The Annals of Wynnewood Complete Series

by Chautona Havig

  A loud shout sounded outside. Feet pounded up the stairs and Edward burst into the room. “They have ten students—” he gasped. “There is a mob ready to lynch them.”

  “Why?” Adrian paused in his Socratic questioning and rose to look out the window into the street.

  “Something about not paying rents and damaging property. They’ve sent for the Chancellor, but students are rioting and I think Aldred is among them.”

  The words were hardly out of Edward’s mouth before Master Adrian rushed from the room, down the steps and into the street. Philip watched from the window as the man fought his way through the growing mob toward the center of town. Concerned, he turned to Edward. “Do you really think Aldred—”

  “I saw him head that way with a club. He was with a large group of the Borales…”

  “Are they fighting with the town or the Australes?”

  “Don’t know.” Edward eyed him curiously. “Aren’t you even interested in what is happening?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then why do you sit there watching from the window?”

  “Why are you standing there questioning me when you could be down there with them?”

  Edward shook his head. “Not me. If I get into trouble, I’ll lose the patronage of Baron de Percy. My father is already in trouble with the family. It’s not likely I’d get another chance.”

  “Well, for similar reasons, I’m not going down there. I won’t risk bringing reproach on Lord Morgan’s name after all he’s done for me.”

  “From what I heard, you’ve done him great service though—saved his daughter twice, didn’t you?”

  “No. Helped twice, but just helped.” For the first time, it felt good to admit that Dove had been the brave one. He’d wanted to do great things, but Philip was slowly learning that doing right things was one way of doing great ones.

  “Well, that’s not how the story goes around town. Saved from kidnappers and beaten in a siege because you wouldn’t tell where the girl was.” The admiration in Edward’s voice was unmistakable.

  “Well, as I said…” His father had always insisted that the only thing worse than no modesty was false modesty. Philip shrugged. “I just did what I could. Dove did more, but she needed me to help, and I couldn’t have done what she did at all. We were just fortunate, I guess.”

  “I suppose,” the young man agreed reluctantly. “Stories do get embellished, don’t they? I mean, to listen to the minstrels, some strange creature saved you from a dragon by mesmerizing it with flaming eyes.”

  “It’s a lie!”

  “Well, of course, it is! Dragons don’t let dinner just prance out of reach!”

  When he realized he was shaking, Philip forced himself to breathe steadily and calm himself. “Dove is just a little girl—or was—but she did save me from a dragon. She does not have flaming eyes, and she isn’t a creature.”

  His attempt at calm didn’t last. Before Edward could reply, Philip stormed out the door, down the hall, and into his own room, shutting it a little more forcefully than necessary. The moment he sat on his bed, remorse flooded his heart. No matter what any fool said, it wasn’t right to lash out at people like that. The sound of footsteps on the stairs prompted him to look out the window, and he saw Edward burst out into the street.

  He started to call out to apologize when two men grabbed the young man and dragged him out of sight. Amazed and dismayed, Philip ran downstairs to see if his fellow student needed help. There was no sign of Edward anywhere. A cry of pain seemed to come from everywhere at once, making him nervous and even more determined to do something. The riots needed to stop before other innocent people got hurt.

  Chapter 15

  Sent Away

  Deep within the forests of Wynnewood, animals hushed their nighttime chatter as shadows darted between the trees as if racing toward the village. Occasionally a twig snapped or a branch brushed against something. Crouched low, two eyes watched the cottage, but all was quiet inside. Several yards away, another pair eyes glanced across the distance and then the head nodded. The man took a deep breath and bolted across the yard, pounding on the door. “Lord Morgan demands your services immediately!” Then, without another word, the man disappeared into the trees and waited. The door opened a crack, and a woman’s voice answered, but there was no reply.

  Just minutes later, the door creaked slightly as the midwife crept outside into the night. Her shawl covered her head and arms. It was warm, but not oppressively so. She carried a basket and a large drawstring sack, and made her way down the road toward the village of Wynnewood.

