On the way to the council room, he passed the west chamber. The door was open, and he saw Grainne, busily at work giving orders to a small band of women. Some pounded herbs, others tore fabric for bandages. On the chamber’s bed, the children rolled the strips into tight balls. “Lady Anna’s orders,” Grainne explained to him. “We’ll not ignore the injured and abandoned,” she added. “Even if they are from Nifolhad.”
As he turned away from the scene, Lark finally understood why he was so angry. Anna didn’t need him. She was strong enough to protect her people. She was strong enough to defend herself. And now, hearing Grainne give instructions, he discovered that Anna was even strong enough to overcome her bias and give aid to the wounded soldiers of Nifolhad. A very small part of his heart cautioned that he was being petty, but his pride silenced this quiet voice.
Chapter Fifty-Eight—Three Days and Three Nights
Three days had passed since the mordemurs had been destroyed. Prince Bowen and what able-bodied men remained with him had decamped immediately, leaving behind their wounded to die on the field. Three nights had passed since Anna’s last encounter with Lark. He’d volunteered to track down and capture Bowen.
It was Grainne, not Lark, who had told her. And her maid had heard it from Ailwen. Warin had volunteered to go as well. Two guards and a contingent of Godwin’s newly arrived men were to scour the realm of the Nifolhadajans.
Anna sought the quietude of the battlements, gazing out to the northwest. Word had come that Bowen’s ships had been able to land on the coast of Ragallach. He and his men had passed unimpeded through Stolweg’s western forests, all thanks to Roger, for the lookout points and strongholds had long been manned by soldiers loyal to his cause. These men decamped as soon as Bowen passed through their lines, leaving Lark and Warin to release the families that had been held captive there for years. And Prince Bowen? He was somewhere in the mountains that rose to the northwest, racing hell-bent to the safety of his ships.
Anna walked to the south-facing battlements. The stars were brilliant, and the waxing moon was just rising above the trees. The ground below, illuminated by the heavenly lanterns, was peaceful.
Three days had stretched into weeks, and Lord Baldric asked Anna to travel with him to Whitmarsh, then on to King’s Glen. Anna had yet to decide. But as she peered out into the night, just as she did each morning, she realized that she was searching for Lark. She made her decision: wait no more.
• • •
Lark and Warin flushed out small bands of Nifolhadajans, most of whom wanted to fight. The few who swore the oath to never return were stripped of their weapons and sent to the ships waiting on the coast. From there, they would sail for the Nifolhadian city of Sophiana, and be turned over to Lord Ranulf instead of to Diarmait.
Word came to Lark and Warin that Bowen had already set sail, vowing to return and avenge Roger’s death. The small contingent that Godwin had placed under Lark’s and Warin’s command would remain at Ragallach. With their mission deemed complete, Lark and Warin traveled south, to where Stolweg touched the sea.
Lark had worked hard to keep Anna from his mind. He kept himself so occupied that he managed to barely think of her. But then Warin would say or do something that would recall Lark’s attention to the void in his heart. He kicked Rabbit into a canter; Warin followed.
The sound of the two great destriers’ hooves as they pounded the hard-packed road reminded Lark of the day that he and Anna had raced to save Baldric. He caught himself smiling at the joy she’d found in riding Tullian. The feeling disappeared when he thought of her launch against Prince Bowen.
When they turned off the main road, taking a rutted trail that ran alongside a garden ripe with summer vegetables, Warin began a discourse on how Stolweg was lucky to have had the lands within the river’s girth. Lark merely grunted.
“Stolweg is a land of true wealth,” Warin prated on. “The horses, the fertile soil, the lake and surrounding forests. I could go on and on.”
“Please, don’t,” Lark retorted.
But Warin remained unchecked. “Its strategic importance to the realm must weigh heavily on King Godwin.”
“And what exactly does that mean, Warin?” Lark demanded.
