Perils of Wrath

by Park, Elsie

  “Honora’s own husband died when I was young,” Audri explained, “and Festus Craven soon swept her up into remarriage with flattering words and the promise of a blissful life. After we came to Guildon, however, a different Festus emerged. He took his frustrations out on his new wife, especially over her not getting pregnant with a male heir. It started out as short episodes of yelling, verbally demeaning her. Honora felt that if she admitted her barren state, explaining that I wasn’t her birth child, he’d understand, feel some sympathy for her, and thus treat her better. But it had the opposite effect. His anger for her turned physical.”

  Audri breathed out, her eyebrows turned down in deep thought. “Why he remained married to her after learning the truth, I don’t know. He could have divorced her and married someone else who could have children. But perhaps he relished more the thought of his dominion over a docile wife, which he already had in her.”

  Roland leaned forward, placing his folded hands on the table.

  “He clearly had no qualms about cutting me down as well,” she continued, “but he never laid a physical hand on me as he did my mother, and in my youth, I wondered why. My mother said that after he found out I wasn’t of noble blood, he threatened to cast me aside, to treat me like the servant I was born to be if she didn’t keep my origin a secret. She thinks it was then, when I was still young, that he started formulating plans for me. He’d pass me off as a child of noble blood so I would go to the highest bidder when it came time for marriage. He didn’t want to risk injuring his future investment, so I went untouched. The laws don’t give many rights to women, so my mother knew she’d get no protection from them. She also knew Festus would catch her if she tried to run away with me.” Audri’s eyes welled up.

  “She stayed and took his wrath,” Roland said reverently, “to save you from servitude.”

  Audri nodded, wiping her eyes. “Even as a little girl, I knew he was cruel to her. I abhorred him for that and became obstinate toward him. The degrading words he sent my way only fueled my hatred. He tried to debase me through strict governesses, tutors, and nuns, but nothing broke my spirit.”

  “So, with the recent battles between England and Scotland,” Roland construed, “and probably a dwindling treasury due to payments to keep Guildon off the map, Doyle and Festus decided they’d use you as a peace treaty to keep Guildon safe. But they needed you to be submissive and obedient so you would not only appeal to the Scots but wouldn’t give Festus and Doyle a fight when they delivered you to them.”

  She nodded. “And that’s when you arrived. You caught Festus’s eye as the unsuspecting knight who could accomplish that daunting task.”

  “Unsuspecting was right,” he laughed. “Good thing their plan went awry.”

  Audri laughed too but then looked at him with serious regard. “These trials have made me stronger, Roland.” She reached across the table and cupped his hands beneath hers. “I know fate brought you here, and I thank heaven every day for that blessing.”

  Roland smiled and turned his hands over, taking her warm fingers in his palms.

  Audri looked at the scroll on the table. “What’s this?” She removed her hands from his to pick up the parchment. “Have you written out all the ways to torture me in training?”

  “Now that’s not a bad idea,” he admitted, squinting his eyes and acting as if he would seriously consider that. Audri still didn’t act like a typical squire, but then she wasn’t a normal squire, and he had no desire to change that. “No,” he admitted. “With missives now able to leave Guildon unhindered, I’ve written a letter to my parents telling them everything that’s happened since I left Fairhaven.”

  “By heaven, that must be a long letter.” She laid it horizontally in her hands and bounced it up and down, as if gauging the weight of it.

  Roland chuckled. “Five pages worth. I’ve had to explain to them why I’ll be staying in Guildon a while longer. Remember what my grandfather said? As long as I’m here, Guildon will be safe from Haulstone’s attack.”

  “Do you really think he’d assail us if you left?” she asked in a tone that hinted at her skepticism.

  Roland leaned back in his chair again. He’d asked himself the same question. It was difficult to know for sure. He hardly knew his grandfather but felt he was a just man. “I honestly doubt it. I get the feeling he just said that to keep his grandson close by.” He leaned toward her. “But it gives me a good excuse to stay, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Indeed, yes,” Audri nodded. “But is that your only reason for staying?” Audri asked, tipping her head to the side.

