The Baroness of Clawynd

by Morgan Henry

  As they entered the gate to the immediate grounds of the manor, Aenid stopped. “I think I’ll stay in the garden for a while,” she said softly to Merrin. She didn’t let go of his arm.

  He nodded, understanding that she likely wanted more solitude. “Do you wish me to stay with you?” he asked, looking down at their entwined arms.

  She blushed as she realized she was still holding onto him and let go. “No, thank you. It was kind of you to walk me back, Lord Merrin.”

  Something that looked like an odd mixture of regret and relief flashed across Merrin’s face, replaced immediately by his normal polite demeanor. “I will tell Tanis where you are then,” he said. “I’ll be busy this afternoon, but I trust you will take care of yourself, My Lady?”

  “I will, My Lord.”

  “Then I’ll leave you, dear Lady.” Merrin took her hands and kissed her palms again as he took his leave. Aenid watched him as he strode up to the house, admiring his fine form. Dressed in mourning dark green, he had his hair pulled back in a leather thong. She thought he looked quite attractive with his hair pulled away from his face.

  She sat on a bench in the formal garden. It was late summer and the flowers were lush and fragrant. Aenid knew that quiet moments like these would be fewer now that she was Baroness. There would always be some business to attend to—manor, demesne, holding, or healing.

  She had a great deal to think about. Uppermost in her mind was Merrin, even though she should be more concerned with her duties as Baroness. Unfortunately, Merrin was hard to ignore. Not only was she attracted to him, he seemed interested in her as well. His comfort and caring over the past few days was far more than what would be appropriate in a male acquaintance, even a close family friend. And he had called her “dear Lady” and kissed her palms, not the air over back of her hand. There were times when she wondered if he was holding back.

  Aenid sighed. She could go round and round in her head about Lord Merrin. Yes, she was attracted to him. Yes, he seemed attracted to her. But now was not the time and they both knew it. The only thing she could do was wait and see what, if anything, developed.

  Her mind drifted as she sat on the bench in the warm autumn sun. Her thoughts naturally went toward her father. She remembered when she had been studying with the Healer’s Guild, and had been away for several weeks. She had come home expecting to have a few days respite from the demanding training.

  “Good morning, my dear daughter,” Jero had greeted her cheerfully at breakfast.

  “Good morning, father,” she had returned with a smile.

  “We’ll be visiting the silver mine today, and there are a number of issues Tanis and Madame Proust wish to go over with you, I understand. There are also some interesting appointments at court that we should discuss and the quarterly figures for the holding are here for us to review,” the baron had informed her as he started on his eggs.

  “Oh, do you really need me? I was hoping to spend some time in the garden and maybe go for a ride this afternoon. The training at the guild is taxing and I was hoping for some rest these few days that I’m here.” Aenid remembered she had been surprised that her father had included her in his plans. She had also been daunted by the thoughts of deadly dull quarterly reviews and household discussion.

  Her father had put down his utensils and fixed his gaze on her. His brow had furrowed just slightly. “Aenid, you will be Baroness. This is your home and your responsibility. Do the people of Clawynd not deserve a leader that has their interests uppermost in their mind?”

  “You have their interests well in hand, Father. I won’t be Baroness for years. Must I spend these few days home buried in tedious details?” As she remembered their conversation, Aenid realized how she had whined.

  “I’m disappointed in you, Aenid,” was her father’s soft reply. “I thought you realized that this life you were born to came with great responsibility as the price for the wealth and privilege. You are old enough to decide for yourself. Do what you will.” He had stood and left the room without finishing his meal.

  Aenid still remembered the feeling of guilt that had stabbed through her chest at his words. He was right—she was privileged. She could have been the scullery maid, waking at dawn to start the fires so everyone else could wake to warmth and comfort. Or she could have been one of the miners, laboring all day in the dark for the metal that would make coin and jewelry for others as well as themselves.

  In the end, she had gone with her father. He had been pleased and they had had a wonderful day together. They rode to the mine in lovely weather, she had learned a great deal about the mines and smithy. She had found a discrepancy in the quarterly reports that her father had missed, and the household issues had been easier to resolve than she had been dreading.

  She found that taking care of her responsibilities had been rewarding, more so than lazing about the garden. She had to credit her father for encouraging but not forcing her decision to live up to her title.

  * * * *

  Micha had the horses saddled and waiting when Merrin made his way to the stables after lunch. They headed out to the ravine where Baron Jero had had his accident. The ride was not that lengthy when they rode directly there instead of chasing a stag ‘round the hills.

  The two men dismounted at the edge of the ravine, and Merrin made his way down while Micha held the horses. It was reasonably deep and the sides were somewhat steep. It was rugged enough that if a rider didn’t know the terrain well, he shouldn’t risk racing after a stag. Baron Jero knew the area well, extremely well according to the hunt master Merrin had consulted.

  So what had happened? Merrin extended his senses, drawing on kerfios and using it to augment his awareness. There was something… odd about two thirds of the way down the slope. He made his way over and found the large felled tree that Micha had spoke of. It lay over the tiny trail down the incline. The tree was not a recent fall. It appeared to have come down over a year prior and the marks down slope indicated it had been jumped many times. The baron would have known it was there, yet this is where he was thrown. Merrin laid the blossom he plucked in the field earlier on the tree.

