Unmoving, Stepan wished he could agree. Was he uncertain? Or was it because he didn’t want to see his friends tortured and killed in the way he had witnessed so many others meet their end?
He didn’t know what to think. The Royalists had lost the Hradcany to Cenek; the man who pretended to side with Sigismund turned out to have other intentions. Cenek, so it was told, had relieved the presiding lieutenants, his own relatives even, from their posts and placed his own guards, loyal to the Hussite cause, in their place. And so, without any resistance, he had managed to capture the fortified castle.
“What do you think of this manifesto everyone is talking about?” Dominik asked as he leaned down to take a drink.
“What?”
“The declaration from the Hussites? Surely you have heard . . . ” Dominik’s eyebrows knit together.
Stepan shook his head. He had been much too tired these last few days to keep up with much of anything.
“Seems the heretics have been spreading around these accusations and some four articles of their faith. Let me see if I can remember . . . ” Dominik glanced upward while his memory worked. “Freedom of preaching, in Czech no less, communion of both kinds . . . ”
“Of course.” Stepan smirked.
“Of course,” Dominik agreed. “They demanded the clergy live free of materialism and the denial that they are heretics.”
“And they think Sigismund will agree to these things?”
Dominik shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what they think. He won’t.”
Stepan stared off into the distance. The Hussites asked too much. Yet again. Over-reaching. If peace were ever to be found, there would have to be compromise. And it didn’t seem as if either side was ready for that. The war would continue. So would the screams.
* * *
Eva sat for a much needed break. The fact that their possessions were taken did not mean the women and children had stopped looking to her and Patricie. Only now, they were not as able to give it.
But Eva was always ready with a kind smile and a word of encouragement. And the need for those things was great. At least, the demands on her time made it seem so.
Patricie had taken everything to heart. She had yet to recover from the loss of their possessions. Perhaps it was because of their father’s absence. These things certainly did not mean so much to Patricie except that they were Father’s and they reminded her of him.
The bucket at Eva’s feet called to her. Time to get back to work. She rose and moved toward the stream, smiling and waving at those she passed.
Though their introduction to the Taborite community had been difficult, there were some things she did like. In particular, their desire that all people be equal. No lords, no peasants . . . everyone the same. Zdenek’s attentions were not frowned upon. Except by his friend, Radek. That, she could not help.
Zdenek had taken full advantage of their circumstances and continued to see her daily. Anything seemed possible. And perhaps it was. In Tabor.
Could they always stay here, then?
Everyone around her rushed about. She didn’t notice until the third person ran past, nearly knocking her down.
“Prominte prosime!” the man said, reaching out to help her regain her balance.
“Is something amiss?” Eva picked up the bucket she had let loose of in the mishap.
“Commander Zizka has returned! With some of our Hussite brethren who were captured!”
Captured Hussites? Would her father be among them?
“Where? When?”
“Right now,” the man called over his shoulder. “At the town center.”
Should she go after Patricie? Where would she even find her sister? Might Patricie have heard the news? Eva had to think so, for she could not stop herself from grabbing up her skirt and following the man into the heart of Tabor.
What Eva found was a thick crowd with reunions already in progress. Husbands and wives embraced, brothers and sisters celebrated . . . but where was Father?
She wandered around the town center, looking for any sign of her dear father or her sister.
A hand grabbed for her arm and pulled at her.
Then she was looking up at Zdenek’s tall frame.
She wrapped her arms around his midsection.
He embraced her as well. And she soon felt his warm breath on her ear. “We have recovered your father!”
Eva buried her face into Zdenek’s chest. Her heart was sure to burst.
“Come,” Zdenek pulled back, tugging at her arm. He led her through the crowd, keeping her close to his body, safe, protected. Was there anywhere she’d rather be?
As the people thinned, she was able to see around Zdenek. Her father and Patricie were watching as she approached.
She released Zdenek’s hand and rushed around him, throwing herself into her father’s arms.
Her father—a man once dead now brought back to life! She kissed the side of his face as she pulled back.
Father reached around her and grasped Zdenek’s arm, giving it a shake. Something meaningful passed in the gaze the two men shared.
And all was right with the world. If only for this one moment.
* * *
The massive door flung open and Petr stormed inside. Lenka bit her lower lip as she watched him march past and farther into their home. She didn’t have to guess which way the court had ruled. Her heart fell. How could this have happened? What had they done wrong?
But she knew. They had entered into an agreement, pushed Karin into something she didn’t want, and this is what they deserved. Lenka hung her head, ashamed for the role she played in the whole affair.
Glancing around, her eyes caught a couple of the servants looking at her. Of course they knew. What was there to do but remove herself to her room? No longer to be the spectacle she had clearly become.
Gathering her skirts, she spun and moved through the hall. Petr would no doubt be in his solar, so she decided to climb the back stairway to the second floor. Doing so took her near her personal cabinet. The sounds of movement within alerted her that Petr had escaped there instead.
Turning to give him privacy, she halted when he called out.
