by Kara Griffin
Chapter NINE
Katy groaned before she opened her eyes. The leaf-shaped mark on her wrist didn’t hurt as it had earlier. When it had, the aura was intense and agonizing. All was still and the chamber dim, yet warm. She realized she was in Rhyder’s solar. How had she come to be there? The last thing she recalled was walking toward Luella’s with Lloyd and…
The man on the building…he fell. She sat up with a gasp.
Rhyder stood next to the bed and settled a hand on her shoulder. “Easy, Katy, you’re safe.”
She couldn’t relax until she found out about the poor soul. “The man…”
“What man? Did someone attack you? Lloyd said he saw no one.”
“No, the man on the building. Is he harmed?”
Rhyder sat on the bed next to her and took her hand. “He’s dead.”
“Oh, what a dreadful death.” Katy closed her eyes and saddened at the loss. “I’m sorry. I tried to get to him to warn—”
“How could you know he’d fall?”
She shook her head at the blunder. “I didn’t, but I heard the shouts.” Katriona almost gave herself away. She didn’t want Rhyder to know her gift: for one thing, he might be angry at her practices, and for another, the pain it caused her.
He leaned close and kissed her lips. “I’m relieved you’re unhurt. The healer said there was nothing wrong with you. He doesn’t understand why you fainted.”
“You called a healer?”
“Aye, he’s an old priest, Olor, that practices medicinals. Lloyd fetched him.”
She wanted to ask him more about the healer but a knock came and she darted her eyes at the door. Rhyder called ‘enter’ and she sat back and considered what happened to her. Rarely did she faint from her wisdom. She rubbed the mark on her wrist and thought it strange that she’d been affected to such an extreme.
Two lads strolled into the chamber, carrying trays of foodstuff. They set the trays and left.
Her wisdom had tuned into the man’s injuries. She recalled shaking and then nothing. In all the years she’d received auras of others, none were as strong as what she experienced this day.
“You must be starved. I spoke with Merrion and there will be food in the great hall throughout the day going forward. I’m sorry she caused you difficulties.”
She leaned against the bed pillows and he settled a tray on her lap. “I hope you didn’t hurt her feelings for I’m certain she was only doing her duty.”
“Caring for my home is no longer her duty. She understands that now.” Rhyder set the other tray next to the bed on a table and retook his place next to her. “The healer said you had symptoms of being with child.”
Katriona almost choked on the spoonful of pottage she’d taken. “I doubt that because signs wouldn’t come so quickly and we only…a few times.” Sweet Freyja, help her. Why did her cheeks burn with embarrassment?
“You will eat all on that tray and stay abed for the rest of the day. Lloyd told me you worked yourself nearly ragged yesterday in Luella’s kitchen. I won’t have my wife working herself to death.”
She swallowed the food hastily before answering, “I was hungry and Merrion said the cook went hunting.”
Rhyder frowned. “Katy, he’s beyond two scores in age. The man hasn’t hunted in years and besides, he can barely see. I keep him on because my mother was fond of him and I assigned helpers so he wouldn’t be overtaxed.”
Katriona set the bowl aside. “That was kind of you. I haven’t met Malin yet, but there was no food in the hall so I went to Luella’s.”
He continued to frown. “There will be food in the hall going forward. I’m sorry you had to seek your own meal. I don’t understand. Merrion would’ve told me if there were problems in the kitchens. She said nothing when I spoke to her of dismissing her duties.”
Katriona kept quiet about his sister. She wasn’t going to come between them. Obviously, there was a power struggle taking place. A good wife would’ve warned her husband of such a struggle, but right now she didn’t want to be a good wife. She was still angry over his bed partner, but wouldn’t demean herself by voicing her complaint. “How did your search go?”
He dropped the bread he’d taken from her tray. “You know?”
“Of course, you told me so yourself. You must be overly concerned.”
“I am.” Rhyder handed the bread to her.