  Two pairs of eyes waited. Seconds slowly passed into minutes until an hour had passed. The second man stepped from the protection of the trees and strode toward the cottage. He opened the door quietly, just enough to let him inside the house, and then disappeared inside. The other man kept watch.

  The little light that shone from the coals of the fireplace showed two pallets on each side of one end of the large room. The one nearest the front of the house was clearly empty—the blankets folded back over the end. In the other, he saw a small mound. The Ge-sceaft.

  A hand clamped over her mouth as she slept. Terrified, the girl’s eyes opened wide as she tried to scream, but one look into the man’s eyes relaxed her. He put one finger over his lips and slowly moved his hand. “Shh.”

  “Jakys!” Her whisper was hardly quieter than a shout.

  “Gather what things you can. You need all your clothing, both cloaks, your sling, and—”

  “Why?”

  “Get them. We must go. Now.” The command in Jakys tone was unmistakable.

  For years to come, Dove would wonder what made her follow Jayk’s orders so implicitly. Not until she was outside in the moonlight did she see his knife tied to his belt and realize that had she not obeyed, he would have compelled her to go with him. She’d woken up terrified, became curious, and then grew afraid again, as he led her into the woods where Grifon stood waiting.

  “Grifon!”

  “Shh!”

  The silence nearly stifled her as she tramped between Jakys and Grifon, ducking under low branches and stepping over fallen logs. Once again, the animals didn’t move and even the usual breezes that rustled the leaves in the night air seemed still as if the world was holding its breath for a moment. However, the mists rolled in from the sea and made the journey through Wyrm Forest, across the Ciele River, and into the Sceadu almost treacherous as the moon slipped behind the clouds.

  She’d grown since her last trek into the Sceadu. The small opening from the cave into the tunnels was even harder to slip through, but Dove managed. Once inside the familiar cavern, Jakys pulled his hood off his head and took a deep breath. “We made it.”

  “What—”

  “Waleron will explain. We must hurry.”

  As if reliving a dream, Dove followed the little man who had found her in the caves of the Sceadu so many months ago. He’d saved her more than once, and that knowledge was all that kept her from shaking in fear. Grifon behind her laid his hand on her shoulder when she stumbled once, and the familiar gesture made her smile inside her hood. These little people—the Mæte—there must be some reason they spirited her away in the middle of the night.

  Merewyn sat embroidering outside her grandfather’s chambers. Much braver now that Dove had risked so much to help her mother, the king’s granddaughter threw her arms around Dove. “I’ve been waiting ever since I heard they went to fetch you. Modor is so much better now. You probably saved her life.” The young woman ducked her head before whispering, “I had to thank you.”

  “Send Dove in. We have no time for tears and hugs. This is important.”

  Grifon pulled aside the tapestry that functioned as a door to the king’s quarters, and Dove saw that the room nearly glowed with light. Every lamp was lit and the little fire pit in the center of the room sent dancing shadows all around her. “You needed me Waleron?”

  “I’ve received word ab
out young Philip.”

  “Oh, that’s not possible, your—Waleron. He’s not here. He’s at Oxford.”

  “Yes, I know. There were riots there some weeks back.”

  “How did—”

  “We have our ways!” The king’s voice thundered, reverberating through the room. “Be quiet, girl, and listen to me.” Then, as if an afterthought, he pointed to her. “And take off that hood. Show respect.”

  Miserably, Dove lowered her hood feeling quite vulnerable. “I’m sorry. I forget…”

  “I was sharp. I’m sorry. The news was so distressing. Now listen to me. You have to get to Oxford. A ransom note is on its way to Lord Morgan, but it might not arrive in time. I have a map of where the boy is being held. If you’re fast enough, you can help him escape.”

  “Held? Ransom? Philip? That doesn’t make sense. Philip is just a seaman’s son. His family has no money. Why—”

  “Because he’s under the patronage of Charles Morgan, the Earl of Wynnewood. There are unscrupulous people in this world who will do anything for a little silver.”

