Perils of Wrath

by Park, Elsie

  After a full minute, he spoke. “Did you enjoy your latest excursion, Audrina?” His voice was strained with formality, but his eyes betrayed his true feeling—that he’d rather strangle her.

  Audri lifted her chin a notch and replied with haughty reserve, “Yes. Yes, I did.” Though she really didn’t enjoy a bit of her stay with the nuns, she relished irritating Festus.

  “Good,” he stated, dropping his feet to the floor and placing his hands flat on the table as he stood up, “because it’s the last one you’ll be taking for a long time.” He smiled as if he knew a dirty little secret.

  “Well, that’s a relief.” Audri rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t be so rude, you overgrown shrew.”

  Audri’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t be so ambiguous, you overgrown ape.” Festus’s chest puffed out as he sharply inhaled through his nostrils. His hands balled into fists, and his lips curled into a sneer.

  “Just spit it out,” Audri said, remaining on her guard for a physical assault, though he’d never laid a hand on her before. Would today mark the first of many attacks? “What’s my punishment this time?” She could handle anything he threw at her. She’d survived them all, be it stern tutors, locking her alone in her room for days with only bread and milk to eat, making her wear tattered clothes to her supposed humiliation and shame, or planting her in his conference chamber for hours while he incessantly rebuked her insolence. The trials only made her stronger and more determined to defy.

  Festus chuckled low in his throat, a sound that made Audri stiffen despite her strong nerves. “I’ve tried every normal reprimand to make you into an obedient child, aside from beating the life out of you.”

  Yes, you save the beatings for my poor mother.

  “But you’ve resisted everything with your obstinacy.”

  Audri smirked and was delighted to see that her amused expression caused Festus’s jaw to tighten.

  He moved from around the table and strode forward, stopping a foot away. They stood at equal height. He stuck his nose—and his appalling breath—in her face. She stiffened, half expecting a physical blow, but she didn’t retreat. “So, you little fiend, I’ve come up with an alternative that will surely break you at last.”

  He paused and stepped back a few paces. She breathed out through her nose, relieved he hadn’t touched her, but her mind conjured up the possibilities of what he meant. He’d never had her seriously harmed in all the years since her mother had married him. She guessed his reasons were to keep her unsullied for any possible marriage alliance, but had he at last admitted defeat over her making a prolific match? She felt a twinge of smug satisfaction but quickly sobered, wondering what might be in store for her if that were true. Would he finally hand her over to Sir Doyle to beat and torture in his dark dungeon? Would he sell her as a slave and send her across the sea, never to return? Would he throw her in a tower and slowly starve her to death? She drew in a slow breath and held it. She didn’t doubt Festus’s ability to do any of these things.

  “I’ve hired a new instructor.”

  Audri breathed out. A new tutor. Is that all? I can handle another stuffy witch.

  “A rather unconventional one, though,” Festus continued. “For a female, anyway. Under this new tutelage, I’ll be dismissing Gail as your lady-in-waiting.”

  Audri swallowed hard. Lose Gail? My friend and ally? Her heart dropped at the thought, and for a moment she couldn’t breathe.

  “And,” Festus continued, “being under this trainer may also interrupt your weekly shopping trips to the village. This is unfortunate, for I do relish not seeing your face for an entire day.”

  Banned from her village trips? No! Those trips held the utmost importance to her and to the villagers she deeply cared for. Her heart beat faster.

  “These things will be held in peril unless . . .” Festus paused for emphasis, “you act well for this new mentor.”

  The possibility of losing her time with the villagers, as well as losing Gail, struck a chord in her heart so strong that she considered a deal with her stepfather. Festus was despicable but cunning. This was his plan all along—to gain her agreement. But why threaten her with this now? What was so different about this tutor? She had no idea, but she had no choice but to blindly comply—he wouldn’t reveal anything else.

