by Marie Hall
"Ouch," Mark whispered.
"I am going to try," Xavier said taking a seat in the grass. "Can you tell me why you think it is her wings which were broken?" It was a ridiculous question but he needed to keep this child's trust and speak to him in a way he could understand.
The boy shrugged, then looked at his sister. "She was bent, like mama the day she fell down."
"Mother's belly went bad after the cow kicked her," Eva reported and put her arm around her brother who leaned against her.
"Did you see anything else? Perhaps La… the angel," Mark corrected himself, "did she speak to you?"
"She was very tired, she slept the whole time until the sun set. I had to go then or Father Berkham makes me sleep in the pigsty. I came back after Father finished his barrel, but she was gone."
"You went out so late? Jacob, I have told you it is not safe," Eva chided.
"But the angel, I had to tell her what mama looks like so she can find her in heaven and tell her to come home," the boy whined.
"Jacob, she is not going to come home. Mother is with God and—"
"I want her to be with me," he began to wail and try as she might, Eva couldn't comfort him.
"All right, little man." Mark bent and lifted the boy into his arms. Twig like arms wrapped around the knight's neck. "You are not so far from your mama. She is always going to be with you."
Xavier watched the man trying to comfort the little boy. When he turned to his sister, he noticed her using her shoulder to wipe away tears as she cleaned up the meal, folding it carefully in her apron. Lucas helped her to her feet and along with Mark they started back ahead of Xavier and Gerald. Did anyone ever comfort Io in those first days? It wasn't right a child should have to hold back her own fears and sorrow and be strong for her younger brother. At least they had each other. No one was there for Io. She was a royal bastard and the king knew of her. Why had the king, a man Xavier always considered the best of what men could be, why had he left Io to fend for herself so long? What could any of his council have been thinking to make her suffer the loss of her mother with no one to hold her while she cried? For the first time, doubt about his king slipped into his heart.
"Xavier?" Gerald set a hand on his shoulder.
"What?"
"What do you think on so hard?"
He took a deep breath, now wasn't the time to confess his doubt. "Io," was his simple answer.
"I think we will find her." Gerald slapped him on the back. "What will you do with them?" He bent his head to indicate the children. Lucas now carried Eva and Christopher appeared to have fallen asleep in Mark's arms.
"Send them back to the house."
"Your wife is beginning to influence you," Gerald said with a laugh.
"Beginning?" Xavier chuckled and shook his head.
Less than an hour later, soldiers were sent to tell the others they were onto Io and everyone needed to close in on this area. One soldier was charged with starting the children back home and while the man grumbled about being turned into a wet nurse, he'd taken on the duty with a wink to the children. The rest of his group mounted and readied to ride out. The priest stood in the streets bellowing about how it was ungodly for men to come and snatch children from their homes for purposes they wouldn't tell. Given Eva's willingness to use her body to protect her brother, Xavier suspected the man was bemoaning the loss of a concubine who couldn't fight back. He yelled on about how it was madness to believe an angel would show herself to an unworthy child. No other saw her so the child couldn't possibly have. His words, while more spite than anything, given what they already found, still nagged.
Io hadn't been found very far from the village and even if she stayed there to rest someone should have seen her when she took back to the road the next day. Something was not right about her not being seen. They were all missing something right in front of them.
"The moon is already rising," Lucas said. "The days are so short now, and look more clouds coming in."
The days were short, even when they'd ridden hard trying to get to a place Io reasonably could have reached, they'd not made much distance before the sun set again. It was clear Io got much further than they suspected. A few more days and they'd be at the shoreline. How had Io, on foot, covered such distance? They all assumed she'd not walked the roads because no one saw her. But the short days and the rough terrain should have slowed her down greatly. And even if it was something minor making her appear "broken' to the boy, any illness or injury should have been in his favor, slowing Io more. No one saw her, she traveled further, quicker.
"Lucas." Xavier pulled his horse to a stop.
"What?" Lucas jerked the reins and his mount reared up.