  “But how can I help him? Once Lord Morgan gets a ransom note, he’ll send payment to redeem Philip and it’ll be over. Why—”

  “You’re so naïve for such a bright little one. If the lord does pay the ransom, it’ll never make it back to Oxford. The kind of men who do this will not go back and share with their comrades. They’ll disappear with the money.”

  “Surely Lord Morgan knows this. He’ll go deliver the money himself.”

  “If he gets the note in time. Criminals are desperate. We’ve seen this happen many times and rarely does it come out well.”

  Dove’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “How did you hear of this? How do you know this is true?”

  “We have our ways.”

  “Waleron…” Jakys voice held a warning tone.

  “We cannot divulge all of our secrets—”

  “After all this girl and her friend have done for us, after they kept our secrets, we have no right—”

  With eyes darting back and forth between the men, Dove waited anxiously. The men argued, sometimes in their own language. It was hard to pay attention when her own mind whirled with questions and plans. What if she could get to the south in time? Could she possibly help Philip escape? Perhaps the people of Oxford wouldn’t fear her like those in Wynnewood. Would that help her or hinder her? It was warm; people would not expect a cloak without cooler temperatures.

  “All right. You tell her, but she must leave tonight. Immediately. She must travel by night and sleep hidden in the day.”

  For a moment, Dove started to protest. Traveling in the dark was dangerous. Wild animals might find her and sleeping during the day meant she could be seen. However, before she could speak, the wisdom of Waleron’s words hit her. During the day, someone might see her. She must hide herself well if she slept, but in no way could she risk meeting anyone at any time. In Wynnewood, though the villagers feared her and tried to drive her away at times, she did enjoy a measure of protection from Bertha, the minister, and Lord Morgan. Once away from there, she’d be alone and vulnerable.

  “What can I take? How much can I carry? How—”

  “We’ll provide you with money and food. Minna will pack it and show you how to tie it onto your back.”

  “You didn’t tell me how—”

  Dove listened in amazement as Waleron described the tunnels and caverns that traversed across the whole of England, Scotland, and Wales. By his account, the world she knew hovered over another one, entirely underground. He told of messengers that raced between communities, sharing news, and sending warnings.

  “Rabbit holes and fox dens are not always what they seem, Dove. Sometimes, often times, they are vents to allow an exchange of our smoky air for fresh air.”

  “But you don’t use fires that often—not here. I noticed that the dragon—”

  “Yes, most of our communities are close to a dragon. Their heat is most beneficial to us, and they are great protection.”

  “Will I be traveling in the tunnels then?”

  Waleron’s head shook and his eyes looked sorrowful. “We would gladly offer the use of them, but we cannot.” He gestured to Jakys, some sort command that she couldn’t understand, and then reached for her cloak hood. Pulling it over her head, Waleron hugged her briefly. “Save our young friend. You can do this. We know this. Call on your friend’s god. Call on any god, but save the life of the lad that has done so much for us. We cannot help him, but you can.”

  Without another word, Waleron nudged her through the doorway and closed the tapestry behind her. She listened from the anteroom as Jakys and the king of the Mæte discussed something of great import, her own questions growing in her mind. The moment Jakys stepped from the chamber she fired them at him in rapid succession.

  “Why is Philip’s life in danger? Lord Morgan can travel much faster than I can. He’ll ride horses— and what if Bertha refused to let me go? I—”

  “Come with me.” Jakys led her through the tunnels to the common room. No one was there, not even faithful Baldric, but seconds after they arrived, Minna came in, arms laden, and began assembling her pack.

  “Jakys—”

  “Listen; you can’t go back to the village. You must leave tonight. Philip was taken about a week ago. If you walk fast, you can make it in less than a fortnight, but you must hurry. Our runners can get here faster because of the tunnels. Most of the messengers ran to get this news to the next post, so we have it faster. Any day now, the news should arrive at Wynnewood Castle. You need to be gone before they get it. You can get in there where Lord Morgan cannot.”

