Bondmaiden

by B. A. Bradbury

  Elfrida smiled grimly. ‘Trust my brother. Saved not through a brave and noble act, but by his lecherous ways. If we live through this I’ll never hear the end of it.’

  ‘What happened to Tilda and Durwin?’ Lia asked.

  ‘The Osburg soldiers took them away,’ Holmann said. ‘They took Jarold and Clady as well. It’s not hard to guess why they wanted the young women, but why take the young men?’

  No one had an answer to that.

  ‘Why didn’t they take Dagna too?’ Lia asked.

  ‘They did,’ Holmann said, ‘but I told the officers I couldn’t feed ’em. I’d lost five kitchen staff, I explained, and it was just me and Berta down here. They said I could have one more helper, so I asked for Dagna; and they gave her back to me, saints be praised. Three still wasn’t enough mind, so I fetched Kerta from the laundry. It’s hard work feeding ’em all, for there’s dozens of the devils. They’re all over the keep.’

  Negotiating with the enemy in such a way could be construed as treason, Lia guessed, but Elfrida seemed prepared to overlook it. It was fortunate the overseer did what he did, for without Dagna to distract the guards at the postern gate Lia knew she and Elfrida would never have got back in.

  ‘We have to help my mother and sister,’ Elfrida said when Holmann fell silent. ‘Freeing them is our main priority now.’

  ‘How many men are watching them, Kerta?’ Lia asked. ‘Are the guards quartered right there in the royal apartments, or lower down?’

  Such information was vital if they were to attempt a rescue, but the laundress didn’t have any answers. So there was only one way to find out. Kerta volunteered to go and spy, as did Dagna, who’d just returned looking flushed and not a little discomforted. Elfrida glanced at Lia, and though she didn’t ask outright, for this was a perilous duty, it was clear she wanted her bondmaiden to go.

  ‘I’ll do it,’ Lia said, thinking that having a princess’s trust was a double-edged sword.

  She made her way up the back stairs in her kitchen servant guise once more, with a basket of bread and jug of wine for an excuse. At one point she was obliged to press tight against the wall to let three men squeeze by on their way down. They ignored her, all except the last, who took a loaf from her basket and tickled her under the chin in payment. These weren’t rough soldiers like the ones in the town, but well-dressed officers with quick, intelligent eyes. She would need to keep her wits about her if she wanted to come through alive.

  When she reached the royal apartments she glanced first into Velda’s bedchamber, half hoping to see her there; but a man’s armour and weapons lay on the bed and there was no sign of Velda. The sound of a woman sobbing drew her on, to a door that was ajar, and she peeped inside to discover a richly furnished bedchamber. A naked woman lay spread-eagled on a four-poster bed, her legs elevated and her wrists and ankles tied to the corner posts. In the room with her were two soldiers. One sat at the foot of the bed regarding the woman, while the other stood looking on.

  The one on the bed turned to his companion. ‘Pass me the goad.’

  ‘Mercy!’ the woman sobbed. ‘Have mercy!’

  Lia, remembering what Kerta had said about interrogation under torture, wondered if it was Queen Gudrun, though somehow she doubted it. There was nothing regal in the woman’s demeanour, so maybe she was one of the ladies-in-waiting. On the other hand, perhaps even a queen could be reduced to begging by such loathsome treatment.

  The standing man handed the other what appeared to be a stout metal needle set into a wooden handle, with which he began to prick in and around the woman’s anus, causing her to writhe and moan pitifully. He did so for many minutes, during which time not a single question was put to the victim.

  ‘Why don’t you try her clit?’ the standing observer eventually prompted.

  ‘Later,’ the other replied. ‘I’m happy with her arse right now. Just watch it pucker up when I do this. It’s funny.’

  ‘With respect, captain, we’re not here for that. We’re here to get information on Baran.’

  ‘She doesn’t know anything, sergeant. If she did she’d have told us yesterday, wouldn’t she? Two hours with the pincers will loosen any woman’s tongue, even a queen’s. She’s not holding anything back.’

  ‘You think so?’

  ‘I know so.’

  ‘Then why the hell are we doing this, sir?’

  The captain winked. ‘Because it’s fun.’