"In the letter to Sarah, Io said she would be guided? Do you remember what she said exactly?"
"I do not but…" He reached into his saddle packs. "I have the letter with me." He pulled out the pages and unfolded them scanning for the words Xavier was thinking of. "I do not see… oh wait here. 'I will let the lights of heaven guide me forward, Sarah.' Is that it?"
Xavier squeezed his temples between his hands and groaned. "I am going to strangle her. When I get my hands on her." He balled his fists and shook them.
"What?" Mark and Gerald yelled.
"She travels at night. She travels at night and must sleep during the day. That is why she was in the glen the whole time the child was there and gone the next morning when he came back. That is why no one has seen her on any road." He bit his tongue then to stop the vile oath that wanted out.
"Have mercy," Jon swore. "Could she take any more of a risk?"
Xavier groaned once more before giving into to a fit of laughter. As angry as he wanted to be, he couldn't deny his wife was the cleverest, most intelligent, irritating woman in the world and she'd drive him to an early grave. And he'd no doubt he'd enjoy every moment of it.
Looking up now he could see the first stars appearing in the evening sky. "She is using the stars to navigate. She will be following one of the constellations."
"But which one?" Mark asked also looking up towards the sky.
"Who knows which ones are visible?" Xavier looked around hoping at least one among them had those same lessons and remembered them.
"Sirs," a soldier spoke up and pushed his horse through the ranks. "Sirs, if I may." He stopped and waited until Xavier nodded. "This time of year the most prominent stars will be Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Sculptor, Pisces and Tucana. Those are the ones I can recall sir."
"So which of those is she following?" Jon asked. Again everyone was left looking up at the sky.
"Sir," again the soldier waited for permission to speak. Xavier nodded again and waited for the resident Callippus to continue with the lesson. "Lady Io might have chosen to follow the star that appears from October to December. Pisces, sirs, stands out this time of year and will take Lady Io right to the ocean."
"You look doubtful, Xavier," Mark commented.
"Io hates fish," he said with a sigh. "And she'd follow it because I know that." Turning his horse back down the road he sidestepped it and motioned for the soldier to go ahead. "Lead on."
The man puffed up, glanced up at the sky, and then started forward. They were able to follow the stars for most of the night. Towards the end when the skies began to cloud over, they came across prints in the mud along the side of the road. Confident they'd catch up in the next day or two, they made camp for the night.
Chapter Nineteen
The winds picked up and again the big stallion tossed his head and stomped the ground. Most of the men were dismounted now searching the brush and trees and along the steep ravine. Late last night they discovered Io's cloak stretched over some rocks. She'd made a shelter from the rain but now everyone was concerned because she'd left the garment behind. She'd made very little distance the last few days and more and more Jacob's warning that she was broken weighed on him.
The wind howled through the ravine again and his horse strained against Xavier's ho
ld. He tossed his head and nickered loudly. "Easy boy, steady, Cloud." The animal's ears swiveled forward at the use of the name. Xavier ground his teeth. He'd definitely be speaking to his wife about naming his horse, his black as night horse, Cloud. Still the animal settled, until the next gust of wind caused him to rear up and kick out. Xavier let go and twisted aside as the horse bolted. "Damn," he swore and started after the animal. The beast was well trained and hadn't gone far. Xavier found him a little way into the thicker part of the forest.
He stood quivering with his head pushed through some brush and Xavier prayed he'd not hurt himself as he was a valuable weapon in his own right. He spoke soothingly as he approached, running his hand along the sleek neck until he could grab the bridle. But when he tried to pull Cloud back, the horse resisted and stepped further into the brush. Xavier used some force and pulled the big head out only to have the horse stomp and pull to go back in.
"What are you doing?" he muttered. "What am I doing asking you what you are doing?" Yes, his wife influenced him and not in one single good way. He talked to the animal like he might answer. And damn him, the horse's ears again turned to listen as they did whenever Io was near him.
