She stared at the parchment. It was old, wrinkled by the passage of time. She ran a finger over the lines. What was written here that was worth dying over? There was one man in the village that Lia trusted enough to read it to her. Father Stephen. She just wanted to know what it said and then she would bury it so no one else would find it.
She forgave him. The words Lia had spoken to him played over and over in his thoughts. Kade didn’t understand how his mother could forgive him when he would never forgive himself. Still, that wasn’t what caused him the previous sleepless night. It was the other words she had spoken. ‘Don’t let them find him. They can’t get it.’ Find him? The dead knight? It had to be. That was what Ralf told him his mother and father were arguing about. His father hadn’t found the knight, he did. But the second part of the message still confused him… ‘They can’t get it.’ What did that mean? He had searched the fallen knight, but couldn’t find anything worthy of protection.
He rubbed his eyes. There was one person at the center of all of it. Lia. She had found the dead knight. Had he given her something to protect? Even if he hadn’t, Kade wanted to speak to her. He wanted to learn more about his mother, about what she said, every word. What kind of injuries she had. Why Lia couldn’t save her. His heart twisted. He bowed his head over his morning meal of porridge.
The door opened and closed.
The brown-haired little girl who waited on him jumped up from the hearth in excitement. “Lia!” she greeted.
Kade looked up in time to see the child wrap her small arms around Lia’s thin waist. Lia’s red hair was wound tightly in a braid behind her back, but small stray locks had come free of the confinement, trailing down her slender neck. Kade’s heart quickened at the sight of her small, but lithe form.
Lia embraced the girl tightly. “I brought you some lavender, Alice,” she said.
“You did?” The child pulled back to look up at her.
Lia handed the girl a handful of purple stemmed flowers as Ned came in the front door carrying an arm full of fire wood. He smiled. “Good morn, Lia!”
“Good day to you, Ned.”
Kade stood, drawing her attention. Surprise crossed her wide, large blue eyes before she approached him.
She put her hands behind her back. “I thought you would have returned to the castle.”
He watched appreciatively the way her hips swayed before he acknowledged her words. “And miss Ned’s ale? Never!”
Ned grinned.
In truth, Kade knew Ned was grateful for the patronage and the coin. And he had no desire to return to his father’s castle. “What are you doing in the village?”
“I’ve brought flowers for the knight’s grave.”
“Do you mind if I accompany you?”
She shook her head. “Not at all.” She waved to Alice who was inhaling the scent of the lavender, and Ned as he put the wood near the hearth, before heading for the door.
Kade held the door open for her.
He closed the door behind her and took up pace beside her. Her red hair shone in the bright sunlight. “I wanted to thank you for the message from my mother.”
Lia nodded. “She was a kind woman.”
Kade nodded, remembering the warmth in his mother’s smile. “What kind of injuries did she have?”
Lia glanced at him, but remained silent.
“You said you ministered to her.”
“M’lord –”
“Kade. Please.”
Lia nodded. She looked away from him as if contemplating. “She was prone to…accidents.”
Kade stiffened. His jaw clenched. “Is that what you ministered to her for?”
“There were many times I visited the castle over the last years. She fell. She hit her head. She even broke her arm once.”
Kade clenched his fist. He hated his father, painfully aware that he was the primary cause of these so-named accidents. But he hated himself more. “I should have been there.”
She gently touched his wrist. “Even if you were, there was nothing you could have done for her.”
Even her gentle touch didn’t soothe his guilty conscious. “I could have…” Kade stopped. “Protected her from… her falls.”
“You couldn’t have protected her all the time.” Her gaze swept his face. “It would have been you instead of her and she would never have allowed that.”
Kade reeled back, his mouth opened in surprise. Did she know the truth? Did she know it was his father’s fists that had inflicted injury on his mother?
“I did my best to alleviate her pain,” Lia said.
Guilt stabbed him in the chest. “Was she in a lot of pain?”
