by Lisa Shea
There was a long moment of silence, and then Reese moved to stare out into the dark distance alongside her.
“And you stay down here in hopes of preventing her from seeing your bruises until after he leaves?”
Kay blushed, hoping the darkness hid the sign of her reaction. His astuteness continually surprised her. She had not met a man like him before.
“It would be better,” she murmured. “She need only know enough to make him go.”
There was silence for a moment. When Reese spoke, his voice was tight with concern. “Do you truly think even your lady’s silvered tongue can send Jack away in a contented frame of mind?”
Kay’s heart fell. If there ever was a challenge to Em’s talents, this would be it. She thought of putting on a brave front, but the weight of the day dragged heavily on her shoulders. She clasped her hands on the wall, sighing deeply. “I do not know,” she admitted.
Reese put his hand on top of hers, and resolve surged back through her, buoyed by the tenderness and strength of his grasp. “Whatever happens, I will be there.”
She closed her eyes, the richness of the words easing through her, wrapping her in their embrace.
“I know.”
Chapter 8
Galeron was talking, saying something, going through the list on his tablet, and Kay knew she should be focused, should be paying attention, but she just could not do it. All she could think of was the rage billowing from Jack’s face as he turned to launch his fist into the side of her head.
She forced it from her mind. She deliberately replaced the thought with the security, the tenderness in Reese’s hand as he held hers.
Her heart skipped a beat as thoughts chased each other pell-mell through her brain. Soon it would be down to two men. Soon, maybe in only a few days, she would have to reveal the truth to Reese, that she had been deceiving him this entire time.
Would he understand? Would he see it was simply part of the game?
And what of the man now sitting at her side? Galeron had been so helpful with his diligence and his note taking. She almost hated to see him go. Would he be willing to stay, perhaps as captain of the guard? Would he be upset with her as well?
Soon her sister would be gone, back to her husband, and raising a family. She would miss Em desperately. Everything was changing so quickly. She just wanted time to hold still, to give her a moment to breathe, to figure out what was going on -
“Kay?” asked Galeron with a hint of amusement. “Are you in there? I will be heading out now for my morning ride. Are you sure you do not want me to fetch you anything?”
Kay shook her head, coming back to the present. At least her head was no longer swimming with every movement. Galeron was standing, smiling down at her.
She ventured a half smile. “I apologize, it was a long night. I am quite set. Enjoy your ride; it looks to be a lovely day.”
Galeron chuckled. “Indeed, I would venture to say almost perfect.” He bowed again toward the curtain, then turned and headed out the door with a quick stride.
Em’s voice came through the curtain the moment the door closed behind him. “Are you sure you are all right, Kay? You are acting quite oddly.”
Kay stood and went to the window, making sure her hair fell well in front of her face as she did so. Em might be behind a thick curtain, but she was certainly capable of peering out when they were alone, and Kay did not want her sister getting upset in any way. The situation was almost done with. Jack simply needed to be talked to and then sent on his way. They had already dealt with two of the suitors smoothly. Number three was about to face his end.
“I am just finding it harder each time, that is all,” she offered to her sister, which was true. She had thought each suitor would be more and more alike as they got to the end, but to her surprise she was finding their level of malfeasance to be escalating. “With his issues of temper, we do not want him around our people. Lord Weston’s men will be waiting to take him into custody.”
“It is certainly shocking that he roughed up an innocent child,” agreed Em.
Kay winced. She hated misleading her sister, but the woman was pregnant after all. Kay would tell her the full details once the child was safely born and Em was back in the loving care of her husband.
She drew in a long breath, looking out over the courtyard, past the wall and trees to the ridge which ran above the poorly named Lover’s Lane. A row of covered wagons sat along the ridge, and she nodded in satisfaction. The castle workmen would get the wheels fixed up in no time, and the village harvest could go on without further problem.
There was a sharp rap at the door, and Kay started in surprise. It had begun. She had to trust in her sister’s eloquent skills to make this work out properly. Her hand dropped to the knife at her hip. Either that or she had to trust that the guard outside the door, and Reese’s ready blade, would keep the situation under control.
The door swung open before either woman could say anything. Jack stepped into the room. “Good morn,” he greeted crisply, dropping into his seat without further preamble. “I suppose you heard about my decisive actions yesterday.”
Em’s voice was cool. “I did indeed,” she offered. “You certainly know how to step up when something needs to be done. You see an issue, and you do what is required.”
“Your keep is already the better for it,” agreed Jack with a smile, leaning forward. “Anna and Jessica are far more efficient now that I have dealt with them.”
Kay winced, and immediately her head throbbed. So much for shielding her sister from some of Jack’s misdeeds. He was not making this any easier on himself.
Em’s voice developed an edge. “So … you ‘dealt’ with Anna and Jessica?”
Jack nodded in agreement, his face brightening with pride. “Certainly. It will be one of my main tasks, as ruler of this little keep, to make sure the servants are all in line. That they know their place.”
Brittleness layered itself into Em’s query. “And just what is their place?”