  “Oh, I can think of a few others. For one, I’ve not finished training my obstinate squire yet.” He winked at her.

  She let out a laugh.

  Roland smiled but regarded her pensively. “You aren’t obligated to continue, you know.”

  Audri looked down at the table, running her finger along the wood grain. “I know, but I want to.” She pushed air out through her nose in a semi-laugh. “It’s funny. I reviled it at first, but now I want to stick with it to the end. It’s given me something to look forward to each day. It’s given me confidence, strength, and purpose.” She looked up from the table. “It’s given me my life back. It’s given me you.”

  Roland smiled at her, sweet warmth flowing through him from his love for Audrina Gibbons. “Well,” he said, pushing his chair back and standing up. “Far be it from me to take that away from you.” She stood as well. He pointed at the scroll in her hand. “As soon as you’ve delivered that to the messenger, squire . . .” She gave him a genial glare, which he responded to with a grin. “We’ll see how your stamina holds up with the mace today.”

  “Really? Finally!” Her expression perked up. “I’ve been longing to work with that weapon.” Her beautiful face radiated pure excitement.

  He couldn’t help taking her waist in his arm and pulling her to him. “And what else have you been longing for?” he asked.

  Her lips turned up into a grin. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  “I would indeed,” he said, bringing his lips close to hers.

  “Ahem.”

  They turned their heads to find Gail standing in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest, her foot tapping a warning cadence.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake, woman. Let them be,” they heard Sir Heath say from the corridor. The knight’s arm came into view and grabbed Gail’s upper arm, gently pulling her away from the doorway.

  Roland and Audri turned back to each other, smiling. Roland dipped his head down, claiming his squire’s soft lips in a tender kiss.

  Epilogue

  October 1314

  The leafy trees surrounding Guildon had begun to turn from their rich green to the earthy colors of autumn, some leaves having dropped to the ground. The warmer air that had accompanied the abnormally rainy summer now blew down from the north in cold gusts. But inside Guildon’s great hall, the atmosphere was warm and festive. The many guests sat in their finest attire to celebrate and feast. Roasted meats, baked breads, cooked fruits, and cheeses adorned the tabletops, sending tantalizing aromas throughout the castle.

  Lord Calan Beaumont, Earl of Fairhaven, sat beside his wife, Lady Elsbeth Beaumont, at the chief table. In the head chair next to him, Lady Honora Craven conversed with her son-in-law, Roland.

  Calan smiled, proud of how striking his son and daughter-in-law looked together. Roland wore white chausses and a dark green tunic trimmed with gold. His beautiful wife, Audrina, sat beside him in a white kirtle overlaid by a silken surcoat, the color and trim matching her husband’s tunic. Her brown hair was twisted with small white flowers, and the side tresses were gathered up to the top of her head. The back of her hair was left flowing free. They both wore swords at their sides.

  Honora turned her attention to Calan. “Lord Beaumont, I saw you speaking with Roland’s grandfather before the
feast.” She paused. “In your opinion, did the Scotsman seem to hold any, uh, divisive intentions toward Guildon?”

  “A valid concern for the countess of Guildon,” Calan approved. “Rest assured, milady, I truly believe he has no intention of attacking the lands his grandson will someday inherit.”

  Honora closed her eyes in relief.

  “In talking to him,” Calan said thoughtfully, “I got the feeling that he’s tired of war, that he yearns for peaceful days to spend with his family. He feels that with Roland here, Guildon can be friend to both England and Scotland, thus supporting his true belief that the countries should be allies rather than enemies. Perhaps Guildon will be a forerunner with that bright initiative.”

  Honora nodded. “But Lord Murdoch didn’t stay for the feast,” she said, pricking a cooked vegetable with her fork.

  Calan took a swig of his drink. “He expressed his regret for not staying, but the reality is that England is at war with Scotland, whether he likes it or not, and he didn’t want to cast a shadow over the festivities. There were many who felt tension with his presence.”

