She stared into her bowl, which was now covered in a black sludge, and shivered. “It was the essence of a damned soul. One who has but recently arrived in Hell. That is who bought your poison. I have no name of the poison maker for you.” She muttered a spell and waved her hands wide. “It is a witch from far away. I would guess Ireland.”
“I could have guessed that.” Fergus scoffed. “We are wasting our time here, lass. I’ve seen enough of this witch’s tricks.”
“I recognized the spirit who attacked me, Fergus.” I tried to run my hands through my hair. Mercy had put it in braids and made a pretty crown of it this evening. Now it was loose and tangled. “That was Zarah’s lover. The man who shot me with the arrow. He never gave us his name.”
“He is in Hell now.” Helen got up from the table and stared down at the contents of her bowl. “I have one answer for you. To help you find the one who wants you dead now. Your spy in the castle.” She pointed to the mess in the bowl. “Look you.”
Fergus and I gawked at the sludge. Could it be? Not a word, but there was a letter in the mess that still bubbled and reeked.
“’M.’” I wanted to heave the bowl out the door. “Is there any more common letter in the names of the men in the castle?” I wanted to cry. All this trouble and pain for that. Fergus might call it a trick but the thing had hit me hard. I ached from the top of my head where it had pulled my hair almost from the roots, to my toes, where it had stomped my feet.
“You are right, Gloriana.” Fergus glared at Helen then at the bowl. “Useless. MacDonald, McFee, MacTavish, McGovern, McKnight, McCall, I could go on and on.” He reached for the bowl as if to smash it against the wall.
“Don’t touch it.” Helen stood in front of it. “I have given you all that I can.” She snatched up my coin and pointed at the door. “It’s time for you to leave.” She was clearly feeling the effects of that visit from the underworld. Her face was pale and she held onto her stomach as if she was about to lose its contents.
“Thank you, Helen.” I pressed yet another coin into her hand. “I know this wasn’t easy for you. Now give back the arrow. Jeremiah will expect to see it again.”
She sighed and poured more water into her bowl. The sludge cleared but the arrow wasn’t there. “Where is it? It should still be here.” She began to look around the table, searching under it and around while Fergus and I watched. At first, she seemed merely irritated that she couldn’t find it, then she waved her hands and muttered incantations. A finding spell, she explained. When her cat ran in through the open door, she picked it up and seemed to communicate with it.
“Gone! The arrow is gone.” She put the cat on the floor and collapsed into her chair. “Evil has entered my home and taken it. This is all your fault, Gloriana St. Clair. Leave here. I have a protective spell to make. My last one clearly wasn’t strong enough.” Her gaze was haunted. “Be careful. This enemy won’t rest until it has you. That much I do see.”
Fergus dragged me outside. “Don’t listen to her, Gloriana. Witches love to make you worry. It’s all a show put on so you’ll give them more coin. Worked, didn’t it?”
“Where is the arrow then?” I wasn’t moving willingly. “Do you want to go back and look for it?”
“For all I know she’s hidden it in her robes. The woman could have half the armory in there and we wouldn’t be able to tell.” Fergus glanced back at the hut when the door slammed. “You know I’m not about to search the body of a witch. Or any woman. Definitely not the body of a beautiful one. Maggie would not like it and I might like it too much.” He glanced back at the hut. “Witch’s wiles. I don’t trust them.”
“You are right to be wary.” Did all men have a weakness for beautiful women? Even steadfast Fergus? I noticed a boat setting out from Jeremiah’s ship. Was that him with his father being rowed ashore? Just my luck to be caught outside the witch’s hut. “Hurry. I don’t want to be here when that boat hits the beach.”
“Surely you are going to tell Jeremiah what just happened.” Fergus gave me a searching look. “If you don’t, I will. He needs to know. Yes, he will fuss, but, even useless, the witch’s clue is something to consider.”
“Really? By my count, Helen’s just eliminated perhaps three men in the castle with her letter ‘M’.” I was in a foul mood and didn’t feel like apologizing for it. When Flo appeared on the path, I wasn’t even surprised.