  She nodded once. “Fine. I’ll tolerate this instructor. I’ll behave,” she cleared her throat, “better, as long as I may keep Gail and retain my trips to the village.” She held her breath, wondering what she had just agreed to.

  “Good. I’m happy you took my bait.” He moved close to her again. “This will be something of a challenge for you and vastly amusing for me,” he said with a satisfied tone that made her nerves twitch in alarm.

  There was obviously more to this bargain than Festus revealed, but she was desperate not to lose all she held dear. What kind of a trap had she just fallen into? And would she survive it?

  The double doors opened, causing Festus and Audri to turn toward the entrance.

  “Ah, speak of the devil. Here he is now.”

  Audri’s head whipped back to Festus. “He?” she nearly yelled.

  Festus smiled with satisfaction as he stepped forward to greet the person who’d entered. Audri’s eyes came to rest on a handsome man she’d never seen before. He was tall with dark-red hair that touched his shoulders, and he wore a serious expression on his clean-shaven face. His well-toned body suitably filled his clean chausses and stark black tunic. The clinking of his spurs and the sword at his side indicated his knighthood.

  A knight tutor?

  Under different circumstances, she’d think this was a jest, but she knew Festus didn’t joke about matters concerning her.

  “Remember, Sir Roland,” Festus said for Audri to hear, “though she has just acquiesced to behave, you and I both know you can’t tame a wild animal so easily. And you should watch your back around it as well. You have my leave to go anywhere within Guildon and do whatever you deem necessary to train this unpleasant imp.”

  The knight nodded his understanding, but his face mirrored the same surprise that Audri felt.

  “And now, I’ll leave you to get acquainted.” He glanced at Audri and then back at Sir Roland. “I’m off to eat cena. You may join us at your leisure.” With that, Festus strode out through the doors. He paused a moment, glancing at Gail. “For amusement’s sake,” he said with a sly grin, “keep the doors ajar, but do not let this woman interfere.” This he instructed to the guards but kept his eyes on Gail. The sentries nodded their understanding and Festus left. Gail remained in the hallway, her mouth agape in silent protest of the situation. Audri’s eyes moved to view the masculine stranger standing before her.

  Somehow, she felt more trepidation facing him than Festus.

  Neither the knight nor his new squire said a thing as they sized each other up.

  This is clearly not a young girl, Roland’s mind stated the obvious as he viewed the grown woman before him. He had expected a monstrous-looking child, but Audrina was nicely dressed in a loose surcoat of fine silk. Her neatly-plaited hair was a rich brown. A few escaped strands wisped about her face which housed engaging brown eyes. He was surprised to find she didn’t look anything like Lady Honora, whom he had seen in passing on several occasions. She must take after her late father.

  She also appeared close to his own age . . . and size. Roland was just under thirteen stone,2 but he was a twenty-three-year-old, six-foot-tall knight with a muscular build. Audrina seemed to be around fourteen stone; the girth spanning her middle was a sure sign of her privileged life as a noble. Hmm, this may hinder her training somewhat.

  Although her features were rounded by her plump condition, he didn’t find them unpleasant. He made a visible point of looking her over again if only to demonstrate his authority over her. He was pleased to see her stiffen under his scrutiny.

&nb
sp; He realized this task might be even more difficult than he’d first supposed. But then, I didn’t take this assignment just to tame a wild child, er, woman. Unfortunately, he’d have to take her with him to keep up appearances. A child would have been easier to keep in the dark about his extra excursions, but a grown woman . . .

  He prayed she wouldn’t hinder his progress or pry into his personal affairs.

  Roland planned to utilize the time with her to the fullest for his own ends, but he’d have to be careful. Festus would surely be watchful of them the first few weeks of training, and Roland would have to act the part of full-time mentor to pacify any doubts the earl might have. Only after that would he be safe in venturing around Guildon and asking questions.

  Still, she certainly didn’t seem the spiteful terror Festus had painted her out to be, and for that he was grateful.

