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why.  He was without his mail and plate armor this night, dressed in a soft
linen tunic and leather breeches as he led her over to the table and helped her
sit before taking a seat beside her.  She stole a glance at him as he poured
her a measure of wine into a wooden cup and then took a helping for himself.  
His face was washed and it looked to her as if he had shaved, for his skin was
smooth.  It was curious that he had taken time to clean for this meal.  As if
it meant something. 
    He
lifted the cup in her direction, distracting her from her thoughts. “To our
lovely hostess,” he said loud enough for his men to hear. “To you, my lady, our
thanks for your kindness in offering us food and shelter.”
    The
other three knights around the table took up their cups and drank heartily. 
The wine was cheap, bitter, but none of them flinched as they sucked it down. 
In fact, two of them poured themselves more.  One of them was Braxton. Gray was
suddenly embarrassed at the cheap quality of the wine, but it was all they had
to offer. 
    A
few more soldiers filtered into the hall, seasoned-looking men that took up
seat in various places around the room.  Gray was unused to having soldiers in
her keep and she was somewhat nervous watching them mill about. They were wearing
weapons.  Deep down, she wondered if they weren’t going to rob her or seize the
castle from under her, but when she gazed back at Braxton, she couldn’t
honestly believe that.  He had been extraordinarily kind to her. But, then
again, perhaps that had been his scheme.  He was a mercenary, after all.
Perhaps he was going to lull her into a false sense of security before
snatching the fortress for his own.  They were, after all, easy prey.
    Her
natural suspicion began to grow. More soldiers wandered into the hall and her
anxiety took flight.  Mayhap she had been stupid about this entire situation,
letting her confusion destroy her common sense. Setting her cup down, she
excused herself from the table and fled the room.
    Braxton
sat there a moment, staring at the empty doorway from where Gray had just
disappeared.  He’d barely said a few words to her and she was running from
him.  The moment he had met her at the falls of Erith, in spite of the fact
that he had saved her daughter, she had been mistrustful of his company.  He
had reviewed their conversation a few times; he doubted it was something he had
said. And since his arrival at Erith, he’d gone out of his way to show her
kindness and generosity.  In truth, he had no idea what it was about him that frightened
her so.
    He
took a long drink of the unpleasant wine, listening to Dallas and Graehm debate
the quality of Hereford leather against Douglas leather. It was a foolish
conversation, but Dallas and Graehm seemed to have many foolish conversations.
They debated each other on the smallest things to see who had the most
knowledge about a particular subject.  Geoff usually stayed out of it, content
to laugh at the two for their arrogance.  Squires Edgar and older brother
Norman sat against the wall behind the arguing knights, shoving bread into
their mouths.
    Braxton
usually enjoyed these ridiculous exchanges, but not tonight. Tonight he was in
no mood for his men’s entertainment. He had been looking forward to Lady Gray’s
company and was, in truth, disappointed.  The servants began to bring out
heaping plates of venison, filling the room with its heady smell.  He sat back,
drank, and watched his men dig into the fare. From the corner of his eye, he
caught movement by the door.
    Hoping
it was the lady returned, he was disappointed to see young Brooke entering the
hall in the company of an older woman.  Braxton noted the girl, washed and
dressed in her worn clothing, but found more curiosity with the older woman.
She was fine featured, frail, and he could see the resemblance between Lady
Gray and this woman.  When the two ladies approached, he stood up