“You know I waited to see who the bear was that threatened us.” Flo glared at Fergus. “If it had been someone who meant you harm, I would have stayed and helped you fight.”
“Thank you, Flo.” I found a smile for her. “As you saw, the bear was my old friend Fergus. He noticed Valdez at last meal and drew his own conclusions. Gods forbid I should be allowed to take a walk outside without an armed guard.”
“Just doing my duty, lass. You should be grateful, not complain about it.” Fergus kept his hand on his knife. He hadn’t worn a sword but then guarding me had been a last-minute decision. “Step lively. I have things to do at the castle and have spent enough time with you this night.”
“So sorry to have kept you from more important work.” I linked my arm through Flo’s. “You should have seen what happened at the witch’s house, Flo. Look at me. I was attacked by an evil spirit.” I could feel my hair was down from its pretty braids and in a tangle.
“That she was.” Fergus nodded. “It was a sight I’ll not soon forget. Made me feel right helpless against it, truth be told. If I was Jeremiah, I’d see if locking you in your bedchamber would keep you safe, Gloriana. You’re a menace, girl, make no mistake about it.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Neither could Flo. She lit into Fergus, calling him something in Italian that I was glad the man obviously didn’t understand.
“All I did was witness Zarah taking her own life.” I tried to defend myself.
“To be fair, Glory. You shot her first and ruined her arm.” Flo sounded like she was going to let me take the blame for this.
“The pirates were attacking us. They started it!” Now I sounded childish. But it was the truth. I had been defending the castle.
“Very true.” Fergus took my elbow to hurry us along. “You are a fine shot. It is the talk of the castle. Every man whose name starts with the letter ‘M’ knows it. Putting you down makes a point for the pirates. They need a win, badly, to keep fear in the hearts of those who live along the coast. I see that.” Fergus delivered us to the gate where Valdez stood waiting. He did not look happy. No, he was fuming.
“Relax, lad. I handled things. But you know the woman will not be tame. You cannot trust a word she says.” He quickly filled Valdez in on what had happened in Helen’s hut. Flo listened wide-eyed.
“You were touched, beaten by an evil spirit?” She crossed herself. Then she sniffed my hair. “Pah, you even have the stench of that sinful soul on you. Go and wash your hair, take a long soak. Get it off of you, every bit of it!” She stepped back and crossed herself again.
Valdez looked almost amused. Except he was still angry. “You deceived me. You knew you were forbidden to see that witch and yet off you went. Thank God for Fergus.” He waved the man away. “He has duties here he neglected in order to take care of you. You are my responsibility.” He looked through the gate. “Here comes Jeremiah and Laird Campbell. Once again, your lover should fire me.”
“I can’t meet him smelling like this. I’m going inside to the bathing tower. I promise to tell him what happened. Later.” I ran into the castle, waving good-bye to Flo. I knew Valdez would follow me and that would delay his confession to Jeremiah. I gave quick instructions to Mercy for a bath in the tower then stopped in my bedchamber for a robe.
“You had better confess all. I will give you until tomorrow night. Meanwhile, Fergus and I will be checking men with ‘M’ in their names.” Valdez followed me up the stairs to the tower. “The list is endless. The witch was not helpful when all was said and done, was she?”
“Don’t start
complaining now, Valdez. I had to try. Surely you see that.” I moved out of the way as a parade of maids and lads brought up buckets of water to fill the large tub in the tower room. The fire was stoked and Mercy brought a kettle to put on the hob.
“It’s already warm, mistress.” She exclaimed over my hair. “Let me brush out the tangles.” She pushed me down on the stool and began working with the brush.
“Did I hear Valdez say you have been to see the witch in the village?” She shuddered and touched her stomach. “This is not the first time you’ve had dealings with such as that. I want to serve you but I can’t risk any harm coming to my babe.”
“I’m done with the witch, Mercy. I came very close to evil this night and it scared me.” I took the brush from her. “Go. I still reek of what seemed to come out of Hell itself, according to Flo. That’s why I’m bathing. I don’t want you or your babe near it.” I realized she was already halfway to the door. “Your time would be best served by helping Lady Anne prepare for her wedding tomorrow.”
