“Well, remember the story of Adam and Eve? Eve is the one who listened to the Serpent and took the fruit of the forbidden tree.”
“But you said Adam was with her. That she gave to him, and he ate it. He’d talked and walked with your god, he knew better than to listen to the serpent, and yet he stood by and watched the woman bring destruction to mankind.” She crossed her arms as though resolute. “I think Bertha’s motto still stands true.”
Chapter 13
Nicor Caves
“I’ll sit here and watch you.” John Ward clapped a firm hand on his son’s shoulder and muttered into his ear, “Mind you don’t shoot me.”
Peter laughed and waited for Philip to draw the bow. “Watch your stance, boy. You’ve gotten sloppy and out of practice.” To the boy’s father he added, “We expected him here last week, but then you came home…”
“He didn’t want to come so soon after Lady Evaline’s passing.”
“There’s something about that boy of yours. I can’t put my finger on it, but like Lord Morgan was saying the other day, he seems to belong here; he has the heart of a nobleman.” The head archer thought for a moment before he slapped his knee. “That’s what it is. Your boy isn’t just a nobleman in a commoner’s cottage. He’s at home wherever he is. Put him in a tavern, and he’d probably sing for his ale. Present him to the king or watch him play with that waif from the village, and he’s perfectly comfortable in either place.”
John nodded and started to reply, but Peter was off correcting Philip in his stance, his draw, and trying to improve the lad’s aim. A glance at a window showed Lord Morgan watching the instruction. John waved and pointed at the door. At the lord’s nod, Philip’s father strode to the door and spoke to the servant waiting there.
For an hour, Philip worked; every moment, he fought to land just one arrow away from the edge of the target. Most hit the outside edges or flew around or over the target, falling to the ground. The harder he worked to hit the target’s center, the further away his arrows flew. Eventually, he threw his bow down in defeat. Shame followed a horrified expression. Philip retrieved the bow, apologized, and unstrung the bow expertly.
“I can’t do it. I don’t know why I can’t, but I can’t.”
“You are giving up?”
“No. I am going to try to make my own bow. I’ll see if Tom Fletcher will make me a few practice arrows. I’m going to learn this—”
Peter waved his hands at the bow Philip offered. “Take it home and take five arrows with you. Work on it, and come back every Wednesday. You’ll learn.”
A boy, just about Dove’s age, dashed out of the back tower and raced to Peter’s side. “Lord Morgan wants Philip to come to him when you’re finished.”
Peter nodded at Philip’s unasked question. The boy led Philip through the castle, down corridors, and into the great hall. His father sat uncomfortably on a chair near the fire, speaking with Lord Morgan in hushed tones. “Ahh, here’s my boy.”
“I understand,” Lord Morgan said without a welcome, “that you’ve found my secret storehouse— you and your friends.”
“Your— secret—” Philip swallowed hard. “We thought pirates…”
“We wanted people to think that.”
Lord Morgan’s explanation was disappointing, but Philip was uncomfortable asking for further information. “I can see—”
“Can you? Why would we do this?” John Ward waited for his son to answer him.
The lad thought. He’d intended to state that he could see why his father hadn’t been as excited as he’d anticipated, but now his mind worked in new ways. “If we were raided— if we had a war, the castle would be the first place to ransack. With a place like that, you’d be able to have money and things to fight with, bargain with.”
“We keep food in there too, Philip. Not just exciting things like goblets and jewels.”
“Why—” The moment he said it, Philip regretted the words. It was none of his business, and he knew it.
“Why what?”
“It was rude, m’lord. I know better.”
“Ask it anyway.”
Hesitantly, the boy tried again. “I— I just wondered about the silk cloths. Wouldn’t those be ruined by the dampness and the salt air?”
The men laughed. John kicked the back of his son’s knees, making him sway awkwardly. Lord Morgan shook his head as he explained. “My daughter always discovers her birthday presents before the day, so this year, I’ve put them in the cave for the next week, so she may be surprised.”
