Beneath the Shadows of Evil... Treasured

by Jolynn Raymond

  As if on cue, knowing how Natalya would sputter about the food brought to the table each night, a serving girl entered with a roasted fowl. Roast carrots and a fresh loaf of bread accompanied the bird, along with a bowl of sliced pears. Before Natalya could speak, Lucian held up his hand to hush her, knowing all too well what she was about to say.

  “Natalya, what you and Thalia do not consume will be sent back to the kitchen for the children, and as always, the food will be accompanied by a jug of milk. I have made certain the goats are well fed. It is the best I can do to make sure they get enough to eat. They are watched over and no adult may take what is meant for them. That doesn’t include you and Thalia though, so please don’t pretend that you have a small appetite. I know you are a hearty eater, my sweet.”

  “Forgive me M’Lord and M’Lady. I stayed too late in the sick ward.” They had been too wrapped up in their conversation to notice Thalia’s approach, but she had heard them. “Lord Lucian speaks the truth M’Lady. The children were being gathered as I crossed the courtyard. They will have plenty of warmth from the kitchen fire, and then have their fill of a good hearty supper. They’ll not want because you eat yours.”

  Lucian nodded his head in thanks and smiled at his mate’s chambermaid and companion. “There you have it, sweet. Thalia wouldn’t tell you false. Agnes, serve your mistress a good sized portion of meat as well as everything else you’ve brought.”

  The girl did as told despite a scowl from the Lady of the castle, and Natalya set about to eat all before her, knowing she couldn’t dissuade her husband on the matter. She truly was hungry. She and Thalia had put in a full day of tending to the sick as well as settling the petty squabbles of the surfs that were well. The Lord of the castle presided over more serious matters, but the women had taken on the role for minor disputes.

  Conversation flowed as always, all doing their best to refrain from discussing the challenges they faced, at least until dinner was over. Once they were done, Lucian and Natalya would retire to Lucian’s study to discuss the worries that made up their day-to-day survival. During these talks, Lucian let Natalya give council and speak freely, which was somewhat unheard of, but unlike most men, Lucian valued Natalya’s intelligence, and knew she had wisdom to depart. He made the final decisions of course, but he listened intently and always weighed her opinions. It was one of the things she loved about him. He made her feel valued, and not just as a pretty wench to bed.

  Halfway through the meal, Natalya slowed in her eating, her appetite having suddenly vanished. She set down her fork and rubbed her arms briskly, feeling a chill despite the roaring fire in the hearth and long woolen sleeves. She reached for her goblet of wine, only to knock it over as a wave of dizziness came upon her, causing an abrupt halt to the dinner conversation.

  Both Lucian and Thalia looked at Natalya in surprise and then concern. Her face had gone pale except for two spots of color where she was flushed, her eyelids that had drooped before, now fluttered as Natalya fought to keep them open. She rubbed her arms once more, trying to dispel the chill that had seized her, only to start shaking.

  “I... Lucian I...” She looked at her mate with glazed eyes, and then shook her head as if to try and clear it, confused as to what she was trying to say and why she couldn’t form a rational thought. She’d felt fine a moment ago, but now she was clearly not fine at all. Lucian stood so fast his chair nearly tipped over as he rushed to get to Natalya. If her actions hadn’t been enough to warn him something was amiss, the sense of fear and confusion coming to him from his mate because of the blood bond they shared surely was.

  She slumped back in her chair even as Lucian was pulling it away from the table. He knelt before her, taking her hands in his, grasping them tightly. He felt the heat from her skin at once and was shocked at its intensity. Her hand had been cool when he’d placed kisses on it only a bit ago. Cursing, he dropped her hands and scooped her up in his arms, damning himself for allowing her to tend the sick.

