Windsong

by Allison Knight

  Instead, she picked it up and laid it against her cheek.

  “Nay,” Alwyn whispered. “I am not clean.”

  “I do not care. My brother will pay dearly for what he has done to you.”

  “Aye, he will.” Owain came closer and handed Milisent something that looked like a wine skin. “Now, give him a sip, nothing more, and then I will carry him.”

  “Why are you dressed so? And so fat?” Alwyn whispered, his throat painful with all the words he had said.

  “Here love, one sip of this.” She held the skin to his lips.

  He tried to swallow, and nearly choked. When he opened his eyes, he realized her face was wet with more tears. His Milisent was crying.

  “Do not,” he murmured.

  “Try another sip,” she coaxed. He did what she said and this time he could swallow with less trouble.

  “We are a party of ten, dressed as monks. Gilbert knows we have traveled with Garrett, who has two soldiers with him who are not in disguise. There are eight of your men with us. They were taken to the chapel to pray, but now they are just outside the walls in a camp. Owain and I are fat because we are padded. No one can recognize us. It was the only way Garrett allowed me to come. I had to make this trip for I know the secret passages and how to find this room.”

  Someday, Alwyn thought, his mind a bit clearer now, she would have to tell him how she knew about this place and if she knew about the priest who died here. At the moment, he did not get a chance for more thought. Owain picked him up as if he were a wee child and carried him toward the wall.

  He wanted to protest, but he had not the strength.

  ~ * ~

  Garrett tried to contain his anger as Chelse objected to yet another clause in the marriage contract. By now Milisent should have reached the room she claimed had been dug under the chapel. He could only pray she would find Alwyn alive. Although Rhianna had warned him what might happen to Milisent if there was no one there, he battled to ignore the frustration. Chelse could not know the concern with which Garrett was struggling.

  When one of Alwyn’s soldiers disguised as a monk interrupted the proceedings, he struggled to stay calm, afraid of what the man would say.

  He bowed and addressed Garrett. “My Lord,” he said and Garrett sagged with relief. The address the man used had been determined before they left Knockin. Calling him ‘my Lord’ meant Milisent had found Alwyn. If the room had been empty the address would have been ‘Lord Knockin’. The soldier’s next words however did cause concern. This was not part of the script.

  “‘Tis sorry I am to disturb you, but our superior has collapsed. The journey has been hard on him. We have need to get him to more adequate shelter.”

  Garrett frowned. Milisent was sending a message. Alwyn must be in bad shape. He grimaced; Chelse looked relieved.

  “I would know why these holy men are with you.” He frowned and the looked he sent the messenger was one of disgust. “I do have a healer if he needs care.” The last sounded as if that was the last thing the baron wanted.

  Garrett gave a tight smile, glad Chelse did not know him well enough to see his concern. He wondered if Chelse had resorted to torture of Alwyn. It would not surprise Garrett if he had.

  “Nay, they take care of their own. Edward will not be pleased if they do not reach the Abbey as he requested.”

  Chelse opened his mouth and closed it. It was clear he wanted more information. The last thing Garrett wanted was any suspicion to enter Chelse’s mind. He would offer the tale they had devised in case they had to explain the disguised soldiers.

  “Edward sent a request I accompany these monks from London to the Abbey north of Knockin. They are to serve the people in the north and have traveled from France. I must see them safely to their new home.” He stood and fought the need to rush to his camp. Rhianna would be devastated if Alwyn died after they rescued him.

  Chelse seemed satisfied. “Then we will need to continue our discussion at a later time. But you have said nothing about my sister. How is she?”

  “She awaits our return. I sent her to the convent to stay with the nuns until I completed Edward’s task. When I return to Knockin she will join me as we await word about her husband and the other men who traveled with him.” He started toward the doors leading from the hall.

  “All of this is such a shame.” Chelse was intent on following him. “I can not credit what could have happened to your brother by marriage. Someday...” His words faded away and had Garrett gritting his teeth. The villain would soon pay for the harm he had caused.