“But she’s lame! How could she find them?”
“Aurelia is the favorite of everyone, especially the children, in this castle. They know every nook and cranny— every place I could possibly stash a gift. So, she sends them looking, and they report to her. This time, they’ll find a book I commissioned for you and Aurelia to use in your studies. Broðor Clarke did the pages, and I had them bound.”
“She won’t like a book,” Philip said, nodding. “That’s a good diversion.”
“And you? Will you like the book?”
Philip hung his head. “Probably not, but I think I’ll learn it easily enough. It seems to be the only thing I’m any good for.”
The men laughed at Philip’s utter distaste with learning. After a few minutes, Lord Morgan regained enough composure to try to reassure the lad. “You know Philip, it’s perfectly natural to want to be successful in active pursuits. Every boy wants to be a warrior, a knight, or at least an archer. They want to sail the seas, conquer new lands, or provide the means for others to do so, as the blacksmith, fletcher, and other men do.”
“I dreamed of being a knight when I was a boy,” John Ward confessed.
“You did! But how, I mean, we’re not—”
“Didn’t stop me from dreaming son. My fæder was a guard here, and I’d watch the knights arrive, wearing their swords at their sides and on fine horses. I’d imagine riding up to the castle, as though I belonged.”
“Were you disappointed to go to sea instead?” The question came in unison from Philip and Lord Morgan.
“No. I overheard you talking with your brother one day. He’d chosen the sea, and even I could see that he was afraid you’d consider it beneath him. You said something…”
The lord of Wynnewood Castle stared confused at Philip’s father. “I don’t remember that conversation. What did I say?”
“You said that a ship’s captain and his closest crew were like the knights and lord of the seas and that not all men were meant to oversee land. You said that the gods sometimes chose men to oversee and conquer the oceans too.”
“I do remember that. Why, you couldn’t have been older than Philip at that time.”
“I was just Philip’s age. I went out on Captain Sword’s ship that spring.”
Thoughtfully, Lord Morgan nodded. “That was Arthur’s first voyage.”
“Yes, m’lord. He was a little ill at first—”
Lord Morgan’s laughter interrupted John Ward’s attempt at discretion. “He came home weighing half what he did when he left. I doubt an hour passed when he didn’t lose what little he managed to get into his stomach.”
“Well, his next voyage was much better.”
“And you,” Lord Morgan asked curiously. “Were you ill?”
“Not a bit. For some reason, I was born for the sea. Never feel better than when I’m out there on the ocean. It’s an amazing sight. I was on all your brother’s ships,” John winced. “Except for the last.”
“Why—”
“Sick. I caught something horrible, almost died. They delayed a week for me, but I couldn’t go. I always felt like that delay is what—”
“Nonsense. If Almighty God wanted my brother in His care, then who am I to complain.”
“Did he believe?”
“Arthur? In the God of heaven and earth? Long before I did. I think, perhaps, that is why I listened to Broðor Clarke’s mentors. They gave me hope that my gods had never managed.”
“Philip believes,” John Ward said uncertainly. “His modor too. I am not so sure.”
Uncomfortable with his father’s dismissal of Lord Morgan’s faith, Philip cleared his throat. “So what trouble am I in now, m’lord? I found your hiding place.”
“After the twenty lashes, I think you’ll—” Lord Morgan couldn’t continue his joke after seeing the horrified expression on Philip’s face. “I am joking, boy. We have to remove the curiosity.”
“If we just tell the boys that the treasure is gone, they’ll tell everyone how they found it but were too late. We have to find a way to make them keep quiet.” John didn’t like the ominous sound of his words.
“I think Lord Morgan should call them up here and talk to them like he did me. They’re good lads. They won’t tell if they know it belongs to Lord Morgan and is for everyone’s benefit if we’re overrun by invaders.” He looked pleadingly at the men. “We wanted treasure that didn’t belong to the people who left it. We wanted what had been stolen so often that we couldn’t have returned it to the rightful owner if we tried. We didn’t want to steal!”
