by Marie Hall
"You have gone mad," Charlotte huffed and turned to go inside.
Xavier reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop. He turned them so he stood between her and the entry. "You are not welcome in my home. You are leaving."
"Let go of me," Charlotte screeched. "I am your mother."
"You are the woman who gave birth to me, and for that only I will see you sheltered until your eldest son fetches you. But you will not find shelter in my house," Xavier told her and tightened his grip as she struggled to get free.
"Let me go, you sickly whelp," she shrieked. "I should have drowned you the day you took your first breath. You ungrateful, ill-mannered, heathen."
"Mother?"
Xavier swung around to find his brothers Michael and Stephen rushing from the house. The twins skidded to a stop as soon as they saw Xavier. "Why are you here?" Xavier asked, glaring at the two youngest siblings.
"We came to see you wed," Michael said, pushing past Claire Blake to stand beside Charlotte. Xavier saw him look from Xavier's grip on their mother back to Xavier's face. "The one you married last year is dead is she not?"
"She is not," Xavier growled, drawing in a steadying breath so he didn't snap his brother's neck.
"He brought her back, but she is half dead," Charlotte said rather calmly.
"Lady Io is far stronger than you will ever understand. Her death is anything but imminent. Unlike your departure." Xavier looked across the yard to see Harold with the horses. Practically nags, but capable of taking these people from his house. "Sir Harold waits," Xavier announced and pushed Charlotte towards the steps.
"You will stop this. I am in no humor for your wickedness." She set her feet and resisted being moved.
"You are not welcome; you will never be welcome again. Go now before you find I will not give you either mount or escort, and you must walk wherever you will end." Xavier pushed harder but his mother was no small, weak woman. She wouldn't budge.
"Xavier, what are you doing?" Stephen stepped up, trying to pull Charlotte back.
"These ladies are leaving," Xavier announced and waved up the men standing around. "As are you."
"Xavier, you cannot put mother out," Michael told him. "Let us all go inside and speak reasonably on the matter. If no satisfaction can be found, we can head back to Southtown." The words only confirmed the hold this woman had on her sons.
Xavier laughed, the sound held no humor. He was free of that hold and he'd remain free. "This woman is not welcome in my home. She is not welcome on any of my holdings. She should be on her knees giving thanks I will see her sheltered until Alexander arrives." He held onto his mother until the soldiers reached them and took her. They forced her down the steps. "Lady Blake," Xavier turned, the woman slinking back froze. "Your welcome, too, is at an end. Do you walk or must you be carried as well?"
"Xavier, you cannot do this," Michael insisted. "Let us take them back to Southtown and—"
"You will return to Southtown; I will allow that. You will return immediately to begin packing. I will send my assessor within the month," Xavier told the young men whom he set in as landlords on his southernmost holding.
"Packing?" Michael gasped.
"Assessor?" Stephen squeaked.
"I will give you the courtesy of waiting until spring to be out of my house, but do not think for a moment I will grant you any extension. I already have your replacement selected."
"You are removing us?" Michael asked even as Stephen continued to stare, slack jawed at him.
"You swore an oath to me as your liege when I set you in. You have violated that oath. You were set against Lady Io even as I wed her. You do not have the privilege of sharing your loyalties. And now you can get off my lands before I change my mind about letting our shared blood keep me from stretching your necks for treason."
"Xavier, where will we go? We have wives to care for." Stephen sounded about to cry.
"As do I," Xavier said not feeling any regret for the unplanned turn this day took. He didn't need anyone holding power in any manner if they weren't committed fully to his wife. Io could one day have to rely on those holding to defend her or his people. He'd put his younger brothers in as landlords as a favor to his father who couldn't find prospects for the twins. They'd married but their wives came with only a small dowry and no holdings. Such was often the fate of the youngest children in a large family.
"Brother, you cannot be serious," Stephen cried and Xavier saw the fear in his eyes.
"Do not address me with such familiarity. Any man who would betray me as you have I would never call brother. I am your liege lord and you have worked treason by standing against my lawful wife." He watched his brothers exchange looks. "Get out of my house."
"Xavier," Michael started, cowing back when Xavier glared at him. "My lord," he amended. "Please, we have no place to go. Reconsider, I beg you."
"No, get on your way."
"My lord, think of our wives, what they will suffer," Michael tried again, and Xavier could almost admire the man's persistence. If his plea didn't sicken him.
"Your wives have never known a day of discomfort because of me. Perhaps you should have considered them before you committed treason. Considered them before you acted in consort with her." He pointed down to Charlotte who was being forced onto the back of the horse. "Perhaps you should have considered my wife," he yelled the last in the man's face before grabbing his shirt front and shaking him. "My wife, Io. She did nothing to you, she caused you no harm, no discomfort, and you gave her not even a kind word." Xavier shook the man hard before throwing him to the ground. "Get out, you too will never find sanctuary on my holdings again."
"You cannot do this to me, Xavier," Charlotte yelled.
"Get them from this house and tell all who stand at the gates they are not to cross through again." Xavier said and watched his brothers scrambling down the steps to stand beside the woman who was directly responsible for their downfall. He did wonder if they hoped Xavier would yield to Charlotte as was the way of things as they understood.