Sadness entered Lia’s bright blue eyes. “Only this last time. I came every day for a week and it seemed she only got worse. No matter what I did.”
Kade saw his agony mirrored in Lia’s eyes. He wanted to embrace her for all she did for his mother. “I’m glad you were there for her.”
She nodded. She touched the side of his face. “She loved you. She spoke of you often.”
Her warmth seeped into skin. He let her comfort wash over him. “What did she say?”
“She told me stories of when you were young.” She pulled her hand back from his face. “I’m sorry for being so familiar, but I feel like I know you.”
Kade missed her touch the moment she withdrew it. He yearned for her to place her hand back on his face, to touch him again, to soothe him.
Lia stepped back, folding her hands before her. “Thank you for your help with the bailiff.”
The moment was lost. She was apparently feeling quite awkward and Kade didn’t know what to do to ease her.
“Why would someone want him dead? What could an old knight like him possibly have worth killing over?” Lia asked.
Kade shrugged. “King Philippe sent out an order to arrest all Templar knights. Perhaps he resisted.”
Lia frowned. “Perchance. Or perchance he was carrying something.” She looked up at him. “What were you looking for when you searched him?”
“Usually knights carry a coin purse. Since I couldn’t find that, my guess is that he was robbed.” Kade felt guilty for lying to her, but he wanted to protect her from whatever secret the knight hid. He didn’t want her to get involved. His mother had died because of it.
She was silent, staring into his eyes with an intensity of disbelief that made him want to tell her the truth.
Suddenly, the thunder of horses pounding up the road caught their attention. Together, they stepped aside as a squadron of soldiers rode into the village. Kade saw his family’s crest on the men’s tunics and recognized Ralf leading the way.
When Ralf saw Kade, he reined in his horse to a stop before him. The other men rode on.
Ralf looked down at Kade, his stare stopping on Lia for a moment before continuing to his brother. “The bailiff said you found him.”
Kade couldn’t help noticing Ralf’s eye was blackened and bruised. He nodded, and his teeth gritted, even as anger churned inside of him. His father had punished Ralf for not locating the knight first.
Ralf sighed and swung his leg over the side of his horse to dismount. “Father is furious.”
Kade looked again at Ralf’s blackened eye. “I could have guessed.”
“Where is the knight?”
“We laid him to rest in the field near the church. It was too late, Ralf. He was already dead.” Kade glanced at Lia. She looked down at the muddy road, allowing them to talk. He wondered if his brother knew she had found the body, and if he didn’t when he would. The bailiff would not keep it a secret.
“Father wants his body.”
Surprise rocked Kade. That seemed morbid, even for his father. Didn’t Father believe he was the right knight? Or was there something more to this? “What is it, Ralf?” he demanded. “What’s going on?”
Ralf stared at Kade for a moment as he chewed on his lower lip. Then, he shook his head and looked away. “I can’t tell you.”
Ralf sighed softly, relenting. He took a step away from Lia and Kade followed him. “It wasn’t the knight Father was after,” he said quietly so Lia wouldn’t hear. “It was something he had on his person. A Templar treasure.”
Templar treasure? There had never been any proof of Templar treasure, just rumors and whispered gossip. Had his father gone mad? Or had he discovered something? He felt a slight quickening in his heart. “What was it?”
“I don’t know. I wish I did, but I don’t.”
“I searched the knight and found nothing,” Kade admitted.
Ralf’s eyebrows rose in shock. “You searched him?”
Kade nodded. “Unless the treasure was a chainmail tunic or some old worn boots, the knight had nothing on him.”
“There was nothing?” Ralf frowned as his brother shook his head at his question. “I don’t think that’s going to stop Father. He’s determined to find it. He’s convinced the old knight had knowledge of a great Templar treasure.” Ralf put a hand on Kade’s shoulder. “He’ll stop at nothing to find it. Perhaps you should leave again.”
