Dreams of Stardust

by Lynn Kurland

  To the proper paranormal authorities.

  Whoever they were.

  He clasped his hands behind his back. "All right, Miles, spill it."

  Miles considered for another eternal moment. "I have," he said slowly, "a tale you might be interested in."

  If it had anything to do with the waves of Something Monumental that seemed to be washing over him, Jake knew he would be very interested indeed. "Go ahead."

  "Well, you may or may not have known him, but my mother's father was very powerful," Miles said. "Her widowed mother still is. When it came time for her to wed, there was no question of my mother going to anyone not her equal in station."

  "Typical," Jake noted.

  "Aye, well, this is where the tale becomes interesting." Miles paused. "To you."

  The way he said it sent renewed chills down Jake's spine. "I'm listening."

  "I hope so. You see, my father, as you also may or may not know, was not born the immensely powerful lord he is today."

  Jake really had no frame of reference for Rhys de Piaget's life, but he was willing to take Miles's statement on faith. "Wasn't he?"

  "He was a mere knight," Miles continued. "But landless. Even worse, he was, and still is, related to a band of quite vile souls. All this contributed to him being looked upon not only as simply a knight, but a most undesirable one." Miles paused. "Completely, utterly, thoroughly unsuitable."

  Jake felt, quite suddenly, as if the whole world had suddenly paused as well.

  As if it waited with him.

  "And?" Jake asked.

  "And he loved my mother. The exact details are unimportant, but suffice it to say that when the time came that my mother was free to wed him, he had amassed enough skill and enough power that he went to the king and bargained for what was required to wed with my mother."

  "And what was that?"

  Miles paused, then smiled. "Land and a title."

  Jake closed his eyes briefly as the world around him shuddered.

  Land and a title.

  All that was necessary for a man to offer for someone he never in his wildest dreams would have thought he could have.

  Amanda…

  "I see," he managed.

  " 'Tis not only strength of arm that will win a man what he needs," Miles said with a shrug. "Buy the land and the title comes, or purchase the title and the land will be given. They are connected."

  Jake turned and walked away. He shoved his hands in his nonexistent pockets, cursed, then clasped his hands behind his back and paced in front of Miles a time or two. He came to a stop and turned to look at Amanda's brother.

  "How much?"

  "Likely all you have."

  Jake had absolutely no idea how much that might be, if he could convert modern money into medieval coin, if he could get back home to do it, or if he could manage to get back to medieval England once he did.

  But the thought that it might be possible was absolutely staggering.

  He took a deep breath. "I could buy her a castle, but I probably couldn't feed her."

  "She doesn't eat much anyway."

  Jake suddenly felt so lighthearted, so full of disbelief, so racked with a feeling of absolute unreality that he laughed. If he hadn't been not altogether sure he wouldn't have impaled either himself or Miles, he would have thrown his sword up in the air for sheer joy.

  "It couldn't be that easy," he said.

  "Nay, it won't be," Miles agreed. "Gold you may take to the king, but 'twill take more than gold to win her in my father's hall."

  "I sense I'll be spending much more time in the lists," Jake said.

  "If it is worth the effort."

  Jake clapped Miles on the shoulder. "Are you crazy? This is your sister we're talking about."

  "You'd best be sure," Miles said seriously.

  "It is one thing to love something because it's beautiful and mesmerizing, but know you'll only have it near you for a short time," Jake said slowly. "It's another thing entirely to think you might have it forever."

  "She is not an easy woman," Miles said quietly, "and I say this though I love her well."

  Jake looked up and saw Amanda coming down the stairs from the great hall. She was wearing her brother's clothes, obviously off to do some bit of business she probably wasn't supposed to. One of the twins, Montgomery likely, opened the door and flew down the stairs after her. He caught up to her and she put her arm around him and hugged him as she pulled him along with her. And then she slowed. And stopped.

  And looked at him.

  And he knew.

  Jake had to lean his forearm on Miles's shoulder to remain standing.

  "Whatever it takes," he said, with feeling.

  "Good. Then let us work whilst we may. We'll stop in time to bathe, else we'll have no supper. We'll be at it again at first light. I'll leave it to you to determine how you'll fetch your gold."

  "It will take me awhile to put together a plan," Jake said, "but I will."

  "Until you do, we'll use our time wisely."

  "Evenings free," Jake insisted. "I have a chess date with your sister I won't miss."

  "The more time in the lists, the better."

  "Even the sun goes down."

  "Briefly." Miles looked at him, then shook his head. "I hope you know what your life will be like."

  Jake could just imagine.

  If he had money and he had some skill, he might be able to put himself in a position to ask Amanda of Artane to marry him.

  He thought he might be able to someday forgive his sorry father for sending him to AE, Inc.

  The details, the what-ifs, the impossibilities and improbabilities of the situation were lurking in the wings, but he ignored them. He would deal with them later, if and when they arose for real.

  Right now, he would use some of his renowned self-discipline and concentrate on what he could do something about, on the tasks that were right in front of him.

  Rhys de Piaget had done it.

  So could he.