“Just that Godwin will want someone he trusts at Stolweg. Oh, I’m sure Lady Aubrianne could manage the keep. And Godwin may consider letting her. But that was before Cellach decided to leave,” Warin explained. “Unless Lady Anna can convince the arms master to stay, the only thing for Godwin to do is to find someone he trusts to wed Lady Aubrianne.”
Lark gripped his reins until his knuckles turned white.
• • •
Behind Lark, Warin smiled. Baldric had encouraged him to proselytize Lady Anna at every turn, reminding Lark of her many charms. And Warin was only too happy to see his friend twisted in knots. But if he were honest with himself, he wished happiness for his friend. And Lady Anna was Lark’s best hope.
“Now, I wonder,” Warin mused aloud, “will Lord Herlewin be in the running? It would be a shame to see Lady Anna saddled with such an indelicate barrel of a man.”
Ahead of him, Lark stiffened and, without a word of farewell, wheeled Rabbit to the east. So much for the famous fish stew that was waiting at the Cod Monger Inn, Warin thought. With not quite as much haste, he turned to follow his friend.
Chapter Fifty-Nine—Anna and Claire
Over a month had passed since Lark left with Warin, and Anna wanted to be away from Stolweg, far from the memories that haunted her. So she’d accepted Baldric’s offer to travel to Whitmarsh. Claire was with Baldric’s wife, and Anna needed to be with family. Cellach had agreed to put off his departure until her return. Sarah would travel with her, for the girl was eager to be reunited with her brother Pieter.
Grainne was in a state of panic about which gowns to pack for the trip. When Anna told her that she would just wear what she had always worn, Grainne scowled. “Lady Anna, you cannot mean it. After Whitmarsh, you’ll be traveling to court. To see the King and Queen!”
Grainne was so upset by the notion that Anna ceded the responsibility of a proper wardrobe to her maid’s discretion. She had but one condition. “I will not ride sidesaddle, Grainne. In fact, I plan to ride the entire way next to Lord Baldric with dagger, sword, and bow.”
“Why not full armor as well!” Grainne declared, throwing her hands up in the air. She sighed. “Don’t worry, m’lady. I’ll pack an extra pair of breeches and a couple of your long overtunics.”
“And my armor?”
“Already packed, m’lady. You’ll want to be properly attired for a royal audience, won’t you?”
Anna nodded, then did the best thing she could do to help—she got out of Grainne’s way.
“What’s this, m’lady?” her friend asked, and stooped down to pick up a folded piece of parchment from under the worktable.
Anna took the tattered document, then read the contents. “It’s the answer to a mystery, Grainne. I need to find Baldric.” She knew exactly where to locate him.
With great reluctance, she walked to the north tower. The door was open, and she saw Baldric sitting at the desk in the chamber that had been Roger’s. He’d spent the last few weeks poring over the meticulously kept ledgers of Stolweg, Ragallach, and even a few from Chevring. He’d found no traces linking Roger and Nifolhad, not even personal correspondence.
Anna took a deep breath. This was the first time she’d entered this room since Roger had been killed. She stood in the doorway, finally understanding that it was just another place. She squared her shoulders and marched in, holding out the sheet to Baldric. “I believe this is what you’re hunting for.” She handed him the letter that Lady Ulicia had written to her unborn son.
Baldric unfolded the letter. “Have you read this?” he asked when he was a quarter of the way through. “This confirms that Roger was a true Prince of Nifolhad.” Anna nodded and waited while he finished that which she had already read.
…He
is but one year older than you. But I am jumping ahead of myself. To help you comprehend, I must take you back two years before you were born. To a day when I went fishing on the sea.
The sky was fair, and the breeze gentle, and we caught many fish. But we failed to notice that the wind had picked up and had pushed us farther west than we had reckoned. The sky to the east was churning with a great storm. It fell upon us within minutes, and our vessel capsized.
Somehow, we were able to grab hold of the overturned boat. The current took us west, to Nifolhad. We made our rough landing on their beachhead, our vessel destroyed and sinking. The Nifolhadajans were waiting for us, and they set upon our party. In the space of minutes, my five escorts, all true to Aurelia, were killed. I waited for the blow that would end my life as well.
