Scold's Claim

by Marie Hall

  "Look now," he said.

  Io opened her eyes and stared. She wasn't seeing what she thought she saw. It wasn't possible. But then the little mess of a horse before her stretched out her neck and nickered softly. Io swayed on her feet and tears filled her eyes and rolled over her lashes. "Xavier?" she gasped out even as she shook her head in denial of what was right before her eyes.

  "It is Wednesday, Io."

  "No," she gasped and shook her head harder.

  "Yes, look it is your Wednesday," Xavier insisted even as the black and white mare stepped forward and stretched again trying to reach Io.

  "Wednesday is dead, sent to slaughter." She tried to stop it, but the sob slipped out and she slapped her hands over her mouth.

  "It is Wednesday. The tanner, umm…"

  "Bart?" Io mumbled, her hands still over her mouth.

  "Bart, yes. Bart didn't slaughter her. He couldn't. He gave her to his sister to use," Xavier said as he put a hand on her back and urged her forward. "I went to the sister and bought her back."

  The gentle mare got close enough to nibble at her dress, something she did to see if Io had an apple in her pocket. Wednesday really was standing before her. She was a dirty, tangled mess, but this was her horse. Xavier did as he said, he made it right. "Wednesday," Io sobbed then stepped against the mare's warm chest and wrapped her arms around her neck.

  She wasn't sure how long she stood there hugging the animal, but the loud gasp from behind made her step away. It still might not be safe to let anyone know how much she cared for her horse.

  "My lord?" Randolph, the horse master stepped forward. "Is that little Wednesday? She is alive." Io didn't miss the man's obvious joy. "She is in a terrible state. I will get the grooms on her straight away." He reached for the rope.

  "Xavier?"

  "She will stay safe." He smiled at her, and as Randolph led the animal away, Io rushed into Xavier's arms.

  "You did it. You said you would make it right and you did." She pressed her face against him and then rubbed the happy tears away. He put his arms around her then started to laugh softly. When she looked up, he was looking down, and shaking his head at her.

  "I did nothing."

  "You saved Wednesday."

  "You saved Wednesday, all I did was bring her home."

  "No, she was supposed to die because of me."

  "She was set to die, but because of you she lived," Xavier said, setting her away from him. "Io, she is alive because you showed the people here kindness. Because you gave them respect. You made the people care if you were wronged. Bart thought the request to end your mare suspicious, he didn't think you would kill her without a reason. He thought you might come for her, but he didn't think it would take so long, and he didn't want to appear to have disobeyed if it had been what you wanted. It is only because we did not think to ask we did not have her back sooner." Xavier bent down to look straight at her. "You saved her, Io, not me. You."

  Was that possible? Io wasn't sure, and at the moment, she didn't care. Wednesday was back, the house was almost back as it should be, and Xavier would stand with her. At the moment, she couldn't think of anything more she should be concerned about. But moments were rather short lived.

  Io pushed the door open and stepped into Xavier's private rooms. She'd not been in here much now that they again shared the lord's chambers. A fact that pleased them both, even if the bed was still a problem. Io bit her lip to keep from giggling at the memory of Xavier getting wedged between the matrices and the frame when he rolled over this morning. His struggle to get free had her laughing so hard her sides cramped, and she'd not been able to escape when Xavier came to take his revenge on her for laughing. Not that she ever wanted to escape that sort of retribution.

  Biting down a little harder on her lip, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and willed away the thought. She did have things to accomplish this morn and standing about thinking on her husband's touch, his lips his finger, his…

  "Oooh, stop now," Io chided herself and pushed the door wide open so she couldn't be tempted to take a seat in the big chair, where Xavier's scent lingered, and do more than think of what he did to her. Crossing to the window, she purposefully sped up her pace as she passed the chair. She had a reason for being in here and she was going to get to it.