“Lenka? Is that you?”
“Yes, my lord.”
There was a pause. And Lenka wondered if he had heard her. She opened her mouth, preparing to speak again. But his voice rose from within.
“Come, come.”
Lenka swallowed hard. She did not enjoy being around her husband when he was in one of his fouler moods. He did have a temper, and when it flared, it could be destructive. Steeling herself, she stepped forward and through the doorway of the small parlor.
Petr stood within, facing her as she entered. Hands behind his back, shoulders squared, he appeared as if he had been expecting her. But she knew better. He had been pacing.
His searching eyes claimed hers. They were almost frantic.
She forced her breath to come slowly.
Petr drew a breath in and pushed it out. “It’s gone. All of it. Gone.”
Lenka resisted the urge to close her eyes but held his.
“Do you want to know how?”
She started to speak, but her voice was weak. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “How?”
“The judge wouldn’t listen. Paid off by Vlastik, no doubt.” Petr broke eye contact, looking away.
The weight of the decision fell on Lenka—their property, their money . . . lost. But it was more than that. Vlastik had chipped at Petr’s pride. That was the worst of it. How could she get that back? She wasn’t sure she could.
“Did you hear me?”
Looking back at her husband, Lenka was struck by the wildness in his eyes. It left her with only a timid reply, “Yes.”
“Will you not speak then?”
Emptiness. That’s all there was in her—a void. And it stung. “I . . . I don’t know that I have the words to—”
“I just need you to say something.”
The emptiness became sadness. And it overcame her. There were no words.
Petr nodded, dropping his head. Then he walked past her, out of the parlor, and down the hall.
Lenka closed her eyes as the sounds of his footfalls faded into the distance. She had failed him.
* * *
The horses were laden with battle supplies. All was prepared. The men and their wives readied themselves to march out. Prague needed them. Bohemia needed them and they would go.
But how Zdenek hated to leave Eva behind. It had taken some doing to convince her not to come with them but to remain in Tabor. He needed to know she was safe.
With her father’s return and Patricie to look after, she should stay. And she’d had no reasonable argument against it.
Even now, he walked his horse to her tent. She stood, arms wrapped around herself as if chilled despite the somewhat warm spring air. And he wanted to once again pull her into his embrace, but one glance to where her father lay dozing made him think otherwise. So he took her hand instead.
“It is time.”
She nodded.
“I shall think of you often.”
“And I you.” Only then did she raise her eyes to meet his. “I wish you would let me come with you.”
He sighed. “It is better for you to stay. Better for your father. For Patricie. For me.”
She nodded again, looking toward the ground and shuffling her feet.
“What if something were to happen to you? I would never forgive myself.”
“What if something happens to you?” Her eyes flashed.
He didn’t answer for a moment. “That is the way of war.”
Her hand squeezed his.
Zdenek pivoted to mount his steed, but she held fast to his hand. It gave him pause. He glanced back.
Her eyes pleaded.
And he could no more deny her a proper farewell than he could halt his own breath. Pulling her toward himself, he leaned over her, hovering for a moment.
She tilted her face upward, lips parted and eyes closing.
He breathed in the scent of her, trying to take in every part of this moment. Then his eyes slid closed and his lips came down on hers.
The kiss was sweet and pure, but he soon became desperate to show her, to pour out his love for her. He resisted the urge to pull her fully against him. Instead, his fingers came up to graze the sides of her face.
“Zdenek!” a voice called out. It disrupted his reverie.
And he pulled himself from his dream and from her lips. But his eyes remained on her face.
Her eyes welled with emotion.
“Zdenek, come! They’re leaving us behind.”
Now he could discern it was Radek calling to him. Looking over his shoulder, he spotted his friend not too far away, leaning over the pommel of his saddle. He shot Radek a glare through narrowed eyes.
Then he shifted his focus to Eva. Self-conscious all of a sudden, he raised a shaky hand to caress her cheek.
She put a hand over his.
And then he pulled away, raising himself onto his horse.
“Now can we go?” came Radek’s strained voice.
Zdenek didn’t answer. His eyes were still on Eva. But he turned his horse in the direction of the others and dug his heels into the horse’s flank. And he was off. Would he ever see her again?
Nine
Fears
Gazing at the approaching dawn did not bring Karin joy. It brought dread. Another day came. Would she have to face the reality of what happened? Couldn’t it all go away?
Pavel slumbered next to her, still on top of the covers. He had held her until sleep claimed him. But in the night, he released his hold.
And she welcomed it. The solitude.
She had stared out the window the entirety of the night as her body was wracked with pain. Would it ever end?
Moving her legs to slide out of the bed, her body protested. But she pushed through the pain. Now on trembling legs, she leaned on the wall until she became certain her legs would hold her.
Then she stepped toward the window. Her only hope of alleviating this sadness, if only for a moment, would be perhaps to gaze upon the world beyond. Outside of this room, outside of herself.
