Pendragon's Princess

by Kara Griffin

  Besides preparing a good amount of food, she needed to think of a way to honor the Gods. Regardless of her loss of awen, she didn’t want to bring misfortune upon herself. There was a wide area next to the house. She traipsed along the barren area and thought of an idea. She would plant a few oaks and hoped the sacred trees would appease the Gods. It certainly couldn’t hurt.

  Merrion left the house earlier and visited the clothier to get more threads for the tapestry she was making. Katriona hoped to employ Merrion’s aid in collecting the saplings, but she hadn’t returned and there was little time before the festivity began.

  She was alone in the house and wondered if Luella went to see Malin for they’d formed a friendship of sorts and he begged for her recipes. He hadn’t been insulted by Rhyder’s request that he stay on at the garrison to prepare meals for the soldiers who resided there.

  “Come, Wynn. We shall get outside and find the saplings ourselves.” She closed the door behind her and searched for Sawyer. He was underfoot lately, and he was a shadow she couldn’t rid herself of. But he wasn’t nearby. She traipsed toward the gate and as she got closer, she heard shouting. The harsh words came from behind the gatehouse, near the smithy’s cottage. Sawyer trotted from the opposite direction and joined her as she walked along.

  “Where are you off to, Milady?”

  She patted Wynn’s head and smiled. “We’re going to dig up a few saplings to plant alongside our home.”

  “I cannot allow you to go to the woods. Rhyder forbids your leaving for any reason.”

  “But I must—”

  “If you wish, I can go later and bring them to you.” His gaze shot toward the shouting and he scowled. “You need to return to the house.”

  “Who is yelling?”

  Sawyer took her arm and tried to lead her back to the lane. She dislodged her arm and dug in her heels. “What are they arguing about?” She tried to see the men but only their shadows showed on the ground by the tree near the smithy’s cottage.

  “That’s Dillon and Gwill. They’re always arguing.”

  “Where is everyone? Usually, the lane is busy with soldiers and others this time of morn. No one is about. I would’ve thought many would be preparing for the start of the festival.” Katriona frowned and glanced around the hamlet.

  “I don’t know, but perhaps the soldiers on the training field. There’s no guard posted at the gate either. I’m going to find out. Wait here.” He was about to march off when she stopped him.

  “Wait. Who are Dillon and Gwill?”

  Sawyer turned his head and tilted in the direction of the men. Their voices rose but she couldn’t make out what they argued about. “They’re soldiers who are in charge of training the young men-at-arms.”

  “Are they always as boisterous?”

  “They are, and by God, I’ve gotten more aches in my head from their banter than I care to admit.” Sawyer scowled in their direction.

  “That doesn’t sound like banter to me.” Then it came, the sound of laughter that she remembered from the attack. One of those men was her attackers. She faced the gatehouse and the two men meandered from around the side. Her face drained of color and her skin prickled with cold. She tensed at the sight of them and was about to tell Sawyer where she’d seen the men, but they approached. Her lips trembled, and she pressed her elbows to her side.

  One of them said, “Sawyer, we relieved the gate post because we found him sleeping. I’m going to find someone to—”

  “Good morn, Milady,” the other said and cut off his brother.

  She backed a step and Wynn growled. “I must go.” Katriona lowered her voice to a whisper and held back her terror even though she wanted to scream it to all.

  “Wait, I will walk with you,” Sawyer said.

  The lanky of the two men stepped forward. “Why don’t you help Gwill find someone to relieve the post? I’ll walk Milady back.”

  Sawyer raised a brow. “She was entrusted to my care, and she doesn’t appear well. Are you unwell, Milady?” She shook her head but said nothing. “You both will find soldiers for the post. When you’ve set the guard, find me and—”

  Katriona clutched Sawyer’s arm and her knees almost buckled. “I’m quite unwell. Please, take me now.” Wynn continued to growl. She grabbed his collar with her other hand and tried to lead them away.

  Sawyer started off toward the house much to her relief. He shouted over his shoulder. “See to the post now.” To her, he said, “You are pale. Come, we’ll get you to the house and I shall find Luella and have her tend to you.”