Kade met his brother’s gaze. Both knew of their father’s fury. Ralf’s bruised eye was just the most recent evidence of it. It had been five years ago that Kade had left the castle and his family, unable to tolerate his father’s brutality. He hadn’t been strong enough in spirit or strength to face his father then. And his selfish, cowardly behavior had been eating away at him for the last five years. He had known the lashings and beatings would fall to Ralf. For that, he would be eternally sorry. “I’m not leaving again, Ralf. Not this time.”
“He’ll level the town to find his treasure.”
Prickles of anxiety shot up Kade’s spine. He immediately thought of Lia. He turned to look at her, but she had disappeared. His father would start with Lia because she had found the knight. Kade had to warn her. He glanced up and down the street.
“Kade, did you hear me?” Ralf called. “You have to leave. You buried the knight. Father will want to speak with you.”
Kade didn’t care. He nodded to Ralf, moving down the road. “Go and get your body. I still have time. If I leave, it will be an admission of guilt. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Damn it, Kade,” Ralf ground out, racing after him. Ralf grabbed his shoulder, halting his movement. “I’m his favorite and look what he does to me. Once Father learns you buried the knight, he’ll be after you.”
“Give me time. Throw him off my trail. Tell him whoever stabbed de Rolleston probably took the treasure. And it could be true.”
“Where are you going?”
Kade didn’t answer. He had to find Lia. She was in as much danger as he was.
Chapter Five
Lia entered the small chapel. There were enough wooden chairs to seat the entire village, the seats filling up nearly all the space in the small room. An aisle between the chairs stretched from the back of the chapel to the altar. The ceiling rose high over her head. She moved toward the altar at the front of the church. “Father?”
A balding man in a long brown robe lifted his head from his bent position at the side wall. He held a cloth in his hand. “Lia!”
As he pushed himself to his feet, Lia moved to his side joyfully. She embraced Father Stephen. “It’s so good to see you.”
“And you, child.”
She glanced at the cloth in his hand.
“One of the children got sick at mass this morning,” Father Stephen said.
“Do you need help?”
“I think that’s all,” Father Stephen said, inspecting the stone floor. “The poor boy.” He looked at her with his kind blue eyes. “Poor little James. Perchance you could visit him and bring him something for his stomach.”
Lia nodded. “I will.” They both knew that James’s mother would not let Lia give her anything to help James. She thought what she and Maeve did with their herbs was witchcraft and would not accept anything from her or Maeve. But Lia would try because she gave Father Stephen her word.
“What brings you into town?”
Lia hesitated, glancing at the door in the back of the chapel. She reached into her chemise and pulled out the parchment. “I was hoping you could read this for me.”
Father Stephen took the parchment and scanned it. “What is this?” He became quiet as he looked the parchment over, reading its contents. He scowled fiercely. “Where did you get this?” There was something accusatory in the tone of his voice.
“I was given it,” Lia said defensively. When Father Stephen looked at her, she added, “What does it say?”
Father Stephen shook his head and lowered his gaze to the parchment. “It was the knight, wasn’t it? He gave it to you.”
“What does it say?”
Father Stephen’s frown deepened, etching thick lines in his forehead. “This is dangerous, Lia,” he whispered. “Let me keep it.”
“No,” she said, almost panicking. Her heart beat faster. She had promised the knight she would protect it. “He gave it to me to keep safe. It’s my responsibility.”
“Lia…” He looked at her, leaning in and whispering. “It’s too much responsibility for you. He shouldn’t have asked you. You’re just a child.”
Insulted, Lia reached out and gently, but firmly, took it from him. “If you can’t read it, I’ll find someone who can.”
“You jeopardize the life of every person you ask. Keep it hidden. Don’t let anyone know you have it.”
Lia looked down at the parchment. What was written on it that was so dangerous? That people could die over? “What does it say?”
“It is best if you don’t know. Although, I doubt that will save your life.”