“I presume you didn’t find the murderer?” She took a bite of the bread and wondered why Rhyder continued to scowl. It was as if he was speaking of another matter altogether.
He pressed his eyes and sat back. “Murderer?”
“Aye, the one who has been killing the soldiers in the hamlet? I thought that’s what you were doing yesterday, searching for the person responsible.”
“Oh, aye…the murderer. We found no clues of who it is. The search was for naught.”
She sighed. “I shall go to my chamber. You must have work to do and…” She slid her legs off the bed. “I don’t want to be here when your lover comes.” Katriona rose and sauntered toward the door. She didn’t feel weakened by the effects of the aura, to her relief.
Rhyder got to the door before her and blocked her path. He leaned against the wood and stared hard. “Katy, I don’t have a lover. That is, except for you.”
“No? I saw a woman entering here last evening. I presumed she was here for you. And you never came to my bed…”
He held her waist and pulled her forward to stand between his legs. “Lloyd said you were exhausted, so I left you to rest. And that woman came on her own behest, not by mine. I sent her away the moment I entered my chamber and found her within.” Rhyder yanked her against him.
Katriona didn’t want to believe him, but her wisdom led her to understand the truth. He hadn’t been unfaithful. “I thought you said you hadn’t slept.”
“I didn’t.” He pressed his lips on her neck. “When I returned, and after I handled things here, I walked about the settlement. Sometimes it’s the only way I can clear my head.” His lips lingered by her ear. “Katy, I only want you.”
“I’m glad because I—”
He kissed her lips and lifted her in his arms. “We will spend the day in bed.” Rhyder yawned but then gave her a heart-melting grin. “I am tired now.” He jostled her when he took a chair and shoved it against the door.
“I find I could do with a wee bit of rest.” She squealed with laughter as he tossed her onto the bed.
“You can rest later,” he said gruffly, “because all I thought of was doing this…” He trailed his mouth from her neck to her navel, spreading kisses along the path. “And this,” he said as he lifted the skirt of her frock and pressed his lips on the fabric of the smock beneath her garments.
For the next hour, Katriona lazed in bed and let her husband have his way. She got no rest at all. Rhyder likely kissed every inch of her body. She enjoyed touching him too for he was firm and strong. He caressed her in places she normally would’ve been embarrassed by, but he made the action sultry. Each pleasurable experience brought her closer to admitting her affection for him.
She bit her lip to keep herself from speaking the words. After their overzealous lovemaking, she lay with her hand on his chest over his dragon etching. It confounded her that during sex, she couldn’t tune into his aura. Now with her heartbeat returned to normal, her wisdom engaged her mind with his emotions. A mix of sentiments coursed through him: sadness, concern, happiness, pleasure and most perplexing his confusion.
“I want to go to the sea again. Will you take me?”
He grunted in answer.
“And I want to meet the healer, Olor.”
“On the morrow, sweet lass, I vow to take you. I’m going to sleep for a few hours before I meet with Sawyer and hear the day’s reports.”
“Sleep husband.” She pressed a hand over his wavy locks. “Tomorrow then.”
“Wake me if you get amorous.” He grinned and closed his eyes when she slapped his thigh.
&
nbsp; Rhyder fell asleep within minutes. Katriona grew bored listening to Rhyder’s light breathing. She slunk to the table and thought it could use a little tidying. Inkpots scattered and she collected them and set them in the center where they’d be easily accessible. In front, she stacked the many quills lying about. She collected the parchments and arranged them according to who sent them when she read a familiar name. Wulfar.
“What are you doing?”
Startled, Katriona about jumped a foot from the ground and dropped the missive to the floor. She turned and faced Rhyder. “You frightened me. I… I thought to straighten your table.”
“No one goes near that table.”
His hard voice dejected her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry and only wanted to help. Many parchments were scattered about and…” she trailed off when he continued to peer at her.
“You’re not to touch my table.” He took her hand and led her across the chamber.
“I wasn’t prying, but there was a missive from Wulfar.”
