"You are quite eager my lord," she said. She looked into his brown eyes, not minding his crushing weight at all.
"So Agnes, am I to understand that you know nothing of her ladyship's search for the green gem?" he asked quietly, his hands stilling.
Agnes looked at him in surprise. "I know she has some pretty green stones from time to time."
"This would be an enormous stone, larger than you have ever seen. She searches for it continuously. Has she ever mentioned it or have you ever observed her searching throughout the keep?"
Agnes shook her head. "Her ladyship does not share her whereabouts with me," she said, lying now across his chest. "Once my father needs me in the fields, I will no longer be maid to my lady."
"That is too bad," he said, almost to himself. "I am sorry you are not of more use to me Agnes."
She laughed uncertainly.
"This could have been an enjoyable interlude, but now I fear it must end." He extricated himself from Agnes and came to his feet. She slid to the hard ground.
"I-I don't understand --" she began, and then she saw his cold smile. She swallowed hard. "I promise not to tell anyone we've met," she stammered.
"I can't take that chance. I am sorry Agnes."
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Iliana searched for Agnes early the next morning. The girl had not shown herself as she was wont to do upon day break. Cook was also disturbed by the girl's absence, having requested her help for the noontide meal. Morning had come and gone and Agnes still was not to be found.
"Mistress," Rowenna, one of the kitchen maids, waylaid Iliana as she prepared to make her way across the cobbled courtyard, William on her hip. Iliana was intent upon reaching the postern door before anyone made note of her presence. Erik and his men were paired off, engaged in an exchange of swordplay before a lustily wagering crowd which had gathered in the courtyard, some of which included villagers.
"Yes, Rowenna?" Iliana halted, her eyes darting quickly to the tall, blond headed man in the courtyard, then just as swiftly back to the young girl.
"Cook said as how you was looking for Agnes, and --" the girl hesitated, eyes downcast. Iliana gave her full attention to the girl, something in her manner making her uneasy.
"Yes, Rowenna, what troubles you?"
The young girl's eyes briefly rested upon the men and their flashing swords, then she looked up at her mistress with tears in her eyes, "It is Agnes. I fear she ran off last night. She had it in her head to spend time with -- with a man."
Despite the heat of the sun, a coldness seeped through Iliana.
"I knew she was to meet someone -- do you know who it was?" Iliana asked.
"I do not know for sure, but her father feared it was someone of whom he would not approve. She was very secretive."
Urgently, Iliana motioned the younger girl under the shadow of the wine cellar entrance.
"Do you know something you're not telling me Rowenna?"
The young girl turned to watch the men who lunged at each other across the courtyard.
"Her father feared it was one of those men Agnes went to meet." Her voice was a mere whisper.
A knot twisted within her stomach as her eyes followed the direction of Anna's trembling finger. The sword play was finished, one man standing victor over the other, a half grin upon his lips. As Iliana watched with a strange fascination, Erik accepted a goblet from one of his men at arms, tossing the contents back, then raising his fist in a gesture of victory, before leaning forward to offer a hand to the man who knelt defeated on the ground.
Rowenna twisted her hands with great agitation, the words wrenched from her, "Agnes was bound and determined to meet with this man. She laughed when we worried for her safety."
Iliana took William in her arms, burying her face in his sweet-scented neck.
"Thank you Rowenna." Tightlipped, she made her way across the courtyard, slipping through the postern door, ignoring Erik's voice behind her as he called her name.
Iliana walked among the trees, her mind in turmoil. She hugged William closer to her breast. Gently, she brushed back his dark hair, smiling into his face as he gave her his endearing toothless grin.
She had only gone a short distance when her path was blocked by one of the men at arms. She had noticed him in the courtyard upon occasion, his size bigger than any of the other men, his dark eyes fierce, and unruly black hair and beard not easily forgotten.
When she would have gone around him, he stepped back into her path, his size intimidating as he gestured her back the way she had come.
