by Sharon Gibbs
Hannah was a year younger than Elle and she too had only known life under the oppression of the army. The difference between the girls was that Hannah liked life the way it was. Her mother was the cook for the manor and like her mother Hannah aspired to heights greater than her station in life. She often flirted with the officers in hopes that one of them would choose to wed or bed her. Quite attractive she was also a well-endowed young woman with a curvaceous figure. The officers, in fact all the soldiers in the town ogled these two young lasses only noticing their physical beauty. The real differences between the two however were that while Hannah was a great beauty, she was selfish, cruel and would do what ever it took to gain the upper hand with the officers. To rise to a higher station in life was her entire purpose.
Elle was strong and kind and in her free time she’d help the people of the town. When the women of the village rallied together to store the season’s harvest, Elle would be there to help them. In the night when someone’s child was sick, Elle would leave her bed to help. She’d learnt how to mix balms and potions as a young child and had helped her mother when she’d been alive when it had been part of her daily life. There was still much about the craft Elle didn’t know and she could only tend to basic illnesses, but the people in the town were grateful for her help.
So while the small garden Elle’s father tended went a long way to feed them, the town repaid Elle’s services with produce from their own small gardens which wasn’t much and Elle didn’t like to take from them, but it made the people feel in some small way that they in return helped Elle and her father survive this harsh life.
Elle struggled to carry the heavy tureen up the stairs to the dining room as Hannah flounced ahead, ignoring Elle’s plight. Hannah careened into the room to announce that dinner had arrived. Elle managed to get through the door and placed the tureen on a small-wheeled trolley. She would have to push the tureen around to every officer at the table and serve their meal while Hannah chatted and flirted with the men.
The officer stationed in Canameer sat at the head of the table. Silas Remon had been in charge for the last twenty years and ruled the people with an iron fist. Any slight against the army was viewed as treason to the Lord of the realm and retribution was dealt with a swift hand.
At the other end of the table sat Captain Kovak Turr. He’d enjoyed the company of the other officers but what made the journey this time palatable was his plan to take Elle home with him when he left.
Captain Royston Hark also had journeyed to Canameer for his part in the monthly event. He intended to impress upon the people the Lord’s total rule of the realm. These were the three who were supposed to govern the prisoner every month, but over the years their attendance had waned, which suited Silas well. Silas liked to be in total control and to show off his wealth when he entertained.
Elle pushed the small trolley around to serve them. She ladled a bowl of the hearty stew to all and then placed the tureen on the sideboard and left the officers to their meals. Hannah stayed behind and was supposed to clear the bowls after they’d finished, while Elle left to bring up the main course. When all the food she brought was arranged on the sideboard Elle collected the officers’ empty bowls.
Kovak handed Elle his bowl as she neared his chair. ‘Elle, I’d like to speak to you about something. Could you wait for me in the hall before you head back to the kitchen?’ He knew this was the last time she’d be in the main house tonight.
Elle was a little puzzled. Kovak had never asked any such thing of her before and she didn’t want to be alone with him on any occasion.
‘I’ve much to do before I can head home to my father. Could I not speak with you tomorrow?’
‘No, it’s a matter I must speak about tonight.’ Kovak wasn’t going to give up this chance to speak with her. He didn’t know when he’d have another before he left and he wanted to make sure he told her tonight.
‘Very well,’ she said. ‘I’ll wait for you in the hall, but I must be quick.’ She hoped Kovak would also feel the need to be quick about his words.
Elle finished her work and headed out to wait for him. It wasn’t long before Kovak entered the hallway. Elle made sure she placed the trolley of dishes between herself and Kovak.
‘Elle,’ he began and then he placed his hands behind his back and paced the floor in front of her. ‘As you know I’ll be leaving Sunday.’
Elle stood in silence and wished he’d hurry up and finish.
‘I’ve planned to settle down and take a wife when I return home and I’ve decided to take you with me when I leave.’