  How could he have been such a fool? She would have raged at him, but the heat of her words would have paled against the heat of the fever that had taken hold in the blink of an eye. Fear held Lucian in its grip as he gathered Natalya close and rushed across the great room to the stairs, his mind full of the image of all the new graves in the ground beside the keep. He wouldn’t allow death to take her. He wouldn’t. Fate and the Reaper could be damned; they couldn’t have her.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Lucian carried Natalya up the stone staircase, the heat of her body burning him through her woolen gown. He damned himself for not sensing she was ill sooner. True the war, worries about their safety, and the growing scarcity of their food stores had plagued him, but that was no excuse for being out of touch with his mate. She murmured nonsensical words as he carried her, her mind burning with the same fever that seared her body.

  Thalia raced at his heels, fear clearly evident on her face. She and the Mistress had been tending the sick just hours ago, and she knew all too well what the ravages of this illness did to the body as it took hold. Those they had tended lay lost, crying as fever ravaged their bodies, shaking uncontrollably, their skin holding a deathly pallor, their lips cracked and dry as their mouths opened wide in an effort to breathe. This sickness caused its victims to cough violently, stealing the breath from their bodies as it left them gasping.

  They tended those they could with an herbal elixir that helped the symptoms to ebb, but it was only for a while. When they returned to sick wing of the castle the following day, their patients would only be worse, and within a week, most would perish. Only the strong and well fed survived, and most of the serfs didn’t fall under that category because of the war. Thalia knew Natalya had shared this dire news with Master Lucian when he asked about the state of those who were ill each day, and was certain Natalya’s dire words were now echoing in his head as he carried his mate to their chambers.

  All were now housed inside the castle walls to protect them from the invading Turks, and so the illness had spread from the poorest farmer to the lady of the castle. Those serfs who weren’t ill, worked in the kitchens, tended the livestock that had been brought into the castle’s inner walls, tried to coax crops from the hard ground, or worked their trade as best they could, blacksmithing, spinning wool, cobbling shoes, and all the regular occupations that had provided coins for survival in days gone by. Winter would be upon them in just a couple of months and their stores were dwindling. Marauders had burned over half their crops last fall before they could be harvested. Feed for the livestock and some fresh vegetables for the table were among the things they had cultivated inside the castle proper this past growing season, but it wasn’t enough to feed all those who now resided in the castle. Fortunately the minions who remained, were good hunters, so they didn’t want for meat most of the time. The blood required to sustain the vampires who protected them and gave them food, was seen as a fair trade, so long as none were drained to death.

  The vast majority of those who resided and worked in the castle were women, young children, and the old or crippled. A dozen strong men had been retained to guard the castle during the daylight hours when the minions would be unable to fight, but the rest of the humans couldn’t thwart a true attack. Now with the sickness raging among all who were mortal, their defenses were dwindling at an alarming rate.

  Most of the minions had left to either help defend the realm and country of Lord Arcos or had rushed to the battle lines to relish in the death and misery there. There were those who’d never taken to the Master’s strict code of conduct once his wife and family were part of the castle, but hadn’t been free to leave, owing their allegiance to their Master or maker. The war had provided a means to leave, and fed them as much terror and death as any of them could want.

  They arrived at the chambers Lucian and Natalya shared, Thalia still at his heels. Lucian kicked the door open and strode inside, then waited as the maid rushed forward to turn back the bedcovers. Lucian lay do
wn his love as soon as the bed was made ready, and then began to remove her clothing and boots, kissing her forehead as he did, then grimacing at the heat that met his lips.

  “Should she be put in the bath to bring down her fever?”

  “No, My Lord. In time it may be necessary if the elixir fails to bring it down, but for now, she needs rest. M’Lady has labored too hard as of late.

  Lucian nodded in reply, his face solemn. Yes, she had pushed herself too hard, and he had allowed it. Now the decisions for her well-being were being taken from him. Though it was hard, he knew he had to place the welfare of his mate in Thalia’s hands. He he’d done too little, too late. The feelings of rage and helplessness that filled him were ones he wasn’t accustomed to, nor was the suffocating fear that claw at his gut.