  Pushing the shutters aside allowed light to spill into the room. Io made her way to the hearth where she most suspected she'd find her necklace. The last time she had it was when she was in here before the trouble with Sir Harmond was cleared up. Again Io bit her lip to keep the giggles inside. That man bore her not even a heartbeat of ill will for her false accusations. And he'd proven it by sitting with her again and soundly trouncing her two out of three games then declaring them all equal in wins.

  Io gave the mantle a thorough search and then the floor. Turning, she searched the low table sitting in front of the chairs and the two beside them. She was certain she'd taken it off and left it here. Thinking maybe Xavier found it, she moved to his massive desk. The lovely charm was in the first box she lifted the lid on. Xavier must have placed it there and forgotten to return it.

  Io pulled the necklace from the box and the fine blue ribbon she'd found from her pocket. Xavier had the charm on such a delicate chain Io feared constantly it'd break and she'd lose the gift. She'd exchanged the chain for the ribbon, making it more secure around her neck.

  The exchange went quick and Io placed the gold chain back in Xavier's box. She'd no care to keep it. Like most of his fine jewelry, she didn't wear such things. Io bowed her head and tied the ribbon, but even as her fingers secured the knot, her eyes caught sight of the stack of documents on the desk. The bold word at the top of the first turned her cold.

  Death.

  Io let her eyes scan the paper once, then again. Still she couldn't believe what she read. Her hands trembled as she lifted the parchment and again the top of the document made the same declaration. Death. The first had been for Mistress Hester Napp, the second was for Sir Royace Douxmont. Io slid that to the side and again the single word practically screamed at her. Death. She didn't bother reading for a name, just moved that page to the side and the next and the next.

  "No, no, no." It couldn't be that her husband had condemned eleven people to die. There was no justification for it. None. She was still alive. No one needed to lose their life because of her, because they disliked her.

  Snatching up the papers, Io ran from the room. The last few days, the number of men who watched her had dwindled, so the hall was clear of people as she raced through towards the front of the house. She didn't even pause when she heard her name shouted by the two men who still stood guard. She could hear their feet pounding behind her, but that didn't slow her. Across the great hall and down through the entry, lifting her skirts higher, she flew down the steps, touching only half of those hard stones before gaining her footing in the slick mud at the bottom. Her shoes, stockings and feet became soaked and cold, but she continued to run. At the gates separating the inner and outer baileys, she cut hard to the right, dodging the hands of the men commanded by her own guard, who tried to stop her.

  The row of twelve narrow, well-built buildings housing a majority of the men who served the house seemed utterly restful. With the sun shining on the front entries and snow piled to the sides, Io couldn't understand how any such horror could be playing out in any of them. But Mark said two of them would be used to hold anyone accused of trying to hurt her. She looked down the line now. Most everyone was gone for the day, training or seeing to more personal matters. She didn't have time to look in every building. At the second to last building, Io watched a soldier, dressed in full leathers and armor carry a bucket towards the entry. Io wasted no time. She headed straight for that door.

  "My lady?" the soldier shouted, dropping the bucket and reaching out to stop her before she could get inside.

  "Let go of me," Io yelled and struggled to get loose.

  "My lady, you cannot go inside
," the man told her firmly, but the look of relief on his face was clear as both Roth and Cuttler finally stepped up. Winded as they were, they grabbed her and tried to still her.

  "Lady Io, you need to come back to the house," Roth reasoned, reaching for her.

  "No," Io yelled, twisting back. "I will have an explanation for this. I will know what madness has seized you all that you would allow it."

  "Allow what, my lady?" Cuttler asked as his hand clamped down on her arm.

  "This," she nearly screamed the word as she thrust the handful of parchment out. "This is…" her voice cracked, "it cannot happen. I do not want this."

  Roth took the sheets from her hand. His expression hardly changing when he realized what they were. He made a slow showing of trying to press out the wrinkles her grip caused and making the stack neat again. "You should not have these, my lady," he said. "They have been signed and witnessed and are official records now. Your lord husband will need to have them for tomorrow's duties."

