First lessons (Medieval Tale Book 1)

by Lina J. Potter

  “And why were you so upset with your son this morning? Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that I was so angry with him yesterday?”

  Her instinct told her she was on the right track.

  “My Lady?”

  “Yesterday, your son rudely offended the wife of the commander of my guards. I was forced to intervene to prevent trouble before I had been in your town even five minutes. And this morning, I find my men have been put in jail.”

  Lily drilled into him with her eyes. Who cares that I’m a woman? Women can subdue tigers! This game is all about willpower, and that’s something any doctor has plenty of. The Baron’s face didn’t change, but Lily felt him weaken for an instant.

  “My Lady…”

  “No, Honorable Torius, I understand. He is your son. I would defend my son, as well.” Something like relief appeared on his face, but it didn’t last long. “But you see, I cannot leave it like this. My husband will have to be told.”

  “My Lady, why worry him with such trivial matters?”

  “Trivial?”

  “You’re all alive and well, no one was hurt.”

  “But your guards shot at one of my men and detained the rest of them for no reason whatsoever!”

  “Perhaps we could compensate them for their trouble?”

  Lilian almost smiled. “I suppose that would satisfy my husband. We don’t want trouble, do we? I believe the nobility should always be able to find common ground.”

  “I agree with you wholeheartedly, My Lady. Is this your first visit to Altver? Can I make your stay here more pleasant?”

  In other words, you want to know my price for keeping quiet about this. Lily lost her nerve for an instant. She needed to ask for something, but she didn’t want to risk raising suspicions. It was Leif, with the instincts of a predator, who sensed her trouble. In just a few seconds, the baron would sense it, too. The situation was growing precarious.

  Leif coughed quietly to draw her attention. “Lady Lilian, allow me to remind you…”

  “Yes?”

  “The men are still in jail.”

  The Baron jumped up. “I’ll order their release and find out who is at fault here.”

  Lily smiled. “We will wait for you here. These fruits are lovely.” She would have wiped the plum juice on her dress, but the price of the fabric stopped her.

  As soon as the door closed, Leif turned to Lily. “Why did you lose your nerve, My Lady? There has to be something you could demand of him?”

  ***

  The Honorable Torius Avermal maintained a dignified pose as he left his office, but inside he was boiling over.

  That woman is a snake! She guessed at everything. And his son was a burden sent by Maldonaya. I will have him whipped! The boy won’t be able to sit for a year!

  He found his firstborn leaning against the window in the hall, whispering something to a servant girl. That did nothing to improve his father’s mood. He’s thinking with the wrong body part, as always!

  Torius grabbed his son by the ear. “Run on home, you ungrateful whelp! We’ll talk when I get there. Do you understand me?”

  Darius was afraid. He had never seen his father this angry before. “But Father…”

  “Go home. Wait for me there. Run!”

  Darius decided he had better obey if he wanted to keep his buttocks intact.

  ***

  “Come on in. Would you like a drink?” Jess Earton was glad to see his cousin.

  “Red or white?”

  “Red.”

  “Then just pour me a sip. Looks like we’re leaving the day after tomorrow.”

  “Not looking forward to it?”

  “Would you be excited about getting married?”

  “Done it already. You know the whole story.”

  “Aldonai hasn’t taken her yet?”

  “Who knows? I haven’t had a letter from Etor in a while. I sent my daughter down there, so I should get a letter from my head guard soon.”

  “It takes a long time for mail to reach Wellster.”

  “Good. The one person in this life I never worry about is my wife. You’ve met her.”

  Richard nodded. He had met Lilian once… at the wedding. He was grateful that his father had allowed him to choose his bride. He would meet both Anna Wellster and Lidia Ivernea and make his choice free of any interference.

  “How are things with that doll you took up with?”

  “Adele?”

  “You’re calling her Adele already?”

  “Don’t laugh, Richard. She’s a good woman. She was a child when they married her off to that old goat, but she’s in mourning for him anyway.”

  “I see. And she came to the capital to get some fresh air.”