Shocked, Lia snapped her gaze to Father Stephen. Troubled, frightened, Lia tucked the parchment into her chemise and backed up a step.
Father Stephen reached out and grasped her arm. “Keep it hidden,” he warned.
“Keep what hidden?”
They turned to find Kade entering the chapel.
Anxiety shot through Lia. The Templar Knight and now Father Stephen had both warned her to keep the parchment hidden, but neither had told her what it said. Curiosity and trepidation burned inside her. Indecision plagued her.
“A kitten Lia found,” Father Stephen finally answered. “From those two ruffians, Bors and Elias.”
Kade stared at Lia as he approached. She averted her eyes.
“They are not kind to animals smaller than they are,” Father Stephen added, removing his hand from her arm.
“Yes,” Lia agreed. That was true, those two were always acting cruel to animals. “Thank you, Father.”
He nodded, and she turned to Kade. His brow was etched in concern.
“You have to leave,” Kade said.
She glanced back at Father Stephen strolling back to the altar before looking at Kade. “I was just leaving. James needs some basil and apples for his stomach –”
“No. I mean leave. Leave the village.”
“Leave?” The thought was inconceivable. She had grown up here. Why would she leave the village? This was her home. Maeve was here. Her eyes widened as a horrible thought occurred to her. “Maeve. Is something wrong with Maeve?”
“Lia,” Kade said firmly. “My father is looking for something that Sir de Rolleston, that knight, had. He’s going to want to talk to you.”
The parchment. He must be searching for the parchment. Ice shot down Lia’s spine and dread filled her. She had seen what had happened to lady de Claremont.
Kade grasped her wrist. “I won’t let that happen. He’s not going to hurt you.”
She looked into his sincere blue eyes and, maybe because she knew his mother, maybe because she wanted to, but she trusted him. He knew what his father was capable of. Even though she wanted to trust him, she still hesitated. “I don’t know anything.”
“He won’t take that as an answe
r. You found the knight. Did you find anything on him?”
“No.” She shook her head. Lord de Claremont wanted to speak to her. She recalled the bruises and cuts on lady de Claremont’s face, as well as peppered over her body. If he had harmed his wife like that, what would he do to a peasant like her? Where was she to go? What would she do? How could she hide from such a powerful lord? This village was the only home she had ever known, these people the only ones she had ever known. “What about Maeve?”
“My father doesn’t want her. He’ll want you.”
Her mind whirled, stunned. Leave Maeve? The thought was numbing. “No,” she whispered, afraid. She pulled away from him. “I can’t leave.”
“You know what my father did to my mother. There were never any accidents, nor falls. He hit her. And he’ll do worse to you.” He squeezed her wrist. “You are not safe here. I can take you and Maeve to another village and you can start over. Somewhere where the bailiff doesn’t know you. Somewhere my father can’t find you.”
Lia shook her head. “Maeve can’t leave. She’s too old.”
“Then you must go.”
Chills and fear engulfed her. She took a deep breath. “I won’t leave her.”
Frustration turned Kade’s eyes dark and he released his hold on her. He shook his head, running his hand through his dark hair.
“I won’t leave Maeve,” Lia vowed.
Kade stared at Lia. Her brow was furrowed in anguish, her full lips turned down in a pout. And strands of that riotous red hair poked out from the braid like small flames, dancing about her shoulders in a gentle breeze. Lia wouldn’t abandon Maeve. She wouldn’t leave the woman she knew as a mother. Kade admired her and hated her in the same moment. She was doing what he couldn’t. She was making the choice he wished he had made.
“Then we have to find the treasure my father is searching for. If we give it to him, he will leave you alone.”
“Treasure?”
Kade nodded. “It was part of the Templar treasure. I’m not sure what it is, but my father is convinced Sir de Rolleston had something.” He turned to leave the chapel.
Lia hurried after him, catching his arm and turning him. “Why are you doing this? Why help me?”
A Knight's Protection Page 3