by Kara Griffin
She hastily pulled on the robe and approached him. “Why didn’t you wake me?” she took in his handsomeness and the look of morning on his face. He was lovely to look at. She wanted to touch the shadow of his morning beard but resisted. “I know you’ve work to do.”
“It is early and I wasn’t sure what time you rise. You can go back to sleep if you wish.” He picked up a parchment and glanced at it.
She waited for him to return his attention, but he didn’t. The awkward silence between them became unbearable. Katriona thought to go back to bed, hoping he’d join her, but she lost her nerve.
“If you wish to sleep, you should return to your chamber.” He kept his focus on the parchment. “I am expecting my commander.”
She didn’t want to be dejected but was. “I should ready for the day.”
“Raen said he is leaving this morn. You might wish to say farewell.” Rhyder placed the parchment aside and glanced at her for all of a second.
“I do. Will I see you for meals?” She leaned against the large table and tried to spy the words on parchments closest to her, but the light too dim to read anything.
“No, I usually eat here. I will see you later.”
Dismissed, Katriona left his chamber and wasn’t sure why his cold-unfeeling manner affected her. He’d been warm, charming even, the night before. But he had business to tend to, and was king to a large kingdom. Her husband wouldn’t have much time for her. Why did that distress her? She shook off the rejection and decided not to sulk. She needed to find her own way. Mayhap she could befriend Merrion, but then she scoffed and realized that wouldn’t be possible. The woman’s unfriendliness forced her to accept friendship betwixt them would never exist. Merrion detested her.
Katriona wasn’t used to being disliked. All within her papa’s kingdom adored her, and she cared for all those that lived near. Pleasing others brought her joy and her cheerful mien often eased those around her. In time, Rhyder’s followers would get to know her and would realize their good fortune. She held hope her wish would come true.
She entered the chamber across the hall and Wynn lifted his head briefly to see who entered. Katriona slipped into bed next to Mali and her sister hugged her close. Wynn tried to lodge himself between them and managed to settle his head on her hip. She sensed the sadness of her sister right away.
“Something is wrong…”
“I was wondering when you’d return and hoped it would be soon.” Mali turned on her side and faced her. “All is well with you? You didn’t die from the act?” She snickered and set her head on Katriona’s shoulder.
Katriona yawned. “Aye, I lived through the ordeal. I’m just a wee bit tired and…sore. I should go back to sleep for another hour or two.”
“You cannot for I’m leaving and you should see me off.”
She craned her neck to see her sister’s face. “But I thought you would stay until autumn. You promised you would.”
“Raen said Papa wouldn’t allow it. We had to persuade him to let me come with you for the wedding as it was. I won’t have Papa upset with me and should return home.”
Katriona hugged her tighter. “I shall miss you so.”
“You’ll be fine. Just keep your temper in control and whatever you do, don’t disobey your husband.”
Katriona giggled. “When have I ever had a temper?”
“True, you’re the most jovial person I know. But promise to keep that witty tongue behind your teeth and don’t let on how intelligent you are, especially to your husband. Men do not like being outdone by their wives. And don’t let people trod on you either. You always want to please everyone. Some people don’t deserve to be pleased.”
“I shall think before I speak and I won’t let anyone take advantage of me.” She held up a hand and laughed. “I promise.”
“I must make haste. Raen wanted to leave at first light and it’s well past time. I readied all last eve before I went to sleep so I would be ready to go.”
Katriona made to move off the bed, but her sister stopped her. “I should dress and say my farewells.”
“Nay, stay abed for you must be exhausted. I will give Raen your goodbye and well wishes. Be well, sister. I expect to receive a missive from you soon.” Mali kissed her cheek. “Perhaps you’ll have a babe or two when next I see you.”
“Freyja, help me, I hope not. Well, mayhap one.” Katriona laughed when Mali dropped her satchel and hugged her tightly.
“Be happy, sister.” Mali waved and left the chamber.