She put her chin up. "Sir, let me pass."
"It is better if you return the way you came, my lady Iliana."
She looked at him suspiciously and tried to look around him. "What are you hiding? Why may I not pass?"
"There has been an accident," he said, his voice gruff.
"Move aside," she said.
"My lady --"
"Who are you?"
"Ulrich."
"Ulrich, move aside now."
Iliana moved past him, following a path into heavy brush. It was only a short distance later that she found the thick-soled slipper. Bending to retrieve the lone slipper, Iliana suddenly saw someone lying beside the edge of the trees where the brush grew lighter, a grey cloak twisted about long legs. Iliana immediately recognized the cloak she had given Agnes, who had none of her own to ward off the chill of night and mornings. It fell gravely short on the girl, barely covering her knees.
"Agnes," Iliana chided, "have you slept out here all night?" Iliana moved closer, shifting William to her other hip as she bent down to shake the young girl. She drew back with a startled exclamation as one of Agnes' hands fell limply across her naked stomach, the fingertips scarlet with blood. She took another step back, horrified. Blood was everywhere.
Iliana could now see Agnes' eyes stared lifelessly upward.
Blindly, Iliana turned to flee, but she was caught from behind and held. Heart pounding so fiercely she thought she should collapse, Iliana looked up into green eyes.
Erik.
She clutched the baby closer to her chest.
Beyond him stood the black-bearded Ulrich.
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"Iliana, are you all right?"
She threw her head up. "You dare to ask me?" she hissed. "Perhaps you know what befell poor misguided Agnes?"
Erik narrowed his eyes, taking in the scene behind her. "Good God --" He looked at her. "What would I know? There lies your poor maid, apparently brutally murdered --"
"Verily she is dead. Will you tell me you did not know it? It appears your man knew it. He tried to block my way."
Erik pulled her away from the dead girl. She tried to twist free, but he would have none of it, forcing her before him. Several people, no doubt hearing the commotion, began to walk toward them, led by Rowenna and Thomas the carpenter.
"Thomas," Iliana directed as the man came running from the keep, to see what was causing the curiosity, "see that poor Agnes is brought to her father's house." The man immediately rushed forward. He looked at Erik, then away.
"I will gather some fellows to help me," Thomas mumbled. He walked back the way he'd come. "Agnes would not listen."
"What do you mean?" Iliana called after him, but there was no answer as Thomas walked toward the village, his shoulders slumped.
"My lady Iliana," Erik, "come away."
Iliana turned to him. "Scoundrel, son of a pig, loathsome bacon-brain --"
"Enough!" He pulled her up against him, ignoring her struggles. He lifted William away from her and into his own arms.
"Give me my son," she said furiously.
"Why would you think I know about this?" he asked, jostling William until the boy began to chuckle with glee.
"Why? Do you think I am some little pea goose without a thought in her head? I have seen the glances Agnes was wont to cast your way. Do not tell me you have no knowledge of what happened. I have seen you eyeing her with my own eyes. I am not daft."
"It appears you are," he said coldly, gritting his teeth. "What is it that you have seen except poor Agnes lying there dead? Did you see me place her lifeless body there? Did you see me brutalize the girl?"
"Give me my son." She could not snatch her son back, and in truth, he was grinning with delight as now Erik gently swung him to and fro.
"So now you accuse me of murder, Iliana?"
"You or one of your men," she said. Her glance fixated on the talon like marks across his throat and collarbone where dried blood flecked the skin.
"Your neck," she said.
He touched his neck. "I earned those training in the courtyard, though no doubt you will not believe me."
Iliana held out her shaking hands and he placed William in her arms. With the baby held close, she hurried back toward the castle.
She glared at Ulrich as she passed him. He had known Agnes was there, that's why he'd blocked her path. He was Erik's man.