  “Fetch your Mistress’ warmest nightgown, and then go and fetch Natalya’s elixir. Gather up anything else that has been used to help the sick. I want everything here so you won’t have to leave her.” He moved to tug the bell pull, yanking it savagely, his fear and frustration arousing the demon inside. His beast was in a rage; its need to protect its mate making rationality something that was difficult at best.

  Lucian did his best to calm himself as he put Natalya’s nightshift on her shaking body and pulled the furs up to her chin. By the time he was done a line of servants waited for his commands, all of them looking stricken over the fate of their Mistress. Natalya was well loved by the humans at the castle; she had helped them for many years. Birthing their babes, tending their sick, dressing their wounds, and always bringing food to make certain the weak, ill, and the young had enough to eat. Now they stood waiting, their hearts heavy, not a one blind to the fact that the Mistress would almost certainly be fine if she hadn’t tended so many. They were acutely aware of the Master’s disquiet as he looked them over; for all knew they left much to be desired.

  “Thalia, where are the other minions who reside in the castle?”

  “Only Sebastian stays in the castle, my Lord. I have not seen Goran and Jakov for days. I thought you sent them to the ramparts to defend the outer walls with the others. Those minions sleep in the keep as you have ordered so I never see them.”

  “I did not send them to the wall.”

  “Then I imagine they have gone to fight.”

  Though the vampires couldn’t be part of a regime, they had their own bands of troops who hunted and ambushed the Turkish enemy at night, decimating their numbers and causing terror. While it was true some went purely to relish the savage killing, most focused their fury upon the enemy. The minions weren’t fools, if the land and castle of their Master fell into enemy hands they would be forced back into a life of hiding.

  Lucian was greatly disturbed by the fact that the two minions had run off without his knowledge. He’d been far to absorbed with all their worries but it was no excuse. As acting Lord of Castle Arcos, he should have known that left only Sebastian and himself inside the castle. Sebastian was a good and loyal minion. He’d acted as Natalya’s personal guard, but now he needed someone else to step into that role. Lucian knew he would stay with Natalya night and day, so he needed someone who was strong enough and smart enough to guard the inner castle while he was at his mate’s side. It was what Sebastian had done, but now Sebastian would have to take over the direct command of the minions in Lucian’s absence.

  Lucian looked over the line of servants who stood waiting for his commands. He needed to make a decision. Hard as it was to send Sebastian to the ramparts, Lucian knew it had to be done. Despite the fact that all he could think about was Natalya, he had a responsibility to keep all who took shelter inside the castle walls safe.

  “You, go to the guard station and summon Xavier.” The boy who he’d pointed to was gone in a flash. “Do any of the rest of you have any knowledge of healing?” Natalya had taken up the role of healer and midwife so long ago that Lucian didn’t have much hope. To his relief one woman replied.

  “I’ve a bit, My Lord. I’ve help Lady Natalya and Miss Thalia when it was needed, as well as tending the sick when they weren’t about.”

  Lucian looked at the woman, her face tugging on a memory, and then it came to him. “You’re Rowan. My mate tended you when she first arrived at the castle. I spent many a night sitting at your table as I waited.”

  “Yes, M’Lord.”

  “Have you tended many of the sick in the castle? Can you help my wife if Thalia becomes ill?”

  “I would do my best. Lady Natalya has always been kind. She’s done much for my family.”

  “Very good. Once Xavier arrives you will school him in the basics, then take over for Thalia and help me here so she can school him further.”

  Lucian had chosen the smartest of the remaining minions. Xavier would guard the castle, and if the time came, help him tend Natalya if the rest of the humans became ill. Thalia had returned with Natalya’s medicinal supplies in time to catch the end of Lucian’s orders. It was a good plan. Though he had to be enraged and full of dread because of Natalya’s illness, he was thinking ahead. If she and Rowan got sick, there would be at least someone left beside himself who could tend to her.

  Thalia set Natalya’s satchel down and quickly took out the herbal tonic. There was no time to lose in the fight of this strange sickness that had taken so many already. She was determined that Lady Natalya would not end up in the yard beside the castle keep that now held so many freshly dug graves.