“Why, at our beck and call, of course,” stated Jack, a cold steel coming to his face. “It is what they are born and bred to do. They are the servants. We are the masters.”
“But surely,” responded Em, reforming her voice into a more even tone with effort Kay could clearly hear, “one role of a master is to take proper care of those he is responsible for.”
“Absolutely,” offered Jack, stretching his arms languorously above his head. “If we break one of their arms, we should make sure it mends reasonably well, so they can go back to work soon. Otherwise we have simply spoiled one of our own beasts.”
There was a choking noise from behind the curtain, and Kay had to stop herself from running forward to check on her sister. This was not going well at all.
Em’s voice was wound like a spring when it next came through the curtain. “Your precision and tight control would be well commended in the military,” she crisply pointed out.
Jack shrugged his shoulders. “In the military they have too many rules to follow, too many superiors questioning your tactics. Here I will make all the rules, and the minions will do as they are told. It is far more ideal for my talents.”
“Maybe the mercenaries then -”
Jack’s eyes sharpened. “What is all this talk of mercs and soldiers? I am the perfect candidate for this job, far better suited to get the locals in line than either that stylus-pushing fool Galeron or that idiot Reese, who seems not even interested in the keep’s head position any more. I say I am the best man here, by far!”
Kay roiled in confusion. “What do you mean, about Reese?”
Reese did not want to stay at Serenor? The thought sent a cold knife through her heart. It could not be true. Jack was simply making his case, in his upset state -
Em’s voice came smoothly on top of her thoughts, regaining control of the situation. “Jack, you have many admirable qualities, but I see that we will not be able to come to an agreement on this issue. I am afraid I am looking for some
thing different in a husband. Call it the vagaries of a woman’s choice.”
Jack rose to his feet in fury. “A woman’s choice? What foolish game is this to allow something as important as the control of this keep – and all its servants – to the whim of a woman! You clearly have no idea what you are doing!”
Em was complacent and firm. “Unfortunately, this is the way the game is played and was agreed on by you. My decision in this matter is final.”
Jack took a threatening step toward the curtain, and Em’s voice rolled out with perfect calm. “Of course, if you violate the terms of the game, then there will be no turning back; no chance of any relief.”
Jack’s hand balled into a fist, but he stopped in place. “Relief, you say. I will go talk to your father about this immediately,” he threatened. “I will tell him exactly what has gone on here, and how your delicate woman’s sensitivities have made a wildly wrong decision.”
Kay could almost hear the smile in her sister’s voice. “Yes, I agree with you completely, Jack. You should tell my father in great detail what has happened. I think it important he knows exactly what you have done here.”
“Do not think for a moment that I would hesitate!” shouted Jack in warning.
“I think you should do what you feel is right,” insisted Em. “If you feel my father should be told of all occurrences here, then you are the very best person to convey that information. That way you can make sure all information is told exactly as it happened, with no sugar coating.”
Jack’s eyes lit up in triumph. “I will make sure of that,” he vowed, squaring his shoulders. “I will make sure I get there before any messenger you might send, to ensure my version of the truth is the one he hears first. Then he will know the rightness of my taking control.”
“As you wish,” murmured Em, her tone accepting.
“I will be back soon,” promised Jack with heat. He gave one last scowling look at the curtain, then turned on his heel and strode from the room, flinging the door wide on his way out, his boots echoing loudly on the stairs as he descended.
Reese was at the door in an instant, looking between Kay and the curtain. “Are you both all right?” he asked, his voice tense.
Kay became lost in his gaze; her voice choked within her. Did Reese really have second thoughts about staying at Serenor? Had her beloved home failed to seduce him? Had she done something to upset him?
Em’s voice was rich with relief. “We are fine,” she answered. “He is going.”
“I will make sure of that,” vowed Reese with determination. He turned and in an instant he was racing down the stairs after Jack.
Kay made her way to the door, closing it firmly, leaning against it for a long moment. The emotions of the day spun within her, and she did not know what to think.
The curtains parted behind her, and Em came up to give her a hug from behind. “There, it is all over now,” her older sister soothed into her ear. “I know it was hard, but it is done with.” She gave Kay a gentle tug. “Come by the window. We will watch Jack leave together.”
Kay allowed herself to be drawn, and the two stood side by side staring down into the quiet courtyard. In a few minutes Jack strode from the main doors toward the stables, a bag slung over his shoulder. It was not long after that he was streaming out through the gates, heading at a gallop in the direction of the main castle.
There was another movement down in the courtyard. Reese had mounted as well, and he headed out in the same direction Jack had gone, moving at a steady canter.
Em patted Kay on the back reassuringly. “See, it is all fine now.” She moved over to the couch and picked up the scroll sitting on the nearby ledge. “Come, Kay, let me read to you for a while. We have the keep mostly to ourselves, and I think the passages will help clear the air of the feel of that man.”
Kay still felt as if she was in a daze, but she allowed herself to curl up at Em’s feet, to close her eyes, and to be lost for a while in another world.