  “It’s sad,” Elsbeth said, leaning forward to view Honora with her striking blue eyes, “that there are rifts between people who would normally get along if not for the state of war between their countries.”

  Honora nodded in agreement. “So true. And speaking of war, Lord Beaumont, I cannot express enough my gratitude for the knights you recruited for my sake. Months ago, when I announced to the former knights that they had but two choices—to either straighten up and conform to the knight’s true code or be banished from Guildon—I was surprised that over half of them chose to leave. Some of the villagers followed them. Guildon was left quite bare of protectors. But how did you managed to procure so many worthy knights to replace them?”

  Calan smiled, ripping off a piece of bread and placing it in his mouth. “Let’s just say that my years of service to King Edward I left me with valuable connections.”

  Honora nodded her understanding. “Well, I’m grateful for those connections.”

  There was silence between them for a time as they ate, and then Elsbeth spoke up. “Roland related to us all the horrors that took place in the dungeon during the late earl’s reign. He expressed great pride in your efforts to erase the doomed image it held.”

  Honora set her meat on the plate and dabbed her mouth with a linen cloth. “I know every region has need of a prison for those who commit crimes and need to experience the consequence of their actions, so I didn’t get rid of it,” Honora explained. “But I did clean it up.”

  “Yes,” Elsbeth said. “Roland said there was dancing in the streets for days after you had the horrendous mechanisms dismantled and burned.”

  “That there was, and I reveled in the celebration. I don’t want my rule to be shrouded in fear but with merciful justice instead. After liberating the prisoners and healing their physical wounds, I did my best to rectify their emotional wounds, but I fear those will remain the rest of their lives, as I know only too well. But I have also learned that strength can be found in trials. Because of what I lived through, I can feel great empathy for those facing the same hurts and aid in their healing.”

  Calan and Elsbeth nodded, having learned from Roland the atrocities beset upon Honora and the people of Guildon under the previous Earl of Guildon. Roland couldn’t say enough about Honora’s goodness, amazed that she could live through so many years of abuse and still be a kind and compassionate woman.

  “Roland tells us that Audri has set up a school for the villagers as well,” Elsbeth said. “Teaching them reading, writing, and mathematics.”

  “Yes,” Honora nodded after taking a sip of her drink. “Father Bromel opens his church twice a week for the classes. I understand you know Emmy Firthland from Graywall.”

  Calan and Elsbeth nodded.

  “Her relations, Richard and Liliana Griffith, reside here in Guildon and help Audri with the school.”

  Calan lifted his goblet to her, showing his approval. “I have found that educating the people instead of keeping them in ignorance brings positive benefits more often than not.”

  Honora gave them a genuine look of appreciation. “May I tell you again what an honor it is to have you both here.”

  “The honor is all ours, I assure you, Lady Craven,” Elsbeth said.

  “Yes,” Calan added. “You afforded me the highest honor of knighting your own daughter, and on the same day as her wedding to our son. Thank you for allowing us to take part in that unique opportunity.”

  Honora dipped her head, deep respect etching her face.

  Calan chuckled. “I’ve never seen a knight kiss another knight that passionately before.”

  Honora smiled. “I know. Wasn’t it wonderful?”

  “We must be careful, though,” Elsbeth said, grinning and leaning forward over her plate again. “If word gets around about that kind of outcome, we might see more knights taking on female squires.”

  Calan laughed heartily, and Honora covered her mouth with her hand, trying to conceal her own jollity. She quickly took a drink from her goblet, hiding her laughter behind the large cup.

  “What are you three discussing over there?” Audri asked from her place beside Roland. She grinned as she took a bite of shortbread. Roland also stared at them, an eyebrow lifted in curiosity.

  Honora put her goblet down, having composed herself. “Oh, just Guildon’s changing values, dear.”

  “It appears those values are a subject of mirth,” Roland smirked.

  “Not so, my son,” Honora said with gentle decorum. “You misconstrue my laugher. Of a truth, it holds more delight than jest, for you and Audri have been the ones to influence those necessary changes. They give me immense joy and great hope for Guildon’s future.”