"Oh God." He shoved the animal back and climbed into the bushes. He pulled his knife and cut through some tangled branches. The moment he cut the last, the prize was revealed.
"Io, thank God, Io." He went down on the ground next to her. She lay in a ball, huddled against the wind and cold. Setting his hand on her he felt how wet she was but she didn't respond to his touch. Rolling her over, he noticed her eyes squeeze tight then relax but didn't open. He gave her a shake only to hear her whimper. "Io," he called and lifted her into his arms and set his lips on her forehead. "Io?" That wasn't right. He turned his face and pressed his cheek where his lips had been. "Io?" Panic welled. She was burning with fever. He gathered her limp body against his chest and climbed to his feet. Pushing through the brush he started shouting. "I found her. I found her. Help me."
Within moments, several men appeared to hold back branches and steady him as he made his way to a clearing where he could set Io down.
"Xavier." Gerald knelt down and dropped his own cloak over Io. His hand went to her head, perhaps to brush back the hair but he too felt the fever. "She is on fire."
"I know," Xavier choked. "She will not wake up. Io, come Io." He lifted her hand and began rubbing it.
"Get a fire going, make shelter," Lucas ordered. "Now," he screamed when no one moved fast enough to suit him. "Sarah packed clothes for her, where are they? We need to get her dry. Xavier where are the things Sarah packed for Io?"
"I… in my packs. On the spare horses," Xavier managed to say even though the very real fear he'd reached Io too late made it hard to think. It couldn't be he'd come all this way, sorted out her plan and her route only to arrive too late to truly get her back.
"My lord, this was in the brush where you found our lady." The young man set down a small pack. Likely all Io left home with. Someone else placed her cloak, neatly folded on top of that.
The area lit up with the fire and Xavier took a moment to search Io for signs of injury. Her arms, her legs, her head. None showed any signs of damage. Not until he pressed his fingers into her stomach did she react.
She cried out and arched up, but then collapsed back unconscious and unresponsive the next time he pressed against her belly. Fear tore at him, he lifted her up by the shoulders and began to shake her violently. "Io. Io, wake up. Wake up, damn you. Wake up."
"Xavier, stop." He heard the words but ignored them. "Xavier, stop shaking her. Stop." A hard shove sent him back on his arse. He pushed up only to find Gerald's finger in his face. "Stop." The command wasn't to be ignored this time.
"Get her undressed, get her into these," Lucas said out of breath from running from horse to horse to find something dry and clean for Io to be put in. Xavier looked about, there was no way to conceal Io if he undressed her now. "The tent is up, carry her there." Lucas bent and took up her cloak and pack.
Again Xavier lifted Io into his arms. The tent was too small for more than the two of them and in the dim light he couldn't see well enough to find the ties to undress her so he simply used his knife; gleaning a little satisfaction in knowing his wife wouldn't be able to wear the ridicules britches all the way home. He stripped her in no time and the sight of her body after all this time sent his heart racing. Lust or worry he wasn't sure which. She was again nearly as thin as when he'd first met her. Her ribs and hips showed prominently, her belly had a distended look though and he prayed she'd not taken a blow like the one that killed Eva's mother. The sound of her teeth chattering spurred him on. He used one of the furs in the tent to rub her skin dry and try to combat the chill. He got the shift over her head and her arms through the sleeves. Tugging down he had to lift her hips to finish, she cried out again when he did.
"Xavier?" Mark's head poked inside.
"She needs a physician," he said moving to cradle her head in his lap.
"The men have already ridden out to see if there is any place close we can take shelter." Another set of legs appeared and Mark reached up then came back down. "See if you can get some of this into her." He handed over a small cup of something warm. Xavier took it with a nod of thanks. "Stay with Io, we will figure out what is next." Then he was gone.
Xavier rearranged Io and pressed the cup to her lips, he managed to get a few dribbles in. Other than the ragged sound of her breathing she was silent.
"Please, Io," he begged. "Please give me the chance to make it right with you. Please, Io, please do not leave me. Do not abandon me now. Please, I cannot live without you. I love you. Please, let me prove to you that you are the only one who matters to me. Please, Io."