Katriona snuggled in the bed as she contemplated her happiness and fell back to sleep within minutes. When she awoke, she couldn’t move. Wynn lay across her legs and snored. She stroked his back and he yawned, curling his large tongue, before moving off her. With the hour unknown, she quickly changed into a plain frock that reached her feet. She readied for the day, slipped on comfortable boots, and grabbed her cloak.
Wide awake now, she wandered to the window and pulled aside the covering. It appeared light out and perhaps midday. Hopefully, she hadn’t missed the morning meal because she was ravenous. She patted Wynn’s head and said, “Come.” Wynn followed her from the chamber and in the hall, she found the commander-in-arms, Sawyer, leaning against the wall.
The commander didn’t greet her with a smile or frown. “You’re finally awake, Princess.” He approached and stood close, his body almost pressing her against the wall. “You’re not wrath with me, are you?”
Wynn growled and snarled.
“Good morning,” she said cheerfully and snapped her fingers at Wynn. “Down.” He whined but obeyed and lay at her feet. “Sir, I am not wrath at all. It was just a misunderstanding.” She assumed he spoke of her mistaking him as Rhyder.
“You slept overlong. Did His Grace keep you awake all night? Must’ve been a hell of a romp.”
She wouldn’t answer such a lewd question. Rhyder did say his commander liked to tease so she wouldn’t make more of it than a jest. He blocked her from leaving. Katriona considered reprimanding him on his calling her princess. She was now queen to their kingdom. It wasn’t the title princess that bothered her. It was how he said it, with more than fondness as if it was an endearment.
He kept his gaze on hers. “Or did His Grace bore you? He’s rarely here and if you’re ever in need of company…the nights can be long and…lonely.” He shifted his stance and stepped back, grinning.
She fiddled with her frock’s tie, discomfited by his attitude and speech. “You should not speak so, sir.”
“Befriending me has its advantages, Princess. We could play chess or cards. There are many things to do to occupy oneself during the long night.” The commander knelt and patted Wynn’s head. “Don’t ask why your pet doesn’t like me. All animals do.”
Her dog growled deep in his throat, but he could be ferocious if she needed him to be.
A memory flashed of Sawyer when he was a lad and had visited with Rhyder. She recalled his jests then and tried not to take his words to heart. “I should go. Good day.”
He bowed and swept his arm to allow her to leave. “Your Grace.”
Katriona stepped around him and hurried through the hallway. She reached the steps and tried to calm her harsh breath. Fortunately, the man didn’t touch her. She didn’t want to feel his emotions because who knew what she’d sense? His manner suggested forthrightness, anger, and dishonor. Was she wrong about him?
In the great hall, she noted the two servant women bustling about, cleaning up the morning fare. The large chamber empty, save for her and the servants. She reached the table and found no food. All the beautiful décor from the celebration vanished and all the tables and benches were removed except for a trestle table which sat empty in the center. The barrels that lined the wall were gone. She expected to find a mess and the scents from the revelry which probably lingered long into the night. The oversized room had been thoroughly cleaned and its charming abode no longer. The starkness of it seemed cold to Katriona.
Merr
ion entered and set an empty tray on the sideboard. “Ah, there you are…”
“Katriona,” she said her name, reminding her.
The woman was garbed in a beautiful amethyst-colored gown with flowing sleeves. She looked lovely wearing the color with her dark hair. Merrion was a strikingly handsome woman. Katriona found herself envious of her figure too, for the woman was thin but curvaceous.
“Here we do not sleep the day away. If you deem to be a fussock… Well, I care not. It is none of my business if you wish to be a lazy lady. I doubt His Grace will care either. He does not concern himself with the frivolities of women.”
“I am sorry for my dallying. The journey and yesterday’s events tired me. I don’t normally sleep so late. I suppose I needed the rest. Where are the kitchens? I’m ravenous and should like to break my fast.” Her stomach grumbled and reminded her that she’d barely eaten a bite since yestermorn.
“You missed the morning meal and the kitchen is closed until later this day.”
“Is there a midday meal?” Katriona tried to remain unaffected by the woman’s cross nature.