A young man stepped forward. “Nay, Lady, you have my word that no harm will come to you. I am Prince Diarmait, and King Cedric is my brother.”
His voice was deep and full of sorrow for the men who had given their lives to protect me. His face was beautiful and fair. On his cheek he bore a mark, one that only made him more beautiful in my eyes. He led me away from the carnage, telling me that he regretted King Cedric’s insistence that we were marauders to be slain.
For my protection, Diarmait hid my existence from his brother. He courted me, and I fell in love. I am not ashamed that I gave him my maidenhead while unwed. It is testament to how sure I was that our love was true.
A month later, I found myself with child. When King Cedric discovered me, he ordered that I be returned to my family. Diarmait countered that they probably thought I had perished in the storm, and that the men who had accompanied me had been dealt with. Confused by what was being said, I chose that moment to reveal my condition.
“You have taken her maidenhead,” I remember the King saying. “God be thanked she is of noble birth, for you can marry her, at least. We will not allow one of our own blood to be bastardized.”
A strange look fell across Diarmait’s face. Had I not been so pleased at the outcome, I would have recognized the anger and jealousy. We were married the next day, and I lived happily in the great palace city of Kantahla while the babe inside my womb grew.
When your brother Bowen was born, our marriage changed. Diarmait forbade me to see our baby, not even to nurse him. I ached for my child. Diarmait’s absences from our bed grew, and I gave myself solace by sneaking into the nursery to hold our beautiful boy.
One such evening, I was alone with the babe, and Diarmait found me. He was drunk and dragged me to his chamber. It was the last time we shared a bed. The next morning, he took me to the beach. He told me I was to return home. Alone. I started running back the way we had come. Bowen was asleep in the nursery, and I would not leave him. Diarmait caught me and dragged me to a small boat. He must have knocked me senseless, for I came awake to the gentle lapping of the ocean. I waited for the sun to begin its descent to find my bearings back to Nifolhad. But it was not to be. A strong wind kicked up from the west, and the current sent me home to Ragallach.
I waited a month before telling my parents about my marriage to Prince Diarmait. My father refused to speak with me, so deep was his feeling of betrayal. To his great displeasure, I continued to wear the gem my love had given me on our wedding day. Red as a heart, the stone came to symbolize the blood I’d left behind.
My spirit was as broken as my heart. I grew weaker and sicker, staring out to the west where my child was growing without me.
Then I discovered that I was with child again, with you. I vowed to see you into this world. I only wish that I were stronger for you. I would have liked to see you grow.
Your grandparents know nothing of this letter. I asked the midwife to hold it for you, along with the ruby from your father, until you became old enough to understand.
You have a right to know that you have family elsewhere. Please do not be angry with your grandparents. I made them take an oath not to reveal your true parentage. Show them the jewel, and they will understand that it was I who broke faith.
Always remember, I love you, my little one.
Your mother,
Ulicia
Baldric had begun pacing as he finished the letter. He stopped and met Anna’s eyes. “Diarmait will renew his efforts against Aurelia,” he predicted. “We’ve killed one son and sent the other running. We must get this to the King at once.”
“I have a messenger saddling his horse now, m’lord.”
• • •
Anna arrived at Whitmarsh a week later. No sooner were they through the gate than Anna spied Claire. She raced to her sister, and they held each other, crying with happiness that they’d been reunited.
“Claire. Look at you. You’re as beautiful as ever.”
“And you, Anna. You are just as I pictured. I’ve dreamed for so long of seeing you again. Now that you’re here, I feel someone needs to pinch me to make sure I’m awake.”
Anna motioned to the small girl behind her. “Sarah!” Claire cried. “But how? We thought all were lost.”
“Seven children, Claire,” Anna explained. “My master-at-arms found them. I’ll tell you everything later but for now, let me see…Luke, Sarah, Adele, Robbie, Adam, Paul, and Hannah.”
Sarah tugged at Claire’s sleeve. “Miss Claire, where can I find Pieter?”