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It had been a long time since Ulrich felt shame or remorse in his life, but he felt remorse today, even for the briefest instant. The Lady Iliana had looked at him with such anger and disgust, as if he'd been responsible for the girl's death, and he'd felt that look clear down to his flat feet.
He had tried to shield the lady from the body, but it was not to be. She was headstrong and not to be deterred from where she would go. From what he had seen the lady was fair and just, feeding the men the same quality of meats as the rest of the keep. Generally, the men at arms were not given the best of the fare.
He sighed. She had seen the lifeless and bloody body of the serving girl. Ulrich had seen lifeless bodies in many battles, but he supposed it had been quite a shock for her.
When he'd come upon the serving girl, he'd acknowledged the smallest hint of uneasiness. Mandrak might justify all actions were for the cause, but surely there had to be a line drawn somewhere? What made Ulrich feel even more uneasy was he'd been the one who'd told Mandrak it might be to his advantage to make a friend of the girl Agnes. And now she lay dead. Ulrich knew it was out of his control, and as he'd thought the bloodshed had already begun. Mandrak did as he pleased, and seemed not to worry about the outcome.
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Iliana paced. She needed time to think...time to decide her next course of action. Her greatest fears were coming to fruition. Erik and his men were disrupting life here at the keep, and now perhaps, had murdered an innocent girl.
She felt actual physical pain, her mind whirling with terrible thoughts. How could she protect anyone if a murderer walked among them?
She tried to settle her fears, and fed William his lunch, gently guiding his chubby baby fingers to the trencher full of cut up vegetables and fruit. He was in a playful mood today, slapping at his food rather than putting it in his mouth. She took the small pieces of vegetables and buzzed them around his face and ears, watching his eyes follow her movements, until he voluntarily opened his mouth and she'd pop some food inside. Laughing with his deep chuckle, he put his head back, waiting for the game to begin again. Iliana smiled, letting herself forget what she had seen earlier as they played in gentle innocence.
Her little William. So precious, her child, born one hot summer night. He was still one of the mysteries of her life here. She had been gifted with this delightful child, but how she had even become with child remained a mystery. It had caused her great angst in the beginning, to discover herself pregnant, but even her life tapestry had hidden the truth from her. There had been a time where she lay ill for three weeks, and when she began to recover from the strange illness, she began to notice the changes in her body. Frantically, she had searched her life tapestry, but the finely woven cloth had refused to let her see that time. It remained blurred, as if a protective covering had been placed over the memory.
And perhaps that was for the best, she thought on many occasions. For what if the circumstances of William's conception were more than she could bear?
Washing his face and hands, Iliana carried him upstairs, then let him play for a time on the bed furs as she sat on the bed. Tears came to her eyes as she saw the small wooden animals Agnes had brought to their chamber last night for William. They were scattered across the bed surface, and William clutched a sheep and horse in his chubby fingers. A knight and a dragon also lay on the bed furs but William had not yet noticed those.
"Time for a nap, young man," she said softly. He looked at her with those pure green eyes, most seriously, then he sat back and held the wooden sheep out to her. Iliana took it, holding it to her breast, overcome with such love for this child. She lay down on the bed and pulled him close, kissed his cheek, inhaling his sweet baby fragrance. He lay still beside her as they faced each other, until slowly his eyes grew heavy and he fell asleep, the horse still clutched in one hand.
Iliana rose, lifting William carefully and placing him in his bed. He was getting quite heavy, and growing taller so quickly, it seemed. Soon, she would have a small bed made for him as he had almost outgrown the large wood cradle.
Once he was settled, she moved to the window, pushed aside the cloth and stared at the yard below. Erik's men filled the courtyard with their gaming, dice and sword play. The clang of metal filled the air all day. He participated also, stripped to the waist. Wide shoulders, a light dusting of blond hair, slim hips. Something stirred to life in her stomach, and she crossed her arms in front of her. She made herself look away from him and then put her back to the window, feeling the breeze move against her hair.