“You missed that too. His Grace told all not to bother you. Supper will be served later when the sun goes down.” Merrion dismissed the servants and followed them from the hall without a kind word of parting.
Katriona wouldn’t let her horrid demeanor ruin her day. She pulled her cloak around her shoulders and snapped her fingers, calling Wynn. Outside the day warm but the breeze brought a chill. She surveyed her surroundings and got an awful feeling in her stomach. Close by, men labored at erecting a longhouse and a man retched in the nearby grass. The call of her wisdom throbbed on her wrist. Burning pain stung the leaf mark.
Her blood ran cold and she closed her eyes, trying to abate the wisdom. She peered again at the building and noticed a man had cut his arm. The wound wasn’t serious, but the man must not abide by the sight of blood. He pitched forward, huffed at the pain, and continued to retch. Katriona wouldn’t intrude for several people tended to the man. She wasn’t needed and hastened away.
She rounded the lord’s home which situated at the far end of the encircled palisade. Buildings of various sizes stretched out in front of her. She noted the merchants: the miller, the tanner, the smith, the potter, and jeweler, all busy tending to the people’s needs.
To the right sat a small cottage with an open door. She approached and observed an older woman cooking within. She stood at the doorway, taking in the delicious aroma permeating the air, and waited for the woman to notice her. With a soft knock, she smiled and stepped inside.
“Welcome. Come in.” The woman wiped her hands on a drying cloth and approached.
“Is this the lord’s kitchens?” Katriona inclined her head in greeting. The woman wasn’t yet gray-haired or long-in-the-tooth, but she wasn’t of child-bearing years either. She wore her brown hair tied in a knot at the base of her neck and her dark blueish garments plain and austere.
“Oh nay, I wish, but his kitchens sit on the other side of His Grace’s house, near the back. His Grace’s cook is a man by the name of Malin. This is my home. I make food for a few of the soldiers and the unmarried men in the hamlet.”
Katriona smiled and glanced around the abode. “I’m the lord’s wife and I—”
“All are joyous at your wedding His Grace. Join me, Milady. I’m Luella. Are you hungry? Come and sit and I shall fix you a meal.” She pulled a stool nearby and motioned to it.
Katriona sat and put her hands on her lap. “I should eat a bite of food for I haven’t yet eaten this day.”
“Oh my, you poor thing. Ye must be famished.” Luella filled a trencher with a delicious smelling stew and handed her a large chunk of bread. “Eat your fill. This will warm ye and settle your stomach. ‘Tis a might chilly today. I made the pottage thicker to keep the men’s stomachs appeased.” She winked and said, “…and mayhap their moods as well.”
Katriona noticed Wynn at the door. He whined and wanted to come inside. “May my dog come in?”
Luella clicked her tongue. “Och, what a handsome fellow he is. I have a big bone for him. I used it for the pottage, but have no need of the bone now.” She reached inside a large bowl and tossed the large bone to Wynn.
Her dog caught it and lay happily at her feet, licking his treat.
“You married His Grace, eh? How’s that going, Milady? I hope I’m not being intrusive. It’s just I’ve known him since he was a wee lad and he’s oft been a quiet one. Keeps to himself and we hardly see him.”
“I’ve been wed to him less than a day. It goes well except I don’t deem my husband’s sister likes me much.”
“Merrion means no harm. I deem she craves attention from others, especially His Grace. She’s been a mite difficult to deal with of late. ‘Tis the truth many of the soldiers prefer to eat here even when they’re invited to His Grace’s table. The men don’t offend because His Grace rarely eats in the great hall. I deem she must be put out now that you’re here and will take her place.”
Katriona’s brows furrowed at that thought. Perhaps that was what bothered Merrion. Somehow she needed to assure Rhyder’s sister that she didn’t intend to oust her. Besides that, Katriona sympathized with the woman because she only wanted her brother’s attention.
She finished the stew and set the trencher aside. Her stomach eased and sated. A renewed sense of energy lifted her spirits. Yet the daunting aura she’d felt when she arrived still plagued her. “I fear I’m not going to see much of my husband either.”