Elle’s heart began to race as fear rose up within her.
‘I may not have time to speak with you again before then, so make sure you’re packed and ready to leave,’ he said.
Elle couldn’t believe what she’d heard and blurted out, ‘And when were you going to ask me?’
Kovak stopped. ‘I’m asking you now,’ he said, annoyed at her remark.
Not sure of what Kovak would do if she refused, Elle tried to think of something to say.
‘It’s very sudden, and I’m not sure I could leave at such short notice. Besides, I need to be here for my father.’
‘Your father will be fine. I can find him work in the barracks. The soldiers always need someone to clean their armour and weapons. I’ll speak with Silas about finding a replacement for you in the kitchen. So don’t worry yourself about that. We’ll leave straight after the parade on Sunday. Have your bags packed and in the coach before the parade begins. I shall see you then. Goodnight, Elle,’ he said and returned to finish his evening meal.
Kovak was pleased with himself. As he sat back down at the table he wore a grin across his face. It had all gone well, just as he’d expected.
Elle was gobsmacked. Who did he think he was? She wouldn’t leave with him. She didn’t even like the man. How could he expect her to pack up and leave?
To be told she was going to be his wife was the last thing Elle had expected to hear and she headed back to the kitchen, dismayed.
‘You look pleased with yourself, Kovak,’ Silas remarked as Kovak seated himself back at the table. Hannah was still in the room and helped the men plate up their meals.
‘Yes I am,’ Kovak said and then related the facts as he saw them. ‘Elle will join me when I leave for home, and as soon as the Lord can attend, we’ll be married.’
Silas raised an eyebrow at Kovak. He seemed quite sure of himself. ‘So what did the gal have to say about it then?’
‘Oh she was a little worried to leave her father at short notice, but I’ll organise some work in the barracks for him before I leave, and I told her you’d be able to find another girl for the kitchen. It won’t be a problem will it?’
Silas was amazed. What a pompous ass! Kovak might have been good with a sword, still was, but Silas didn’t care for him at all. ‘No it won’t be a problem,’ he said and then proceeded to ignore the man.
Hannah had overheard the conversation behind her and her cheeks reddened in anger. That little bitch, she thought to herself. She’s gone and stolen one of them right from under my nose. She excused herself from the room and flew down the stairs to the kitchen.
Elle had already returned down stairs and Christopher had noticed that she seemed upset. She no longer had the light-hearted step that he had seen in her earlier. Instead every step she took seemed to weigh her down and she was noticeably agitated. Washing the dishes she rammed them in the trough and clattered them on the rack. With every dish that crashed onto the rack, the workers around the table cringed. They knew something had upset her, they just didn’t know what. They sat in silence as they ate their meal.
Hannah shrieked as she flew through the door. ‘You little bitch!’
‘What’s going on? What have you done, Elle?’ the cook said.
‘Well, I’ll tell you what she’s gone and done, Ma. She’s gone and stolen one of those officers right out from under my nose.’
‘What? What ar
e you talking about, Hannah?’ Her mother said.
‘I heard it from Captain Turr’s own lips. He’ll take her back home with him on Sunday to be his wife. I don’t think Master Remon is too pleased with it either. Now he’ll have to find someone to replace her before they leave.’
A spoon fell to the floor and then a chair scraped as the occupant moved to recover it. Christopher pulled his chair back into the table. Not only did he now know the reason for Elle’s anger, but he’d also discovered Kovak Turr was in town.
Elle’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Hannah had a big mouth. She hoped the news didn’t reach her father before she was able to return home. There was no chance in hell that she’d ride out of her own free will at Kovak’s side.
Elle kept her opinion on the matter to herself as she finished the dishes.
Hannah whined until her mother suggested that she should escort her up to the dining room to serve the dessert. This brightened Hannah’s spirits, as she knew her mother would have some sort of plan up her sleeve.
‘Bring the cakes over, Elle!’ the cook ordered.