  Lia moved on. The next room was empty, but in the one after that a young woman was sitting on the bed, her back to the wall and her knees drawn up, with a sheet pulled up to her chin. She looked like an older, slightly plumper version of Elfrida, with the same eyes and the same pouting mouth. Lia guessed this was Princess Magdalena.

  Footsteps echoed along the passage, heading her way, and Lia scuttled forward to the next turning. She peeped back around the corner and saw a soldier enter Magdalena’s room carrying a tray. ‘Supper, princess,’ he said cheerfully as he went in.

  Lia crept back and looked inside. The young woman was wiping her eyes with a corner of the sheet. ‘Where’s my mother?’ she said. ‘Why won’t you let me see her?’

  The soldier set the tray down on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed. He patted her leg through the sheet. ‘Just tell us where Prince Baran is and I’ll take you to her.’

  ‘I don’t know where he is,’ Magdalena said sulkily. ‘Don’t you think I’d tell you if I did?’

  The man sighed. ‘You want the cord, is that it?’

  She shook her head, dropping her gaze. The soldier stared at her, then took hold of the sheet, tugging gently, and she resisted him. ‘Leave me alone,’ she mumbled.

  ‘Come on, princess,’ he said, letting go of the sheet. ‘No point in making this difficult.’

  He unfastened his shirt and drew it over his head, then stood up and took off his hose and braies. His cock was semi-erect, and he rubbed it lewdly until it stood straight and hard. Then he spat in his palm and smeared it on the glans. ‘Come on.’

  He grasped the sheet once more and tugged it harder from her hands. She was naked beneath and drew her knees tight to her breasts, clasping her arms around her shins. The soldier sat down and grasped her wrist. Magdalena struggled briefly, then seemed to lose any strength in her limbs. He pulled her unresisting across the bed and onto his lap, her back to him.

  ‘No, please,’ she moaned, but he merely lifted her with one arm around her waist, fumbling beneath her bottom with his other hand as she stiffened and whimpered.

  ‘Come on, princess,’ he drooled in her ear, ‘you know you want to.’ She shook her head, sobbing, as he nuzzled her neck and nibbled her earlobe. When she didn’t respond he cupped and squeezed her breasts. ‘We don’t want to have to bind these again, do we?’ he threatened. ‘Shall I tell Lang to bring the cord?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘No, course not. So let’s go. You’re getting to be an old hand at this, aren’t you?’

  ‘But it hurts.’

  ‘I know,’ he chuckled, ‘but that’s the idea, isn’t it? Just tell us where your brother is and no one will fuck your arse ever again, that’s a promise.’

  ‘But I don’t know. I’ve told you, he’s always going off somewhere. He never tells Elfi and me where he goes.’

  ‘Where’s Elfrida, then?’

  ‘I don’t know! Why won’t you believe me? Velda took her somewhere, that’s all I know. Let me go, please!’

  ‘Just do it,’ he said, ‘or it’s purple tits for you again. Come on, Magda, stop wasting my time.’

  She shook her head, but he coaxed and threatened her in equal measure until eventually she began to wriggle in his lap, raising and lowering herself awkwardly.

  ‘Good girl,’ he muttered. ‘That’s a good girl, nice and steady. Don’t want it over too quick, do we?’ One arm was still a
round her waist, encouraging her movements. With his free hand he rubbed her breasts and plucked her nipples. ‘That’s nice,’ he breathed. ‘This is good, isn’t it?’

  His hand moved down and he slapped her belly. Then lower still, his fingers exploring her, drawing from her a whimper. ‘Hush,’ he murmured. ‘You’re a lovely thing, aren’t you? A lovely thing with a nice tight arse. Not as tight as it was, but still nice. Would you like to suck us afterwards, me and Lang?’ She shook her head. ‘Sure you would,’ he chuckled. ‘I’ll even let you swallow my cream for a treat. You’ll enjoy it, I promise you.’

  Lia crept away, back to the stairs and down to the kitchens. Once there she told the others what she’d found, though she spared Elfrida the sordid details of the queen’s and Magdalena’s torture. When she said there were but few guards in the royal apartments the princess’s spirits seemed to lift.

  ‘You think we can rescue them?’ she asked, her expression both despondent and hopeful at the same time.

