Wild Lavender: The Aurelian Guard - Book One

by Nicole Elizabeth Kelleher

  With Roger away, she could secretly enter his chamber with no person the wiser. She took a deep breath and walked to her destination. In her mind, she counted off the same number of steps that it took her to reach Roger’s chamber all those nights before. One, two, three, four… Soon, the lantern’s glow revealed the steps that would take her over the corridor and into the north chamber. She touched the stone on the back of his hearth. The wall was reassuringly cool, confirming his absence.

  Anna raised her light and located the release that would allow her entrance to the room that had been her private hell. Setting her lantern on the floor, not wanting its light to alert anyone who might be below Roger’s windows, she pulled the door open.

  Anna needn’t have worried about her lamp, as the window shutters were sealed, and thick drapes had been drawn over the large leaded glass window. Still, she was cautious when retrieving her lantern and thrice-shuttered the candle’s glow through the translucent horn panels. She stepped over to Roger’s massive desk, and then stared down at the neat piles of parchment and ledger books. With utmost care, she rolled back the documents one by one, keeping an anchoring fingertip on the bottom edge of the stack. She was halfway through the second pile when she saw one of Cellach’s drawings. But she had barely registered the notations regarding materials and measurements when her eye caught something much more dear.

  In a neat script, as familiar as her own, was her father’s writing. Pages and pages of it. She realized that what she was seeing were torn-out sheets from one of the many ledgers at Chevring. Notations concerning mares and their offspring and debts paid to Roger were meticulously entered. And on the last page, next to a payment of lumber, a pen different from her father’s appeared. The letters were long, deeply scrolled, and elegant: Roger’s hand. There was only one word and a number: Mordemur 10.

  She whispered the word, a person’s name perhaps. In the silence of the chamber, her hushed voice echoed in the corners of the cavernous room. She glanced down at the desk, checking to make sure she had left everything as she had found it. The hour was growing late, and not wanting to push her luck, Anna walked quickly to the secret passage.

  When she returned to her chamber, she thought about her discoveries and what they could mean. Why had her father parted with his ledger sheets? And who on earth was Mordemur? Had he anything to do with the lumber?

  Anna thought again of the silver thread on the tapestry that indicated an egress from the castle to the chapel. There had to be another secret passage, and she was determined to find it.

  Chapter Twenty-One—King’s Notice

  As the storms of March continued to roar, the horses became restless. Weeks of being kept to the paddocks and stable were taking their toll on man and beast alike. When the first sunny day appeared with its brilliant skies, Anna, Gilles, and Will took the herd straight to the southeast hills. They remained away from the keep for seven days and nights, before returning to find Roger gone already for six. When he didn’t return the next day, or the next after that, the group of conspirators decided to meet. They chose to rendezvous in the Chapel. Word was spread.

  Arrangements were made to keep the unwanted away, a detail left to Grainne and Doreen. Cellach eyed the group. Clearing his throat, he suggested, “Shall we commence?”

  “Not yet, Cellach,” Anna stated. “I’ve asked one other to join us.” The door opened. Every voice fell silent as Will entered, followed by Carrick. Many a curious eye went from the miller to Doreen and Gilles and back.

  Anna motioned for him to take a seat next to her. Carrick regarded everyone, daring them to challenge his presence. He saved Will’s parents for last. “Doreen, Gilles,” he started solemnly, “I am sorry for my daughter Maggie’s part in your family’s pain.”

  Doreen managed a smile. “My thanks for your words, Carrick. You are as welcome here as any of us.”

  At Anna’s nod, Cellach began. “I’ve been tracking the number of men coming through Stolweg, strangers all. Lord Roger has even made a point of speaking openly about them from time to time, claiming that they are wool merchants from Ragallach.”

  Carrick harrumphed. “Wool merchants, my arse. Pardon, m’lady,” he apologized after being elbowed by Grainne. “Ev’ry merchant I’ve met carries samples of his wares. Those crossing the mill’s causeway carry nothing but metal strapped to their belts, though they try to hide it.”

