Midnight Shadow

by Laurel O'Donnell

  “Lady Bria,” someone whispered as she neared the kitchens.

  Bria looked up to see Deb, her personal servant, motioning for her to come closer. Deb’s gaze darted left, then right, scanning the surroundings of the dark hallway. Bria moved to her and Deb quickly ushered her into the kitchen.

  “What is it, Deb?” Bria asked. “What’s wrong?”

  Deb grabbed her hand, leading her past a young boy fanning the cauldron flames with a bellows. They moved deeper into the kitchen until they were alone near the stacks of bagged vegetables piled shoulder high. Deb turned to Bria, her eyes filled with concern. “Is it true, m’lady?”

  “Is what true?”

  “Are you really going to marry Lord Knowles?”

  For a moment, Bria wondered how Deb could have known, but then quickly remembered she’d scolded Deb countless times for spreading gossip through the castle. “No, it’s not true. I will not marry him,” she told Deb.

  Deb breathed a sigh of relief. “The Lord be praised. You will be saved.”

  “Saved? From what?”

  Deb glanced around the kitchen, making certain no one else was within earshot. She turned back to Bria. “They say he killed his betrothed.”

  “What?” Bria gasped. Now it was her turn to glance around the kitchen. Knowles had been watching her all day, but it seemed for the moment she’d eluded him.

  “The poor girl loved him so much,” Deb said, more than bubbling at the prospect of repeating gossip. “But he didn’t care about lady Odella. Why, he didn’t even attempt to keep his mistress a secret, either. He was only marrying her because of her dowry.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me,” Bria said. Mistress, she thought. That doesn’t surprise me, either. “Go on. How did he kill her?”

  “Well, the poor girl was brokenhearted. She wanted to end their betrothal, and he just poisoned her. Killed her in his own bed. They buried her but a month ago, and here he is tryin’ to get your hand in marriage.” Deb shook her head.

  A scowl marred Bria’s forehead. She couldn’t picture Terran Knowles poisoning someone. He was a fighter, and poison had always been the coward’s way to kill someone. Bria looked at the servant girl for a long moment. She was a wealth of knowledge, knowledge she needed. “Are you still seeing that innkeeper?” she wondered.

  “Yes,” Deb replied, bowing her head somewhat shyly.

  Bria nodded. “He must hear all the gossip about Knowles.”

  Deb nodded. “Oh, yes, Scott does. Being that he works near the village just beyond Castle Knowles, he hears plenty, m’lady. Why, little Ben Johnson was nearly killed the other day when–” Deb stopped herself short. She curtsied to Bria. “My apologies, m’lady. I know how you don’t like me to gossip.”

  “It’s all right, Deb. I need to know as much as I can about my suitors and how they rule their lands, don’t I?”

  Deb burst into a wide smile. “Of course, m’lady. Of course you do.”

  “Now tell me about little Ben Johnson.”

  Deb nodded. “Two of Knowles’ tax collectors were riding through town when little Ben, he’s the alemaker’s son, ran out into the street after a toy. One of the horses spooked and reared, nearly throwing one of the tax collectors from his saddle. Little Ben went to apologize to the man and those ruffians beat the poor child! Just for scaring a horse!”

  Bria’s jaw tightened and her eyes narrowed slightly. “Is he all right?” she asked after a moment of controlling her anger.

  “Yes,” Deb answered. “Scared to death of the tax collectors now, if he wasn’t already. He’ll steer clear of them.”

  “Tell me what else you’ve heard,” Bria urged.

  Deb’s face all but glowed. There was nothing she liked more. But before she began, a boy raced through the kitchens, brushing past her skirt. He carried a handful of carrots. Bria recognized the dark hair and wiry body instantly. Her eyes widened, following the boy’s path through the kitchen. “Wasn’t that Garret’s squire?”

  Deb nodded her head.

  “Bradley!” Bria hollered.

  The boy skidded to a halt and returned to Bria’s side, an apologetic look on his face. “I didn’t step on your toes, did I, lady?”

  Bria shook her head. “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you return to Castle Dysen?”