She stumbled more than once on the short walk across the room, but she was soon pulling at the drapes to widen her view, desperate for solace for her soul.
Heaving from the simple effort, she managed to move one of the massive window coverings to the side. And, leaning on the opening, she filled her eyes with what lay beyond. A gray haze covered everything as if a cloud covered the sun. But the sky was clear. Still, the world beyond the window was not as it should be.
Why? How could it not be? When she needed it so desperately?
“Karin?”
It was Pavel. The bed linens shuffled and the mattress shifted.
Karin drew in a deep breath but did not turn to face him.
His feet padded on the floor. “Karin?”
She closed her eyes. Must she face him?
“Karin!” This time his voice was startled, concerned. “You’re bleeding!”
Still, she did not speak. How could she? What would she say?
“Karin.” His hands were on her arms. His face was in her hair. “Is it your time?”
She did not move. Nor did she answer. Best to let him believe it so.
“Are you in pain?” Hands rubbed her arms.
Her eyes fixed in the distance, she continued to deny him a response.
“Karin?” He attempted to turn her.
She stiffened her body, refusing to be moved.
“Are you well? Shall I send for the doctor?”
Holding a hand up, she pressed his body away from hers. “No. I am well.”
He stepped back but grasped her hand.
Why did her body cry out against his? She wanted him to go.
“Why won’t you talk to me?”
She looked at him, but her heart did not light up when their eyes met.
His eyes were wide. “Something is wrong.”
Glancing out the window, she spoke firmly, “I told you, I am well.”
He rubbed her hand caught between his. A silent moment stretched out between them.
She pulled her hand from his grasp.
Another moment.
Pavel reached forth, fingers nearing the side of her face.
Karin turned her head away.
He swallowed audibly.
More silence.
“If you won’t tell me what is wrong, I will insist upon the doctor.” Pavel’s voice was firm.
Karin twisted to face him, perhaps a little too fast. Her body cried out. “As I said—I am well.”
She could not miss the hurt in his eyes. And she jerked away before he could see her tears. “Just go.” But as her shoulders shook, she was certain he would know she cried.
His hands were on her shoulders once more. “Karin, I—”
Raising her arms, she flung his hands away. “Just go!”
There were several more moments of silence followed by the door being shut. Karin was alone.
And she sank to the floor. What had she done?
* * *
Petr grumbled. He had been in a foul mood for the last couple of weeks. The decision about the land took more out of him than he’d expected. Most days found him hunkering about the halls of the house, not truly headed anywhere.
He did not see Lenka except at meals. Even then, she remained quiet, reserved. Should it pain him that their last interaction had been so harsh? It didn’t. How could she not provide better support? How could she go mute when he needed her words more than ever?
A growl escaped his throat. He wanted to strike out at something, anything. But nothing presented itself as a suitable target. Would he lash out at his wife were he to come across her in his pacing?
What had he expected her to say? He closed his eyes as realization washed over him. And he hated it. There was nothing she could
have said. Nothing that would soothe him in any real way. No, he had baited her. Was he only upset now that she didn’t take it?
Putting his head in his hands, he let out a breath. He had to find her.
Stepping into action, he moved toward the stairs. Moments later, he approached her cabinet. He softened his footfalls as he drew near the opened door, straining to listen for movement.
Paper rustled and his wife’s soft sniffles were audible through the stillness. Moving closer, he peered into the room. Lenka’s form was at her desk, silhouetted against the light of the window. Her hands worked a quill across the flat surface.
This did not disturb him. The unmistakable sounds of her contained sobs did. As he watched on, she paused, and held her hand to her lips as her shoulders shook. And at once, his heart softened. It no longer mattered who should have said what.
Pressing into the room, he cleared his throat.
Lenka’s head jerked in his direction. She twisted her body toward him in the seat while blotting at her eyes.
“My lord?” She didn’t meet his eyes. Head down, she seemed to be examining her hands where they lay in her lap.
How was he to break this tension? Selfishly he wished she would, but it fell on his shoulders. As well it should.
“Lenka, I . . . ” he started, but no more words came.
Her eyes lifted to his, glazed with emotion. Something pulled at his heart.
“Are you well?” Not much of a start.
She again peered at her hands. “Yes. I am writing Karin. She should know of the happenings in Prague.”
He nodded. “What will you tell her?” Avoiding the subject. Why did he act this way?
“Of the challenge issued to Sigismund by the Hussite nobles now that the armistice has expired.”
Petr swallowed hard. His personal efforts to make this peace agreement had been fervent. And he’d had every hope the peace would lead to a lasting truce. It had not. The nobles, previously hesitant to oppose Sigismund, seemed to no longer have such trepidations once Cenek double-crossed the Holy Roman Emperor.
“Do you think she knows that a Hussite officer has been sent to Poland?”
The Taborites were probably well aware of everything happening within the Czech lands. But it brought Lenka some amount of comfort to write these things to Karin, to have some news to share. So he shrugged.
The Lady And The Hussites (The Lady Bornekova Book 2) Page 13