  “I’ve seen some of them. Soldiers,” Anna stated. “Cellach, do you know where they go after leaving here?”

  “Not for certain, m’lady,” he said. “I’ve followed their tracks as far south as the mountain pass into Chevring. Some have gone back in the direction of Ragallach, though they take the treacherous route to bypass Cathmara. And a few have gone west.”

  “And the men not bothering to disguise their trade?” Anna asked. “How many of these soldiers are still here at the keep?”

  “Nine, at least,” Gilles stated. “We’ve been seeing to their horses.”

  “More like fifteen,” Doreen corrected, “judging by the food I’ve been sending to the barracks. Not all soldiers ride, my dear.”

  “Double that number for the men he sends on regular patrols,” Anna said. “Cellach, Stolweg has how many strongholds along the coast? Four?” He nodded. “Are they all manned?”

  He nodded again. “Lord John, Lady Isabel’s father, awarded the strongholds to his most trusted men, all lesser nobles of Stolweg who fought valiantly during the Great War. Their families still live there—at least, they did when last I toured the strongholds with Lord Roger. Each has its servants, farmers, and tradesmen, as well as its own complement of soldiers.”

  “When was the last time you visited one of the strongholds?” she asked.

  “Three months before Lord Roger married you, m’lady,” he replied. “He has kept me tied to the area around the keep and has sent Gorman instead.”

  Anna was silent for a moment, half listening to the others share their opinions on the number of men her husband was moving into and through Stolweg. “It is only natural that he would want some of his men from Ragallach here,” she mused. “No one would think it odd. He could slowly replace all the men who were once loyal to Lord John, one by one, moving them to the remote strongholds.” She glanced up, surprised that every eye was on her. “Lord Roger has been doing this since before I came to Stolweg, hasn’t he?” Cellach nodded. “And how many men here—the soldiers, I mean—are from the old watch?”

  “Maybe five,” Cellach replied dismally.

  “It’ll be four tomorrow,” Gilles amended. “Old Tom’s son, Jorah, is leaving in the morning.”

  Anna turned to Cellach to speak but was interrupted by a chirp of warning. Will had been posted near the entrance to the chapel and had given the signal that meant there was movement near the barracks. “We’ve been here too long,” Doreen worried. Anna nodded, and the group dispersed.

  • • •

  Cellach waited until only he and Lady Aubrianne remained. His respect for her grew every time he met with her. “That was either the most dangerous stunt that you pulled with Carrick or the most brilliant. What made you think to include him?”

  She pondered his question before answering him. “Call it a hunch,” she said with a shrug. “What do you think, Cellach?”

  “I’ve wanted to include Carrick for the last year or so. I only hesitated out of deference to you, Lady Aubrianne. It was a good thing you did today. He is an honest man and can be counted on despite his foolish daughter. What did you say to him?”

  “Actually, he brought up the subject.” When Cellach raised his eyebrows in alarm, Lady Aubrianne continued, “Rest easy, Cellach. He started by telling me how he’d heard about Maggie’s involvement in Will’s flogging. He asked how he could approach Doreen and Gilles to express his sorrow over his daughter’s lack of judgment.”

  “And this led you to invite him into our circle?”

  “I admit it was part of it,” she answered. “Then he sha
red an interesting story with me.”

  Cellach listened as Lady Aubrianne related Carrick’s tale.

  “He rode east a few weeks ago, needing a part to repair a piece of machinery. The only person he trusted with the job was a blacksmith just within the borders of Whitmarsh. On the way, he saw the tracks of a single rider, tracks going east. He only noticed them because they seemed to appear from nowhere. The next day, he stopped at the Crossroads Inn rather than camping in the woods. He was spooked and wanted company.

  “While eating his supper—and these are Carrick’s exact words—‘A bear of a man entered the inn. He scanned the empty tables, then chose to sit with me. It was his eyes that gave me pause. Everything about his hulking figure reeked of violence. Everything except his eyes.’ Carrick told me that the innkeeper went to great lengths to please the man.”

