Knight's Legacy

by Trenae Sumter

  She was steadfastly unrepentant of the incident concerning the Maitland child. His anger was brief, however, and dissipated quickly in the light of their passion for one another.

  At the end of the second day, long into the evening, Roderic turned to her.

  “Brianna, some of your own clan have called you mad. Are you bewitched?”

  Her face clouded with uneasiness, and she floundered before the brilliance of his gaze. “Who has told you this?” She spoke with a tremble in her voice.

  “One who has no use for an Englishman in his midst, and prefers me to the cruelty of the Mackay. Why would he lie?”

  “Roderic, do you see me as simple-minded? Or bewitched by the devil?”

  “I know only that you have bewitched me … filled me with lust.” He reached out to hold her cheek, his eyes soft when he went on.

  “I am in awe of your beauty, intrigued by your spirit. You are a mystery, though, no evil abides in your heart. You are too caring for those helpless and in need. I hope I possess your loyalty. King Alexander wants your protection by this alliance, and he will have it, I will do all in my power to see it done.”

  “Even if it means you have married a woman who you believe to be mad?” Cat was dubious.

  “Aye. Make no mistake, Brianna. You will obey me. If there be any effort from you to be loyal to your father, I will not hesitate to stop you. If you be in like mind of the boy,” he paused before he finished his thought, “I will take care of you both.”

  She was rankled by his cool, aloof manner.

  “You could be speaking of a pet you were given but didn’t want! I am not like Kenneth! You are too quick to judge him. He is mute, but I don’t believe he is lacking in intelligence. Having learned to fear most people, he shuts them out, but that does not make him stupid. As for my father, why would I be loyal to him? The man has never expressed empathy in his entire pathetic existence!”

  “I want to believe you, the people here cannot withstand being taken prisoner and driven from their homes. Three Lairds have reason to kill Mackay on sight. Do you think Kenneth and the others will not be included in their wrath?”

  Her angry expression was replaced with one of apprehension. After a long moment, she spoke softly. “Nay, they would not spare them. I know I cannot begin to make you understand, but I am not mad. I will do all I can to protect my people, even those who tell you these stories of my being bewitched. Their needs are so great. You have given them food, and I am grateful, yet their homes are in such a state …”

  “Aye, wife, you speak the truth. They need warm homes for the winter. I left orders for my men. They work as we speak. The elderly and infirm will have their cottages built first. I left my many duties to be with my wife.”

  Her green eyes were bright when she turned her face to kiss his palm before she answered. “I do treasure this time alone with you. I appreciate the sacrifice. They will come to give you their loyalty in time, Roderic. How long did it take for your army to follow you without rancor? They must have resented an Englishman as their leader.”

  “Aye, they were misfits, too. My army embodies those from many different clans. Some were cast out, bastards with no holdings, no ties. Some lost their loved ones to war and had nothing to go back to, as I. Perhaps they accepted me in spite of their prejudice because I led them, gave them pride and integrity by beseeching the King on their behalf. He thought to give them a home here, too, a purpose. If the people have the discernment to trust in this alliance, they will have the benefit and protection of the finest warriors in Scotland.”

  “How proud you are of them.”

  “Aye, they are fine men, worthy of praise,” he said.

  The following day was relished, for it was the last day of their respite. They hunted together and returned with birds to cook for the evening meal. Later, Roderic made a fire in the hearth and put a bed of furs before it. When he informed her that they would return in the morning, she could not hide her disappointment; for she had treasured their time alone. He took her in his arms, urging her to lie down.

  “Come, do not pout. We can stay here no longer, but do not allow that to ruin the joy of this night.”

  “Pray sir, I do not pout!” She spoke with a mockingly outraged expression while her eyes danced with laughter.

  He grinned. “Aye, you do, lady.”

  She took his hand and knelt down beside him. Cat did not care for the uncanny ability he had to see her character so vividly. Smiling at the man who was her husband, she felt a strong desire to be in his arms, to experience the comfort to her spirit which the act would bring. Opening her arms to him, she was almost ashamed of the gesture.

