by Sherry Ewing
Most of these small items, they had felt, would not be missed. They really hadn’t taken all that much, or so they had reasoned. The only cause for alarm had been when Brianna had returned with a lute in her hands. Her eyes had looked radiant as she had caressed the strings of the instrument so lovingly. They had tried to protest that such an object would certainly be searched for, but she had refused to listen. It had been added to their stash of supplies.
While scouting the castle as secretly as possible, they had actually been surprised to see what Bamburgh looked like in this time period. When they had finally made their way outside, their mouths had opened silently in amazement. They had come out of the keep at ground level to find most of the remaining buildings that would one day make up modern Bamburgh hadn’t as yet been built. Other buildings one would have expected to see in a castle were there, including the battlement walls that rose high above their heads, but most of what they were used to viewing in their own time wasn’t even in the process of being built, or even started, for that matter.
Urging her friends onward, Katherine had found a hole in the outer wall big enough to fit through in the event they needed such a portal. Poking her head out to inspect where it led, she had been astonished to see trees relatively close to the castle wall. They had hidden their sack of borrowed booty outside of the hole, in the event they needed to grab it quickly. It was always a good plan to have an escape route and this one would be perfect since they would only have a short distance to run to the safety of the trees. Before returning to their refuge in the storage cellar, Katherine had spied hay bales nearby in the castle yard, and together the four women had managed to push one up against the hole, concealing its location.
Katherine handed an apple to each woman as she woke them. Brianna looked none too pleased to see that breakfast would be the same as her dinner, but she still began to munch on the juicy fruit. Gathering their cloaks around them and pulling up their hoods, they went to the door to head above and see if they could locate Riorden.
They hadn’t gone far when Katherine noticed Emily was not with them. “Emily?” she called out softly. Now where the devil had she gone?
* * *
Emily could hear Katie softly call out to her. She hadn’t a clue what was drawing her down the darkened passageway, but she had to find out what felt so intriguing. She heard her friends’ footsteps as they easily caught up with her, but she only motioned them to follow her.
They walked slowly and cautiously down the damp corridor while Emily continued leading the way, her curiosity giving way to whatever had piqued her interest. She traced the wall with her hand, not even cringing, despite her revulsion to germs. A light illuminated a room just ahead, and it was clear this was her destination.
“Emily, be careful,” Katherine whispered harshly.
“Shh,” Emily replied, not looking back.
Emily peered around the corner into the room, where a man slouched on the ground. His hands were bound above him to the wall. A plaid tartan sash lay across one shoulder, but was tattered and as filthy as he was. The loose strands of his reddish-brown hair fell over his dirty face. His eyes were closed. Emily walked to him slowly, but the faint sounds of her footsteps drew his attention as she got nearer. When he glanced up at her, she met his soft brown eyes and was lost.
A cup of water sat out of his reach, as if to remind him he was at someone’s mercy to beg for a taste of what the cup offered. She knelt down beside him and pressed it to his lips for him to drink. He gulped the liquid as if it had been some time since his thirst had been satisfied.
She noticed there was only a small amount left, so she tore off a piece of her cloak and dipped the scratchy wool into the water. She shifted over to him and tried to move the loose strands of his hair. He moved back quickly, refusing her help. His well-built arms flexed, showing off his strong muscular form.
“Be careful, Emily,” Juliana said, but Emily ignored her warning.
“I won’t hurt you,” Emily said to him.
“Why are ye helping me?” he croaked in a deep voice. She caught the Irish brogue and looked him in the eye.
“It’s just a friendly gesture,” she said.
His eyebrows drew together. “I dinnae recognize yer accent,” he said gruffly.
“That’s not important. May I, please?” she whispered as she held out the wet cloth. He looked down at it, back at her, and then to the women standing in the doorway. He nodded skeptically. Moving closer, she wiped the grime from his face. She took her ever present bottle of sanitizer out of her bag and put a dab on her finger. “This will hurt a mite,” she said. As she put the gel on a cut above his eye, she heard him hiss from the sting.