  “This will help her fever. She isn’t coughing at all so perhaps we will have a better chance of helping her.” Lucian nodded, his eyes hooded as usual, never had he allowed anyone to see his emotions or know of his weakness, still, Thalia had no doubt about his fear. She held Natalya’s head up and spooned two teaspoons of the medicinal herb between her lips, then took over the orders for the servants, not because Lucian couldn’t, but because she knew what was needed.

  “Fetch more furs, and feed the fire in the hearth. The fever will soon consume her. I need a basin of cold water. Get it from the spring outside, the colder the better, as well as clean cloths. I need some torn in strips as well as clean bedding to have on hand. If you’ve tended any of the sick here, I want you to keep away. It may not help the Mistress, but we must do all we can. Oh, and fetch some hot broth from the kitchen. There are to be meat scraps in it. We must keep her body strong.”

  All scurried off to do Thalia’s bidding. Though she was a servant, she was also a trusted friend. The line between family and maid had become muddled long ago. When Mistress Alliana and Katia had left for the safety of the Gypsy camp, Thalia had remained behind to stay with Natalya. Lady Alliana would have her daughter and family to surround her with love. Lady Natalya had Master Lucian, but had no female companionship.

  The minion Lucian had sent for arrived and they moved away to converse by the fire. Others arrived with the things she had requested, and Thalia went about her work, talking softly to Natalya all the while, telling her she would be well soon. Whether she believed what she said, no one could say. Only a handful of the surfs that become ill had survived, but Natalya was strong. Her body hadn’t been made weak by a life of hard work and not enough food. The Master had refused to ration what was put upon their table. The meals were not lavish, but neither she nor Lady Natalya was ever hungry in the least.

  She soaked a folded cloth in the cold water and applied it to her Mistress’ forehead, then pulled her arms from under the furs and tied strips of cloth soaked in water around her wrists. Lucian looked up, his gaze sharp when he heard Natalya’s murmur of protest, followed by the sound of her chattering teeth.

  “It is needed, My Lord. Though she is cold, I must keep the fever down. The furs will comfort her but the cloths will battle the fever.”

  “Do as is needed, Thalia. Xavier is going to Natalya’s medicinal chamber with Rowan so she can teach him of some of the herbs and the tools there. When she has expended all her knowledge, you will do the same. I’m going to the guard tower. A rider will be sent to the G
ypsy camp. Lady Alliana will want to know of my mate’s illness, and perhaps Katia can... I don’t know. Maybe something magickal can be done.”

  “Yes, My Lord.” If Thalia questioned his decision to send for the lady of the castle she didn’t show it. Thalia simply turned back to Natalya and began to spoon the broth between her lips, and though her mistress fought it, Thalia was persistent. Lucian knew he risked his Master’s wrath by bringing Lady Alliana back. The Gypsy camp, especially with Katia and her magick guarding them, was a far safer place, but he knew Lady Alliana would wish to be with her friend. He hoped she would bring Katia with her. It was possible the girl could work some sort of magic. Lucian didn’t know what, but it was a glimmer of hope he couldn’t let go of.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The days and nights came and went without much notice paid by Lucian. He sat by Natalya’s side while he was awake, and lay next to her when he finally gave in to his need for sleep. The rest of the time was spent bathing her forehead and coaxing her to swallow the elixir and the nourishing broth Thalia said she must have. He would talk to her in a soft voice when she whimpered, and beg her forgiveness when he put her in the tub of cool water. He knew it had to be done, but her weak cries of protest and the chattering of her teeth made him say the words nonetheless.

  Thalia and Rowen were often with him, and made certain one of them was sitting up, watching Natalya when he slept. Both women toiled at her sick bed, and with the others who were sick, resting only because Lucian commanded it. He wouldn’t have them falling ill as well. It was true Xavier had been schooled in the making of the herbal elixir as well as the basics of tending to the sick, but he was needed to guard the castle more than he was needed in the sickroom, at least for now.