  “Lord Knowles took me on as his squire, lady,” Bradley replied, looking shyly away, shifting from foot to foot.

  “You’re Knowles’ squire now?” Bria asked, amazed.

  “Aye, m’lady,” Bradley answered. “Please don’t be mad at me. When Sir Garret died, I just didn’t know what ta do. My father is poor an’ we have no coin ta –”

  “Did you approach Knowles?”

  “Oh no, lady!” Bradley exclaimed. “I was too afraid of ‘im. Lord Knowles came ta me.”

  Bria was dumbfounded. It didn’t make sense. When Bradley was lost and alone and unsure, Knowles had taken him under his wing -- but Knowles wasn’t that kind of man.

  Bradley took a step back toward the doors. “If’n you’ll excuse me.” He held up the handful of carrots. “I’m tryin’ ta make friends with Lord Knowles’ horse.”

  Bria could only stare at the boy as he turned and raced out of the kitchens.

  “Lord Knowles must have put some kind of spell over the boy,” Deb said.

  Bria scowled. It just didn’t make sense.

  ***

  Bria rubbed her eyes as she mounted the spiral stairway to her room. She feigned fatigue, but inside she felt a renewed vigor for the events to come. After Bradley had left, Deb had given her very valuable information she could use for weeks to come. She felt vibrant and anxious and even a little frightened at what the future held. She had a lot of work to do.

  She paused immediately at hearing footsteps behind her. She turned to see Terran stalking after her. Her heart began to race as he approached. “Good eve, Lord Knowles,” she called.

  “Good eve, Lady Bria,” he said with an ingratiating smile, a brilliant smile, a perfect smile.

  She shook her head mentally. What am I thinking? She looked again and saw a different smile as he moved toward her beneath the flickering light of the torches. The smile was wolfish, predatory. But something in it caused her pulse to quicken. “Why have you been following me all day?” she wondered.

  “I enjoy watching you,” he said.

  A thrill raced up her spine. “Thank you,” she replied, embarrassed at her self-consciousness. It wasn’t a compliment she had ever received.

  His smile grew wider and more genuine.

  It left her breathless. He was so handsome, more handsome than she’d ever known a man could be. Frightened by this newfound sensation, she backed to her bedroom door. “Well good night, Lord Knowles.”

  “Good night, Lady Bria,” he whispered.

  His voice sent waves of warmth through her body. Bria quickly entered her room and shut the door, hoping to seal out her feelings as well, but that was not to be.

  In the darkness of her room, giddiness and breathlessness swirled inside her. What was happening to her? What was this feeling? She had to remember that he was a cruel lord and treated his people badly. But why had he helped Bradley? And why was she feeling this warmth for Terran? She begged for it to stop, chastised herself for feeling anything for him.

  The strange, unwanted feelings remained to torment her, and she knew of only one way to rid herself of them.

  ***

  Terran had expected to be lectured about hounding her in her own castle. He hadn’t expected her large blue eyes to stare at him with such... surprise.

  Her silence had given him a chance to study her face -- her perfect little nose, her high cheekbones and full lips. Had she lingered a moment longer, he would have kissed her again, he was sure of it. As it was, his blood boiled in his veins at the mere memory of their kiss.

  Terran shook his head. Lust. He’d felt it before. Not this strongly, and certainly not for someone who wanted nothing to do with
him. Could that be part of her intrigue? Or was it simply her womanly body that called so strongly to him?

  He realized suddenly he was staring at her wooden door and turned away. He would begin his pursuit again in the morning. Perhaps he’d find her alone in the garden, or in a hallway.

  Terran entered his room and shut the door. He sat at his window in the dark for a long time thinking about his betrothal to Bria. What would have happened had he not initially rejected his betrothal to her for Odella? Would she still despise him?

  The sound of horses’ hooves echoed in the courtyard. He glanced down and saw a lone figure riding through the inner ward toward the outer ward of the castle. Familiar long brown hair waved behind her, uninhibited. Terran’s eyes narrowed as he leaned a little further out the window to watch her path.

