by Lisa Shea
“I was thinking I could keep you company up here,” murmured Kay, her shoulders dropping slightly. “I am worn out by the newcomers already and would appreciate a few hours of your peaceful isolation.”
Em shook her head in amusement. “Duty calls,” she reminded Kay. “It is time for you to start learning just what makes these men tick. Knowledge is power, after all!”
Kay sighed, but she stood. Em was right. The sooner she began sorting out the men, the sooner she could start deciding who to eliminate from the list. She gave her sister a fond pat on the shoulder, then moved over to the sturdy door. Pushing through, she nodded to the guard, then made her way down the spiral toward the great hall.
Anne was just heading up with the meal as she reached the hall, and Kay smiled at the blonde, then headed through the maze of tables. The servants and soldiers all waved in friendly greeting as she moved across the busy room. She gave an inward sigh of relief that any spoken greetings were of her nickname, “Kay.” While her sister might still be treated formally by the staff, she had been at the keep for so long, and gotten to know the inhabitants so well, that her familiar Kay nickname was the only name ever used for her. It would serve her well in the coming adventure.
Her throat tightened as she came up to the head table. The five men had already taken their seats along its length. Uther was sprawled in her father’s chair, his red hair shining in the torchlight. He was tugging on Jessica’s arm, pulling the brown-haired serving maid against him, whispering something into her ear.
Alistair was staring around him with wide eyes, his gaze going to the high ceilings above, across to the tapestries lining the walls, the trio of windows opening out over the bailey below. He took a cautious sniff of the mug of ale, then drank in a long draw of the brew, his face relaxing into a smile.
Jack looked up sharply as she approached, his eyes scouring her. “Should you not be with your mistress?” he snapped, his voice rich with condemnation. All five eyes went to meet hers with varying degrees of interest and curiosity.
Kay found herself blushing at the implied accusation of wrongdoing and bit her tongue to hold back on her initial feisty response. She carefully arranged her features into a quiet, dutiful look. “My mistress requested that I consume my dinner at your side. In that way I can answer any questions you might have and familiarize you with the keep and its environs.”
Galeron nodded in approval. “Of course my dear,” he agreed, running his hand idly through his dark curls. “I have countless questions to ask you.” He withdrew a small wood-framed wax tablet from a pouch at his side, as well as an iron stylus.
Reese pulled out the chair at his side. “Perhaps she could get some food into her first,” he suggested in a low murmur. She nodded her thanks, moving into the spot, sighing as she sat at the far end of her own table.
It was only for a few weeks. She could get through this.
A mug of ale was set down before her and she reached for it with weary relief.
“Let us say grace,” intoned Alistair in a monotone. Kay let the air out of her in a long, soundless sigh, but dropped her head, lacing her fingers together.
Alistair’s voice carried out over the hall. “Dear Lord, let us be thankful for our safe journey today and our arrival in this place of godliness. We seek every day to do our duty to You - to act with honor and courage. Let us always find the peaceful solution to problems and act within Your wishes. Amen.”
“Amen,” echoed Kay, picking up her tankard again, draining down half of it in a long draw. Then Anne was at her side, laying down a bowl of rich stew, and the scent was heavenly. She dug into it with enthusiasm, its warmth filling her; nourishing her.
“So, tell us about the keep,” instructed Galeron, placing his wax tablet carefully on the table before him, taking up his stylus. “Four floors with a round tower construction. Good defensive structure. The curtain wall can be walked along its entire circumference?”
“Yes,” agreed Kay between bites, watching as he wrote. Reese reached over to pass the basket of rolls, offering her one, and she took the warm bread with a smile, nodding her thanks. “The round tower was put in about eighty years ago; it is harder to undermine, and more easily able to deflect projectiles. We are on the central floor here.”
She tossed her head toward the spiral stairs at the front of the room. “Your rooms are down below, on the ground floor. Tomorrow morning you will see the top floor, when you have your meetings with my lady.”
