Chapter Seven
They covered a lot of ground in the next two weeks, and the time passed quickly. It was a time full of joy and laughter, but underneath simmered worry. Autumn had arrived and served as a harsh reminder that winter would be forthcoming soon. Michael urged them onward, while Katherine hung back in the shadows. Outwardly, she insisted she longed to go home, but everyone knew that she would not begrudge them any time. She spent a lot of time talking to all of the knights; everyone became her friend. The men enjoyed the familiarity, but Adam saw it as avoiding Michael. Perhaps there was still more that Queen Katherine was not telling?
“Your Majesty?”
She jumped up from the place she had been sitting. The tree stump was that of an ancient oak, chopped down not long ago. “You startled me, Adam!”
“My apologies.”
He sat down on the stump. Katherine looked around for any other surprises. The sun shone brightly down on the autumn colors. The grass was dry, but the trees were alive with color. Red, purple, and brown leaves tumbled onto the path in front of them. The wind blew gently, brushing stray hairs from her face. She pulled her braid to be sure the wind had not loosened it. Adam sat solemnly on the stump, watching her every movement. The wind rustled through his brown hair and his bright green clothes.
“Did you come to ask me something?”
“No. Did you have something you wanted to tell me?”
She shook her head and continued studying her braid. The gold in her hair contrasted sharply with the dullness of her surroundings. Adam smiled; it seemed she always made her surroundings duller than she herself was.
Just as he was about to say something else an arrow whizzed through the air and struck one of the trees behind them. Adam grabbed Katherine’s arm and dragged her away as more arrows flew at them.
“Michael! Michael!”
Michael came flying out of the tent at Adam’s call. When he saw Adam dragging Katherine along behind him, he rushed to his wife’s side. “Katherine! Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she said, shaking loose from Adam’s grip. “But the knights we saw. They are…”
“Right here,” came the voice of the chief as he stepped from behind Michael’s tent.
Michael drew his sword to protect his family and his people, but the chief stepped forward with his own sword drawn. “I wouldn’t do that. You are surrounded.” As he spoke the knights with no standard stepped out of the shadows. They immediately disarmed the knights trying to protect their King and Queen and rounded them up. They stood with their hands bound behind their backs in the center of the camp. King Michael and Queen Katherine stood beside the chief with their own hands bound and their weapons taken, including Katherine’s marvelous sword. Adam was set apart, as a sort of hostage. He was guarded by two guards twice his size.
“It is so nice to meet you again, milady.” The chief walked around his prize and examined them as if they were horses. He was still wearing the golden armor, creating as much of a contrast with their surroundings as Katherine’s hair. “And you sir, caused quite a stir in my camp when last we met. Isn’t it nice that I am able to repay you in kind?” He laughed at his own joke. Michael shook his head.
“Do you disagree?” The chief edged his sword closer to Michael’s throat.
“Don’t hurt him!” Katherine’s frantic cry amused the kidnapper.
“Do you think I’d hurt him so soon in the game?” He laughed his derisive laugh again. “Besides, what is he to you?”
Michael took a step closer to Katherine. “She is my wife.”
“In that case…” The chief hit Michael in the stomach with the end of a stick he’d been toying with. The King crumpled to the ground; Katherine knelt beside him and put her cheek against his, since her hands were tied. Adam growled a warning to his guards to be wary.
“How sweet! The little wife taking care of her husband,” he mocked.
“What do you want?” Katherine asked.
The chief paused his mockery for a moment to consider her. “I know who you are. You are little Andrew’s daughter!”
“You knew my father?” The wonder in her voice was beyond comprehension.
He chuckled, suddenly lost in a world many years past. “I was his servant; he treated me like one too. I told him one day I would be a great king and he would be my servant, but your father disliked me and threw me out. Now I have come back to prove him wrong. Too bad he had to die and ruin my fun. Oh well.” At this point, he ran his finger along Katherine’s chin. “I’ll still have his daughter for a servant.”
“I would never serve you!”
The chief slapped her hard across the face. Confusion reigned for a moment as Michael tried to attack the chief, sword or no sword. The guards rescued their chief and gave Michael a black eye for his trouble. Katherine scolded Michael with her eyes.
“See how pointless it is to resist? We outnumber you ten to one.”
Katherine was still upset. “You’ll need every one of those men to defeat my knights.”
He laughed. “Your knights, is it now? Are you so calloused to your father that you take his throne so readily?”
“I loved my father!”
“Loved, you say?”
Katherine was silent.
“See?” he laughed. “I was right. You love his throne more than you loved him.”
“That’s not true!” She wrestled with the ropes around her hands, but they were far too tight for her to get free.
“You are nothing more than a little girl doing a man’s job!”
Defeated, Katherine slumped down and pressed her eyes shut to keep back the tears. The guards yanked her and Michael to their feet; and the company and their captives moved out.
Late that night, when the moon was hidden from sight and they were deep into the woods, the chief called for a halt. The captives fell asleep where they sat, and the knights soon followed. Only Katherine and Michael dared to stay up and talk.