  They drew nearer to the house and a strange sound came. The two brothers rode toward them seated upon horses. Their approach thundered with the pounding of their horse’s hooves.

  Wynn barked madly and tried to stop them from proceeding, but they paid no attention to her dog.

  Sawyer shouted, “What the—”

  The lanky brother snatched her off her feet. He rode hell-bent toward the gate.

  Katriona tried to free herself from his hold but feared she’d fall to the ground. Wynn ran after the horse, but she lost sight of him when the man rode through the gate. The man’s stout brother followed. They rode toward the cliffs. The nearer they got, the more terror lodged in her chest. She found it difficult to breathe and rasped with breath. Her muscles tensed and she blinked as dizziness overcame her.

  The call-to-arms was shouted from inside the palisade walls. Sawyer trailed them on a horse. She was never so happy to see him. When the brothers reached the butted cliff, they stopped and dismounted.

  The lanky brother gripped her hair and flung her from the horse. She landed face down and cried out at the pain shooting through her body. Katriona rolled to her back and embraced her waist. She rolled to her side and retched when pains shot through her.

  “I’ll toss her over the edge. You see to Sawyer. Here,” the man said and handed the stout brother a large dagger. “You know what to do.”

  Katriona tried to crawl away, but the lanky brother grabbed hold of her overdress and drug her closer to the cliff-side.

  The stout brother ran at Sawyer, who wrestled and kicked the dagger from the man’s hand. Dillon released her garment, and she crawled away from the cliff’s brink. Debris near the edge scuttled over the side and she gasped. Katriona clawed at the ground and tried to shift away from the danger. The crazed man was intent on sending her to her death.

  Sawyer held his sword at Gwill and shouted for her to flee, but she couldn’t get past them. Her breath heavy and fear gripped her, rendering her motionless.

  Dillon picked up his brother’s dagger and ran at Sawyer. He shoved the blade in Sawyer’s chest, but not before Sawyer’s sword pierced Gwill’s side. He yelled out and ran for his horse.

  Sawyer lay upon the ground and Dillon ran when Wynn raced at him with bared teeth. He fought off Wynn’s attack and kicked her dog’s head. She heard Wynn’s yelp and cry. Katriona bent over in pain and staggered toward her pet. Wynn dropped to the grass and lay unmoving.

  Gwill shouted for his brother as he stood by his horse bent over. “I bleed. ‘Tis not good.”

  Dillon ran to him. “I must get you help.” He tossed Gwill upon the horse and mounted his. The horses pounded the ground in their haste to retreat.

  After they fled, Katriona crawled to Sawyer. She was glad she didn’t have the awen for she’d be overcome with pain and grief.

  She lay next to him and patted his face. “Sawyer, talk to me. I must get you home but you’re going to have to help me. I cannot carry you. Can you walk?”

  He groaned.

  Katriona tore a large piece of her overdress and shoved it inside his tunic where blood soaked through. “Try to lean on me. We’ll need to move quickly in case Dillon returns.”

  He groaned and leaned heavily on her shoulder. Katrina glanced at Wynn’s unmoving body and sniffled. She could do nothing to help her sweet pet at the moment. Using what little strength she had, she started off toward the gate b
ut it was closed when they reached it. She shouted and bid it be opened but there was no response by the gate watchman.

  “Freyja, help me.” She held on to Sawyer and by the time they withdrew and veered toward the woods, the sky dimmed. The night would fall soon. Snow lightly fell and would soon cover the ground. She helped Sawyer to a soft patch of dried grass by a tree and rolled him to his side.

  “I must check your wound.”

  “It is not bad. Leave me be.” Sawyer’s hair soaked with sweat and he flinched at her touch.

  She ignored his request and removed the bunched up cloth she’d placed by the wound and assessed the deepness. Careful not to cause more bleeding, she eyed the wound.

  Sawyer groaned. “How does it look? Am I a dead man?”

  “Sweet Gods above, don’t ask that. The wound is deep and you’ve lost a good bit of blood. You’re fortunate that the wound is on the right side of your chest. It might not be life-threatening. Be calm, we must consider what to do. I will place more cloth to stop the bleeding.” She removed her overdress altogether and tore it to pieces. She folded the cloth and pressed it on the wound.