  Merrin centered himself and murmured the words of the spell he needed. It illuminated the previous spell that had been cast on the fallen tree. Someone had placed an invisible wall extending above the tree. The horse would have attempted to clear the tree and slammed into the mage’s wall, throwing the baron. The horse had broken a leg, it was assumed on the tree, and had been put down. The baron’s head had hit a nearby rock and Merrin suspected kerfios had guided him directly onto it.

  So, the baron had been murdered and in a quite clever manner. Merrin assumed the duke of Dyfal to be suspect, that this was somehow an attempt to gain control of Clawynd. He knew Aenid had nothing to do with this. She loved her father and would never work against the crown. So, how did this benefit Bruson? Was he going to use Baron Jero’s death to get troops from Torquin into Dyfal? How? Aenid wouldn’t just allow them through her land. Did Bruson think once her father was gone, she would marry him, needing help to run her holding? Once he was “helping” her, Bruson could then slip troops through the border with Torquin. Merrin snorted. The duke didn’t know Aenid well if he thought she needed much help discharging her duties as Baroness.

  Perhaps the most immediate question was who cast the spell that murdered the baron? It would have needed a mid-level mage to cast the spell and remove it quickly. That cut out all but three of the hunting party. Turok, Robal and Deris were the only ones aside from Merrin himself who had the skills with kerfios to accomplish the foul deed. The nosy Robal needed to answer some questions.

  Merrin made his way back up to the top of the ravine and found Sir Turok with Micha.

  “What brings you out here, Turok?” he asked the young knight.

  “I needed to get out of the manor. I was getting restless doing nothing all day,” Turok answered.

  Merrin grunted. He could understand that feeling.

&n
bsp; “What brings you out here?” Turok asked.

  Merrin decided to be circumspect. He didn’t really question Turok’s loyalty, but years in the king’s service had made him cautious. “We just ended up here, and I decided to lay a tribute to the goddess at the site of the baron’s death,” he answered. Plausible and, since he had lain a blossom on the tree, true as well.

  “He was a good friend of yours,” Turok commented.

  “Yes, he was an excellent mentor to a headstrong young knight. Like most young men, I was in need of a steadying influence, and one that would keep me out of trouble when I was first out of the duchy and on my own. His guidance helped me on the path that took me to King’s Champion.” Merrin would be forever grateful to Jero for taking him under his wing.

  “So now you try to mentor the young knights at court.” It was more a statement from Turok than a question.

  Merrin mounted his horse and nodded to Micha to mount up as well. “It seems a fitting way to repay him.” They started back to the manor.

  The trio rode in silence for some distance.

  “What do you do with a knight that has made a grievous error in judgment?” Turok asked.

  “Try to help him see the error of his ways and repair the damage, if possible.” Merrin answered. “It’s rare for a knight to have strayed so far as to be beyond redemption.” He sighed. If Robal was in league with Dyfal and had killed Baron Jero, he might well be headed for the noose.

  “So, the group of you head back to court tomorrow?” Merrin asked Turok.

  “I think I might visit a friend before heading back to the king,” Turok answered.

  “A friend?”

  “A, ah, female friend.” Turok didn’t look Merrin in the eye.

  Merrin chuckled. At least the new knight was discreet. “Have a good time, but don’t dally too long,” he advised.

  Turok raised his eyebrows. “Anything I should know about?”

  “You never know what may happen, and if we can’t get in touch with you easily, that could cause you some trouble.” Merrin wanted the young man on the trip to Dyfal, but wasn’t about to tell him ahead of time. Besides, he didn’t know for sure when they would be leaving.

  As they arrived back at the manor, Merrin looked for Aenid in the gardens. He didn’t see her and hoped she wasn’t overtaxing herself again. The woman took her duties too seriously, working even if she wasn’t sleeping or eating properly. When she was his, he would make sure to help with the estate and make sure she took care of herself.

  Hmm, he thought, he seemed to be admitting to himself that he wanted to pursue her in earnest. Aenid certainly deserved a worthy man, one who would cherish her and work to help her with the management of the holding. One who would see to her safety. Merrin hoped he could convince her that he could be a worthy man, or that he would be as his duties allowed. He sighed. That was a major stumbling block.

  They handed off the horses to the grooms and Micha headed into the house. Merrin entered via one of the side doors, Turok trailing behind him, and caught the eye of one of the footmen.

  “Where is the baroness?” Merrin asked the young man politely.

  “I believe she is in her father’s—I mean, her study, Lord Merrin.” The young man blushed as he stumbled over his words.

  “It’s all right,” Merrin assured the footman. “Where is the study?”

  The footman directed him to the room and Merrin headed off. He heard Turok go upstairs as he knocked on the door. Merrin entered when bidden.

  The study was a stereotypically masculine room. Dark woods, deep burgundy carpet, and heavy furnishings were predominant. Trophy heads hung on the walls along with various spears and swords. Aenid sat behind the large desk in the corner. Two chairs were in front of it. She gestured to him to sit in one of them.