"What of my things?" Claire yelled.
"Consider it forfeit for your acts against Lady Io." Xavier announced. This woman deserved no mercy and had no power to hurt him.
"You cannot think we will live perpetually in only what we have on," Charlotte squawked as she was tossed on the old horse and her feet jammed into the stirrups.
"It is no concern of mine, and you will not be long in your waiting. Alexander is on his way."
"Alexander does not know I am here," Charlotte said and with those words Xavier had a confession he didn't know he'd hear.
"I sent men for him, Charlotte, when I caught up to Lady Io. I sent men because I suspected Alexander was trying to avoid you. But I thank you for the confession. Now I know you intercepted my letters to him."
"Xavier, I had to. Do you not see? I had to. You must take a better lady to wife. You must join our house with the house of Blake. You must have a wife who will advance you. A good wife wh—"
"I have a good wife. I could have no better wife," Xavier yelled back, then turned away. "Get them out of my house." He didn't wait to see the manner in which they left. If they rode out with any dignity or if they were dragged out by their hair, he didn't care. He'd no respect left for any of them. His mother's involvement in the disintegration of his marriage was again foremost in his mind. Could she truly be behind the attempts on Io's life? And if she intercepted so many messages, did she also intercept ones Xavier sent to the king? As hard as Io worked to ensure their personal discourse didn't ruin Xavier's standing, even as ruin and death closed in, his mother might well have brought it on in her attempt to grab more for herself.
Xavier took two more steps towards the entrance of his home then stopped and turned around. Taking the steps two at a time, he went straight to the wagon. He'd told Io he'd bring her the little statue of the camel. He wasn't going to start over not keeping to his word. He wouldn't again say one thing and do another. Io
would be able to count on him completely in both the large and small things.
It took a thorough search before he found the little hunk of wood, but he also found Io's pack. He'd return both, and she could start over with her belongs in her house, and he'd work to add to that which she laid claim.
Chapter 2
Io looked around the small room. Not sure why she was brought here, and not really wanting to know, she tried to focus on the women who fussed around her.
"Oh move out of the way." Kate's raised voice penetrated the closed door. Sarah dropped the pillow she was fluffing and rushed across the room to see what the commotion was. The door nearly hit her in the face as Sir Roth pushed it open from the hall.
"My lady," Roth called, ignoring Sarah's disgruntled huffing. "There are servants wanting to enter?"
"Servants?" Kate shrieked. "You know exactly who I am, now let me pass, my mistress has want of a bath."
Io ducked her head to hide the smile when all eyes turned to her. The men assigned to keep her safe seemed to be taking a bit of advantage. Using the duty as a way to set down the women who used their status to bully the knights and soldiers. These men were fully capable, but they might not be as capable in her care as these women. These wonderful women Io never thought to see again. Not only were they here with her, they behaved as if she'd never left.
"My lady?" At Roth's voice, Io jerked her head up.
"A bath would be nice, sir," Io said with a smile. The man smiled back and opened the door wide to allow Kate and the servants carrying the tub and water in the room. Sarah tried twice to close the door once everyone was inside, but Roth blocked it until the last servant carrying buckets was out. He didn't so much as acknowledge the huffing, glaring women as he nodded to Io and pulled the door closed with him.
With the soft click, all eyes were on Io, who again averted her face so they couldn't see her smile with amusement. So many precautions were in place, but Io suspected none of them would be as reliable as the six women Io called friends.
"Why so many men outside the door? He doesn't think to hold you prisoner does he?" Kate asked, pulling Io to her feet and turning her so she could help get the dress off.
"If he thinks to keep you here against your will, he might think a second time," Ruth added.
"If you want to go, Io, tell me. I will help you and go with you this time," Sarah said as she shook out the bath sheet, setting it over the back of the chair.
"I am not going anywhere." Io stepped up to the tub and tested the water temperature before climbing in and sinking down.
"Are those men out there to keep you in? Or…" Sarah handed her a cake of lavender soap and Io sighed with pleasure.
"Io? Are they?" Jude pressed.
"No," Io said, not sure how much she was allowed to say. But then these were who she needed to rely on the most. These women surrounded her all the time. They'd be with her when the men might not. Times like now when she bathed or changed, or even if she needed to go to the garderobe, these women were who'd stand closest, would be first to give aid.
"Io? What is it?" Sarah held off pouring the water over Io's head.
"I only left because…" Io hesitated again, but she needed them to stand with her.
"You better speak Io or—" Ruth threatened.
"Someone tried to kill me," Io said, barely louder than a whisper.
"You mean the poisoning?" Sarah asked and started pouring a slow stream over Io's hair.
"No, after that. When you were all leaving for the festival."
"You think the accident with the horse was an attempt on your life?" Kate asked.
"No, I…" Io stopped. Maybe that too was an attempt. She'd have to speak with Xavier on it. Kate, of course, was the one who'd treated her injury, having not been able to attend because she took care of three small children. Looking around, she knew Kate told all of them what happened. "I do not know if that was an attempt, but now I think Xavier will want to decide himself. No, I mean before I fell off the horse, someone tried to kill me." She tilted her head back as Sarah continued to empty the bucket over her. "Someone got inside the gates and put a knife to my neck."