She still found it hard to call her sister by her own full name, the unwieldy moniker of Keren-happuch her father had saddled her with. She and her sister had barely been able to talk when they had agreed to call each other simply by their initials, K and M.
“How many soldiers are in residence?” continued Galeron in a friendly tone, making notes.
“We have a constable, then four shifts of five men each for the walls,” listed Kay, taking a bite of her roll. “Three men to guard the solar and four shifts of four men to ride the roads.”
“You knew that rather easily,” offered Galeron, his eyes rising to meet hers.
She ate another mouthful of her bread, savoring the melting butter. “I like to know who is ensuring my safety,” she responded with a smile. “I make it my business to be aware of what goes on around me.”
He nodded. “So that makes … thirty nine men?”
Reese shook his head. “Forty,” he corrected in a low tone.
“Oh, right,” agreed Galeron, re-checking his notes. “With the constable, of course.”
Jack took a pull on his ale, his eyes cold. “That seems rather light for such an important outpost, does it not?”
The muscles in Kay’s jaw clenched. Patience, she reminded herself. She let a deliberate breath out, relaxing by force of will. She could do this. She gave the excuse, as her father had instructed. “As we are in harvest season, a portion of our men have been sent out to guard the villages while their crops are being gathered and brought to safe storehouses.”
Reese chuckled at her side. “I am sure the excess men’s departure was hastened by our impending arrival here,” he murmured under his breath.
She glanced over and caught the twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “Yes,” she admitted, a smile growing on her face. “That did have something to do with it.”
Alistair’s face wrinkled in confusion. “What? Did you think we would be so foolish as to launch an attack on someone, if we had troops at our disposal? We are peaceful men!” He began nervously fumbling with his mug, turning it in place.
Galeron glanced up from his writing. “No, Alistair,” he corrected with a lenient smile. “Kay means that we are already five powerful dogs battling for the lead of a pack. Lord Weston undoubtedly wanted us to have as few external challengers as possible. That way we would only have each other to crash up against.”
Uther gave out a merry shout, raising his tankard high. “Less competition for the wenches!” he triumphed, drawing Jessica down onto his lap as she passed, laughing as she pulled from his arms and scampered nervously back toward the stairs.
Kay looked down, taking in a spoonful of stew, then another, focusing on her food. It was only the first night. She would get used to them, used to their way of acting, and grow more tolerant of their questions.
Galeron’s voice needled into her thoughts. “So,” he prodded, “on to the beasts. Do you have any horses of note here?”
Kay’s resolve dissolved in an instant. She could not take any more. She was quite proud of her steeds, and to hear them flippantly dismissed as beasts … she swallowed one more spoonful of stew, grabbed another roll from the basket, then stood.
“I think I will retire for the evening, gentlemen. I will be out at the chapel at dawn, but I look forward to spending time with you and Keren-happuch starting at nine. Each of us will spend a half hour together.”
Jack’s eyes were sharp on hers. “Who goes first?” he snapped, his blond hair seeming to bristle in the fireli
ght.
Kay’s mouth folded into a wolfish grin. “I leave that to you five to work out,” she chuckled, her spirits lifting. “That should keep you busy for a while.”
She turned and strode to the far end of the room, her feet moving lightly down the spiral stairs. In a moment she was crossing the dark courtyard, reaching the curtain wall, and walking carefully up the stone steps which ran along the front left edge. A heartbeat or two later she was on top of the wall, leaning against the crenellated edging and taking in a long, deep breath of the fresh night air. A large moon hung glowing in the sky, sending a silvery light across the landscape. It illuminated the ring of occasional birch trees, the scattering of scrubs, and sent a glint off the small stone chapel high on the hills to the far left.
A few minutes drifted by in quiet calm, and her shoulders finally lost their tight tension. Footsteps came from along the wall, and in a moment Jevan was alongside her, his dark guard uniform nearly blending in with the shadows.