“What’s yer name?” he asked, as she continued her work on his face. His gaze focused on her smile.
“That’s not important, either,” she said softly.
“How can I thank ye, if I dinnae know yer name?” Their eyes met.
“It’s Emily,” she said breathlessly.
“Your name is beautiful,” he gave her a handsome smile, “like ye are.”
Emily blushed. “Thank you.” She set the cloth down on the ground. “And yours?”
“Tiernan,” he said simply, trying to catch her eye. “And, yer friends?”
Emily turned to her friends. The three women seemed to have tensed at his question. “Huh? Oh yeah. These are my friends, Katherine, Brianna, and Juliana,” she pointed at each, and each, in turn, gave a small wave.
“Ladies,” he nodded in greeting.
“Why are you here?” Juliana asked.
“’Tis not obvious to ye?” he stated as a matter-of-fact. Juliana shook her head, and he continued. “The English dinnae care fer Irishmen. I was captured and left here.”
“Can we untie you?” Emily questioned hopefully.
“Not lest ye want to be imprisoned with me,” he chuckled.
“We could help you escape,” Emily suggested, showing her bravery.
“Emily? Are you crazy?” Katherine snapped.
“No, I just don’t want to see him stuck here. The ropes are digging into his wrists.”
“Not the worst thing, I assure ye.” He smiled at her again, causing her heart to skip.
“We know where there’s a hole in the bailey wall. We can sneak you out through there,” Emily said excitedly.
“Emily, are you trying to get us killed?” Brianna said, trying to knock some sense into her friend. Emily looked back at Tiernan, who was watching them with amused attention.
“I don’t want to leave him here,” she said so softly that she knew her friends would barely hear her words. With a look of serious concentration, she began trying to untie the knots binding his hands. After several minutes, she realized it was an impossible task, and she gave up. Tiernan chuckled at her.
“That didn’t work.” Katherine said with a sigh.
“No, they’re just too tight.”
“I applaud ye for trying, Lady Emily,” he declared honestly.
Voices down the hallway echoed up to them, and they all looked toward the door in a panic.
“Ye must leave,” he pleaded, his gaze hurriedly sweeping over her as if he was memorizing her face.
“I−I don’t want anything to happen to you,” she whispered to him.
“I’ll be alright,” he said with a grin, “I have a plan.”
“Emily, let’s go,” Katherine said sharply as she pulled Emily’s arm and helped her up. They dragged her away quickly. She took one final glance at him before she was pulled back down the tunnel. They began making their way above, listening intently for any who may have been following them.
“Are you insane?” Brianna scolded Emily harshly, as they hastened down the hallway.
“He was so handsome,” Emily smiled widely, as if in a daydream.
“Oh no...” Juliana said, looking over at Katherine, who rolled her eyes.
“You, dear, are nuts,” Katherine said stunned. “He’s obvio
usly an outlaw, Em.”
“What were you thinking, attempting to break him free? You, of all people and your love of history, should know the times and that the Irish are not favored here,” Brianna retorted.
“I like him,” Emily said slowly.
“Well, forget him. He’s a prisoner.” Katherine stated sternly.
Sunlight brightened the day as they exited the keep and Emily looked cautiously around the inner bailey to ensure they wouldn’t be seen. Seeing that the way was clear, she leaned against the keep’s stone wall in a daze.
“You’re a crazy little girl with a crush on a man you just met. What are you thinking, Emily? He was tied to a wall, for God’s sake,” Juliana said, giving her a shake.
“Leave her be. She’s always had a thing for redheads,” Brianna laughed, winking back at Emily.
“Well, be that as it may, you probably won’t even see him again.” Katherine said.
Quick footsteps echoed in the tower where they had just come from, and they turned toward the opening.
“Tiernan?” Emily yelled excitedly. “How?”
“I told ye, I had a plan.” He winked and flashed his smile.