  “Just look at her. She has no lovers. She lives very modestly.”

  “And she is always at court. I can tell she’s gotten to you.”

  “Maybe a little.”

  “Have you…?”

  “She’s too chaste and virtuous.”

  “Even better. The more chaste she is, the fierier she’ll be in bed.”

  “We haven’t even kissed yet.”

  “Be careful, Jess. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a pregnant mistress.”

  “I’ll take care. I really like her. She’s kind and intelligent, not like that cow I married.”

  ***

  Lilian scowled at Leif.

  “It’s easy for you to say that I lost my nerve. I have to buy livestock here at the market and get them all back to the estate. I have to find a good blacksmith, a jeweler, some glass blowers, buy cloth, and sell a couple of things. You have no idea how much I have to accomplish on this trip. Lost my nerve! What do you know about it?”

  The Virman showed no anger at her aggressive response. He understood her position. When he spoke next, it was not like a servant talking to his master or a Virman talking to an Ativernese Countess. He spoke to her as he would to a friend.

  “You have good plans. We can find a blacksmith, a jeweler, and a glass blower. How much livestock were you planning to buy?”

  “As much as I can afford. Leif, I don’t know anything about farming, but I don’t want any more children to die over the winter.”

  The Virman knew all about death. On Virma, they sometimes had years so bad that parents killed their newborn children because they had nothing to feed them. He didn’t think Ativernese nobles generally worried about their peasants, but this woman was different. And since he was going to work for her for a number of years, their interests had to align. He would help her.

  “I see. This is no place to talk.”

  Lily nodded. “You’re right, but…”

  “That ferret will be back any minute. Tell him that you will speak with him later about any compensation you deem necessary. That will give us time to think about what to ask for. Arrange to meet with him again this evening.”

  “Fine. Maybe I did lose my nerve. I appreciate the advice.” She sighed in relief.

  ***

  Anna danced her way down the hall. Life wasn’t perfect yet, but it was moving in the right direction. She had a closet full of new dresses, and her father had given her a box of jewels fit for a queen. She had never seen such fine things in her life.

  And Lons was gone.

  That meant that Anna Wellster was officially a virginal maiden. There was just one problem: she knew what virginity meant, but she wasn’t sure how fake it. Maybe the prince won’t know the difference. I’ll have to get a vial of blood from somewhere.

  The King’s Jester appeared out of nowhere. “Come with me. We have to talk.”

  Anna shuddered. She feared the Jester with a physical terror that lived somewhere in her bones. A few words from him and her father would send her to a convent…or worse.

  Anna was a sensible girl. She knew that she was beautiful and smart, but she also knew that anyone could be replaced. Her sisters were growing up—in a couple of years, one of them could marry the prince. That would be the
end for her. She remembered the thin, pale lips of the Brides of Aldonai, their mournful eyes, and pale, sack-like dresses. She would rather drown herself than become a nun.

  So, she followed the Jester. He led her to a small alcove room and pointed to the bed. “Sit down and listen to me.” She obeyed. If he had told her to lift her skirt and give herself to him on that same bed, she would have done it. That’s how scared she was of him.

  “You were never married. I have all the papers, but I won’t destroy them yet. If you do so much as take a step without my permission, I’ll give them to your father. Do you know what he’ll do to you?”

  Anna nodded. Her throat was paralyzed; she couldn’t manage to say a word.

  “You’re not a virgin, and we have to fix that. I’ll send someone to get you tonight. You follow him.”

  “Wh-where?”

  “To a wise woman. She’ll help you. Richard of Ativerna will never suspect a thing.”

  “If he chooses me, that is.”

  “Even if he doesn’t, who will want you the way you are now?”

  Anna shuddered. She would follow the Jester wherever he led her, as long as things worked out in the end. She wanted to live and love, dance at balls, order other people around, be a princess…and she would have sold her own mother to do it.

  “I’ll make him choose me.”

  “I’m sure you will. Go now. And remember our talk. He’ll come tonight.”