“What do you know about him?” His body closed in on her and his surliness forced her to step backward. “Did you read it?” He peered at her with angry eyes.
Distrustfulness did not suit her husband. Katriona wasn’t sure if his anger was driven by jealousy or if he mistrusted her. “I didn’t read it and only saw his name.”
“I ask again, what know you of him?”
She took a calming breath to slow her pounding heart. “We never met, but Papa received missives from him from time to time. I recall him getting one right before I left to come here. Papa never read them and crumbled them before tossing them in the fire.”
Rhyder took hold of her shoulders and pressed, “Are he and your father in an alliance?”
Katriona ducked and escaped his hold. She sat upon the bedding and petted Wynn. “I don’t deem so. From what Papa told me, he doesn’t respect Wulfar, and he is already committed to you.”
“Is he? We shall see.”
She leaned forward, glowering at the thought he didn’t trust her papa. “My Papa wouldn’t have sent me here if he wanted to break the treaty.”
Rhyder scoffed a derived laugh. “How do you know this? You’re a daughter and nothing but a bargaining piece. The treaty price has been paid and here you are. Your father can easily make a pact with Wulfar and go against my kingdom.”
“That is untrue. My papa loves me and he wouldn’t send me here unless he was sure of your alliance and high regard. He wouldn’t endanger me by making a pact with another.” Katriona didn’t understand why tears sprang to her eyes, but his disparaging remarks brought forth her dismay.
Rhyder sat beside her and took her in his arms. “I am a miscreant and apologize, Katy. I didn’t mean what I said. Of course, your father loves you. I’m just trying to figure out who in my hamlet is against me.”
“And you thought I—”
“Nay, I don’t believe you have a mean bone in this lovely body of yours.” He kissed the side of her face. “It was thoughtless of me to consider you against me. Come and let us leave the chamber and stretch our legs. I’ve been remiss and should introduce you to the hawkers. They have goods you might want to buy.”
Katriona remained seated. “I have no coins to buy much of anything.”
He caressed her face and took her hand, helping her to rise. “You don’t need coins. They’ll come to me for payment. Now come, for I need to make amends or you’ll continue to scowl at me and I’d rather your blue eyes peer at me for another reason. Mayhap a new gown would soften your heart?”
She didn’t need a new garment to soften her heart. She finally recognized the woe in Rhyder’s aura. Someone betrayed him and he took it hard. She hoped he found the traitor soon. They left the chamber and found Sawyer outside in the hall.
Katriona moved behind Rhyder to give them privacy. She assessed Sawyer though and found the man to be confusing. Whenever he was in her presence, she got a strange feeling about him. With Rhyder present, the man barely glanced at her.
“Did you need something?” Rhyder asked him.
“I wanted to find out how Milady was. I heard she was hurt.” Sawyer leaned to the side and smiled at her. “Are you well, Your Grace, unharmed?”
“Yes, thank you for the concern.”
Sawyer returned his attentiveness to Rhyder and walked along the hall with him, giving his daily report. She paid no attention to their discussion. Katriona couldn’t halt the guilt of dislike for her husband’s closest friend. He was a trusted commander in their kingdom’s army and privy to Rhyder’s plans. Why was she so suspicious of him?
When Sawyer finished his report and walked away, Rhyder took her arm. “Come, we will pick out fabric for a new gown and I have an idea for brooches to pin to your frock.”
On the main lane, Katriona regarded Father Matthew approaching. He was intent to speak to them for it shown in his eyes. She grabbed Rhyder’s hand and pulled him beside a hawker’s cottage.
“Do I not get a kiss?”
Her husband obliged and kissed her at length. Rhyder’s hands roamed her body and she practically melted in his arms. She didn’t want it to end, but if they continued, they’d be in danger of giving the hamlet’s people a risqué show. Katriona stepped back and leaned her head on Rhyder’s chest.
He rasped with breath too and continued to hold on to her waist. “I cannot control myself around you. Come, before I forget my purpose and take you back to bed.”