  “I don’t envy your position, Sir Roland,” she hissed. “I don’t know what I just agreed to, but I promise that you’ll be running back to where you came from after just one day of dealing with me.” Her eyes shot daggers at him.

  Okay, maybe she is every bit the she-devil I’ve been warned about.

  But he wouldn’t be affected by her harsh words. One thing about defiant people, which he’d learned dealing with three younger siblings, was that the rebellious ones acted tough on the outside to protect hidden instability within. However, he wasn’t there to solve the emotional problems of a spoiled lass but to discipline her through hard physical labor, such as any squire would endure serving under a knight.

  “Why would you take on such a task?” Audrina demanded, glaring at him as she folded her arms across her chest.

  “I have my reasons,” he answered sternly, trying hard not to get angry at her insolence.

  “If it’s the money, I’ll pay you three times what Festus has promised if you pack up right now and leave.”

  “It’s not about the money,” he countered too quickly, then thought better of divulging that fact, it being atypical of Festus’s men. “It’s not just about the money,” he corrected. “I have a duty to Lord Craven and have agreed to this assignment. I will uphold my word as an honorable knight.”

  “An honorable knight,” she spat out. “Does such a thing exist?”

  His fists and jaw instantaneously clenched. How dare this insolent woman defame knighthood to his face? She had no sense of who he was, his family name, nor what honor that had instilled in him. If she were a man, he’d challenge her right there to a duel, upholding his principles and instilling in her some humility. Yes, that’s what she needed—a lesson in humility. That was exactly what Festus had charged him to do.

  He opened his fists, letting the tension out of them. He forced a tight smile. “I don’t know what your father—”

  “Stepfather,” she corrected with annoyance.

  He forced a calming breath after her rude interruption and stepped toward her. He was pleased to see her surprise. When she stepped back, he grabbed her upper arm with his large hand to prevent her retreat. This brought an audible protest from the maid in the corridor, but Roland heard the guards move to block her when she apparently tried to enter the room. Roland drew Audrina up close to him, and he caught a whiff of lemon. The refreshing citrus caught him off guard for a moment, an unexpected scent from the sharp-tongued female. The horror written on her face at his grabbing her was both satisfying and heart wrenching. He wasn’t going to hurt her, but he felt angry at her impudence and thought intimidation might be the right avenue. The sooner she learned to be obedient and compliant, the sooner he’d be done with this task and back to more important matters.

  “Let me sum up what your stepfather has ordered me to do, you little sprite,” he continued through gritted teeth. “You are now my squire.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but he plunged on. “And as such, you are under my tutelage, care, and direction. You are to obey my commands and do what I ask of you without question. In return, you’ll learn new skills and talents, become an efficient warrior, and hopefully learn some humility in the process. If you conform to my bearing, we will get on well, but fail to comply, and you will suffer the consequence of a disobedient squire. Are we understood?”

  Through the sudden heaving of her chest, Roland knew he’d hit a chord. Audrina’s eyes narrowed, and she tried pulling back from his grasp, but Roland held firm.

  “Lord Craven said you agreed to behave. Are you a woman who honors her word, or do you simply tell a person what they want to hear only to do the opposite afterward?”

  Audrina stopped struggling and looked at him with eyes that betrayed a war between integrity and doing whatever it took to survive. He’d seen it countless times on the faces of village urchins caught stealing food from the marketplace. Her bottom lip trembled, but she placed it between her teeth, staying the motion. Roland instinctively felt for her plight and regretted taking her arm with such force.

  He eased his grip, dropping his hand from her arm. She bravely remained where she was. “Will you honor your word and comply with my directions?” He softened his voice, looking her in the eyes-.

  A full minute passed in silence as they watched each other, Roland wondering who would be the first to end the uncomfortable meeting.