He sat with her pulled against him until dawn. Someone announced there was a large house only a few miles from where they camped. Xavier stood stripping the saddle from Cloud while camp was broken. It'd be easier to ride with Io without the high, narrow saddle. One of the men would put it on a packhorse so it wasn't left behind. As he tossed the heavy blankets over, the horse looked back and nudged him. Xavier moved and with the pretext of adjusting the bridle and reins set his head against the animal. "Thank you," he whispered stepping back as Jon approached with Io in his arms.
"Up," Lucas said, cupping his hands so Xavier could mount.
Once seated, he nodded and Jon, with Lucas's assistance, lifted Io before him. She was still unconscious and limp and the fever still raged but she'd made it through the night. He'd get her the help she needed.
Chapter Twenty
"Pull it again," Xavier said, shifting Io in his arms.
Ian gave the rope a yank. The bell at the top rang out and the rope unraveled a bit more. It'd survive maybe only one more pull before it broke. Again everyone's eyes went to the dilapidated gates. They hung barely on the hinges. Xavier looked around. The entire curtain wall was falling in. It'd take no more than five men to tear them down and the suggestion was made when the bell remained unanswered.
"Xavier," Jon urged again. He was impatient to get Io inside as they all were.
"It is still early, they could be at vespers," Xavier said and again adjusted his hold on Io.
"Then they can join us in their own hall when they are done. To just stand out here—" Gerald growled.
"And then what do we do? Hope they willingly help Io after we have attacked them?" Xavier stepped closer to the gate. "I cannot chance they do not help us willingly and Io suffers." Noise from the other side caught his attention. "Someone is coming."
"Open," Gerald yelled and pounded his fist on the gate.
"Who are—" the high pitched voice squeaked out, then with a cough, went on in a forced deeper tone, "who are you and what business?"
Everyone turned to look at Xavier who could only shrug. Clearly this house had no real protections and they could take it without effort with the score of men who'd gathered already.
"I am Lord Xavier Brice of Bran
sport, my wife has fallen ill. We need shelter and a physician." Xavier turned so the face peeking between the wood slates could see Io lying in his arms.
There were harsh whispers and scuffling from the other side. "We cannot help you. Be on your way."
Without warning, Gerald stuck his fist through the gate and managed to grab the nose on that face that'd demanded they leave. "Listen to me, you little pisser," he growled as the person whose nose was now in danger of being snapped off struggled to get free. "Do not make me rip your ears off. This is Lord Xavier Brice, of the king's guard. Yield and open this gate."
"Gerald," Xavier tried to warn the man to back down but then Jon and Lucas stepped up to join him. Both men sent a glare in Xavier's direction.
"Open this gate and give shelter," Jon yelled and pushed on the gate, which made the nose pinched between Gerald's finger come through.
"What is this?" a female voice with some authority behind it called out. "Get back from there, Samuel." The nose was jerked free with a pained cry and the gate was pulled open.
"Mistress." A boy no more than fourteen grabbed the woman's arm as she stepped through.
She shook free and stepped up. "What happened to her?" The woman put a hand under Io's head and lifted. Her eyes meet Xavier's and a deep frown marred her older but otherwise still lovely features.
"Please help her," Xavier implored.
The woman set a hand on Io's face and gasped before moving to her forehead and then delving under the collar of Io's shift. "She is burning. What happened?"
"Please, I do not know. Can you help her?" Xavier asked again as all the men closed in from behind. He took a step closer to the woman trying to rush her to make the choice.
"She has a cough?"
"No, Madame. No cough or even a wheeze. The fever's cause I cannot determine. Please, can you help my wife?" Another step, but the woman didn't retreat.
"I do not know, but the fever must be brought down or she will die." She lifted her dress and turned back to the gates only to stop as four more boys seemed to be trying to block their passing. He'd plow them down if he had too now that he had the woman's willingness to help.