  Anna nodded. She slipped out of the alcove and ran as fast as she could from that terrible man.

  ***

  Left alone, the King’s Jester—Count Altres Lort—sat down on the bed and shook his head. She was such a fool. A cowardly, grasping, jealous fool. Just like her mother. He had tried and failed to talk Gardwig out of marrying that woman.

  Anna had a nice face and big breasts, though. Richard might bite. He could always out her to her father, but he didn’t want to upset his brother without a good reason. He would tell him when the time was right, when it was safe, and then the two of them would decide what to do.

  If the King had been looking for nothing more than a political marriage, they could have gotten rid of Anna easily by sending her to a convent or quietly wringing her neck. Wellster had plenty of other princesses to choose from. They were still small girls, of course, but long engagements had their purpose.

  The problem, thought the Jester, was that Edward of Ativerna was allowing his son to marry for love—well, more or less. Richard could choose between two princesses. Edward would benefit equally from ties to Ivernea and Wellster, but Wellster was in desperate need of a long peace bolstered by a royal wedding.

  Aldonai willing, Gardwig may live another twenty years. But is he willing? What if he dies before another ten years is out? Gardwig’s son was still a baby, and his wife was a quiet homebody. If anything happened, Wellster would be defenseless against its avaricious neighbors. The kingdom would be in a much stronger position if Anna married Richard. They could use her influence to get help from Ativerna. After all, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to convince her husband to offer protection to her younger brother. If Richard married into the royal family of Ivernea, however, he might be tempted to bite off a chunk of Wellster.

  Altres Lort most definitely wanted Anna and Richard to wed. He would do whatever it took to make it happen, and no one would get in his way.

  ***

  When the Baron returned, Lily was absolutely calm.

  “My Lady, your guards are waiting for you downstairs.”

  Lilian held herself as stiffly as she could. “Most Honorable Torius, I hope they are in good health? They haven’t suffered, have they?”

  “Of course not, My Lady. They were not harmed at all.”

  Lily dropped her lashes. “Wonderful. Leif, see to things for me. I want to get some rest if I can.”

  “Yes, My Lady.”

  “Honorable Torius, I will look in on you in the future if I need your assistance.”

  “Certainly, My Lady. I’m always at your service.”

  With those few words, they struck their bargain.

  You owe me for roughing up my guards. I don’t want anything right now, but if that changes, I’ll whistle, and you’ll come running. If you don’t, Jess Earton will find out what you’re up to. And you won’t like that.

  The Baron obviously understood her perfectly. He might have been cursing the day she was born, but on the surface, he was the picture of politeness. He showed Lily out and kissed her hand. She couldn’t help firing a parting shot. “By the way, could you recommend a good jeweler?”

  “The best jeweler in these parts is Helke Leitz, My Lady. He has a shop not far from town hall. Anyone can point the way.”

  Lilian nodded. “Thank you. I’ve enjoyed our conversation. It’s only a shame that we met because of such unpleasantness.”

  As Leif helped her down the stairs, Lily sighed. This trip has certainly worked wonders. I’ve lost at least ten pounds, and my dresses are starting to feel baggy. But I still have a long way to go…

  ***

  The Virmans were waiting for her outside. Faces sullen, the five giants bowed in unison. Leif must have explained the situation to them. Lily responded with a slight incline of her head and clambered up onto her horse. She looked back at her escort. Can I show up at the jeweler’s like this? Oh, why not. I’d bet a gold crown that he’s a world-class swindler.

  Leif sent the Virmans back to their ship and took her horse by its reins. Lily looked down at her dress. Either she would have to invent soap right away, or she was out one very expensive piece of silk. Wood ash and roots would never wash the horse sweat out of the delicate fabric.