  “I’ll be dead by morn.” He turned pale and avoided looking at her.

  “Don’t say that.” Katriona took hold of his chin and forced him to keep his gaze on her.

  “I never suspected I’d die before—”

  “Be quiet. Save your strength.”

  Sawyer’s breath hitched and he moaned. “Tell Rhyder I am sorry. I should’ve known they were behind the attacks. They shouldn’t have been trusted to …” his voice trailed off and he closed his eyes.

  She tapped his face repeatedly and shouted his name. “Sawyer.”

  He grimaced and opened his eyes. “What?”

  “Don’t close your eyes again. Listen to me, they were the men who attacked me on Wulfar’s land and killed Lloyd.”

  He moaned and his body tensed. “I’m sorry, Katy.” His breath labored. “Save yourself. Hide away until help comes.”

  Katriona pressed a hand on his face. She didn’t mind his calling her by Rhyder’s endearment. She’d forgive him anything at that moment as long as he survived. “Please, don’t upset yourself. Rhyder will be angry when he learns who his foes are, just as you are.”

  “Och, he will be. Tell him I didn’t mean to be a pain in the arse.”

  “You tell him that yourself. I’m sure he doesn’t think that. I should flee and find help, but I am hesitant to leave you.”

  He grabbed hold of her wrist. “Nay, nay don’t leave me. I love you, Katy. Always have. Since that day in your barn when you demanded we kill the spider…when you fell and Rhyder caught you… I wanted it to be me saving you…always me.”

  “Shhh, you’re talking nonsense.”

  Sawyer closed his eyes and muttered, “For once, I am being truthful.” He squeezed her hand. “I never forgot what you looked like or how sweet you were. I was envious of Rhyder and hid my jealousy for years.”

  “Oh, Sawyer, please…you’re upsetting yourself. You need to stay awake and keep clearheaded. Open your eyes.”

  “I cannot. At least I got to tell you before…” He kept his eyes closed.

  “Please, you cannot die. Rhyder will be upset. He cares for you. I care for you.”

  Sawyer opened his eyes. “Do you love me as I love you?”

  She ignored his pain-induced admission. They couldn’t get inside the walls and the cliffs weren’t the best place to hide. She needed to reach Olor before Sawyer succumbed, but his cottage was too far from where they sat.

  “We need to get off this lane before they return. Let us hide in the brush. Can you help me? Lean on me, that’s right. I’m going to get you help.” But Katriona needed help as well. Her side stitched and her breath came in short deep pants.

  They hobbled through the brush and had to rest several times along the way. Night fell and it was too dark to proceed. Snow fell heavier and she despaired that they’d freeze before they were found. She feared they’d both die there in the woods, if not from their injuries, but from the cold that settled upon them. Katriona wanted to keep moving, but Sawyer refused to help her and he was too heavy to drag or lift. She was defeated and settled him next to a tree.

  The only thing that would help her now was prayer. She cared not if Sawyer heard her. Katriona spoke aloud to the Gods. “Woden, great father in the sky, come and aid me. Friege, please save my babe and help me. Thunor, protect us and send us help. Tiw, give me courage and strength, for I need it now more than ever.”

  She pressed her hands on her eyes and wept. “Freyja, please don’t forsake me. I need your magic for I have not the will to find my own help. Someone, please…help us.” She sat beside Sawyer and tried to keep him warm in her embrace. He lay still too tranquil and still. His breath light and his chest barely moved.

  “I don’t care if you’ve given your heart to me, you stubborn man. You will not die this night, not while you’re in my care. Please, don’t. I beg you, Sawyer, don’t die.”

  Chapter TWENTY-SEVEN

  The journey home was occupied with contention. Rhyder didn’t stop to rest, and the horses winded. He had no choice but to slow the pace or run the horses into the ground. The closer he got to his home, the more trepidation filled him.

  How had he not suspected Dillon and Gwill? The men were on sentry when his men were killed or so he thought. They had to be the envoy Wulfar’s men spotted leaving his lands and traveling to Cenwahl’s.