  Roderic observed the change in her, be it fleeting. Embracing her by wrapping her snugly in his arms, he stretched out by the fire.

  “Why are you troubled?”

  Shaking her head, she tucked her face under his chin. He made love to her very slowly, each touch and caress savored. Cat lay in the afterglow of their passion, aware that in the desperate seconds before his climax, Roderic called out her name.

  He had called her Brianna. There was no unease in her spirit at his use of it, no nameless anxiety to give her grief. Slipping her arms around him, she caressed his hair as he rested his head on her chest.

  She lay awake for a while after it was obvious he slept heavily. Taking a deep breath, she sighed, and then spoke softly into the night.

  “Aye, Merlin. I am content.”

  Chapter Ten

  The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy and good fruits.

  ~James 3:17

  Cat spent the next two weeks listening to Edna as she tried to teach her about the managing of the keep. Accustomed to her own time, she never realized how diligently a woman must work to be peacemaker in the castle. She was called upon to settle disputes of the women of the clan who were disgruntled with the constant appearance of the men who served Roderic in his army.

  Cat did her best to speak for the women in these disputes. The soldiers found that Roderic himself championed the women, and agreed with his wife. Being a virtuous man, he set down the decree that no woman was to be coerced to bed by any soldier should she be unwilling. The clan had suffered enough, and their mission was one of restoration, not of pillaging.

  Cat was relieved to see that almost all the soldiers accepted this command. Her husband had their respect, and they were eager to show him their fealty and obedience.

  Gavin returned from his trip and never failed to remain loyal to Roderic in these concerns. Cat soon became used to the people requesting her judgement on even small matters, so she was not surprised one afternoon when Edna sought her out.

  “Ye must come, lady. Two women have come through the soldiers to our gates. They have traveled a bit, and wish an audience with Sir Roderic. Half-starved they be, from the look of them.”

  Cat’s brow creased in a frown. “Where is Roderic?”

  “He be training with his men.”

  “Send someone to fetch him, and bring them food and drink. We will make sure they are fed before they tell us what they want of Roderic.”

  Edna hurried away to obey her. Cat had been salting meat to preserve it, she took the time to wash before she went to meet her guests. When she entered the dining hall she was appalled at the sight that greeted her.

  A young woman barely in her teens sat at the table. Hugely pregnant, her limbs were thin to the point of emaciation. Humming to herself, she sat stroking her long hair. The girl had been pretty once, for her eyes were a lovely blue, with long black lashes. But now her skin was pale, her hair dull, and her breathing shallow as if it took all her strength to sit in the chair at the table. Although she ignored the other woman when she tried to coax her to take a bite of bread, she did drink the cup of milk when it was held to her lips.

  “Aye, good lass. Drink every drop.”

  The older woman girl looked up, and Cat was startled by her penetrating gaze.
Her eyes were silver and her hair was black, long and straight, falling to her waist. The gown she wore was black velvet, and though she was dusty and the worse for traveling, the woman was striking.

  “Lady Montwain?”

  “Aye. I would like to extend my greetings, and I have sent for my husband. You wish to speak to him?”

  “Aye, lady. I do thank ye for the food. We have come a long way and hope to seek shelter here. I am a healer, and can be a help to Montwain, should he wish it. I can set bones, stitch wounds, and heal a lesion if it isnae too far gone.”

  Her hands were thin, Cat noticed when she stroked the girl’s brow with long delicate fingers. The girl leaned into the woman’s touch, but said nothing.

  Cat frowned.

  “I see ye seek answers, but if I may beg your indulgence, I prefer to wait until Montwain arrives. ’Tis a sad tale, and healer that I am, lady, I cannae cure a broken spirit.”

  The last was spoken with anger and resignation, as if she were loath to admit the truth. They sat silently while the woman ate and tried to feed the girl.

  Finally, Roderic arrived, sweating profusely as he had come from the practice field, still carrying his sword. He smiled briefly at Cat before he spoke.

  “You seek audience with me, lady?”