  * * *

  Chapter 16

  Amanda started down the path toward the front gates, desperate for a distraction. She had been watching Jake and Miles off and on in the lists for well over a fortnight. Jake trained with a desperation that was almost frightening and Miles was no better in indulging him in it. They were mad, the two of them, and she could sit no longer on the edge of the lists and watch them engaging in their madness.

  So she had decided that, no matter what peril there might have been from Lord Ledenham, she would take a small walk through the village. She might even veer toward the seashore if the weather were amenable. It was a beautiful midsummer's day and who knew how much longer the cloudless skies might oblige her?

  "My lady, wait!"

  She sighed and paused. Her gaggle of guardsmen thundered up behind her. John and Montgomery came hard on their heels, hollering her name loudly enough that most of Scotland likely heard it.

  Unfortunately, that attracted more attention than she would have liked. Miles and Jake were sauntering down the way with an ease that belied the hours she knew they had already passed in the lists.

  Damn them all.

  She put her hands on her hips and stared at the men facing her. "I appreciate the companionship, lads, but must you all come?"

  Her guardsmen only waited patiently, without comment. The twins looked indecisive, but they took heart when her guardsmen remained firm. They folded their arms over their young, manly selves and stuck their chins out stubbornly.

  Jake and Miles merely continued on their way until they came to a quite easy and unremarkable halt on either side of her.

  "Going somewhere?" Jake asked pleasantly.

  "Aye, out the front gates, damn you."

  He was apparently unimpressed by the fierceness of her response. "We'll come."

  "I want to go alone."

  "No doubt you do."

  She scowled. "You've spent too much time with my brothers."

  He laughed.
"Probably. But why don't you let us come with you anyway? You'll be safer."

  She blew her hair out her eyes. "Very well," she said in exasperation. "I daresay I haven't a choice."

  "Are we such poor company?" he asked, his damnably beautiful eyes twinkling.

  And how was she to answer that? She turned toward the gate. "Come along, then. I can see I have no choice."

  "Where are we going?" Miles asked as he fell in on her other side. "To the village? Foraging for herbs? To wreak havoc on the countryside?"

  "We're going out," she said crisply. "I have no destination in mind save away from the inside of the keep's walls, where I might breathe easily for a change."

  "We bathed day before yesterday," Miles offered.

  She hadn't meant that and he knew it. What she had wanted was a bit of quiet without people talking at her, her brothers talking continually to each other, or more discussions about the perfect balance of a sword and how that balance might best be applied to keeping one's head atop one's shoulders.

  "You may come," she announced. "Silently."

  And they did. They followed her through the village, silently. They followed her out into the countryside, just as silently. And when she came to a halt a short distance into her father's best grain field, they halted with her.

  Silently.

  A dozen men who stood in a circle, waiting for her to decide what she would do next.

  And then Miles sniffed. "I smell something."

  Amanda did as well and it wasn't just the wholesome smell of earth and herb. She turned herself about until she saw a strangely colored smoke coming out from the roof of a hut on the very edge of the village. The hut was, from her experience, generally uninhabited, though she supposed that the odd freeman might use it to shelter in when needful.

  She started in that direction, ignoring the murmured protests of the overanxious males trailing after her. She continued on her way until she stood before the hut's door. She drew the smoke deeply into her lungs, finding it to be not an unpleasant smell, but rather a healing one. Herbs on the fire, apparently, though she couldn't have said which ones.

  The door opened and before her stood none other than Berengaria of Segrave, lately of Artane, and even more lately of a place Amanda didn't know. Berengaria, who was in reality not more than eight or nine years older than she, smiled widely.

  "My lady Amanda," she said, looking pleased. "You are looking well."

  "And you, Mistress Berengaria," Amanda said. "You have returned from your travels?"

  "For the moment," Berengaria agreed. "It matters little where I travel, for it seems that ever I must come back to Artane to feel at home."

  "We are happy to have you." She peeked inside the hut. "It isn't as if you must remain outside the gates. Surely we have room enough for you in the hall."

  Berengaria inclined her head. "I appreciate the invitation, but I don't think I will be lingering very long." She smiled faintly. "I have other places to visit yet." She looked at the men surrounding Amanda. "You have your keepers, I see. And your fine brothers. And—"

  She looked at Jake and froze.

  Amanda understood. He was an extraordinarily handsome man. Amanda looked at him and tried to see him with fresh eyes. Aye, he was indeed quite handsome, even in clothing that was older, boots that were scuffed and worn, and a mail shirt that had seen better days. He looked, if possible, like a man of impeccable lineage who had suffered a bit of bad luck and was making do with less than he was accustomed to.

  There were times, Amanda had to admit, that she had a hard time remembering he was a mere merchant. Looking at him now, she would be even more hard pressed not to consider him an equal with her brothers.

  Berengaria seemed to be under the same impression, for she nodded to Jake with the same deference she would have used with any of the Artane lads. Well, save Robin of course, but Berengaria had spent too many years at Artane to do much besides smile behind her hand at Robin's grumbles.

  "My lord," she said to Jake, "I think we have things to discuss. Would you care for something tasty from the fire?"

  "I know I would," Miles said, elbowing Jake aside. "If I might, Mistress Berengaria?"