Mercy nodded. “Thank you, mistress. I know it may be foolish superstition to some, but I don’t want to expose my child to such evil.” She flushed. “Colin and I, well, we are coming to an understanding. He says he will raise the child as his own, if you can believe it. He claims to love me and I certainly love him.” She gripped the door handle. “He is so wonderful!”
“Oh, Mercy, I am glad for you. I think a lot of Colin. I believe he will be a fine husband for you and a good father for the babe.” I realized tears had come to my eyes. I was thrilled this decent girl was finding a happy solution to her problem.
“I think so too, mistress. I have known him all my life. His family and my family live near each other. If we do decide to return to Dollar, it will be a wonderful life for my little one.” She stroked her bulging stomach. “I am so happy.”
“If you wish to marry, Mercy, the priest will be here tomorrow.” I glanced at Valdez. “If you are afraid to ask Colin if he is willing to say his vows, perhaps Valdez can see what he thinks about it.”
“Mistress Gloriana! You have no idea what that would mean to me.” Mercy’s smile was radiant. “If I come home married someday, my ma would be able to hold her head high, not be shamed by what I’ve done.”
“I’ll talk to the man. I know he thinks highly of you, Mistress Mercy.” Valdez walked to the door. “I’ll be outside now. Wedding talk must wait for daylight, you understand that.” The two were talking as the door closed on them.
I carefully worked the tangles from my hair then poured the steaming water into the tub. I swirled it around with the long-handled paddle left there for the purpose then tested it with my finger. Would I ever feel clean again? I scrubbed myself with my favorite rose soap everywhere the evil had touched me then dipped my head under the water to rinse.
Finally, I felt clean. It was heavenly. Hmm. Heaven. Did I believe in it? I must if I could withstand the evil that had pounded me. I studied the bruises on my arms and legs. I knew they would heal with a night’s sleep, but they were evidence that I hadn’t imagined that malignant spirit that had punished me and tried to kill me.
The door creaked open and I slumped down in the water, covering myself with my hands. Could it come here? Surely, I was safe with Valdez at the door. The man who frowned at me when he walked inside made me wonder if I’d finally gone too far. He wasn’t evil but dangerous none the less when he noticed the marks on my arms.
20
“ Y ou just don’t care how much you worry me, do you?” Jeremiah stood next to the door. “Don’t look at me with those big blue eyes. I won’t be cozened.”
“I had to find out who poisoned that arrow, Jeremiah. You knew I wasn’t going to meekly obey you and just forget about it.” I stood and let the water run down my body. The horror of how close I’d come to evil hit me. I sobbed, biting down on my knuckles.
“Damn you, I can’t stay angry when you do that and you know it.” He stepped closer.
“No, stop.” I choked that out while I grabbed the pitcher of water I’d placed on the stool beside the tub. “I, I have to rinse.” I sobbed again but closed my eyes then dumped the cold water over my head, ridding myself of the last vestiges of evil. I hoped so anyway. Was it truly gone?
My hand was shaking when I set the empty pitcher back on the stool and stepped out of the tub. Shivering, I reached for a drying cloth.
“Gloriana.” Jeremiah gently wrapped me in the cloth and held me close, his chin resting on top of my head. “I’m sorry you suffered.” He felt warm against my cold body. Stroking me while he tried to soothe my fears away, he held me until I stopped shivering.
“Come, let me carry you to our bed.”
I couldn’t speak, just nodded. He picked me up, careful to keep me well covered, and called for Valdez to open the door. Then he walked down the steps, past at least three guards and a curious Lady Anne, down the steps to our bedchamber.
“Is Gloriana all right?” Lady Anne asked before Jeremiah could take me inside. “Mercy wouldn’t tell me anything, just said she’d had a fright.”
“She did. Now she needs to rest.” He nodded and Valdez opened our door. “Gloriana? Are you all right?” He had learned to let me speak for myself. I counted that as a minor miracle.
“I will be after I’ve rested. Just a little bruised in body and spirit.” I saw Captain Burnett standing behind Anne. “I will see you tomorrow night at your wedding. Is all ready for it?”