  Cellach had been hoping to hear some news to this effect. “Did he tell you the man’s name?”

  “Yes,” his lady replied. “His name was Trian.”

  Cellach leaned back against the wall. A rare and thoughtful smile played on his lips, and his mistress inquired, “Do you know him, Cellach?”

  “No. But I’ve heard of him. He’s of the Royal Guard. What else did Carrick say?”

  “He said that this man, Trian, was interested in the goings-on at Stolweg and asked what news could be had. He also asked that his interest not be imparted to the wrong ears upon the miller’s return. Trian offered Carrick some coin for information, coin that Carrick refused.”

  Cellach’s elation plummeted.

  Lady Aubrianne continued, “Carrick said that he was taken by Trian’s forthrightness. And knowing the innkeeper was a good man and a sound judge of character, he offered information freely. Our wonderful miller told Trian all about dear Lord Roger, his frequent departures, his abuse of the people, the strangers coming and going at all hours from the keep. Bless Carrick, he even told this Trian that despite the spring, the days were still too dark at Stolweg.”

  “You realize what this means, m’lady?” Cellach said as he walked with her through the courtyard. “Not only has the King taken an interest in the activities here, he is now aware of our plight.”

  “Carrick said almost the same. It was right afterward that he asked me if he could do anything. Not ready to reveal our group, I asked him what he meant and he told me this: ‘There’s change in the wind; I can smell it. Trouble’s brewing, and I want to be on the right side when it comes. Like I told that man Trian, loyalty and trust come cheap if the right person asks. It’s only the wrong side that finds those qualities expensive.’ I told our miller that I would send word if I needed him. So today I sent Will to ask him to join us.”

  Lady Aubrianne paused outside the entrance to the keep. “Cellach,” she said quietly, “we must have more information if we are to protect ourselves. If Roger is acting against the good of the realm, we mustn’t be implicated. Do you trust Jorah enough to do reconnaissance for us?”

  Cellach nodded, seeing where his lady was going. “It could work,” he said. “Yes, yes, it could work.”

  “Excellent,” she stated. “I’ll leave you to it and bid you goodnight.”

  Before she could step through the door, Cellach added, “Thank you, m’lady. It is good to finally take action after all these years.”

  She agreed, but added, “This is only the beginning, Cellach.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two—Escape Route

  They had risked much in meeting together with Roger’s return imminent. Anna was pleased that her friends were preparing for the worst, but she wanted more than a plan based solely on defending herself. She needed something much more tangible: an escape route, one she could share with the others if necessary. So, while she and Grainne supped together, Anna asked her maid about the tapestries.

  “Lady Isabel loved these old tapestries. She told me they were a gift from the first lord of Stolweg to his wife. This has always been the lady’s chamber, you see. And the story depicted is true.”

  Grainne pointed to the second tapestry. “Yon lord came to her rescue, defeating the ruffians. It turned out that the lady was the youngest daughter of the King. He was so grateful to have his daughter safely returned that he awarded the lord with title and the lands that are now Stolweg. The King also gave the lord his daughter as wife. They fell in love while the keep was constructed.

  “I always liked to believe that the lady’s favorite flower was the rose,” Grainne added wistfully, “and that is why it is carved everywhere.”

  Anna smiled at Grainne’s romantic streak. “It may well have been her favorite flower, but I think its meaning goes much deeper.” Anna pointed to the four petals. “Each of the four petals represents one of the four corners of the castle. And the thorny vine gives three-sided protection, like the river flowing around us.”

  “I never noticed that, m’lady. Too much of the old history has faded,” she said with a sigh.

  “But you are right too, Grainne,” Anna added. “Without fail, the lady on the tapestries either is holding a rose or has the flower embroidered on her garments. She would’ve been a kindred spirit with my mother.”