“He’s been burdened with the kingdom since he was yet a lad. We’re gladdened he takes our matters seriously, but I am pleased he has a wife now. Perhaps he might be content yet.” Luella took a stalk of herbs and chopped it as she spoke.
She stood to make her leave, but Luella stopped her by grasping her sleeve. An aura of kindness washed over her when the woman clasped her hand. Luella was caring and Katriona smiled at the sensation. Then a sense of grief came to her.
“Milady, beware. Several men were killed in their beds of late. Aye, four in all in the past fortnight were found in the morn. There’s evil afoot, aye, for a villain lurks in our hamlet.”
“I shall take heed. That’s sad news. Rhyder didn’t mention it. Do they know how the men were killed?”
“Who would do such a thing? To be murdered in one’s own bed and the poor lads were killed unawares. Watch found them in the mornings, stabbed to death. Two of them were good friends of my son…he’s a soldier in His Grace’s army, but he helps tend the farmland, yonder.”
“I promise to be guarded. Take care of yourself.” Katriona snapped her fingers and Wynn carried his bone outside. “Go on, find me when you’re finished.” She left her dog and continued onward in her quest to explore. The distressing news of the killings concerned her. Hopefully, Rhyder would find the culprit and enact justice.
When she reached the back of the hamlet, she noticed a butted cliff beyond the wall. Katriona couldn’t get close enough to peer over the palisade. She gazed up and spotted Rhyder leaning on a wooden rail above. The overlook perched high and far beyond the palisade wall. He likely viewed the bottom of the cliff. He focused on something below and never turned to see her. His view must be spectacular from what little of the land she could see from where she stood.
She backtracked around the building and Wynn met her. He butted his head on her thigh in greeting. “Come, Wynn, let us take an enjoyable long walk.”
Near the gate exit, she hesitated, but none paid attention to her. She thought she’d be stopped from leaving by the guard but he was busy speaking to a maiden. With the gate opened, she walked through and didn’t look back. Fortunately, no alarm sounded or called to her.
Katriona wanted to explore the land beyond the palisade. Rhyder’s enthrall made her curious. She followed the wall until she got to the end. The ground meandered with small hills and discarded rock debris from the settlement. She trod carefully and watched each step.
At the e
nd of the land, she stopped and gazed at the brink of the cliff. Careful not to get too close to the edge, she sat and Wynn lay next to her. Beyond the cliff, water stretched out as far as the eye could see. It appeared cold with the gray sky pitching the water dark. Whitecaps pushed toward the land in large breaks and sprayed the low-lying rocks with water.
Peace and tranquility eased her soul. Katriona hadn’t ever experienced a sense of calm as she did when watching the serenity of the sea. The view enchanted her. She didn’t know how long she sat there staring at the visage. Wynn fell asleep and rolled onto his back until a sound alerted him. Someone was near. His ears perked and he rolled to his feet.
Katriona wasn’t alarmed because Wynn didn’t growl or make an indication that she be wary. He bolted though and she called after him. He returned with Rhyder close behind.
“This is where you’ve been. You should come back inside.”
Her husband sounded angry. She didn’t take her gaze from the water when she said, “It’s beautiful here.”
“Aye, it is.”
“I didn’t mean to dally but the view…” She waved her hand at the expanse in front of her.
“You will not leave the hamlet without permission again.”
Katriona realized he was cross. She took a breath and reined in the sarcastic remark she wanted to make. She had promised Mali she wouldn’t be forthright. But what did he care what she did or where she went? She hadn’t seen him all day, and it wasn’t like he wanted to spend time with her. The sorrowful outlook overtook her and a lack of confidence sunk her shoulders.
“Did you hear me, Katy?”
She continued to peer ahead. “I did.”
“And I will have your agreement not to leave the walls without an escort.”
Katriona pressed her frock’s skirt and pretended indifference. “Why do you worry? Wynn was with me and he wouldn’t let anything happen to me. Besides, I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“I wasn’t worried. It is dangerous beyond the walls. You should have better sense.”
She sighed. “I have perfectly good sense. Besides, you care not. And as to sense—”