief sound bursting forth. “We have to find the men and hide.”

“But what if we run into Rodrigo again?”

“We won’t. They’ll go look in another part of the town, on other streets.”

“I hope so.”

Elyce took a drink of water. How good and fresh it tasted, but she couldn’t waste time. She and Ysa had to find the men.

They started back in the direction from which they hadcome. She wasn’t certain exactly where the meeting point was, and then she suddenly saw Gerard turn down a narrow street. When they joined him, he greeted them with, “I found a place for us to sleep tonight. Did you get the provisions?”

“We did,” Elyce answered. “We also saw Rodrigo.”

“Who is that?”

Ysa spoke up. “Count Rodrigo, King Claude’s nephew, the one Princess Elyce was to marry.”

Sir Gerard’s brows went up. “Did he see you?”

“One of his men saw me,” Elyce said. “I turned down some side streets. They followed us, so I think they know we’re in this town.”