  “I will abide, Sir Roland,” Audrina finally relented, looking him in the face as she did so. He found this small gesture motivating. While her strong will was the cause of her insolence, it would also be a necessary trait for making a good knight. And it was a quality he found rare among so many these days.

  “Then we should get along impeccably, Lady Gibbons.” He nodded and breathed out through his nose. She continued to stand rigid. “I will allow you the remainder of the night to do with as you please, but on the morrow, you will officially be my squire and succumb to the rigorous training and discipline of such a position.” She still said nothing, and Roland didn’t know what else to convey. The room had become suffocating with everything thrown at him in the last few hours, and he needed fresh air.

  He gave her a stiff half-bow and then made for the open doors, but he paused before exiting. He’d given her no instruction on what he expected. He turned to face her. She remained in the same position, her back to him. “There’s no possible way for you to do all I require while wearing that cumbersome apparel.” He turned to the woman standing outside the doors. The guards still stood in the doorway, blocking her from entering. Roland spoke to her through the one-foot space between the sentries. “You’re her maid, I presume?” At the woman’s curt nod, he said to her, “Find Lady Gibbons a good pair of chausses and a comfortable tunic.”

  “I certainly will not,” the maid returned, her chest puffed up and her chin held high. “It’s entirely improper!”

  “No, it’s absolutely proper for the position she now finds herself in,” Roland shot back. “And you really have no choice in the matter. Unless you want to take your objections directly to Lord Craven,” which he knew she wouldn’t, “then I suggest you have Lady Gibbons dressed in her new attire tomorrow morning when I knock at her door.”

  The woman’s eyes, which had remained enlarged during his response, glanced over his shoulder to her lady inside the room. He didn’t know if Audrina gave the maid some sort of approval or not, for he heard no words spoken, but the maid soon nodded her intended compliance.

  “Good,” Roland said through terse lips before turning to his squire. She was facing him, her eyes mere slits as she glared in his direction. “Your maid may accompany you during training but may not interfere with my teaching. Make sure she fully understands that you are now in my charge, not hers.” Audrina flinched. He turned again to the woman in the hall and gave her a warning look. She scowled back at him with blatant distaste. He ignored the look. He wasn’t here to make friends with the women.

  As the guards stepped aside, the handmaid rushed past them into the room. Roland didn’t
wait to hear any conversation between her and Audrina as he swiftly moved off down the corridor, heading to the great hall for sustenance. He didn’t see Audrina again that night.

  2: About 180 pounds.

  Chapter 3

  Audri’s pride hadn’t wanted to agree to anything the night before, but her integrity demanded it. She mustn’t lose Gail or her special villagers. The cloudy, soggy morning did nothing to lighten her spirit. The rain had been over and beyond that of years past. Many already feared a terrible harvest and ruined food storage for winter. Audri would do all she could to aid the people if it came to that, but for now, she must play the part of a squire.

  Standing in the middle of her chamber dressed in men’s clothing, her hair was left uncovered and braided into a long rope down her back. She squared her shoulders and mentally prepared herself for the day ahead. She donned her long, wine-red cloak, covering most of her odd attire. Let Festus think his knight-puppet was “taming” her. Let him become complacent while she formulated a plan to make Festus pay for his brutality.

  This Sir Roland seemed to be just like Festus and the other knights. Physically forcing her to obey him, thinking his brute strength and intimidations made him strong, believing they would make her respect him and succumb to his orders. Well, bullies were cowards. True bravery was refraining from atrocious action, especially if one’s anger coerced it.

  But Audri’s downturned brows lifted of their own accord, remembering Roland softening his voice after easing the grip on her arm. Perhaps he wasn’t as bad as she believed. He seemed to genuinely regret his actions, unlike Festus and his followers, and that created in her a degree of respect for him—though only a modicum.

  A knock sounded at her door. She and Gail turned and stared at it, but neither moved to answer. Seconds passed and there was another knock, louder this time. Audri nodded at Gail, who moved to the door and opened it.