“Yes.” Anne turned to her captain. “The bishop arrived tonight. We are meeting with him in a little while.” She tried to look worried for me but couldn’t hide her smile. “Thank you again, Lord Campbell, for your help with Clyne.”
“Don’t speak of it. Truly. Now I must get Gloriana to bed.” Jeremiah frowned down at me. “She went to see that damned witch tonight and had the scare of her life. I hope we can all agree that such visits are not advisable.”
Anne gasped. “Gloriana! I will pray for you. Please don’t go there again. I have promised Malcolm I am done with such foolishness.”
“Not so much foolishness as danger.” Malcolm put his arm around Anne. “Look at Mistress Gloriana. She is pale and her cheek is bruised. I would like to see all witches sent to Edinburgh for trial. I believe the king shares my view. Hanging or the stake. That’s what they deserve.”
“Jeremiah, I am so tired.” I wiggled in his arms. I’d heard enough. This condemnation of witchcraft was a common sentiment in Scotland and England. Captain Burnett was right about one thing. The king had promised church leaders to do something about what they saw as the spread of evil across the land. It didn’t matter if the witch did good, helping her village with her healing skills. It seemed many feared what they didn’t understand so they decided to rid themselves of it.
I’d heard there were many witches already languishing in the Edinburgh dungeon. Soon there would be a mob after Helen if word leaked that I’d come out of her hut hurt and upset. And if those people realized vampires lived among them? I shivered. The witch hunt could spread to include anyone who was different or who had an unusual talent.
“Excuse us.” Jeremiah carried me inside. “I can read you easily, Gloriana. You want to protect that witch. Very well. I’ll spread the word that you were not harmed by her, but by what Fergus tells me was a chance encounter with a bear in the forest. We’ll say you ran from it and fell.”
He lay me in the bed then kissed the bruise on my cheek. “Look at you. You took a serious beating. By some kind of spirit?” He examined one of my arms and frowned at the marks there. “How is that even possible?”
“It seemed real at the time. I don’t know, Jeremiah.” I sensed we were not alone.
“I should have been there.” Valdez stood near the door.
“Yes, you should have been. But Fergus was and could do nothing.” Jeremiah tucked the covers firmly around me. “Just let this be a lesson to you, Valdez. Gloriana is not to be trusted. If you must, call her out as a liar, but
follow her wherever she goes. No exceptions.” Jeremiah waved him away. “Now leave us. I only keep you on because my woman likes you. The less I see your ugly face, the better for you.”
Valdez wisely shut the bedchamber door, no doubt taking his place in the hall.
“You cannot blame Valdez for my tricks, Jeremiah.” I yawned, suddenly exhausted. Was it close to sunrise? I had lost all sense of how long this night had been. It had seemed like we’d spent hours in the witch’s hut but it could have been only minutes. I suppose it must be nearly sunrise or Jeremiah wouldn’t have come away from his ship. I asked him about the progress he’d made on repairs but never heard his answer before I fell asleep.
Jeremiah shook me awake. “I’m worried, Gloriana. Vampires don’t sleep, they die at sunrise. That is still an hour away. How are you feeling?”
I yawned again. “Tired. I can’t believe I slept.” I sat up. Still naked, I looked around our bedchamber. I saw that Jeremiah must have had a tub brought in and bathed and I hadn’t heard a thing.
“I came back early from the ship so we could spend more time together.” He climbed into bed and pulled me into his arms. “You haven’t answered me to my satisfaction. How do you feel besides tired?” He raised the covers. “You haven’t healed yet. I can see your bruises as clearly as when you first came from the witch’s hut. Obviously, you just slept like a mortal instead of enjoying a healing death sleep. I wonder if this might be a lingering effect of the poison.”
I took a mental inventory of my body. Aches from where I’d hit the floor in Helen’s house. Pain in my scalp from where the spirit had pulled my hair. And those bruises… I truly had not healed at all.
“I hurt everywhere. I think I need blood, Jeremiah. Do you mind?” I reached for him and pulled his head toward me. “Perhaps that will help me heal.”
“I will be happy to let you drink from me.” He kissed me deeply then grimaced. “You taste different. Strange.”
Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates Page 25