  The woman stood. “Aye, Sir Montwain. I have heard of your victory here, and they say ye be a mon of mercy. I am Glyniss Gordon from the Gordon clan to the south, and this be Meggie. Her mother is a Macpherson, but we both came from the Gordon clan. We were cast out, ye see, and have nowhere to go.”

  Meggie dropped her gaze from Roderic and turned, as if apprehensive, to wrap her arms around the woman’s middle, and emitted a frightened whimper. Glyniss stroked her shoulder in wordless comfort as she went on.

  “I was banished for helping and healing Meggie, unwed and forced to starve when her parents abandoned her to the man that ruined her. I’ve helped many women the Church would have condemned. The clan took no heed of them, if I chose to help, but not so Meggie. She loves the father of her child, but he was the pampered only son of the Gordon Laird. He wouldnae accept the child was his, and when I spoke to the Laird on her behalf, he sent me away. I knew they would let her starve if I left her there, so we set out, Meggie and me. Some of the Gordon people have spoken of your mercy to the Mackay women and children. Think ye daft, they do, but I allowed ye might take us in.

  I have a bit of coin ye can have for your coffers, and I will work as a healer. All I ask is shelter for this poor child and myself. If ye say we are not welcome, and ye decree that we should be gone, so be it. We will make our way to Melrose Abbey and the holy sisters.”

  She turned to Cat. “Ye think her simple, lady, but it isnae true. Ahh, such a bright, beautiful lass ye had never seen, so full of joy. It was stolen when that pampered boy spurned her. He took her joy and spirit, and she be like a tree that no longer has the sap running through it to make it strong and alive. I can get her to put so little food past her lips I was afraid she wouldnae survive this journey. Still, her babe lives, is healthy and kicking. If Meggie gives up on life, it willnae be for lack of all my strength and healing ways. She speaks not to anyone, so dinnae mind her. I am not one that believes all those a bit mad should be locked up or burned.”

  Roderic lifted his sword and put it in the scabbard at his waist. “Nor I, lady. Sanctuary is granted, and you may keep your coins. Though you may not have a cottage of your own for a bit. We are still building for the people here.” His brown eyes were troubled and filled with compassion as he stared at Meggie.

  “Ah, a cottage? Sir, I wish for no such luxury, just a few pallets for Meggie and me. We could sleep in the stable, though I fear ’Tis too cold.”

  “I agree. We don’t want you in the stable. You both need a room of your own with a fire,” Cat said.

  Glyniss gazed at her, and the hard, brittle look of fear was gone, replaced by warmth and gratitude.

  “Bless ye, lady. I’ll not forget your kindness.” She turned to Roderic. “Nor you, sir. Englishmon or no, ye have more integrity than many a Scot.”

  Cat went to work seeing them settled. The girl’s eyes almost never left Glyniss. When Edna brought up some pudding, Cat was encouraged to see that Meggie took a wooden spoon and ate half the cup before stretching out on the bed. Pulling Glyniss down to lie beside her, she went to sleep at once as Glyniss hummed softly and stroked her hair.

  “I can get up once she is sleeping. She becomes frightened if left alone. Meggie is quite weary from our ride this day. I thank you again for the warm bed, for she will sleep better now.”

  “You are welcome. She’s so young,” Cat said.

  “Aye, only five and ten summers. I fear for the size of this babe, though she eats so little. My prayer has been that she can manage to push it from her small body when the time comes.”

  “You are a midwife?”

  “Aye. I helped bring all those born to the Gordon clan these last seven years.”

  “I helped one of the ladies from the Maitland clan when her son was born with the cord still around his neck. The midwife and I barely managed to save both the mother and the child.”

  “And the Maitland men dinnae keep ye?” There was a sparkle of amusement in her bright silver eyes when Glyniss spoke.

  Cat sighed. “No, though my husband was near forced to go to war. The lady was wed to the Laird, and he was grateful for my help, so we left peacefully.”

  “A blessing, that,” Glyiniss said.

  Kenneth ran into the room, coming to an abrupt halt by Cat. He stared silently at Meggie and leaned down near her on the bed.