  “What’s so important that you have to be looking after it today, Baroness?” Merrin asked Aenid.

  “Probably nothing, My Lord, but I wanted to be sure.” She smiled at him, a little sadly. “I feel close to my father here, as if we’re still working together.”

  “I understand.” Merrin paused. “I’m afraid I have to leave tomorrow with the rest of the party.”

  Aenid looked a little disappointed. “I’m sorry to hear that. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish.”

  “Thank you, but something has come up. I’ll let Tanis know. You’ll be down for dinner this evening?”

  “Yes, I was planning on it. It will, of course, be quite simple. Hardly a fitting send-off for all of you.” Traditionally the evening meal after a burial was plain food, not generally what would pass for dining with guests at a noble house.

  “We hardly need a send off, My Lady,” Merrin reassured her. “I will see you then.” He stood and turned to leave, then walked back over to the desk.

  Aenid looked at him quizzically, then stood and came around from behind the desk.

  Merrin took her hands in his and inhaled deeply. She smelled so lovely and the scent of the garden was still on her. “My dear lady,” he began. “I would very much like to come back and see you again. This is a most inappropriate time to tell you, but I find myself very attracted to you. You are an intelligent, fair-minded, and beautiful woman that I want to become better acquainted with. Please forgive me for speaking now, but I would like you to consider allowing me to know you better.” There, he had laid his hopes in her hands and hoped she would consider him.

  Aenid too took a deep breath. “My father was a practical man. He would not want you to hold back from speaking because he was gone. In fact, I suspect he would be happy to know of your interest in me. I would welcome you back, whenever you choose to come. I know it’s not supposed to be the right time to begin, but the god doesn’t always make it easy in love or war.” She gave him another of her little smiles.

  Merrin pulled her toward him. He let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her, one around her waist and the other across her back and cradling her head in his large hand. She tilted her head up to him, her lovely green eyes seeming to look deep into his soul as her hands rested lightly on his chest. He leaned down, slowly, giving her time to escape if she chose. His lips contacted hers and he sighed at the soft sweetness. He sipped at her mouth gently as he savored the contact of her body against his. She responded to his kiss inexpertly. He smiled knowing that he was clearly one of a very few men to touch those lush lips. He gave a little nip to her lower lip and when she gasped, he forged his tongue inside her mouth. She tasted of the coffee that was on the desk, and of a richness that was all her own. He teased her tongue into entwining with his briefly, before withdrawing. Finally breaking the kiss, he lifted his head.

  “Thank you,” he whispered softly to her. He nuzzled the side of her face, inhaling her scent again. He could feel her lean into his touch and her hands clutched his tunic. They stayed that way for a few moments. Merrin released her reluctantly. He wanted to drag her upstairs to his room and show her how a man loved a woman to ecstasy. But it was not to be today.

  Aenid was breathing a bit heavier now. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out.

  Merrin bowed and went in search of Tanis, then Micha so they could pack up and leave in the morning.

  Chapter 5

  It was a week after her father’s funeral. The hunting party had left and the house was quiet. Aenid’s life had fallen into a new routine. She spent time at Healer Hall in the morning four days of the week, but instead of walking, she now rode. She didn’t have the time to loiter on the road anymore. The rest of her time was occupied with the business of managing the estate and holding. She had reports to read and various agents to hear from. She had to serve as arbiter of justice for disputes that local mayors couldn’t settle. She had taxes to collect and to ensure that enough soldiers for the king’s army were sent to fill the ranks. She had to be sure the foothills that were the border between Clawynd and Torquin were patrolled.

  There had been few visitors to the manor, a
nd Aenid was grateful for this. She was struggling a little, sorting out the best way for her to manage the holding without having to entertain. She had simple meals served in the small dining room. Hardly a challenge for her servants, but she saw little point in extravagant, multi-course meals in the large dining room for one person.

  She allowed herself a few hours in the afternoon off today, and was in the garden. The beautiful flowers and greenery always gave her some measure of peace. She had one of her favorite books of verse with her, but she was reading little of it. She was enjoying the sunshine, fresh breeze, and riot of colorful flowers around her too much to read.

  A footman appeared and bowed to her. “Baroness Clawynd, Tanis says to inform you that there is a large party approaching the manor. He believes from the standard that it is the duke of Dyfal.”

  Aenid stifled a heartfelt groan. “Thank you for telling me, Matin. I take it Madam Proust already has the maids readying rooms?”

  “Yes, My Lady. Cook has been informed as well and is working on a plan for dinner. The stables are also getting ready for the extra mounts. Is there anything else I can do for My Lady?”

  “No, thank you, Matin. As usual, Tanis and the rest of you have matters well in hand. I will freshen up and be down to greet our guests.” Aenid rose to head upstairs.

  “Setha should be waiting for you, My Lady.” Matin bowed again and followed her into the house.

  Aenid was in the front hall just in time to greet the duke and his retinue. Bruson had brought several knights and a number of servants with him. None of the knights had brought their ladies, however, which was unusual for what appeared to be a social visit. She settled the party in the library and had coffee and pastries served, giving the servants time to move the baggage to the rooms prepared for their guests.