“How did you escape?” Brianna asked with acute curiosity.
“’Twas only one guard,” he shrugged and clapped his hands together. “Now, where’s that hole ye spoke of?”
Emily laughed brightly. “This way,” she said, leading the way, yet again.
They walked with caution to remain unseen through the baily and began shadowing the wall. Tiernan followed Emily closely with everyone else bringing up the rear. A shout high above them sounded the changing of the guard causing Emily to hold her breath fearing discovery. When no further alarm sounded, they again began to move until they came to the hay bale. The women began to push at it until Tiernan took over to move it out of the way. Emily got down on her knees and reached out to feel the sack still concealed outside the wall. Wary of being seen, Tiernan looked around. Satisfied they were still undetected, he turned back to Emily. With a smile of satisfaction, she stood.
“You should be able to leave from here,” Emily declared. “You’ll be careful, won’t you?”
“Of course, my lady,” he said and took her hand, placing a soft kiss on its back. “I am in your debt.”
Emily couldn’t take her eyes from his and was sure hers were hazing over with affection for a man she hardly knew. With a final smile, he dropped to the ground, fit his way through the gap and was gone. She gave a weary sigh, knowing that with his leaving, he took a piece of her heart with him. She would never be the same again.
Chapter 11
Riorden had just risen to his hands and knees when he heard rapid footsteps entering the chapel. Aiden and Patrick came rushing to his side and grabbed him underneath his arms to assist him upright. He nodded his thanks as he felt the blood rush into his outer limbs after a night time of offering his devout prayers. He had no doubt they had been heard, and Katherine was now at peace. He had done his duty by her, so why did he feel so empty inside?
“You were here all night, Riorden?” Aiden asked in a hushed tone of reverence.
“Aye.” He swayed, and they made a grab for him again. He held up his hand and turned, giving one last bow of respect towards the altar. Once more steady on his feet, now that he had feeling in them again, he began to make his way towards the Great Hall to break his fast. Knights running in every direction added to the normal hectic morning activities of the serfs as they prepared for the king’s arrival.
“What is amiss?” Riorden demanded, becoming more aggravated at the disorder that surrounded him.
“’Tis why we were in search for you,” Aiden answered. “The prisoner has escaped. The guard had left his post and, upon his return, it appears the rebel managed to obtain his freedom.”
“Is the guard dead?” Riorden inquired.
“Nay, but he may wish he was, if Danior does not calm down. He said he will tear the castle apart, stone by stone, if he has to,” Aiden smirked. “Most determined, I must say, not that I blame him.
“Neither do I…With the king’s arrival any day, Danior most assuredly is not pleased the rebel is gone. The prisoner could have provided valuable information to King Henry’s cause against the Irish.”
“I agree,” Aiden said. “What would you like to do?”
“Where are Danior and my brother now?”
“They search the castle and courtyard as we speak,” Aiden declared.
“Find them and help in the search,” Riorden ordered. “Patrick, you come with me.”
Riorden watched as Aiden quickly disappeared from his view. He grabbed a loaf of bread off one of the trenchers placed on a table, broke off a piece, and handed the rest to Patrick, who followed in his wake. He strode confidently out the door into the courtyard to begin his own thorough search, when his steps faltered near an outer wall tower. He knew no reason why he suddenly began to make the climb up the narrow winding steps, but thought perhaps ’twas sheer intuition that led him forward.
He came upon the battlement wall with a feeling he had walked this path afore. The ocean air blew gently, leaving the taste of salt in the wind, and he saw several knights standing guard. All appeared as it should until he rounded the tower. His gaze swept the wall facing the ocean. His eyes must have deceived him, however, for there stood his lady ghost, as if she knew he would come this way and, once again, but awaited the pleasure of his return. As he began to stride in her direction, he felt an inner despair consume his heart, knowing that God had somehow failed him in his plea for Lady Katherine’s eternal soul.