“Don’t listen to him.” Michael tried to see Katherine’s face in the dark but couldn’t.
“I didn’t want to, but he’s right. I don’t even know what I thought trying to be Queen of Adven. I’m not even a good wife to you, Michael!” Her voice cracked with emotion.
“Of course, you are!” He drew closer to her, still searching for her face in the dark.
“No, I’m not!” Muffled sobs were heard.
“Katherine, do you remember what Maria told us before we left?”
She thought hard then whispered, “No.”
“Place me as a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death. I’ve set you as a seal on my heart, Katherine. I would love you if you were the worst wife or the worst queen. My love for you will go beyond the grave, should we not make it out of this place.” His face found hers in the dark, and they kissed. For a moment they stayed, wrapped in each others’ love and loyalty, then Michael pulled back. “I know that you loved your father the same way, no matter what anyone else says.”
“Perhaps you’re right. I just don’t know what to think anymore.”
He felt the conversation ending, but there was still so much to say.
Katherine awoke to someone pulling on her arm. “Michael?”
The face leaning into hers and grabbing her arm was not that of her husband. The rough knight dragged her to her feet by the elbow. Her foot kicked Michael as she struggled to stand, and he was awake in an instant.
“Where are you taking her?”
The knight did not respond. Katherine struggled to come fully awake. The pain in her arm helped immensely.
“What’s going on?” The knight dragged her further away, regardless of the fact she was still not awake. Her dress caught in the leaves and loose branches along the ground. Her wrists hurt because of the ropes, and her head was quite foggy. Rough hands grasped her elbow and pulled her through the brush. The sun was not up high enough to provide much light, so they fumbled through the dark
. Her blond hair fell in her eyes in loose strands from her braid, and she felt like falling on her face.
When they reached their destination, the knight flung her to the ground. Katherine got to her feet with a great effort.
“Sleep well, my slave?”
The chief grinned wickedly at her. Katherine glared back.
“I thought I was your servant.”
“I decided ‘slave’ was more appropriate. A servant might be set free.” He shoved his finger in her face. “A slave is mine forever.”
She was bustled out of the tent before she could say a word. The silent knight dragged her back to Michael and dropped her, as if she were a sack of garbage. Michael scooted close to her and tried to brush the dirt from her hands and face.
“What happened?”
Katherine shook her head. “I don’t know. I suppose he just wanted to remind himself that he really captured me… and remind me that I’m in his control.”
He sat back and thought a minute. “Perhaps he’s trying to break you. You’re more useful to him if you’ve given up.”
She laid her head against Michael’s chest. “He won’t succeed. I won’t break, unless he takes you away from me.” Katherine turned and looked into his eyes a moment. “Nothing will break me as long as I’m with you.”
At that moment, Adam and several others of their number were dragged from sleep and tied to the horses of the other knights. They let it happen without a fight, for Adam had advised it would only cause more trouble and waste their strength. Another knight came and grabbed Michael by the arm, who surprisingly gave no argument. The same silent knight from before came and grabbed Katherine.
A little fear pierced her heart as she watched Michael be led away. “Where are you taking him?” She started to follow him, but the silent knight pulled her back. “Let me go! Michael!”
His solemn face turned and met her frantic gaze. “For love is as strong as death,” he whispered. Then the other knight roughly turned him around and tied him to the last horse in the party, the one piled high with luggage.
Katherine followed her captor to the front most horse, that of the false king and kidnapper. Her rope was tied to his bridle; and she was left to her own devises. The hustle and bustle carried on all around her. She watched as Michael’s people were tied to horses, mostly one at a time. Perhaps it was their way of ensuring there was no easy escape. Adam was farther back in the line, somewhere in the middle, and Michael was at the very end. Just then, a most unpleasant person came up beside her.
“Well, my slave, what do you think of my army?”
The men were more numerous than she could ever imagine. Had there been this many last night? But she shoved her mounting fear down deep inside her and shrugged in what she hoped was a nonchalant manner.
“These are the men who will overrun your father’s castle, your castle. At least, it was yours, before I captured you. Now you and all of Adven are forfeit to me!” He smiled at the wonder of it all. “And to prove how great I am, I will ride with you tied to my saddle at the front of the procession. Perhaps there will be no fight when they see I’ve got their precious queen.” He mounted his horse, leaning down to slap Katherine as he did so to be sure she was paying attention. “I never realized the true genius of this plan. My slave, I do hope you’re used to walking; we’ve a long way to go.”
With that, he flicked the reins; and the whole troop proceeded forward. The false king picked up the pace, while Katherine ran along the side of his horse.
The sun beat down on the dusty trail. There was no breeze to speak of and the air was stifling hot. Katherine took long deep breaths to keep from passing out. Her ragged sleeves were covered with her perspiration, as she wiped her face again. The hem of her dress was in tatters and her shoes were falling apart. Blond hair fell in and around her eyes, releasing tears from their aggravated state of indecision. Trees leaned out threatening branches across her path; and more than once, she stumbled and fell.