He leaned against the wall at her side. “There you are,” he greeted. He gazed down at her, his eyes sparkling with delight. “Had enough of the suitors?”
“You know it,” agreed Kay, looking at him with fond tenderness. She brushed a stray leaf from his short, blond hair, verging on silver in the moonlight. Jevan had practically raised her in this place, and seemed more a favored uncle than a guardsman to her. “It does not matter. I am just happy to be home again.”
He wrinkled his short nose, looking back out over the rolling hills with a steady eye. “We are happy to have you back, Kay, even with your rowdy entourage.”
Slow footsteps sounded on the stairs, and they both turned to look. Reese came up to the landing, then stopped in surprise as he saw the two standing along the wall.
“I am sorry,” he apologized in a low voice. “I did not mean to intrude.”
Jevan swept his arm in a welcoming gesture. “Not at all,” he offered. “We are always happy for another pair of eyes.”
Reese came up to the other side of Kay, leaning against the granite, looking out over the misty landscape. Kay could almost feel his muscles relax as he gazed out over the undulating grass.
He let out a breath. “I had not expected this,” he murmured, his eyes sweeping out toward the mountains in the far distance.
Kay turned her eyes to his in idle curiosity. “Expected what?”
Reese glanced up in surprise, flushing slightly. “The beauty,” he admitted after a moment. “My father led me to believe this a barren corner of the earth, a rocky promontory of grey bleakness.”
Kay nodded, turning to look back out at the quiet distance. “I am sure some would see that,” she agreed without censure. “There are some who would consider it a burden to be assigned for duty out here.”
Jevan’s eyes shone with enthusiasm. “Those we send back,” he chimed in. “We would not have any on our walls who did not share our passion for this keep.”
Kay smiled, nudging him. “There is a truth,” she vowed.
She continued to sweep the hills with her eyes, and suddenly she stiffened. At her side Jevan was instantly following her gaze, peering out into the blackness with a steady frown.
Reese leant forward. “What is it?” he whispered, his eyes searching the shadows.
After a long moment she relaxed, smiling. “A sign of good luck. A stag with a pair of does.”
Reese glanced at Jevan. “Do you see them?”
Jevan shook his head, continuing to gaze out into the mists. “If Kay says she sees them, then they are there. She has better night vision than anyone here. We are always glad to have her with us on the wall at night.”
Reese continued to stare out, and in a moment he tilted his head to one side. “Wait, I think I hear …” His turned his gaze toward the north, and nodded. “There they come,” he added, pointing.
Jevan followed his finger, and a broad smile came across his face. “Good luck indeed,” he congratulated. “Shall I get the bow?”
Kay put her hand on his arm. “Let them be,” she requested. “They bring us blessings, and we should let them pass in peace for the night.”
Jevan’s grin widened. “Jessica will let us have it when she hears we allowed a venison steak to wander past untouched.”
Reese’s face was carefully neutral. “I think Jessica has her hands full with Uther for the evening,” he observed.
Kay shook her head, her mood darkening. “Men,” she snapped in disgust.
Jevan nudged up against her with familiar playfulness. “Not all of us are like that, Kay,” he teased. “Do not lump us all in as one. You would hardly want to be considered ‘just a woman.’”
“That is for sure,” agreed Kay with a smile, shaking off her clouds. She gave Jevan a playful tweak on his short nose, then took one long last look across the darkened hills before turning. “I have an early rising ahead of me, so I am afraid I have to call it a night. Good watching, Jevan.” She turned to face Reese. “So, shall I see you first tomorrow after breakfast?”
A smile grew on his face. “I would not give away our decision,” he countered with a playful glint in his eye. “You shall find out soon enough.”
“O-ho,” she chuckled, nodding. “Well then, until the morning.”
He bowed low to her.
Her cheeks flushed with heat. Unfamiliar feelings coursed through her, and she turned away, moving lightly down the stairs.