  ‘I believe so, my lady,’ Lia said cautiously. ‘Princess Magdalena was alone when I got there, so we know they aren’t being guarded around the clock. I’m sure we can get them out of their rooms and down the stairs if we wait for the right opportunity. It’s afterwards I’m worried about. The enemy will turn the place upside down when they realise they’re gone. They might even guess there was outside help and question some of us.’

  Lia didn’t use the word ‘torture’, but she could see everyone was thinking it. If the soldiers did decide to interrogate one or more of them it wouldn’t be long before the truth came out.

  ‘With respect, my lady,’ Holmann said, ‘I think Lia’s right; a rescue’s no good if the queen and princess are straightaway recaptured, as seems likely.’

  ‘So what now?’ Elfrida asked desperately. ‘We can’t just cower down here and do nothing.’

  ‘Of course not, my lady,’ Holmann said placatingly, ‘but I think we should try to learn the enemy’s plans before we make any rash moves, begging your pardon. Lord Torkel holds a council of war each evening in the great hall; I saw him with my own eyes when I took the refreshments up last night. If someone could get in there and hide she might discover what they’re intending to do with their prisoners. Once we know that we’ll be better placed to decide how to proceed.’

  ‘I’m sure we would,’ Elfrida said, ‘but who is brave enough to risk it? And where would they hide, in any case? There are no curtains or screens in the place that I recall.’

  ‘I’ll go,’ Lia said, ‘and I won’t need to hide. Hopefully they’ll take no notice of a mere servant going about her business.’

  Elfrida looked doubtful, but finally she agreed, and as Lia headed up the stairs once more, armed only with her basket of bread and jug of wine, she hoped her optimism of being disregarded wasn’t misplaced. She didn’t doubt that the fate of anyone caught spying would be dreadful indeed.

  She went up two floors and crept forward to the arched entrance to the great hall. Luckily the doors were open so she stayed on the landing, pressed against the wall, holding her breath and trembling with fear.

  ‘When will the main force arrive?’ a deep voice asked.

  ‘Two days, my lord,’ someone answered. ‘Roland’s skirmishers will be here tomorrow, but we have little to fear from them. They number no more than five score, so our scouts tell us.’

  ‘And how many in the main force?’

  ‘Three thousand, all told. The Darkheim ranks have been swelled by the Attland troops that fled when we first attacked. There’s a rumour flying around that Baran is leading the Attland contingent, but our scouts couldn’t get near enough to confirm or deny.’

  There was a long pause, then the deep voice spoke again. ‘We cannot stand against so many. Order the withdrawal for tomorrow. Foot soldiers must be away by noon at the latest, and mounted men two hours before dusk. I want cavalry screens front and back, Fulke, and flankers too.’

  ‘Aye, my lord, but the men will want to know about the loot.’

  ‘As much as they can carry; slaves, too. We don’t run like dogs, though we’re outnumbered two to one. This is an orderly return to our homeland – a victorious return – and we’ll carry our prizes there with pride.’

  A growl of assent went up from a dozen throats.

  ‘A pity Prince Baran slipped through the net, my lord,’ a new voice ventured. ‘With no king to rule here Attland would have been weaker.’

  ‘Indeed. She’ll be a dangerous enemy still on our borders, though they’ll maybe think twice about reprisals while we hold the queen and princess hostage. You’ve made arrangements for their transport, Fulke?’

  ‘I have, my lord, in a cage. I’ve had it mounted on one of the royal carriages.’

  ‘Most appropriate. And the youngest, Elfrida; any news of her? It would be nice to have the full set of royal females.’

  ‘No news, my lord. The slave Velda won’t change her story, despite rigorous questioning.’

  ‘Velda, yes, she’s the one you captured, isn’t she? The queen’s bondmaiden, or some such. Bring her here to me now so I can see just how rigorous your questioning has been.’

  ‘As you wish, my lord.’

  Lia heard footsteps and backed away fearfully, only to collide with something large and immovable behind her, something that clapped a heavy hand on her shoulder and spun her round, and she found herself looking up into the bearded face and stern brown eyes of an Osburg officer.

  ‘What are you doing skulking here, girl?’ he demanded gruffly.