  “I must take my leave.” Garrett strode from the room. The two men with him had already reached the courtyard.

  ~ * ~

  Late that night, as darkness covered the land, Alwyn lay on the litter they had hastily constructed to carry him away from Fenton. His mind was clearer now, and the little bit of bread soaked in wine Milisent had fed him gave him some much-needed nourishment. He looked around at the group gathered before the fire. They were all dressed in their monk’s robes, with the exception of Garrett and six of his soldiers who acted as guards for the group.

  Milisent had said something about a group of ten monks. Before they left the tunnel leading from his prison they had dressed him in a robe also. He should have made eleven but there were still only ten. One man was missing. Had one of them deserted? Would they be captured and Milisent’s disguise be discovered? The thought brought chills to his body despite the weight of the heavy robe.

  She sat close to him.

  “Milisent, you said there were ten, so now there should be eleven. Were is the other man?” It still hurt to speak and his voice sounded husky to his ears.

  She smiled. “Aye, you are feeling better I see. You are correct. There were ten. There are still ten of us. They would have noticed if our number increased by just one so there could only be ten of us leaving the property. One of our men took your place in that room.”

  Alwyn groaned. “They planned to take me from that room and into a wood to be devoured by wild animals. Who has elected to suffer such a fate?”

  “Evan, because it was Sybil who originally talked to de Bain, but we can speak of that later.”

  He cursed. “I know about Sybil and her betrayal—”

  “Ah, but you do not know that she has made amends. She came to me and begged forgiveness, told us where you were, and what they planned for you. Then she agreed to help with our plan. So you must not think badly

  of her.”

  “I have so many questions. What of Evan? When he married, he no longer considered himself a soldier.”

  “Alwyn, you must rest. I will tell you more of it tomorrow. Garrett is concerned the longer we stay on Gilbert’s land the greater chance of discovery.”

  “Nay, we do not want to be discovered.” Garrett joined the conversation. “Fear not for Evan. He will be rescued day after tomorrow as will be the men who traveled with you. There is a large force close by ready to enter the castle at my signal. When we are far enough away from here, they will attack.”

  Alwyn sighed. “Then we should move on.”

  “Nay, we must not develop any suspicions. Early tomorrow we will leave here. By the end of the day, we should be far from here and on land owned by a friend of mine. Then our men will attack.”

  “The men who travel with me?” Alwyn was afraid they had suffered at Chelse’s hand. He could imagine the tortures they must have suffered.

  Garrett laughed. “Chelse was not a fool. He fed them well enough to keep them strong so they could work for him. All six have spent their days planning escape and building a wall for Milisent’s brother. Unfortunately, they were watched too closely to put plans into action. And they refused to do so without first finding you. They would not leave you behind, so they chose to stay until I came.”

  “Garrett, he needs to sleep. I would feed him a bit of broth your men made and then let him sleep.” Alwyn sighed as Milisent reached for his hand. As soon as they reached cam
p, she had bathed his face and hands, promising a better cleaning when they were away from the castle.

  “You are right, of course. Sleep well, my brother. You are safe now.”

  Alwyn closed his eyes and a tiny part of him wondered if all of this was a pain induced dream. Something warm touched his lips and he blinked. Milisent was offering him bread soaked in broth. He was too tired to take much. As he closed his eyes again, he felt her warm lips caressing his forehead. If this was a dream, he did not want to wake.

  Once during the night, the roar of a wild beast shook him from his sleep. But it was no animal roaring. Nay, it was the thunder announcing the coming of a storm. Wind blew through the trees and their small group huddled around the dying embers of a fire pit. Alwyn was reminded of the first trip he made from Fenton Castle, the journey that bore Milisent away from her brother.

  Tents were erected moments before a gentle rain became a deluge. Once his litter was borne into a tent, Garrett arrived.

  “‘Twas not in my plans. Cursed weather,” he muttered. He glanced at Milisent. “M’Lady, have you enough warmth?”