“What can I be thinking? Of course!” Claire exclaimed. Just then she saw Pieter come forward to greet his old friend Tullian. Claire tucked Sarah behind her skirts and called to him.
“I have a surprise for you.” She stepped aside to reveal Sarah. Pieter rushed forward and lifted Sarah from the ground, spinning in circles until everyone was dizzy with the watching.
After the hugging, laughing, and crying finally subsided, Anna turned to the woman who had accompanied her sister. “Lady Elnoura,” she acknowledged, curtsying as best she could. “Thank you for taking such good care of my family.”
“Lady Aubrianne,” she began.
“Anna. If it pleases you, Lady Elnoura.”
“It does. And you must call me Noura.” She was so gracious and lovely; Anna could not help but admire her.
“Come now. Claire will show you to your chamber. You must be tired from the journey. And if not, at the very least, the two of you need some private time together.”
Claire showed Anna to her room. The two sisters huddled together, sipping tea and sharing what they knew of the fate of Chevring. Baldric had been thorough in his letters to his wife. Except for the surviving children, Claire knew as much as Anna. Perhaps they would discover more when they traveled to King’s Glen in a few days. Anna wondered if Lark would be there.
It was during their journey to court that Lady Elnoura brought up that very subject. “I hope you’ll not be angry with Baldric, but he’s told me of your regard for Lark.”
Anna sighed, knowing it was inevitable that she would have to speak of him. “I don’t mind,” she said. “I’m finally settling my mind over the whole affair and—”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Anna, but you do not need to pretend to me that your heart isn’t breaking. I see it in your face every time I look at you.” Her voice was so soft and gentle that Anna could not refute her words. “I’ll not have you worried that others see it. You are quite accomplished at hiding your feelings. I suppose being married to Lord Roger made it an essential skill. But I want you to know, nothing is ever hopeless where love is concerned.”
“Lark made his choice, Noura,” Anna replied. “I can’t change who I am to suit his ideal.”
Elnoura smiled sweetly at her. “As time passes, you will both come to understand the truths in your deeds. If you can accept his point of view, and if Lark can accept yours, there is always hope. Neither of you should change for the other. Bend, yes. But not change.”
Chapter Sixty—To Court and Back
Riding next to his wife on their way to King’s Glen, Lord Baldric told Lady Elnoura about the King’s missive.
“We knew this
day would come, Baldric,” she said when he finished. “Godwin must secure Stolweg. Especially now that Chevring has been laid to waste, and Ragallach is unlorded.”
“I’d hoped that Lark would have returned by now, as Warin has. Doesn’t Lark know that Lady Anna will concede to whatever Godwin decrees?” Baldric asked. “She will marry for duty, you know, as she did before. Even if duty means marrying one she does not love.”
“There is still a little time, my dear,” Lady Elnoura promised.
“Noura, what have you done?”
“Nothing much. Just a simple letter to Queen Juliana to tell her of her nephew’s idiocy. Lark has always held a special spot in the Queen’s heart. And, she’s a bigger romantic than even you, my dear. I trust she will influence Godwin in regards to Lady Anna. In the meantime, Lark needs to find his own way, and in his own time.” She gazed at Anna and Claire riding just ahead.
“You know, Baldric,” Lady Elnoura continued, “I, too, hope that Lark will return in time. But if he decides to follow the path of his father, we need to make sure that Anna does not get saddled with one such as Roger.”
“Let us hope it never comes to that,” Baldric worried.
“Still, if it has to be,” Noura mused, “Warin and Anna would make a handsome pair. You said there was respect between them, and a growing friendship.”
• • •
When night fell, they found a secure place to rest. Soon, the tents were pitched, a light supper eaten, and in pairs, everyone retired for the night. Claire and Anna were sharing a tent, and were changing into more comfortable sleeping attire when Claire saw Anna’s scars and gasped. “Oh, Anna, what happened to you?”
Wild Lavender: The Aurelian Guard - Book One Page 31