  Tomorrow? Io's sob slipped out and she jerked free to slap her hand over her mouth so no one could hear. "No," she whispered, shaking her head in denial. "No!" She spoke with more force, and before any could act, she spun around and went straight through the door.

  The burn in her chest made breathing hard and tears rolled down her cheeks at the sight. The beds and trunks and other personal items used by the soldiers that once filled this room, to make this building comfortable, were gone. The entire area was stripped bare of any comfort the thirteen people now chained to the walls could have used. Not even a blanket was in view. Only two chairs at the far end and those were used by the guards on watch.

  Io's eyes swept the room, but tears blurred her vision and faces were hard to make out. Weeping from the corner drew her attention. Wiping the back of her hand over her face, she made out Hester, Edmee and Tilla huddled together.

  "My lady?" Roth said, coming up behind her. He took her by the elbow and tried to draw her back. "Come, you should not be here."

  "What is this?" she whispered, trying to wipe her face enough she might look more in command than she felt.

  "My lady, come." Roth again tugged on her.

  "No. I am not leaving until this matter is settled," Io snapped.

  "The matter is settled, my lady," Cuttler announced. "Our lord has made the decree. It is settled."

  Roth again gave her a tug, but Io shook off his hold and stepped further into the room. These people were going to die, tomorrow, if she didn't find her strength and fast.

  "This matter is not settled. I am mistress here am I not?" Io said, pulling her shoulders back and squaring off to face the men staring at her like she had two heads. "I did not agree to this." Spinning around, she headed towards the men sitting in stunned silence in the chairs. "You have the keys?"

  "Keys, my lady?" one man asked, coming to his feet and bowing formally.

  "To these locks. Do you have the keys to unchain these people?"

  "I have them, my lady," the other man said, standing and also bowing.

  Io thrust out her hand. "Give them to me."

  "No." Io spun around again at the sound of Gunther's voice. "Lady Io, I would have you gone from here."

  "And I would have you remember I am your lady," Io countered and again faced the man with the keys. "Give them to me."

  "You will disregard that command," Gunther said, causing the soldier to shift uncomfortably.

  "You will stop countering my authority," Io snarled at the man Xavier put in charge of her wellbeing. "I demand those keys. I want this ended now."

  "It is not yours to end, Lady Io," Gunther said, setting his hands on her shoulders and forcing her to face him. "Your husband's authority overrules yours. This is his will, his command and it is justified. There is no one here who has not earned the sentence given."

  "Are you mad," Io shrieked and pointed to the women sobbing hysterically now. "Those are women." She turned and pointed to the two prisoners on the opposite side. "They are boys." She spat out the words.

  "They are women who tried to murder you with poison. Twice," Gunther ground out. "And they are men who forsook their oath to this house and committed treason which directly led to your harm." Gunther's hand clamped down hard on her arm, and with some force, he began dragging her out.

  "I will not have this," she cried, digging in her heels. "I will not have any death on my conscience." She struggled to pull free, but Gunther was as wise to her tricks as Xavier.

  "Then you will let it be on mine," Xavier announced as he stepped inside and brought the struggle to an end. "Though I doubt any sleep will be lost."

  "Xavier, no," Io said, rushing to him as soon as Gunther’s grip went slack. "There is no need for this."

  "No need? They have committed treason, they tried to murder you. There is more than a need; there is a rich desire to see them gone."

  "Then set them out, my lord," Io pleaded. "Set them out. Make them go. Do not take their lives because of me."

  "Set them out?" She heard him say with almost some humor. "Set them out to try and hurt you again? I think not. I think too, I am being most merciful that I am not inclined at the moment to see them drawn and quartered rather than simply hanged from the gallows."

  Io's breath caught and a real fear rolled through her. This man standing before her, this man who'd made her laugh then cry out with joy and pleasure only hours before, this man now was the very man the entire kingdom feared. He was the king's own devil. But God help her, she wasn't repulsed at the knowledge. Perhaps because she knew him differently. She knew him more reasonably, kindly, gently. She knew he gave her wants and needs consideration.