Elle placed the cakes on the bench where Hannah would decorate them with cream and fresh berries. Elle was annoyed with Hannah and her big mouth and as she turned around to continue on with the dishes her elbow clipped one of the cakes and knocked it to the floor.
‘You stupid cow, look what you’ve done!’ Hannah shrieked. ‘Pick it up! Pick it up now!’
Elle bent down to retrieve the cake from the floor. She picked up the two pieces and dusted them off before she placed them on the bench. ‘It’s not that bad,’ Elle said and looked at Hannah. Hannah stood with her mouth open, then she raised her hand and slapped Elle hard across the face.
‘You did that on purpose,’ Hannah said.
Christopher had had enough and began to rise from his seat. Foss, the stable manager, grabbed Christopher’s arm and stopped him. ‘Leave it, lad. It’s only a slap, she can handle herself.’ Christopher looked at Foss. Foss kept his grip on Christopher’s arm and nodded at him to assure him that it was all right. ‘We don’t interfere in minor squabbles. It only makes it worse for the girl.’
Christopher remained seated while the others at the table nodded at him. Then picking up their bread, they began soaking up the liquid left in their bowls.
‘Throw that in the fire and get back to the dishes,’ the cook said to Elle.
Elle stood there for a while and waited to get the cook’s attention. When the cook turned to see why she wasn’t about it, she saw that Elle held the two pieces of cake.
‘You mean you want me to throw this cake in the fire, so when you go up to serve dessert the smell of burnt cake will waft through the house?’
A snicker came from someone at the table and then a small ‘ouch’ could be heard. Cook was flustered. ‘Just leave it over there. You can get rid of it later!’ Elle placed the cake on the side near the trough and went back to the dishes. Hannah lavished the remaining cake with cream. ‘Now strain the berries,’ her mother said as she handed the bowl to her daughter.
‘Will there be enough cake, mother?’
‘It’ll be fine,’ her mother said. ‘I’ll just add some biscuits and fruit to the table. They’ll be happy with that.’
Of course there was now too much cream in the bowl for one cake, even though Hannah had used far more than was originally intended. The rest was left on the bench along with the juice from the berries as Hannah and her mother left to take dessert up stairs for the officers.
As the door closed behind them Elle snatched up the cake. She hoped Hannah and her mother would be upstairs for a while. She knew Hannah would boast about the dessert they presented. Elle broke off chunks of cake and distributed it into the worker’s bowls and returned for the fruit syrup and cream. She poured a little syrup onto their cake while they passed the cream around the table.
‘Eat up quick,’ she said. ‘We need to be finished and washed up before they return.’
Christopher was astonished. Elle had gone through all that to provide these people with dessert.
‘Eat up, lad. You heard the lady. No time to waste,’ Foss said.
Christopher ate along with the others. The cake was good, even if it had fallen on the floor, and no one seemed to mind a bit.
As they finished their dessert they left the table and washed their own bowls and stacked them on the sink to dry. When they were finished, they went to Elle and kissed her on the cheek where Hannah had slapped her. They thanked her and bid her goodnight before they left to retire to their beds.
Christopher was still at the table when Hannah and her mother returned to the kitchen. They took no notice of Christopher as they spoke to Elle.
‘Finish up here, girl. We’re off to bed,’ cook said. ‘Make sure you shut down the fire and leave the stew for the last shift.’
Hannah left the dishes on the counter for Elle to wash before she left for the night. Elle settled the fire and placed the stew so it would stay warm and then she prepared Clarence’s meal. She took the fresh bread from under the counter and sliced off two thick pieces before she filled his bowl with the stew from the soldier’s pot, then she lifted the hatch in the floor. Christopher watched as she disappeared into the cellar with the food, only to re-emerge with a soldier, who closed the hatch behind him.
‘You can take the stew out to the barracks with you, Brice,’ Elle said to the soldier.
‘Miss, I can’t leave until my replacement comes.’