  “Aye, but I worry about Alwyn.”

  “‘Tis not a bad thing, this storm. It will keep Chelse’s men from coming closer to our group.”

  Just then lightning streaked across the sky, turning night into day; thunder roared, shaking the ground and the wind heaved against the tent, sending the fabric flapping with the force of the blow. Garrett ducked his head and left the tent, muttering about the rain. Alwyn almost laughed. His relationship with Milisent had begun in a storm, he took her to his bed in a storm, and now she was rescuing him in a storm. Would the weather do to their marriage what Chelse had tried to do?

  The wind ceased during the early morning hours. Just as dawn began to lighten the sky, they were on their way. They stopped often and it had to appear to an observer as if they huddled in prayer. He knew they stopped because of him for despite the men’s attempts to carry his litter without jarring him, he felt every step they took. He wanted to thank Garrett for his care but his brother by marriage was in the lead, guiding their band of travelers.

  Milisent stayed close and when they stopped she was there, offering water, bread, a sip of wine, and quiet words of encouragement. She must have sensed his pain, for her eyes watched him with much fear and more concern. He wanted to reassure her, but he had not the strength and what he did have, he needed to survive this journey.

  ~ * ~

  Milisent stayed close to the litter. She continually blinked for her constant tears kept her vision blurred. What Alwyn must have endured at the hands of her brother! It was sinful to want another to suffer but at the moment she would have liked to cause her brother a great deal of pain.

  She stumbled along with the others, the padding cumbersome and heavy. Soon, Garrett said, they would be at the home of a friend and she could tend Alwyn properly. Nor could she wait to rid herself of these woolen robes and don an ordinary gown.

  She glanced at the stark figure lying beneath the same woolen robes and thanked the heavens he had survived. He would live; he had to live, for she would be nothing more than an empty shell if his life were taken from him. Above all else she wanted to tell him how much she loved him and how sorry she was for what her brother had done to him.

  The day wore on. Alwyn grew weaker. When they had stopped for the nooning, Milisent went to Garrett. “We must stop. He can not survive if we continue.”

  “M’Lady, we cannot stop. We have only a short distance more to travel before we reach Harlow. Besides, some of your brother’s men are tracking us. Tell him he must stay with us for just a bit more.”

  She sighed and trotted back to the litter. She bent to the man who was almost unconscious and whispered, “Please, please do not die. We are almost there. In just a few more minutes. You can not give up yet. I will not

  let you.”

  There was almost a smile on his cracked lips and he whispered in return. “Nay, not yet. Fear not.” His eyes drifted closed and she grabbed his hand praying that by hanging on to him she could make certain his life did not ebb away.

  They traveled for another hour before Garrett drew their band together. “Harlow is just ahead. I am sending one of you ahead to prepare the baron for our arrival. He is there for his pennant flies above the bridge.” He glanced toward their rear. “None of you discard your robes until we are behind his walls. And no one is to say a word until I give the order.”

  Heads nodded and they marched forward. It was several minutes before Milisent glanced in the direction Garrett indicated. She nearly gasped out loud at the castle before them. White walls shimmered in the distance and twin towers rose at either end of a length of wall. Never had she dreamed that such as this existed so close to Fenton Castle. She wondered if Gilbert was acquainted with this baron who called such a magnificent structure home. For an instant she wondered if this Baron had more in common with Garrett or with her brother? What kind of a noble was this man? Had her brother invited the man to visit Fenton Castle?

  The portcullis drew open and they marched over the drawbridge. Inside the bailey, their group was met by an older man and woman. Garrett was greeted with affection by the man. Milisent relaxed and glanced at the two of them standing off to one side, their heads bent, before Garrett indicated the litter that carried Alwyn. Nay, if this was the baron, he was nothing like Chelse.

  She glanced down at her husband. His eyes were still closed and she prayed they had arrived in time.