  Where could she possibly be going this late at night?

  ***

  The next morning, little Ben Johnson’s mother stretched and yawned. Her first thought was for her son, Ben. The tax collectors had beaten him soundly for spooking their horses, leaving him with a bleeding nose, a fat lip, and bruises on his face. That had been two days ago, but she worried they’d return to exact more vengeance on her family.

  She hurried to the main room to check on him.

  Ben was already awake, sitting up in his straw bed, playing with something. His black hair bobbed and fell over his bright eyes.

  Ben’s mother relaxed and smiled, moving to her son. “Good morning, Ben,” she greeted, sitting beside the bed.

  Ben threw his arms around his mother’s neck and gave her a big hug. “Mother, Mother! Look at what I got!”

  Ben’s mother looked down at the small wooden horse her son was proudly displaying. She scowled slightly. “Where did you get that?”

  “The Midnight Shadow gave it to me,” little Ben replied, his face aglow. “He came last night and gave it to me. He said to stay away from the tax collectors.”

  Horror spread over Ben’s mother’s face and through her heart as she glanced around the room. She drew Ben closer to her heart as if to protect him. “Someone was here? In the house?”

  Ben nodded. “But he was nice, mother. At first I was afraid. But then he gave me this.” He hugged the wooden horse. “Oh…” Ben rummaged beneath his pillow for a moment and produced a small bag. “And he said to give this to you.”

  Wary, Ben’s mother took the small bag from her child. She pulled the drawstring and cautiously peered inside. Then she quickly turned the bag over and five gold coins spilled out into the palm of her hand.

  Her eyes widened at the sight. “Oh, thank you, Lord!” she exclaimed, hugging her son.

  “The Midnight Shadow is a good man, isn’t he?” Ben asked, innocently.

  “Yes, Ben,” his mother replied. “A very good man.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Who is this Midnight Shadow?” Terran demanded, slamming his fists on the wooden table, making the wood reverberate beneath his fury. He stood, rising to his full height to tower over Kenric. The two tax collectors standing behind Kenric shrank back. “How dare he steal my coin?”

  Terran’s voice echoed through the Great Hall, spearing from one side of the room to the other. A servant cleaning the wooden table paused to look up at him, but quickly bowed her head and continued her work.

  Kenric had arrived at Castle Delaney late in the day with word of Knowles’ new enemy. The Midnight Shadow had struck again in the night, robbing two tax collectors as they returned to Castle Knowles.

  “No man will steal from me,” Terran fumed. “This I vow. I will have this Midnight Shadow.”

  Kenric dismissed the two tax collectors with a wave of his hand. The two men practically raced for the double doors at the back of the room. “My lord,” Kenric whispered, leaning in to do so, “this cannot continue. We need to pay the men to defend Castle Knowles, and need I remind you we have only two months before we must pay the king?”

  “It will not continue,” Terran vowed. “I want him taken.”

  Kenric nodded, bowing. “As you wish.” As Terran sank back into his seat, Kenric joined him at the table, sitting opposite him. He was silent for a moment before asking, “How are things going with the marriage plans?”

  Terran’s eyes narrowed. “It would have been settled if you’d done what you promised. You said everything would be taken care of. Nothing was.”

  “It got you here,” Kenric muttered.

  “I would destroy any other man who lied to me so,” Terran growled.

  Kenric chuckled. “Then it’s lucky we’re family.”

  Terran glared at his cousin, then allowed himself a slight smile. Family, his mind repeated. And friend. Randolph had served him loyally for years. He would trust his cousin with his very life.

  Terran sat back in the chair, rubbing his hands over his face. How had everything gotten so out of control? Was it already a month since he’d been overjoyed at the prospect of marrying Odella? Her dowry would have saved his lands and castle. But now... he shook his head, staring at the rushes on the floor. Must his entire life be a battle?

  “I couldn’t let you pass up the opportunity to save your castle and lands,” Kenric said. “It was my duty to convince you to claim what is yours, by any means necessary.”

  “I don’t want a wife,” Terran said.