  Roland looked sideways at his wife. “Oh, no, she’s just entrusted Guildon’s future into our hands, Audri. What do you think of that?”

  Audri looked heavenward and shook her head. “One can only wonder at those implications,” she said, grinning. Then, taking another piece of shortbread from the tray, she held it before her face and examined it. “But if the quality of Guildon’s shortbread is any indication . . .” She bit into the biscuit happily. “Then our future will be a sweet one indeed.”

  Roland smiled and gently bumped his shoulder into Audri’s as their tablemates laughed.

  Elsie Park’s Shortbread

  3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks or 170 grams) salted butter, softened

  1/4 + 1/8 cup (75 grams) granulated sugar

  2 cups (156 grams) all-purpose flour (can use wheat flour if desired)

  Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 Celsius).

  Cream butter and sugar in large bowl.

  Add flour.

  Mix with a spoon at first and then finish incorporating with clean hands to squish the dough together. Dough will be semi-dry and crumbly. Add a pat or two more butter if it’s too crumbly to work with.

  Roll 1-inch round pieces of dough between palms and then flatten into 1/2-inch thick circles with hands (you can roll with rolling pin on a flat surface and cut with cookie cutters too).

  Place on ungreased cookie sheet 1/2-inch apart.

  Bake no longer than 20 minutes (they will still be white, not golden or browned).

  Remove from oven and immediately transfer cookies to a cooling rack.

  Enjoy!

  Variations:

  Mix pecan pieces into the dough before shaping and baking.

  Dip baked, cooled cookies in melted chocolate. Place on wax-paper-lined cookie sheet to allow chocolate to cool.

  Roll cookies thinner (1/4-inch) and bake. Put jelly or melted chocolate between two cooled cookies to make sandwiches.

  Appendix Notes

  Stones vs. pounds/kilograms: Weight was not measured in pounds in the 1300s. Stones w
ere used, and though they were different sizes for different uses, the basic conversion for the sake of this story is the modern conversion: 1 stone = 14 pounds/6.35 kilograms. So Audri weighed nearly 200 pounds at the beginning of the story and lost 65 pounds during her training, ending up at about 135 pounds by the end of the book.

  Rapid weight loss with exercise and healthy eating: It is possible to lose the amount of weight Audri did in the story in the amount of time allotted and still be healthy. She was put through a vast amount of hard exercise but was allowed to eat sufficient food for her energy needs. The foods available in England during the Middle Ages provided Audri with protein, in the form of meat, legumes, and nuts; dried and fresh fruits, giving her natural sugars for energy; vegetables and whole grains, for fiber; varied dairy products, for protein and calcium; and fresh well water to keep hydrated. Though the more technical effect of processed sugars on the body’s fat stores as we understand it today wasn’t realized back then, Roland restricting Audri’s “sweet treats” immensely aided her weight loss.

  The Battle of Bannockburn: (23-24 June, 1314) This battle was a significant Scottish victory in the First War of Scottish Independence and a landmark in Scottish history. The account of this decisive battle as told in Perils of Wrath, though summed up considerably, is true to historical fact.

  Rain: The abundant amount of rain in the year 1314 lead to a great famine all over Europe that spanned three years. It caused flooding, rotten food, and failed crops. The worst of the shortages took its toll on winter stores for the following year, with no food having been stored the previous year. For both humans and animals, mass deaths occurred from starvation, disease, drowning, cannibalism, and infanticide.

  Edward II: (son of Edward I, known as Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots) His reign was considered to be one of the most disastrous in England’s history of kings. Edward II thought more about sports and social events than political issues, losing the control over the Scots that his father had attained. He had serious disputes with his barons, causing great rifts in loyalties and aiding in the downfall of England’s army during the Battle of Bannockburn. Edward II was murdered on the twenty-first of September, 1327, by unknown persons. His son, Edward III, lead a more adequate rule, bringing honor back to the royal throne.