Iliana pondered the chain of events in the last several weeks. She had a new shipment of gems arriving any day now, and in fact they were late. She had been warned of skirmishes in the countryside due to increasing unrest, and she worried now for the future of her people. Her most trusted men at arms went once a month to the seaport to the west, meeting a merchant from the deserts far beyond England's shores. Rare gems were exchanged for the jeweled pieces she had painstakingly created, gems of the highest caliber embedded in silver and the occasional gold piece. And yet they had not arrived as scheduled.
Erik's men rode the perimeters of the keep each day, venturing somewhat into the countryside in the pretext of seeing to the keep's protection. She had no reason to think they were doing anything other than protecting the land, but then where were her men with the gem shipment?
Iliana moved to the dressing table which held her comb and mirror. She picked up the hammered silver mirror, ran her fingers over the red garnets embedded in the silver. What if Erik was intent on wresting her trade from her? Iliana looked into the mirror, holding it up to her face, staring into her own blue eyes, her dark hair. What mask did she wear and how had it been put into place? At times she felt like a mystery to herself. She knew her quest, but her arrival in this time still remained a mystery to her.
Something pinched her neck and she twisted, frantically brushing her neck with the back of her hand. Something flew past her nose and she twisted sideways, swinging the mirror and hitting the object so that it smacked onto the stone floor. Quickly, it scuttled to hide behind the bed's wooden foot.
Stepping between William's cradle and where she'd last seen the creature, Iliana backed toward the fireplace. Leaning down, she felt for the iron poker. Moving cautiously forward, she used the poker to lift the bed fur where it draped the floor. She jumped back with a small screech as a small dragon scuttled toward her. She swung at it with the poker but it leapt up and flew around her in circles.
Horrified, she realized it was the wooden dragon that had been on the bed furs, only now its carved surface held a strange green glimmer as if the scales had come alive. It had tiny yellow eyes that opened and closed as its tail twitched once and then again, this way and that. She backed up closer to William's cradle then went still as the dragon moved toward her, its black-tipped scales moving with each step, looking razor sharp and deadly.
Iliana turned her head and saw her life tapestry, and she was mesmerized by the swirling colors. As she watched, the pictur
e began to reveal itself, the colored threads swiftly creating the scene with the dragon flying around her.
The dragon darted toward her, then flew straight up and down toward William's cradle, extending its neck and hissing at her. She swung the mirror and hit it again. "Leave my son alone. Leave this chamber for surely you are spell cast!" She gained a momentary reprieve as it hit the wall and slid to the floor. Her hand stung, and she saw the scales had ripped open the flesh. Grabbing a fresh linen cloth from the bedside stand, she awkwardly wrapped the hand. The creature was between her and the door -- how could they escape?
There was a rap at her door. She watched the wooden dragon as it skittered back and forth on the stone floor as if daring her to try and run past. It lunged at her feet, its strong tiny jaws gripped the hem of her gown and pulled her forward. "Get out!" She swung the poker and managed a glancing blow on its tail.
Suddenly, the door to her chamber burst open. She did not dare to look away from the dragon. "Stay back!" she cried. "The dragon will attack you."
"I knew no good would come of dragons in the sky," she heard Erik mutter. "Where is it?"
Despite her warning, he stepped into the room.
"That?" he said. She looked askance at him, his voice on the verge of amusement.
"This is no laughing matter," she said tensely.
He glanced at her bleeding hand and seemed to sober. William stirred and pulled himself to the side of his bed. The dragon turned toward him, skittered across the floor and under his cradle. "William!"
Before she could get back to his cradle, Erik lifted her son out and into his arms. He pushed the cradle back until it hit the wall and then Iliana moved in with the iron poker.
The dragon crawled up the side of the cradle and then flew straight up toward Iliana's face. She dropped the poker to protect her eyes and saw in amazement as Erik grabbed the dragon out of the air with one hand, two fingers around its throat. The dragon twisted and writhed, but he squeezed it tight.
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