“My lord, to trust boys…”
“We’re not children, Fæder. We do have loyalties, and we do want to show we’re becoming men. How do we do that if we’re never given a chance?”
“Ok John, you may go. I’d like to keep Philip here and wait for the other boys to be summoned. I’ll take care of the situation. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.”
“Lads, I understand you’ve found pirate treasure.” Lord Morgan forced the twitch that threatened to undo his countenance back from where it came.
“Yes, m’lord! We saw them take bundle after bundle—” Angus kicked Liam to silence him. “Ouch! Well, we did! And it’s not like Lord Morgan doesn’t already know it.”
“Thanks to loudmouth Philip,” Angus muttered under his breath.”
“What’s your name? You with the muscles, your name?”
“Angus, m’lord.” His tone was less surly already. “At least Lord Morgan knows strength when he sees it,” he mused.
“Well, Angus, I see you are put out with your friend for telling me of the discovery of my caves.”
“Your caves, my lord?” Aubrey thanked the Lord of Heaven that he hadn’t stuttered.
“Yes. I am also here to thank you for refraining from stealing from me. Not everyone would be so honorable.”
The boys glanced at each other nervously. What did Lord Morgan mean? They’d planned to grab the loot from the caves as soon as possible, and if Philip told them about their knowledge of the caves, surely, he’d confessed their plans. When no one replied, Aubrey spoke again.
“We were going to. We thought it was stolen already, so it would be ok.”
“You thought stealing was lawful if someone else stole it first, you mean.”
“Yes, m’lord!” Liam grinned stupidly.
“Shut up, you fool!” Angus growled under his breath.
“Well, now,” Lord Morgan continued as though their confessions didn’t exist. “I need your help.”
The boys stared at one another awkwardly. “How can we help you, Lord Morgan?” Liam’s eyes were wide with curiosity and awe.
“I need my secret well protected. I cannot protect my people if my provisions for them are stolen from me. So, I need you boys to keep guard, tell all the tales you can about the dragon, and keep people from finding that cave. Can you do it?” Lord Morgan’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone as he spoke. He leaned forward and held each of the boys’ eyes with his own earnest expression. “I must be able to trust you, or…”
The boys exchanged nervous glances. Or what? Dungeons? Banishment to some horrible place? Locked in the cave with the dragon for a late afternoon snack?
“Or what?” The surly tone was back in Angus’ voice.
The other boys gave each other nervous sidelong glances as Lord Morgan stood before them, an imposing figure- all friendliness gone. “Or I will have you charged as conspirators to rob me. You’ll be tried for attempted robbery and hung.”
Suddenly, their brilliant plan to become rich from the misfortunes of others no longer seemed as enticing. Liam whimpered, Aubrey stuttered terribly, trying to promise his undying loyalty to Lord Morgan and his people, but Angus surprised them all. He squared his shoulders, looked Lord Morgan directly in the eye, and nodded solemnly. “I’ll serve you well, m’lord. We all will. No one will learn of your storehouse, and by the time we’re done terrifying the village with our tales of dragons and bones near that cave, no one will dare to go near it.”
He paused. Could he make the promise he wanted to make? “And, I’ll ask Philip to see if his freakish friend will keep watch. Just her showing up will scare people away.”
“Little Dove saved my Aurelia’s life. She is, and will always be, a friend to those in my house.”
The reprimand hit home. Angus shook his head. “Yes, m’lord. Old stories die slowly. I’m sorry, m’lord.”
“I have your cooperation, boys?”
A chorus of agreement echoed around the room. Liam nearly tore his tunic twisting it and jerking it nervously, but Angus interrupted asking, “Who do we come to with any information about the cave, m’lord?”
“Such as?”
“We overhear other children planning to visit anyway, or there are strangers in the area, or…”
“Send Dove to visit Aurelia. I’ll know if she arrives unexpectedly, that she’s been sent for this purpose, and I’ll speak to her. Make sure she knows everything I might need to know.” He pulled coins from a bag they hadn’t noticed and handed each of them several. “You’re being paid to keep my goods safe. Do not fail me, lads.”