  I wonder if I still remember how to make plain washing soap? I think it takes an alkali and a fat…or soda and vegetable oil. Plus additives to make it smell better. Let’s start with the alkali first…

  Lily didn’t know if she would be able to find sodium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide, but she was sure she could prepare a weak alkali. All it would take would be ash, lime, and a couple of days of waiting. Ash is easy to come by in any century, and I can make the lime myself if I have to. She would heat marble and chalk together. Easy as pie. Even an open fire should offer sufficient heat. If it didn’t, she would put her ingredients on a metal sheet and stick them in the blacksmith’s forge. When she was done, she would have soap that would remove grease and oil.

  She thought back with gratitude to her applied chemistry class. It was an elective, but she had put a lot of effort into the class because it was so interesting. And she was glad to still have all that knowledge in her memory. Cosmetics, perfume, soaps, and cleaners—Lily could make anything. If she had to, she could even put together a batch of gunpowder or make dynamite out of nitroglycerine. She could cook up some glass and blow it into almost anything. She could turn clay into ceramic dishes.

  Chemistry was a good thing to know in any century. The main thing was to know where to find the elements she needed and recognize them when she found them. I know where to get marble, but I’ll have to find chalk. I wonder if the periodic table is the same here? If not, they’ll just have to learn the Lilian Earton Table. She also couldn’t wait to get back to practicing medicine. She would buy all the herbs and plants she needed at the market tomorrow. Who knows when it will come in handy? I’ll be like Louis Pasteur, only as a medieval herbalist!

  Leif roused her from her thoughts. “My Lady?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you really want to go see that jeweler?”

  “I do. Why do you ask?”

  “Judging by his name, he’s likely to be a crook. He’s obviously one of the Eveers.”

  “Eveers?” Lily looked at him sharply, and Leif saw that he would have to explain.

  “Eveers don’t have a country, but they do have their own religion and their own system of writing. They believe that they are the only people who were created by the true God.”

  “What do they think about Aldonai?”


  “He’s just an assistant to their god.”

  Lily grimaced. “How does the Church look at that idea?” She couldn’t hide her sarcasm and was relieved to see something similar on Leif’s face.

  “The Church disapproves most strenuously.”

  “How does it express its disapproval? Can it be true? Have I really found a person I can talk to? We aren’t equals—it’s the Dark Ages, after all—but even so, we can have a conversation!

  “It expresses its disapproval by levying higher taxes on their trading. Eveers are not allowed to wear green, they can’t live closer to a church than three flights of an arrow.” Lily quickly estimated that to be about half a mile “They can’t be buried in church cemeteries, they can’t openly worship their god…”

  “Why do they put up with all of that?”

  “You can put up with a lot when you don’t have a choice.”

  Lily nodded. “So what kind of work do they do?”

  “They’re merchants, jewelers, and loan sharks, among other things. Their god tells them to be literate, even the women, and they always have jobs that involve money.”

  Universal literacy. Lily liked the sound of that. Maybe it was a lucky break that she had learned about these people. She knew that it takes a team to get anything done, no matter what year it was or what world you found yourself in. One man in a field is no warrior.

  She had seen how people built teams in school. Students who wanted to live quietly made friends with other sheep. The ones who wanted to shine chose friends they didn’t think could compete with them, and the ones who wanted to be leaders always found two or three classmates who were ready to be led. That’s how it worked in school, but here, I’m looking at needing to survive…and build a decent life for myself. And then?

  Lily was afraid to think any further than that, but deep in her mind, the question worried her—Jerrison, the Earl of Earton, her husband. According to local custom, she was his property. What will I do if he shows up like the lord of the castle and tells me to get in bed with him?

  Lily saw three options: kill him and run, just run, or kill him and say it was an accident. She could come up with an explanation easily enough. I was just sitting there cleaning under my nails with a knife. Better yet, with a sword. It’s not my fault that he slipped thirty-two times and landed each time on the sword…with his neck. She would have to get her defenses ready before her husband came for a visit. That meant having a team in place. She had the Virmans for muscle, and she would try her best to keep them interested in working for her. Leif was certainly no one’s fool, but his Virman crew was not enough. Success has three components—knowledge, strength, and money. I have knowledge, the Virmans are my strength, and the Eveers have money.