  “But—”

  “These men will become more afraid every day. Every minute that they have him will make them more paranoid. He’s dispensable. If he was an heir or a relative, he’d have a chance. Criminals would fear the repercussions of killing a nobleman’s kinsman, but the son of a seaman?”

  Before Dove could counter with another question, Jakys pulled out the map. “Here is where he’s being held—for now. They could move him, of course, but this is what we learned.”

  “Why would your friends tell you about Philip?”

  “If we heard of something happening to a man from Oxford, we’d get word to our Oxford friends. It’s a courtesy.” Jakys voice grew impatient. “Now listen. This is important.”

  For the next several minutes, Jakys explained how to get to Oxford. She was to follow the sea to Liverpool and then follow the River Mersey, walk south to the Thames, and over to Oxford.

  Dove bit her lip as she thought about the trip she must make. Would it work? Would she get there in time? What if she failed? What if— Disgusted with herself, she shook off the doubts that plagued her and focused on how Philip had gone out in the deep snow, freezing, to search for her and didn’t give up despite the unlikelihood that he’d find her

  “I must leave.”

  “Minna will show you how to tie on your pack. There are coins in there—enough silver to pay for any food you must take.”

  “Take?”

  “You won’t be able to carry enough food with you. You’ll have some, but don’t use it until you think it’ll go bad. Then replace it. Keep some food at all times in case you’re trapped somewhere. Find food in gardens, empty houses, eggs from chickens, whatever you must.”

  “Steal.” Dove didn’t like the sound of that. Immediately, her mind went to the story Philip had told her of the rich man who stole the poor man’s only lamb.

  “It is not stealing if you leave money behind.”

  “Will I have enough?”

  Jakys laughed. “You’ll have plenty.” With a wink to Baldric, he added, “And we’ll expect Lord Morgan to replace them. We’ve given you quite a store of pennies.”

  “Jakys, you can’t delay any longer. She needs to leave now. She won’t be able to travel for more than a few hours as it is.”

  The dread in Baldric’s voice told her that he knew t
he trip was dangerous. One glance at Jakys confirmed that he’d already stalled too long. “Baldric is right. I should go. Thank you—” she choked, trying not to cry, “for helping us. I’ll do my best.”

  Dove thanked Minna and then turned to leave. Through the caverns, she followed Griffon, climbing slowly as they neared the opening in the cliffs. Once outside, Grifon patted her arm awkwardly. “Follow the Ciele to the sea and then to Liverpool. Be careful, Dove. Be very careful.”

  With that, the little man disappeared into the rocks and left Dove all alone in the night. She took a deep breath, glanced heavenward, and tried to will that the clouds would roll away from the moon, but to no avail. Determined to get as far as humanly possible before sunrise, Dove hurried through the forest, forcing herself not to run in the smoother places. She reached the Nicor Cliffs in record time. With one backward glance at the dark village behind her, Dove began the long journey, approximately four hundred miles, to Oxford.

  Chapter 16

  Hidden & Alone

  Philip fought against the crowds as he tried to find Edward. Fear shot through his veins and muscles as he realized the danger in trying to take on four men alone, but what could he do? If he took the time to call for help, they’d be gone. At the least, he could see where they took the young man and then lead the constable there. Yes, that was what he’d do. He was too old to expect to fight off so many. Maybe I’m not such the child after all, he mused to himself as he darted down another alley. I am learning my limitations.

  No sooner had that thought appeared, than a hand clamped over his mouth. “Got ‘im,” a gruff voice shouted. The triumph in that voice made Philip ill with fear.

  Edward tried to help, but one of the men had slugged him, sending the young scholar spinning into the corner of a building. As they dragged Philip away, he saw Edward lying on the ground, unconscious. Bile rose in his throat as he remembered the menacing looks on the men’s faces. The first punch slammed into his nose almost the minute they arrived at the cottage. “That will teach the fool.”