  Berengaria was uncharacteristically hesitant. "Of course, my lord Miles. Let me fetch you aught to quench your thirst, but there are things I must discuss alone with our fine lord here."

  Miles suggested, "Discuss with him the necessity of more time in the lists."

  "He has no more time to give in the lists," Amanda said tartly, "unless you've a mind to take candles out in the mud and fight during the night. Mistress Berengaria, this is Jackson Alexander Kilchurn IV. He is a traveler."

  "Aye," Berengaria said with a smile. "From a long distance, I daresay."

  "London," Montgomery supplied.

  "He's a merchant," John offered. "A very rich one."

  "He was robbed," Montgomery added. "We've been looking after him. Amanda especially."

  Amanda hated to elbow her favorite brother so hard in the belly, but what else was she to do? A substantial oof came out of him. Amanda made certain he was still breathing before she turned back to the conversation with no lingering remorse. She started to tell Berengaria more about Jake, but when she saw how pale Jake was, words failed her.

  "Jake?" she asked. "Are you unwell?"

  Jake blinked, as if he'd been suddenly woken from sleep. "A drink," he said hoarsely. "Perhaps something to drink might be nice. It's hot outside today."

  "It isn't," Amanda pointed out. "In fact, 'tis quite lovely for this time of year."

  "Come in," Berengaria said, standing back from the doorway. "Sit."

  Jake started across the threshold, then paused. He looked at Amanda, then back at Berengaria.

  "I wonder," he began slowly.

  "You likely should," Berengaria said with a knowing nod. "I think I can tell you things that will aid you. But they are things which could be quite… well…"

  Amanda found them both to be studying her quite seriously. She took a step backward. "I will remain without, if you like."

  "No," Jake said. He reached for her hand. "No. Come with me." He pulled her into the hut with him and shut the door behind her.

  Amanda was offered a stool, she took it, and waited for something to drink. It was, when it came, quite tasty and she found herself very much soothed by it.

  And rather baffled by the conversation going on in front of her.

  Of course, being able to hear Miles grumbling about the condition of his parched throat on the other side of the rather frail door did nothing but add to the confusion.

  "You have come a long way," Berengaria was saying.

  "Very," Jake agreed. "I'm a little confused at how to get home."

  "Use a road," Amanda suggested, then bit her tongue. It wasn't as if she wanted him fleeing any time soon.

  Not at all.

  But Jake only smiled at her, then turned back to Berengaria. "Are you a midwife, or a witch?"

  "A midwife, of course," Berengaria said easily. "A healer. A brewer of things that are tasty. I might have another skill or two that comes in useful."

  Jake appeared to consider his words. Amanda watched him carefully choose what he was saying and that made her wonder why. Was Berengaria so untrustworthy?

  Or was she?

  "Have you seen the road I traveled to come here?" Jake asked finally.

  Berengaria stared off into nothing for a moment or two. "I see Seakirk castle," she said slowly, "and mailed knights who told you things you hadn't known before. I see a black cart, spinning endlessly. Other things I see that I deem aren't important enough to speak of now."

  Jake bowed his head, sighed, then looked at Berengaria. "How do I return home?"

  "Do you want to return home?"

  Jake clasped his hands together and paused for a moment or two. "Briefly," he said finally.

  Amanda listened to the exchange and wondered if she was hearing things aright. Was Jake leaving?

/>   Would he be coming back?

  She looked at him sitting next to her in the dim light of the little cottage and found herself growing far too accustomed to the sensation of him sitting next to her. He seemed perfectly at ease with a woman others called a witch, yet he seemed equally at ease with her grumbliest brother, and her younger, most rambunctious brothers. Indeed, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that he was at ease with whatever company he found himself in.

  Not like a great many men she had met over the long and weary course of her life who only found nobility of their same station to be tolerable.

  "—fairy rings, or perhaps a clutch of rocks that seem to be a bit unusual."

  "And what of the timing?"

  Berengaria was smiling. "Try again, my friend, when your need is the greatest. I have no experience with such things myself, but I have heard tales. There are many things in this world that do not come into our hands until the moment in which we simply cannot do without them."

  Jake nodded thoughtfully. Amanda shook her head, wishing she'd done a better job at listening. Fairy rings? Clutches of rock?

  "What are you talking about?" she asked. "Rocks? Rings?"

  Jake smiled. "Places I might have lost things I need to have to get home." He handed Berengaria his cup. "Thank you very much, Mistress Berengaria. You were here at the right time."

  "I try to be," Berengaria said with a smile. She looked at Amanda. "And you, my lady? Is there aught I can do for you?"

  "Short of ridding me of annoying suitors?"

  "Perhaps your Jackson here can do that."

  "He'll need more time in the lists."

  Jake only laughed and stood, holding out his hand for her. "I'm working on it. I think I'll head back there right now. Are you coming?"

  "I had best do so," she said with a sigh. "I don't dare keep the little lads out by themselves, even with my guard here."

  Jake thanked Berengaria again for whatever advice she seemed to have given him, Miles was allowed in for a drink and advice on how to improve his disposition, and then they were on their way back to the keep.