  All the robed men stood at attention except Owain, who moved back and forth pulling at his robe and the padding beneath. Although he was not a tall man, he was large and Milisent imagined he was hot and tired as well. He had carried Alwyn through the passage that eventually led outside the walls of Fenton Castle, then helped build the liter that bore Alwyn.

  Finally, when she was certain Owain would throw off his robe, Garrett approached.

  “We are welcomed. The baron is arranging for a room for our sick companion and his wife has summoned their healer. You may all remove your robes now.” He glanced at Owain and grinned.

  In a much softer voice he continued, “I would caution you to say nothing of where you have been or why. I trust the baron, but I do not know his people and we do not want Chelse here threatening a battle. At least not yet,” he added.

  Weak with relief, Milisent followed the litter into the castle. With a room for Alwyn and their healer’s presence, he should recover enough to journey to Knockin. Once they were safe from her brother she could tell the man she had chosen as husband how much she had learned to love him. And pray he did not hold her responsible for the pain he had suffered at Gilbert’s hands.

  SEVENTEEN

  Late the next day a messenger arrived. He said that soon after Garrett left Fenton Castle, Chelse departed, accompanied by a contingent of soldiers. With the lord of the castle gone and the number of soldiers reduced, Garrett’s men entered through the secret passages Milisent had described to them, released Evan and the men who originally traveled with Alwyn.

  In the skirmish that followed, one of Garrett’s men received a minor injury. None of Chelse’s men were killed although several were wounded.

  “Chelse and his men are cowards,” Garrett’s man reported when the men arrived at Harlow two days later.

  “One of the wounded was named captain of the guard. After I questioned him, he admitted he and another man remained behind at Fenton to take Chelse’s prisoner to the forest south of Fenton land.”

  Garrett’s man grinned. “With some encouragement he admitted Chelse did not want himself connected to this man’s death. Then he slumped forward, complaining about his wound. Cowards, all of them.”

  With all the men safely at Harlow, Alwyn asked to see Evan. Milisent explained what Sybil had done to help them, Alwyn agreed to forgive the man for his wife’s original betrayal. Word was sent to Rhianna that Alwyn had been rescued and all would be well.

  Milisent insisted Garr
ett and the baron of Harlow hear what Alwyn had overheard while he was held at Fenton Castle.

  “Edward will not continence such action,” Garrett said. Both men agreed Edward would seek punishment and of course Rome would also demand the murder of one of its priests be vindicated.

  Once the tale had been told, Alwyn insisted Milisent explain why he heard the conversations of Chelse and de Bain when he was in the ground.

  She grinned, for Gilbert had always been too busy with his own affairs to listen to the history of the castle.

  “It seems our grandfather’s father did not trust his King. Henry had mercenaries who stole and pillaged, demanding moneys from those wealthy enough to pay, and there was wealth here. My ancestor had the passages and the room constructed to protect my father’s mother. She, my

  father, and her other child hid there when those seeking harm would come.”

  “But why was it I could hear so well in that room?”

  “Somehow the sounds above could be heard in that space. Twice, I understand my father’s mother hid in the room with my father and another child who died before it reached its majority.”

  She grinned. “My father said both he and his father before him were much in love with their wives.”

  “How did you learn of those passages?”

  “I had been fostered until the year before father died, but when I returned to Fenton he instructed me in our history, And it was good that he did. When Gilbert brought some of his guests home, I had a need to find a way to escape them.”

  “You hid from Gilbert’s guests?”

  “Sometimes, aye. He did not entertain the most worthy of friends.” She shuddered and Alwyn was too distressed by the knowledge to question her more.

  On the afternoon before they planned to leave Harlow, Milisent and Alwyn met with Garrett.

  “Know you Chelse will not give up without a fight. By this time he knows we have rescued you and the men who traveled with you,” he said to Alwyn. “He is likely planning a siege of Knockin. De Bain will be there as well. Although when I think on it the man is a coward and he may insist Chelse take all the risk.”