Father Matthew was nowhere to be seen. Katriona was relieved.
After spending the afternoon meeting the hawkers and being thoroughly won over, Katriona stood in the lane holding the most beautiful brooches. The round pins encrusted with four different jewels sparkled in the late day sun. “I have never had such brooches. They’re beautiful.”
Rhyder stopped and held her waist. “Not as beautiful as you. Am I forgiven? I never want to be the reason for your tears.”
She was taken aback by his declaration. “Of course I forgive you. Rhyder, I never want anything to come between us. Never doubt our trust. I’ll never betray you.”
He pulled her closer and kissed her there in the lane in front of all the people walking by. Happiness filled her heart. When he pulled away, he wore a smile of which she’d never seen on him.
“Katy, it was wrong of me to think you would ever be disloyal. But someone has betrayed me and I wanted to tell you—”
A loud scream came from the opposite side of the holding. All stopped, and the scream came again. A woman ran to the lane and yelled, “Someone’s been killed. He’s there.” She pointed behind the smith’s cottage.
“I must go,” Rhyder said. “I’m sorry I promised you the afternoon…”
“No, go, you must.”
“Return to the house and don’t leave without Lloyd.” He pressed a hand on her cheek and sauntered off through the lane between the cottages.
Katriona stood in the lane and watched her husband rush off. She rubbed the mark on her wrist and wondered why she hadn’t gotten a sense that someone was harmed. That only meant that the man must’ve been killed before she approached the area.
She hurried back to the longhouse and entered the great hall. Near the barrels, Merrion stood with her back to the entrance. A thought occurred to her, and Katriona hoped to right the discord between them.
“Merrion, you’re here. I hoped to find you. Rhyder helped pick out fabric for a new gown and I wondered if you might tell me where you have your gowns made. They’re lovely.”
She turned and ambled to a bench. Merrion appeared to be weeping. “There’s an old woman in the hamlet.”
“Does she dye or pick your fabric? The coloring goes so well with your pretty dark hair. I fear I’ve never found the knack for picking a fabric and I’m atrocious at dying. My mama wouldn’t let me help her at the chore for I’d always turn everything brown.” Katriona sat next to her. “Rhyder told me he spoke to you about your duties.”
“I’m no longer to t
end to the duties of this house. He needs me not and means to send me away. He’ll betroth me to a neighboring kingdom and I shall never see him again.” Merrion sniffled.
She frowned because he hadn’t mentioned that. “No, he wouldn’t do that. Why would he send you away? You’re his sister, his only family.”
“He will betroth me as soon as he can. I’m to leave my home. He wants me not and said that this is your home now and that I’ve overstepped…”
“Nonsense this is your home. I cannot care for this house as you do or at least not without your help. And you never overstepped, well perhaps just a wee bit. Surely you can speak to him and change his mind.”
Merrion wiped at her eyes. “I’ve been horrible to you. You must hate me. Why would you speak so kindly?”
Katriona’s heart went out to her. “I don’t have it in me to hate anyone. Truly, and it would please me if we might be friends. At home, I had plenty of siblings and we fought all the time. But we always made amends, just as we are. This is just a misunderstanding, between you and Rhyder. I would be glad to talk to him and—”
“The way he speaks of you… I deem my brother cares mightily for you. I’m sure he will change his mind if you spoke with him.”
“I will as soon as I’m able. I’d like a new gown made as soon as possible. Will there be a spring festival?”
Merrion folded her hands in glee. “Oh, there shall. The entire hamlet comes together and the celebrations continue for days.”
“Now about that woman who makes your gowns, will you introduce me to her in the morning?” Katriona sat and listened to Merrion’s thoughts on the kind of material and gown she should have made. It lightened her heart to see the woman smile and how lively she was when talking of styles.
But Katriona also was touched with a bit of melancholy for she missed Mali, her mother, and all those within her kingdom. How she hoped to visit them soon, but she suspected asking such a thing now wouldn’t be prudent.