As the great doors shut behind the boys, Broðor Clarke crept around the corner, laughing. “You had me in stitches, my lord. I hardly kept quiet enough to keep hidden.”
“They were confused. I think I had them going there for a minute.”
“I wonder if they’ll ever figure out that you’d never have them hung, even if they did steal from you.”
“It’s better,” Lord Morgan said wearily, “that they never learn that. If people think I’m weak, they’ll force me to become the overbearing lord that my father and grandfather were. I’d rather avoid that.”
“You paid them though. What made you do that?”
Lord Morgan handed Broðor Clarke a goblet of apple wine and gestured for the man to sit. “I wanted them to feel beholden to me rather than the reverse.”
“But you could have them killed. Surely, that is enough to make them loyal to a fault.”
Later that evening, Lord Morgan played Ferses with Aurelia moving pieces across the checkered board to be “kinged” “Dove will be sent to play with you, so if she comes to visit when no one expects her, make sure you have someone call me. It’s important.”
“They found the caves?”
“You know about the caves, Aurelia?” Lord Morgan’s voice was surprised.
“I know a lot more than you think, Father. When you don’t walk, people assume you can’t hear or think, but I know more about what goes on in this castle— even Wynnewood village— than you think I do.” She tossed her hair out of the way and jumped her father’s playing piece, taking it out of play. “And then there’s the little matter of silks in those caves getting destroyed by the salt and the damp. I’ll bet Philip left them open to the elements.”
“Why, you little vixen!” Lord Morgan laughed, his mirth belying his words. “You are incorrigible.”
“Yes, Father, I am. I learn your lessons well, do I not?”
Chapter 14
Hopes & Dreams
Large pieces of cloth— old rags sewn together with a dark centerpiece— were strung between trees. Philip took his bow, aimed at the center, and watched as the arrow disappeared from sight. Dove watched each move. They’d been practicing for over an hour, and now she thought she understood what the problem was.
“I’m going to redirect
your aim. I want you to take aim and be ready to let loose your arrow, but then I’ll adjust, and let’s see what the difference is.”
Standing behind him, she watched. As she expected, he aimed several inches too high, making it impossible to hit the target. She lowered the arrow, straightened his elbow, and whispered, “Release.”
The arrow struck the target to the top left of the middle but still piercing the darker center by an inch. Philip whooped. “I was sure it’d hit the ground.”
“You can’t see the center Philip. Not where it truly is. That’s why you have so much trouble with a sling.”
“I don’t have trouble seeing it,” he protested indignantly. “It’s right there.”
“Oh, I know you see it,” Dove continued patiently. “I have no doubt of that; but I’ve heard Bertha say that some people’s eyes don’t work the same as others. Some people see double, some people see clearly, when something is far away, but not so clearly up close. Others can see fine if it’s near, but it gets blurry or distorted far away. Your eyes don’t blur when things are far, but your eyes do shift things slightly.”
Even as she spoke, Philip knew Dove must be right. There was no reason that all his arrows should consistently be high and to the right of the targets, unless he couldn’t see the target as it was. “I’ll never learn to shoot then. Why practice if I can’t do it?”
“Now you’re just being stupid.” Dove pulled the familiar white hood farther over her head and pulled her arms through the slits in the sides. Grabbing her cloth that held a snack for the afternoon, she stalked toward the trees without another word.
Philip stood in shock watching her leave. What had he said? Did she truly expect him to keep shooting at a target he was destined to miss? What did she want from him anyway? It infuriated him that yet another of his dreams was denied him. He’d hoped, when he allowed himself the luxury of an imaginary stroll into the future, that somehow, he’d learn to be an excellent archer, and Lord Morgan would install him in the castle as one of its defenders. Archers were respected, and anyone could do it if they had the skill, unlike knights who must be nobility.
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