  Glyniss put out her hand as if to push him away.

  “Be not alarmed,” Cat said. “This is Kenneth. He is mute, but he will not hurt her; he is very gentle.”

  Kenneth leaned down and sniffed the girl’s hair. Touching her cheek lightly so she did not awaken, he stared at her belly, and placed his hand on it. Cat wanted to laugh at his dumbfounded expression when he smiled and looked up at her, a query in his eyes.

  Glyniss smiled and covered his hand with her own. “The babe stirs,” she murmured.

  Kenneth leaned down to press his cheek to the girl’s belly, and laughed out loud when the baby kicked his face. Cat made signs as if to quiet him.

  “Leave him be, ’Tis no worry. Meggie sleeps deeply now she is warm, and ’Tis good to hear laughter of a young one.”

  “How long were you with the Gordon clan?”

  “Seventeen years. My mother took a second husband after my father died. He was a Gordon, and treated her well. Ten summers I was then, and now I am twenty and seven. I never married, for I chose not to. Too many men wouldnae sanction my gift of healin’. They want a lass at their beck and call, warming their beds when they want her there. Most have no sufferance for a woman who is apt to leave them at a moment’s notice to nurse others.

  “I was a year older than Meggie when I knew I had the gift. I held my baby sister in my arms when she was ailing. My mother said she had given her up for dead. Mother could feel the healing power coming from my hands, and that was when she told me I had been given a great gift. God had chosen me to heal others, she said, and was verra stern as she instructed that I was to revere the power He put in me, to use it for good.

  “The older Gordon Laird favored me. I healed his shoulder wound, and he allowed that no one could make his legs feel better than me when the gout pained him. He respected me as a healer, no matter I was a young lass.

  “The old man has been dead now five summers. His son, the present Laird, can be harsh to his people, and he be proud and vain about that young boy, who willnae defy his father. Douglas sought to marry another more comely lass, and he kenned that to accept Meggie and her child would mean the loss of the other.”

  Glyniss fell silent while she stroked the girl’s hair. Cat took note of the extraordinary delicacy of the woman’s touch.

  “Rest well, Glyniss,” she said, and rose to leave the ch
amber.

  Cat did her best to help Glyniss in the days that followed. The woman was devoted to Meggie, and although the girl rarely responded to anyone else, she was not as fearful as when she arrived.

  It was only a matter of days until Glyniss was called upon to heal one of the soldiers, who had been injured on the training field by a less experienced lad he was teaching. The wound was in his thigh, and he was resigned to the fact that she would have to burn it with a hot iron.

  Cat was inwardly cringing. “Must you do this? May we not simply clean the wounds so he’ll not have to suffer the burns?”

  “Nay, lady. We cannae get all the dirt out,” Glyniss said.

  “Do we have any strong drink about? Stronger than ale?”

  “We can beseech the soldiers. Some always have a bit of strong brew to ward off the cold. In Scotland there are barrels of that to be had, or to be bought for the right price.”

  “Have it brought to us, Edna. Send Nigel to fetch it,” Cat said.

  When he returned with the flask, Cat went to work cleaning the wound. The man moaned low in his throat as they worked, and he gripped his other thigh and grimaced in pain.

  “I fear he would prefer the iron,” Glyniss said.

  “Yes, I know it hurts, and I am sorry for your pain, but you will see, there will be no need for the iron,” Cat said.

  “No matter, my lady. Get it done as ye see fit,” he said.

  Glyniss’ gaze turned penetrating when she looked at Cat. “And how do ye know this, lady? Have ye seen this done with wounds before?”

  Cat dropped her eyes. “I didnae think to instruct you of healing, Glyniss, but aye, I have seen it done.”

  “Ah, dinnae beg my pardon, lady. I trust you to do right by this mon as ye did by Meggie and me. We may try this and watch the wound closely on the morrow, and I can use the iron if need be.”

  Three days later the skin continued to heal around the wound, and the soldier complained of little pain.

  “No red lines or signs of trouble,” Glyniss said. “Must ye clean it as steadfastly as ye did?”