She was just passing the small chapel when she heard a noise from within. She turned and pressed the wooden door open. The room was in shadows, with streams of silvery moonlight shimmering in through the windows.
A woman was sitting in the front pew.
Kay blushed. “I am so sorry, I did not mean to disturb you.”
The woman rose and turned. She was an indeterminate age, with smooth skin, long, dark hair, and eyes as deep as a wolf’s. She wore a simple but well-tailored dress of deep green. Her voice was the rolling of the ocean. “I have been waiting for you.”
Kay’s brow creased. “I am sorry, have we met before?”
The woman shook her head. “No. But I have heard much about you. I have traveled quite a distance to meet you here tonight.”
She held out a long, rectangular bundle in both hands.
Kay stepped forward in curiosity. It was wrapped in a forest green fabric, but there was something about that shape …
She took the item and peeled back the fabric, draping it over the pew.
It was a sword.
Not just any sword. It was finely balanced; it seemed almost an extension of her hand. The handle was wrapped with green leather and held in place by a bronze braid. The length sported a keen edge.
It was a thing of beauty.
She looked up at the woman. “Did my father send this to me? As a present, in thanks for my giving in to this arrangement?”
The woman shook her head, her eyes holding Kay’s. “No, Kay. You have earned this sword through your own actions. Through your loyalty and dedication to this land. You are now at a fork in your path. During these coming days, Andetnes here will stay steady by your side.”
Kay looked down at the sword again, murmuring its name. “Andetnes.”
The woman’s mouth quirked up into a smile. “Do not become too fond of Andetnes. When you have at last found contentment, there will be another whose fate balances on the point of a pin. You will know when it is right. And the sword will have a new mistress.”
Kay ran her hand along the blade’s length. “But how will I know –”
She looked up.
She was alone.
She turned around, but there was no trace of the woman or the green cloth. Only she and the sword remained.
Chapter 2
Kay galloped across the misty meadow, the freshness of the morning sun warming her face. The small stone chapel grew steadily closer. Soon she could make out Leland and Eli standing before it, waiting for her with welcoming smiles. Eli took her reins as she pulled in; the b
lond held her horse while she dismounted. She retrieved her wrapped bundle from behind the saddle, then waved as he led her steed off to the small lean-to which served as their stables.
Leland pushed open the small wooden door to the chapel. “So, Kay, you survived the first night,” he offered dryly.
His eyes moved down to the bundle. “What’s that?”
She drew off the fabric wrap without a word, holding the sword before her on both hands.
His eyes widened with surprise, and he reached forward to take it up. He swung it a few times, then shook his head, clearly impressed.
“I know your father felt guilty about subjecting you to this process, but he has truly gone above and beyond with this gift.”
Kay gave a small smile. “It’s not from him.”
He blinked, then his eyes brightened. “Ah, a bribe from one of the suitors? Perhaps one of them knows about your sword skills after all.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think it’s that, either. A woman gave it to me, last night, in the keep chapel. She said its name was Andetnes and that it would keep me safe. That I would know when it was time to pass it on to its new owner.”
Leland’s brow creased. “Andetnes. That means honor. Mercy.”
He looked more closely at the blade, and his breath caught. His voice became reverential. “Andetnes.”
He swung it again, and the sharp whistle it made seemed almost a song.
He looked to Kay. “I had heard legends about such a sword. Old stories, from long before our grandparents’ grandparents walked this land. Queen Boudica’s sword. And to think …”
He shook his head, presenting the sword back to Kay. “Whoever has brought this to you, the sword is the finest I have seen. It has been entrusted to your care. Tend to it well. I have a feeling it will do the same for you.”
Her fingers closed around the hilt, and it was as if it had been made for her.
Leland waved a hand toward the chapel. A smile came to his features. “Well, then, you have a fine, new sword. Let’s get you suited up for practice and see how you do with it.”