  "Xavier, please I beg you, please."

  "Give me those," Xavier said and Io watched him hold out his hand for the death warrants she'd carried with her. Once he had them, he forced Io around so she faced the room, but he stepped closer so she could feel his solid strength behind her. Holding one sheet out before them, he let his voice boom as he read. "Hester Napp, accused of the attempted murder of a noble lady by poisoning. Evidence, witnesses and confession." He put a hard emphasis on the last word. Then handed that sheet off to Roth as he held out another. "Dale Filmore, accused of treason. Failure to deliver critical messages to ranking landholders and to his liege lord. Evidence, documents found in his belongs and witnesses. He too, confessed." Again the word ‘confessed' was stressed. Xavier continued on, reading again from each document. Naming the accused, the crime and the evidence.

  By the fifth name, Io could barely stand for the body wracking sobs. How was it she'd failed so many, so fully, they willingly took part in trying to end her life? What had she done so wrong as to cause this?

  "…accused of dereliction of duty as gate guard, allowing Lady Io to enter the ground without question with no guards present. Evidence, duty rosters of the day in question admittance of presence at gates. Gabe Natow, accused of dereliction of duties as gate guard, allowing Lady Io to enter the grounds without question—"

  "Wait," Io jerked away and snatched the warrant Xavier currently held away. Wiping her eyes on her shoulders she carefully focused on the words. "This is wrong," she said. "This is wrong. I have never gone through the gates without escort. This is wrong. You accuse these men wrongly." She searched the room now for the man who life was being dictated by this paper. She found him sitting midway along the wall. Not looking particularly stressed by what was about to happen to him.

  "Io, you slipped away from your guard the day you fled the house," Gunther's reminder was unnecessary. "We all know you came back. You changed clothes and took your belongings. Five men were on duty that day and that night. They let you in and back out without your guard."

  "No," Io said, turning to face Xavier. "No, they did not."

  "Do you deny you came back to the house?" Xavier asked, looking her directly in the face, and daring her to lie about her actions.

  "No, no I came back, but…" She stopped, knowing her next words might have h
er neck wrung. Better hers then innocent people. "I came back, but I did not come through the gates. I knew I would be stopped and held. Someone would be sent for you. I could not have that."

  "What did you do?" Roth asked with a nervous chuckle. "Go over the wall somewhere?"

  Io dropped her chin and looked at the floor. Eighteen strokes with the cane was easy penance. "I went under it," she said softly.

  Io suddenly found herself outside with Xavier standing threateningly over her. "What do you mean you went under?"

  Others were crowding in now. From the corner of her eye, she saw both Mark and Lucas and assumed the others were close by as well. At least if Xavier did want to snap her neck, they'd be close enough to stop him.

  "There is a tunnel from the back yards out beyond the walls."

  A loud wave of grumbling and several curses erupted around her. Xavier took her arm, marching her towards the back of the house. "Show me," he almost snarled. Io had no choice now. And if this ruined the way Xavier felt for her, she'd have no one to blame but herself.

  Chapter 17

  Xavier looked back over his shoulder. Io sat bundled against the wind on the horse with Ian. The snow in this small field was almost waist deep to him. It'd been a struggle for the horses to come out this far.

  Turning back, he looked where Io assured him his men would emerge. He'd no idea the tunnel Io used to escape existed. She didn't seem to think anyone knew of it as she was the only one to use it. Drawing in a deep breath, he forced his grip on his sword hilt to relax.

  At the moment, he truly wanted this to end as nothing but a ploy by his wife to try and spare the gate guards their skin. Io's complete upset over the sentences baffled him. He'd been clear, on more than one occasion, when he found those responsible, they'd die. He'd not thought Io would think any other option available. He never thought his wife would protest as she did. Only Gunther's interference stopped her releasing all those he justly convicted and sentenced.