The bucket, along with a stool or two and a tray, clattered to the floor as Sarah grabbed Io's chin and tipped her head back more. The other women pushed in closer. "Christ's feet," she yelled, seeing the scar. The door to the room banged open, sending Ruth scrambling to grab and hold up the sheet so the three men with swords drawn were not treated to what only their lord was supposed to see.
"Get out, you fools," Jude yelled, throwing an empty bucket at them.
"My lady?" Roth's voice boomed.
"I am fine, I am fine. Please go." Io tried to sink lower in the tub, but it wasn't the large one so she couldn't really hide.
The door closed with something just short of a slam, and everyone sighed with relief. "Io, what happened? Why did you not say something to me?" Kate asked looking at the scar. The wound was shallow and already starting to heal when Io returned to the house and encountered the horse.
"I do not know. I was afraid and with everything that happened…"
"Tell us now, Io," Sarah demanded as she started scrubbing soap through Io's long tresses. "Everything from the beginning. We cannot keep you safe if we do not know what we face."
Io almost laughed at how much Sarah sounded like Xavier. It seemed no one but she thought keeping secrets was a good idea. Io told the tail again as she'd told Xavier and the men who came for her. And while they reacted differently and asked different questions, this time Io didn't feel the sickening burn in her gut as she recalled the feel of the knife or the pain of the rocks.
Too, they gave her a different kind of comfort after she recounted not only what drove her from the house, but what happened once she fled. Although there was a large time period she still couldn't remember, no one cared. She was the recipient of gasps, sighs, gentle pats and neck breaking hugs. By the time she was washed, dried and settled in the bed, Io was sure these women were going to be as good as protection as any of the men standing in the hall now. That they were enraged by the attack on her person was clear as was the blame they were placing on Xavier for his lack of response to the threat against her.
"No one will get to you again, Io," Sarah said, tucking the covers around her.
"Not without having their sack cut off first," Ruth added with a determined nod.
The too serious atmosphere gave way to giggles and then full laugher as the women realized they all thought they'd be better than all of Xavier's well-trained, well-armed men at keeping Io safe. Of course, they were set to do what needed doing. But they'd likely end up being the last resort after the men fell. Still, they'd be ready for any fight to be had, as Io now was.
A loud, sharp knock turned everyone to the door as it cracked open with caution and Xavier peeked inside. Shoulders sagged and backs lost their stiffness. Xavier stepped in, at first blocking the view into the room with his body, until he saw Io in the bed.
"You did not take time to relax in the tub?" he asked with a soft smile as he came in, leaving the door open a bit.
"Some other day," Sarah said, slapping him on the arm as she passed back to the table to pour a cup of water for Io. "She cannot be soaking and taking a chill."
"Oh," Xavier said, sounding oddly disappointed and his face colored a bit. But then a deep frown creased his brow. "Why did you bring her here? She could have her bath before a fire in her own chambers. Come we can move her there." Xavier stepped towards the bed but was intercepted by three of the women.
"No," they all shouted at once, causing Xavier to pull back and look at them suspiciously.
"Why not?" he questioned, a bite in his tone. The women all looked at each other, then at Io and back at each other. It was Jude who finally spoke up.
"Because that room is completely unsuitable, my lord. And well you know it, as it was you who set it on fire."
Xavier's face went bright red and he began to sputter a d
enial. He wasn't given a chance to get a word out. Sarah was the first to elaborate.
"Set it on fire and broke so much furniture there is hardly a place left to sit." She pointed a finger at him.
"And you think it is easy to replace window coverings like the quality there? Or the rugs?" Ruth said as she tossed her hands in the air.
"Besides," Kate shrugged, "You cannot expect our lady to climb up and down the stairs while she recovers. And you have so many things to oversee you will practically be living across the hall. You will be much closer with lady Io staying here."
Xavier looked confused but wasn't arguing. "You set the room on fire?" Io asked
"No," Xavier grumped and Io saw his entire posture shift.
"So the floor is not scorched and soot is not on the ceiling?" Jude asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"He had an awful fit," Sarah told Io. "Set the room on fire, broke that fine table and smashed the chair against the wall. The rug and the coverings… poof." She waved her hand and snapped her fingers. "Completely destroyed."
"Xavier," Io gasped, adding to the chiding her husband was getting from the women.
"Hold your tongues, you wicked harpies," Xavier snarled with no effect on any one.
"Xavier, what were you about to be so careless. What if the fire spread?" Io sat up straighter. Perhaps she should see herself what damage was done.
"I was thinking…" Xavier gave the others a hard look before turning back to Io and softening his expression. "You were gone. I did not need the house anymore."
"Oh, Xavier," Io brought her hands up to cover her mouth. "No," she said, shaking her head as he stepped up and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"So now," his fingers brushed at the damp strands lying against her cheek and pushed her hands down, "now you have another reason to not leave."
"Xavier, more than us rely on these walls."
"And it is only for you I keep them," he countered.