  After Grainne departed, Anna slipped into her most serviceable breeches and tunic. She picked up her lantern and hurried to the tapestries for one last look. The purled corners, she knew, revealed the secret passage like a legend on a map. Perhaps there was more to learn, she thought, kneeling to study the details along the bottom edge for further clues. The lower right corner showed the outline of what had to be the west chamber. Stitched into the center of the rosette was a cross. Anna brushed the dust from the tapestry and held her flame closer. There, she thought, a gilded stitch that must certainly represent the chamber’s great window.

  Next, she went to the lower left corner’s design. Although there was no silver thread, the rosette offered one last clue: in its center, a table with three lines underneath. Perhaps the west chamber would reveal its meaning. Anna walked determinedly to her fireplace and pressed the special rosette that would open the passageway behind the tapestry.

  Before long, she silently entered the vacant west chamber, dimmed her light, and crossed the room to the window. If the silver thread on the tapestry in her chamber represented what she believed, she would find some sort of latch on the window seat below the mullioned glass of the great west-facing window.

  The moon, gibbous-waning, barely pierced the slit in the heavy drapes, so Anna moved her lantern closer and ran her hand over the ancient wood of the bench. Smoothed by years of use, its patina was rich and beautiful even in the dim light. The seat back featured the Stolweg rose, but something had once been carved in its center. All that remained now was the outline of a rectangle with two curved lines below it. Anna then studied the carved rosettes that ran under the lip of the seat, feeling for one that was different from the others. She found it, moments later, on the left side. Within its center, a flame had been carved. She pressed it.

  The banquette tipped forward to reveal another passageway. In the space below the seat were steps so steep she mistook them for ladder rungs. After pulling the seat closed above her, she climbed down cautiously and stood breathlessly on a narrow landing. Only by turning sideways was she able to move behind the staircase and descend a second set of steps, then a third.

  Her light revealed a tunnel with a ceiling supported by wooden beams so old they might have been made of stone. The air around her was stale and dry, without the slightest stirring.

  She peered ahead into the darkness but was unable to make out the end of the tunnel. A wood planking system had been laid down, smothering any noise of footfall as she moved forward. The only sound came from her heartbeat and her excited breath.

  Finally, Anna saw steps. After walking up the short flight, she found herself in a small alcove. Anna found the release latch and pressed. The outline of her egress silently emerged. She took a deep breath and pulled at the door.

  After her travels through the dry and
dusty underground corridor, the smell of beeswax and incense assaulted her senses. In front of her was an ornately carved panel. Seeing it from the reverse, it took Anna a moment to recognize that she was standing behind the wood backdrop for the devotional candles. The passage had delivered her into the chapel.

  Except for a few sputtering votives, the church was deserted. The moon was high now, and its beams streamed through the windows, illuminating the colored glass, infusing the air with soft jewel tones. It was beautiful, she thought, as if she’d stepped into a rainbow.

  Where would the next passageway lead her? The chapel was within the curtain wall and offered no chance of escape. Anna stared across the vaulted room. The sanctuary was simple in design, with a plain altar of veined marble resting upon two stone piers. Her gasp echoed through the space as she realized that the form was identical to the depiction on the tapestry in her chamber. Not a table, as she had guessed, but an altar. Mayhap the three lines represented the steps behind it.

  The pull of discovering a link to yet another tunnel was too great. There was one last clue to unravel: the rectangle with the two curved lines. She stepped quickly behind the altar, then allowed her fingers to do more work than her eyes. They better recognized the oft repeated carving of the rosette as she ran them over the cool stone. If the architects had hidden another tunnel, they would have placed its release as near to the opening as possible.

  The pattern under her fingertips was intricate. Carved in stone, the rosettes’ vines trailed and interlaced with one another. To the far right, one rosette was different.

  She scanned the expanse of the chapel one last time. Assured that she was still alone, she pushed the carved stone button. In the empty church, a barely audible snick sounded. Following the noise, Anna returned to the front of the altar and lowered herself to the main floor. And there it was, after two years, the secret that had been right in front of her each and every time she came to pray for succor.