Chapter 9
Kay sat in her room as the sun delicately painted the sky with autumn colors, brushing her hair out for the twentieth time. She knew she should head down to dinner, but the butterflies flitting through her stomach had taken hold and left her with a sense of nervousness. There were no more false contenders for her hand. She was now presented with two quite capable men, each with an important set of skills, each pleasant to be with, intelligent, capable. On her choice rested the fate of not only herself, but of all of the inhabitants of the castle.
She drew the brush slowly through her hair, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She had put on her embroidered green dress, one of her nicer ones. It was still suitable for a maid assigned to a woman of Keren-happuch’s rank, but it brought out the highlights of her eyes. She wanted to start to shine in her own right.
But was that fair? Should she choose the man who reacted the most to her presence, at the detriment to the care of the keep as a whole? What if she chose a partner for her heart, and the keep then fell during one of the raids by the MacDougals?
She closed her eyes. She must do the best for all involved. She must make a decision based on the most qualified man, overall, and she must do that objectively. No matter what consequences it might bring for her own happiness.
She put her brush down on the table, then turned and moved into the main room. Em was already sound asleep in the other room, the excitement of the day taking its toll on her. Kay was careful not to make any sound as she slipped through the outer door. She nodded at the guard in the hallway, then made her way down the spiral staircase.
The main hall seemed quiet although the usual contingent of guards and other castle folk were at the various tables throughout the room. The head table was almost empty now. She noted with a smile that neither Galeron nor Reese had taken her father’s central seat. Both had chosen to sit in the lower ranking chairs, near the fireplace. Both men were staring at her with interest, and she flushed as she saw the admiration in their gaze, as they looked her up and down.
The men stood as she approached them. Reese’s eyes trailed down her form, then back up to meet hers again. “You are a vision,” he finally offered, his voice soft.
“Indeed,” smiled Galeron, glancing between Reese and Kay. “My dear, why not sit there on Reese’s side. It is closer to the fire and will keep you warm. The fall crispness is in the air, I fear.”
Kay nodded shyly, moving to take the offered seat. In a moment Anne and Jessica were moving amongst them, setting out circles of veal and a bounty of turnips and onions.
“A toast,” offered Galeron, picking up his mug in his hand. “To new beginnings.”
Kay clinked her mug against his, then turned toward Reese. Again she felt her breath catch at the look in his eyes, at the steadiness of his hand, at the sureness of his body at her side.
She wrenched her gaze away with an effort. She had to be objective. She had to do what was right. She looked down to the ever present tablet which sat alongside Galeron’s plate.
“So, what research do you have for us today?” she asked, striving to keep her voice light.
Galeron tapped the wood frame with a proud smile. “I think my tallies are nearly complete,” he reported. “Every security issue to fix, every item of wealth to keep safe, every guard and his state of health. Would you care to hear?”
Kay ripped a piece of warm bread from her loaf, spreading a square of the fresh herb butter onto it, keeping her mind in focus. “Yes, certainly.”
She ate slowly while Galeron went through the problems with the main gate, the weakness of the bar on the doors, and the spiral stairs which were a challenge to deal with if an enemy got within. She knew she should feel encouraged that Galeron had been so thorough, but it made her depressed to hear Serenor’s beauty whittled down to broken windows and rusty hinges. Her beloved home had been sliced, diced, organized, and slotted into compartments. Her beautiful keep sounded more like an obsolete cottage, waiting to be torn down and
rebuilt.
She looked up and saw the enthusiasm in Galeron’s eyes. She sighed in acceptance. He truly was enjoying this task. She put on a smile and encouraged him to continue.
Even so, when they were done with dessert, she found herself rising, apologizing, and heading out to the curtain wall. She sat on the cool stone floor, her back to the outer wall, looking in toward the keep proper. The windows shone like jewels in the night; the people within seemed content, warm, and happy. It was more than a collection of stones, hinges, and bolts. It was her home - her beloved home.
There was a movement, and Reese was sitting beside her, giving her a gentle nudge. “Do not let him get to you,” he offered quietly. “He means to help in his own way.”
“All he can see is the flaws,” countered Kay in frustration. “He seeks out the problems and counts them with joy. Can he not see the beauty?”
She turned toward Reese and found he was staring at her with steady regard. She flushed, returning her gaze to the keep. “It is all I want,” she added, staring along its sturdy lines, looking up to the top floor where her sister slumbered peacefully. “Just this, nothing more.”
“And the hillside chapel too, I imagine,” added Reese with a chuckle, “where you go to sequester yourself every morning.”
Kay smiled. “Yes, I imagine so,” she agreed. “It is a special sanctuary for me.”
Reese was quiet for a moment. “I would like to ride out there with you, to see what it is that captivates you up there,” he commented in a low voice.
Kay’s heart caught. Reese had laughed, with the others, when they had talked of female swordfighters, all those days ago when the party was first riding to the keep. How would he feel when he saw how she spent her mornings?
Her heart raced. She was not ready for that yet; not ready to risk losing him.
“You can ride with me part way,” she finally agreed. “The views in the morning are quite spectacular and I would enjoy sharing them with you. But for now, my sanctuary hour must remain mine alone.”