  “Don’t think of her as a wife, or even as a woman. Think of her as a key, a key to riches,” Kenric coaxed. “She won’t change your life. You can still have other women. You can still do as you please. You’d be marrying her for her lands and her dowry. She’d be your wife in name only.”

  Terran assented with a nod, even though he was lying now to himself. He could do nothing but think of Bria as a woman. He would make her his wife in all ways, and he knew it. Just the thought of kissing her sent desire searing through his veins.

  But she was the key, as Kenric said. She would save his lands, his castle, and maybe even himself. He sighed. “I suppose you’re right,” he agreed. He lifted his head to look at Kenric, only to see Bria standing slightly behind his friend. The sight of her clenched fists, her squared shoulders, her taut jaw, was enough to send any man running for cover. But what brought him to his feet was the sight of the glistening tears lining her large eyes.

  Kenric turned.

  Bria’s shining blue eyes never left Terran. “Don’t worry about my getting in the way of your other women. You can rest assured I wouldn’t marry you if there was a sword to my throat.” With that, she whirled and half stormed, half ran toward the double doors at the back of the room.

  “You certainly have a way with women,” Kenric mused.

  Terran sighed heavily. “I’m afraid Lady Bria will never marry me willingly.”

  Kenric’s black eyes glinted and a slow, sly smile spread over his lips. “Perhaps there is another way.”

  ***

  Bria sat on the hilltop, watching the knights practice their skills in the tilting field below. What difference should it matter how Terran treated her? He was the enemy, and he would never, ever be her husband. Then why had she felt so hurt and disappointed when she heard Terran and Kenric talking? Because they were speaking of her as if she were a possession.

  She reached down to pluck a stalk of grass. Knowles was having a very strange effect on her. Ever since his kiss, she’d wanted to feel his touch again. She found herself dwelling on the way he made her feel for hours at a time. How could a man who had such a knee-shaking effect on her be so evil? How could a man who’d been so kind to a boy be so cruel?

  A pair of boots came into her vision and she followed them up to see Kenric standing above her. Fear ignited inside her as quickly as dried rushes burst into flames at the touch of a lit torch. Bria pulled back slightly as Kenric loomed over her.

  “It’s good to see you again, Lady Bria.” His smile only added to her terror. She remembered too vividly how he’d coldly struck down the herbalist. And Mary...

  “What do you want?” she demande
d with as much courage as she could muster.

  A low chuckle issued from his throat. “So the little mouse has the roar of a tiger, eh?” He squatted down before her, his black, soulless eyes glaring into hers. “You weren’t quite so brave when you came to Castle Knowles. Why did you come?”

  Bria couldn’t look away from his evil eyes. He’d kill her if he knew she’d seen him kill the herbalist. She knew that from looking into his eyes. Her eyes narrowed slightly in defiance. “I came to speak with Lord Knowles.”

  Was that a ripple of suspicion in his eyes?

  I’m safe here, she told herself. He’s on my lands. Bria raised her chin slightly.

  Kenric’s hand shot forward and seized the blade of grass from her. “When you are Knowles’ wife, I’ll deal with you as I see fit. I’ll know what you know,” he whispered.

  He lifted his hand and Bria pulled away from him. Her head banged against the tree trunk.

  Kenric’s smile grew. He leaned closer to her, extending his hand to her face. He lightly ran the blade of grass over her cheek. “There will be no more secrets between us.” With a lascivious grin, he stood and towered over her for a long moment. Then he threw the blade of grass down and turned his back on her to walk down the small hill.

  Bria watched him go, her body trembling. She clenched her fists to still their shaking, but it was a long time before she could get her fear under control.

  ***

  The pond glimmered magically beneath the stars. Bria dismounted as she reached the clearing. She untied a bag from the horse’s saddle and moved to a group of bushes near where she’d tethered her horse the night Mary was murdered. She paused for a moment, staring at the broken branch, its ragged edge a reminder of her efforts to get away from Kenric that night.

  This place was full of memories. And promises. Coming here, she remembered her mission.