* * *
Katherine and her friends stood quietly on the battlement wall and watched the procession along the beach make its way towards Bamburgh Castle. From the amount of retainers who traveled in this large entourage, it was clear someone of great importance was soon to be residing within the castle walls.
“It must be the king’s standard,” Katherine said in awe as she saw the pennants waving in the ocean breeze, “but which one, Emily?”
“Well, if I were to guess, I would say Henry II.”
“You mean, father to Richard the Lionhearted?” Brianna said excitedly. “Oh, how awesome would that be to meet King Richard?”
“He’s obviously not king yet, Brie, but I don’t see how making the king’s acquaintance will help us at the moment,” Juliana proclaimed. “Besides, if I remember my history correctly, Richard takes the throne from his father, so that couldn’t have been a pleasant time.”
“Lower your voices, ladies,” Katherine cautioned. “There are still listening ears close by, and we can’t afford to draw attention to ourselves.
Katherine watched as each woman grabbed the edges of their cloaks to ensure their clothing underneath would remain obscured from the guards standing nearby. The knights, although vigilant, continued to glance at them from time to time, as if they were unsure why ladies would be walking along the battlements…that is…if they were ladies at all.
A movement suddenly caught Katherine’s eye, and she lost her breath by who was coming into her line of vision. Her dreams were fast becoming true, and her heart beat rapidly in her chest, knowing she was about to encounter the very man who had stolen all sense of reality from her. “Give me a moment, would you?” Katherine whispered, and she felt, more than saw, as her friends stepped back to watch what was about to happen.
“Leave us,” Riorden demanded, and the guards left their posts at his command.
He came ever nearer, his dark red cape billowing behind him in the ocean breeze. A fire breathing dragon was imprinted on his tabard. He held his helmet under one arm, and with his free hand, he reached up, pulling the chainmail helm from his head. His hair fell in a soft black wave down to his broad shoulders, even as his blue eyes showed an anger that stunned and surprised her. It wasn’t the reaction she had expected.
Nor was it the reaction or reunion she had hoped for when he pulled his sword from his side and
pointed it near her throat.
“Katie!” her friends screamed.
“Nay, my lord,” Patrick yelled hysterically.
“Hold!” Riorden said to his squire as he threw his helmet to the ground. His blazing gaze settled on her and she was afraid to move. “How is it you haunt this earth still! Is this the work of the devil?”
“No! I’m not a ghost,” Katherine answered. Her hands shook uncontrollably at her side. All she could see was the length of the silver steel of his blade and from the look of it, it was extremely sharp.
“I do not believe you. I prayed for your soul to be released. So be gone, and haunt me no more!” Riorden threatened, still holding his sword steadily in front of him.
“Katie, for God sake, tell him you’re flesh and blood!” Brianna shrieked hysterically.
“Look at him! He doesn’t believe me, Brie!”
“Then show him!” Emily cried out.
Katherine broke her gaze, momentarily, from her dilemma and quickly looked at her friends. Brianna and Emily clutched each other, clearly terrified of the unraveling situation they were in. Juliana, on the other hand, looked at her confidently.
“Katie, it’s okay…show him,” she said and nodded to the sword. “I can take care of things afterwards.”
Katherine took a deep breath and returned her gaze to her knight. She gave him an ever so slight smile. “Riorden,” she began in earnest, “I am…in truth…here with you.”
Everything happened in slow motion, or so it seemed to her. Katherine held up her fingers and, before Riorden could stop her, she ran them against the edge of the blade. The sight almost made her gag. She held out her hand to show him her sliced fingers while crimson droplets of blood began falling to the ground.
“Nay!” Riorden yelled out. Dropping his sword, he grabbed her arm to assess the damage. His face contorted in surprise when he realized he was actually able to touch her.
“Katherine,” he whispered. “Merde, what have you done?”
“Proved a point, I suppose,” she whispered faintly. Her legs wobbled, and her fingers felt as though they were on fire. “Umm Jewels, some help please. I think I did far more damage beyond what I intended.”