‘Well I don’t see any harm in it. All the officers are upstairs and the prisoner can’t get out of the cell, it’s locked. Besides, there are other soldiers in the grounds. I’m sure it would be okay for you to take the stew on over to the barracks. Your fellow soldiers will be in need of a hot meal upon their return.’
Brice looked around the kitchen and saw Christopher at the table. ‘Who’s that then?’
‘He’s one of the stable hands come up late for his dinner. I’m sure he’ll be gone before you return.’
Brice was hesitant but Elle lifted the heavy pot of stew and pushed it towards him. He had no option but to take it, or she’d drop it on the floor.
‘Alright, Miss, but I’ll be straight back.’
As he left the kitchen Elle shut the door behind him. She raced over to the hatch in the floor and heaved it up. She called to Christopher to follow her. In the cellar a single candle burnt, its flame flickered as they made their way down stairs. Over in the corner Christopher saw the vault with the door fastened by a heavy bar and two large locks.
Elle slid the small panel open in the door so Christopher could talk to Clarence.
‘Clarence, it’s Elle,’ she called through the small opening. ‘Your friends are here.’
Christopher came forward and peered through the small hollow in the door. As he did so, an old face peered back at him.
‘I don’t know this man,’ Clarence said to Elle.
‘I don’t know you and you may not know me now, but I came here to release you from the bond you made with my grandfather many years ago. Instead we find you’ve been imprisoned for the last twenty years.’
‘Christopher?’
‘Yes, and Henry awaits news on your whereabouts.’
Clarence couldn’t believe after all these years that his old friend Henry had found him. But what good did that do him, Henry’s magic wouldn’t work in this vault, as his own didn’t.
‘It’s no use, lad. I’m held by the Sorceress’ magic and I can’t escape.’
‘We’ll find a way, Clarence, you can be sure of that.’
Christopher looked around the room and at the structure of the vault. It was built from thick stone and there was only one exit from the cellar. Not the ideal situation to plan an escape and besides, the grounds were full of soldiers at all times. Even if they could access the kitchen, enter the cellar, break through the locks and somehow get Clarence out of the vault, they’d still have to make it out of the house and the chances
that all these things would fall into place weren’t in their favour.
They heard the door to the kitchen close as someone entered.
‘Oh no,’ Elle said. ‘Clarence, we have to go.’ She shut the little panel in the door.
‘Elle, is that you down there?’ Brice called through the hatch.
‘Yes, I’ll be right up.’ Elle looked at Christopher. She wasn’t sure how he’d get out the cellar without being seen. Christopher picked up a sack of potatoes that were stacked near the vault and headed up the stairs. Elle followed behind him, unsure of a plan.
As Christopher emerged from the floor into the kitchen, Brice reached for his sword. ‘What are you doing down there?’
‘It’s alright, Brice. I asked him to carry up a sack of potatoes,’ Elle said to pacify the soldier. ‘Put them down over there.’ Elle pointed to an empty basket near the fire. ‘That’ll be all for tonight,’ she said as she dismissed Christopher.
‘Yes, Miss,’ Christopher said and then walked out the door.
‘You know no one is supposed to be in the cellar,’ Brice said.
‘Well you took long enough to return and I’m in a hurry to be home. If I hadn’t stocked the kitchen, cook would’ve been all over my back in the morning.’
Elle walked over and took her cloak from the peg by the door. ‘I’ll be off now. My father will wonder where I am.’ Then she left.
Brice went down into the cellar. All was the same as when he’d left. He sat down. His replacement would be here soon and then he’d go back to the barracks and have his supper.
Christopher waited for Elle outside and asked if he could walk her home. She was pleased that he’d waited for her, as it would give them time to talk. They walked through the gates and left the estate behind them. Elle walked at a slow but steady pace. Her home wasn’t far, and she had much to ask Christopher. As soon as they were far enough away from the gates to not be overheard, Elle spoke.