It was the same as it had been for a week. Day after day, she was up before sunrise and dragged to the chief’s tent. After he ridiculed her, she was tied to his horse and forced to run along the side of the road to keep up with his life-threatening pace. The men behind her were forced to do the same. The days where they had sat around the fire, laughing and singing, seemed ages ago, but it had only been a week. Everyday Katherine struggled to pray for wisdom, and a chance to escape. The chief looked down at her from his high perch.
“Still denying that I’ve won?”
Katherine said nothing.
“There’s no use hoping for escape. Winter will come and go before you are set free.”
A brightly colored leaf fell in her path, as if to punctuate his words. Fall was fading quickly before her very eyes.
“I do not intend to attack before winter. You see, if, for some reason, I didn’t win right away winter is not my choice season to fight a war. It’s not my brother’s choice time either. He’s the leader of the tribe that you’ve been fighting with for the past two years.”
Katherine froze. Fear and panic seeped into her every being. Then anger, boiling hot, rolled over into her mouth; and before she knew it she was shouting at the top of her lungs. “It’s your fault my father is dead! If he had never fought this war, he’d still be alive!” She whirled around, causing the horse to falter in its step.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The voice came from behind her. A face, that of the formerly silent knight, peered around into hers. He flashed his sword in her face and then shoved her roughly to the ground.
“Don’t damage my slave!” whined the chief. He tugged on the rope attached to Katherine and used it to pull her up like a fish on a line. She was so mad she couldn’t speak. The light had not only reflected off the bright metal of the sword; it had reflected off the words, “It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.”
Alone with her thoughts, separated from her friends and her husband, Katherine fumed. She tried to calm herself, to concentrate on something, anything else, but that evil man was responsible for her father’s death! It was his fault! And he had the gall to give her sword to one of his ruffians.
Michael was hidden away from her view, the same as every other night for the past week. Her heart ached to see him. Why did she not tell him everything right from the start? Her pain was almost physical, it hurt so badly. The sick feeling in her stomach was no help either.
She prayed earnestly as she clutched her tumbling stomach. Nausea was attempting to overcome her, but she would not give in. Love welled up in her heart for Michael, Adam, Ralyn, and Eli. And as the nausea subsided, love sprouted for this new little one inside her. She only hoped his mother would be a queen, not a slave, when the time came for him to enter the world.
“I suppose I don’t even know it is a boy,” she murmured, but she was interrupted by a nervous young man bringing her food.
He cautiously set the plate in front of her and then sat down. Katherine refused to eat while he sat there. The staring contest continued for a long while, before the boy stood and leaned close whispering, “I am a friend. Please eat.”
She looked at him suspiciously. He nodded eagerly. “I was enlisted by my father not by my choice. He bargained with the chief, who promised my father much land if I would fight. I tried to tell my father it was wrong, but he would not listen. ‘Adven was not meant to be ruled by fools,’ he said.” He paused. “I’m sure he wouldn’t have said that if he’d met you, milady.”
Katherine sized the boy up. He was tall, skinny, and very pale. The only color in him at all was his red hair, the color of fire, which stuck in every direction from lack of care. While he spoke, his hands were never still. They played with the stones on the ground, the leather on his boots, and the hilt on his sword. It was the sword that made her nervous. Unarmed, she stood no chance against this boy, feeble though he was.
“I didn’t want to fight this silly war. I liked your father. I…I thought he wa
s a great king. Please,” he struggled to find more words. “Please believe me. I just want to help you.” He looked at his hands and forced them to be still.
“What is your name?”
“Edwin.”
“Edwin, I must ask you to do something for me.”
His voice reflected his excitement. “Anything, Your Majesty.”
“Hit me.”
His face fell. “What?”
“It won’t do to have someone suspect you’re helping me. Act like you’re upset because I didn’t eat. Hit me. Yell at me. Do whatever you want but make a scene!”
Edwin stared at her. His face looked like she had asked him to cut off his right hand. In another moment he drew back his hand and slapped her cheek hard. Her head snapped to the right, and she almost toppled over. He was yelling in some other strange language and gesturing wildly. Several men turned to see the abuse and snickered. Katherine held in her tears of pain as Edwin returned to his seat. His hands did not return to their former activity. They were too busy shaking.
Chapter Eight
Another day passed. Katherine trudged along beside the chief. He talked on and on about himself and his plan to conquer Adven. It was enough to give her a headache. When they finally stopped for the night, she collapsed and fell instantly asleep. Her next conscious thought was that of someone shaking her awake.
“Queen Katherine. Your Majesty. Please wake up! Please!”
She tried to concentrate on the speaker, but her eyes blurred from exhaustion. It was Edwin, looking nervously about and shaking her frantically. His eyes darted from side to side like a caged animal. His voice raised in pitch when he spoke again.
“Please, we must go now! I overheard the chief speaking to his second in command. He is angry that you won’t succumb to his power. They plan to kill your husband!”
To Love in Peace: 10th Anniversary Edition Page 5