  He hoped to make it home before the brothers acted. Rhyder understood their ire against Cenwahl and his kingdom, but not against him and his followers. They had nothing to do with their mother’s abuse or death. Yet his father was just as culpable for he was responsible for each and every member of his hamlet. His father allowed her to be sent out into the cold, harsh winter, without protection.

  The walls came into view, and as soon as he reached the gate, he whistled for the watch. No one came. It was eerily silent. His impatience wore.

  “Break the damned gate down.” Rhyder helped the elder’s sons, and they used brute force. Each used their legs, shoulders, and arms, to try to make the gate give way but to no avail. The gate wouldn’t budge. A sense of panic seized him.

  “Climb the wall and open the gate from the other side.”

  Hugh and Robert climbed and catapulted their bodies over the top of the palisade. A moment later, the gate opened.

  Hugh motioned them forward. “None are at the watch, Your Grace, and I see no one about.”

  “Where is everyone? Never mind. Spread out and find Dillon and Gwill. Apprehend them or kill them whichever is necessary.” Rhyder ran toward his home. Katy’s welfare concerned him. He shouted for Sawyer as he ran along and when he entered the house, he found Merrion consoling Luella.

  “Katy?”

  Merrion shook her head. “I don’t know where she is. Dillon came and said Sawyer attacked Katy. They’re gone, he said, near the cliffs.”

  Rhyder scowled. That couldn’t be true. Sawyer would never harm his wife. “Stay inside. If Katy returns lock the door and let none in.”

  He retreated back outside and shouted Sawyer’s name as he ran through the hamlet. Where could the brothers be? He neared the well and spotted Gwill sitting against the stone.

  “You.” He rushed forward and gripped the man’s tunic. “Where is my wife?”

  “Dead. Aye, they’re all dead. You will have nothing when Dillon finishes.”

  Rhyder shook him. The man labored in breath.

  “I will kill you. Tell me where she is.”

  “I will die soon enough.”

  “Why would you harm our followers?”

  “Your father…”

  “What about my father?”

  “He did nothing to help our ma. Aye, the knave sent her back to…that blighter. He killed her, our da. Didn’t have a care for her. None of you did.”

  “I had nothing to do with any of that. Why go against me?”

&nb
sp; Gwill wheezed and held his side. “You prosper because…of your da’s deeds. We…do not. My ma lays cold in the unmarked ground.”

  Rhyder shook him again. “Where is Sawyer and Katy? Tell me or by God, I’ll stick this dagger in your damned heart.” He gripped the dagger and held it high, ready to make good on his threat.

  “Do it. End my misery. If they are not dead, they…” The man ceased breath and his body lethargic against the stone.

  Rhyder released him and let his body fall to the ground. He shouted in anguish at the thought of his wife being dead. She couldn’t be. She better not be. He turned and searched for Dillon. The man had to be there within the hamlet. He shouted, “Your brother is dead, Dillon, just as you will be when I find you. Come and face me.”

  Silence.

  The elder’s sons ran into the courtyard. Robert approached. “We searched the entire hamlet, Your Grace, and didn’t find the brothers.”

  “Gwill lay there, dead.” He pointed at his body. “His brother is here somewhere. Help me find him.” Rhyder pulled his sword free from its scabbard and called out again, “Your brother is dead. Did you murder him? Aye, but you are a coward.”

  “You killed your own brother,” Robert yelled.

  Across the way, Dillon ambled from behind the smithy’s cottage. “I am no coward.”

  “Why did you kill your brother?” Rhyder slunk forward in small steps.

  “Your commander killed him.”

  Rhyder gripped his sword. “Where is my wife?”

  “Dead like our ma. Aye, all of you should die.”

  “We should have protected her. I didn’t know what happened to her and I know if my father did, he wouldn’t have returned her to him.”

  Dillon held a sword by his side. He was enraged and growled.

  Rhyder kept his stance relaxed so he might thwart the man’s attack when it came. Dillon wasn’t thinking clearly and madness held him now. “You hurt many in the name of retribution. Those men you killed, my soldiers, had nothing to do with your mother’s death.”