  ‘B-bringing bread and w-wine, my lord,’ she stammered. ‘B-but I daren’t go in. They might punish me for d-disturbing them.’

  A man came out of the council chamber and went by, sparing them barely a glance, but the bearded officer clamped a hand on the back of her neck and marched her into the hall. A dozen men were sitting at a long table, at the head of which was a thickset man with iron-grey hair and piercing blue eyes. Around his neck he wore a heavy bejewelled gold chain, and she knew it must be Lord Torkel himself.

  ‘What’s this, Ingram?’ he said. ‘Dancing girls for our diversion?’

  ‘Refreshments, my lord,’ Lia’s captor said. ‘Just bread and wine, I’m afraid. Common soldiers’ fare.’

  ‘And none the worse for that,’ Torkel said. ‘Bring the wench over here.’

  The bearded brute manhandled her to the lord’s side where he finally released his hold on her neck. Torkel picked up a goblet from the table and held it out to be filled, so Lia set down the basket of bread and began to pour the wine.

  ‘She’s a pretty one, isn’t she?’ Torkel said. ‘Do you think she’s on the menu?’ His officers laughed dutifully, and Lia’s hands were shaking so badly she feared she’d tip wine all over the lordly sleeve. ‘In terms of personal material gain,’ Torkel went on, ‘I cannot claim this has been a successful campaign. I’ve gained not a farthing in coin, nor a scrawny chicken, and not a single slave. A poor effort, gentlemen, don’t you agree?’

  There were cries of ‘Yea’ and ‘Nay’ in equal proportion, and much laughter.

  ‘Take this one, my lord,’ someone called out. ‘She’ll be a great comfort in bed on a chilly night, I’ll warrant!’

  Torkel turned those piercing eyes on Lia, and she quailed. ‘Aye,’ he said quietly, ‘I imagine she would. And in the daytime too, I think.’

  At that moment there was a disturbance at the door. The man who’d exited earlier came in followed by two guards who half-dragged, half-carried Velda between them. She was wrapped in a blanket and her head hung down. Only the barest twitch of a hand or leg showed that she was alive and conscious. Every man’s eye was upon her, and Lia took the opportunity to back away slowly, step by step, towards the wall.

  ‘Put your questions again, Fulke,’ Torkel said. ‘I’ll hear her answers and judge the truth for myself.’

>   ‘At your command, my lord,’ Fulke said. He turned to Velda and tipped up her chin. Lia barely recognised her, for her face was pale and drawn, and there were dark bags under her eyes.

  ‘Where’s Princess Elfrida?’ Fulke demanded harshly.

  ‘Town…’ she said weakly. ‘With Lia.’

  ‘So you said before. Where in the town?’

  She shook her head. ‘Don’t know… I told her don’t go home… do the unexpected… don’t tell me anything.’

  ‘And you expect me to believe that? You must enjoy pain, I think. Hold her fast, men.’

  Lia had reached the wall, and shrank back against it and watched in horror as Fulke took out his dagger.

  ‘Wait,’ Torkel said, rising to his feet and approaching them. He grasped Velda’s chin and turned her head this way and that, studying her face. ‘Was she beautiful, Fulke? Before you started to question her, I mean.’

  ‘Very, my lord.’

  ‘I can believe it. And you’ll be beautiful again, my dear, I promise. Just tell me where they are and you can go free.’

  Velda laughed, though it came out as little more than a harsh croak. ‘You’ll kill me,’ she said, ‘when you have them… or when King Roland comes… and you run like rats.’

  ‘Kill you? I don’t think I will, as a matter of fact. I’ve a mind to take you with us and dip into you myself. I expect I’ll be last in a long line, my men being short of female company and all, but one can’t be choosy. This is war, after all.’ He seemed bored with her suddenly, for he turned away and flicked his fingers, whereupon the guards took Velda out. Lia slid along the wall, sidestepping slowly towards the door, hardly daring to breathe. The men were clustered together, all eyes on their lord, and she feared at any second he might remember and look round for her. Foot by foot the doorway came closer, until finally she was there. She stepped back onto the landing and then to the side, so that she was hidden from them at last.

  ‘You think this Velda knows more than she’s telling?’ she heard Torkel ask.

  ‘Probably not, my lord,’ Fulke replied.