A Sister's Crusade

by Ann Turner

  She could not concentrate on Simon’s stories, because the roadside herbs in the broths that her mother prepared made her sleepy. The baby she carried seemed to be thriving, as she felt it constantly moving inside her body. However, the pregnancy continued to drain her strength, and left her exhausted and sometimes confused.

  Aubrette’s health slowly improved and she finally felt well enough to be helped from her bed, to sit with a blanket over her shoulders by the fire. Esma was confident that her daughter had passed the worst of her malady and would soon be restored to full health. When her time arrived, she was sure that Aubrette would survive and the baby would flourish. Even she began to believe her mother. As every day passed, her strength returned more and more. Her sons were brought to her, and she was happy to see them. Eustace, who was already so strong and silent, loving Raymond and baby Corbin, adorable with his big blue eyes. Soon they were to have another sibling; just a few more months and she would be holding her new baby.

  68

  Aubrette and her mother sat talking quietly together, sewing clothes for the new baby. Esma insisted on patching up the clothes her daughter’s three sons had worn when they were born, still not accustomed to her new life where there was enough money to buy new swaddling. For her, having money was still a luxury. There had been a time during Aubrette’s pregnancy when she had wondered whether her daughter would survive. She, recounted the years with Earic and her five sons: the hard times they had suffered while Oswyn and his wife lived in warmth and comfort. Esma hardly spoke about Chad anymore – his betrayal had affected her more than she would admit. She speculated whether the new grandchild would be another brother for the boys, or a sister. Soon Aubrette’s pains would begin, and she would go with her mother to the room prepared for the birth, where the midwives and her trusted women were already installed.

  This peaceful interlude was not to last, as Simon burst noisily into the sunlit room where the two women sat. Aubrette dropped the needlecraft to the floor, startled. In his hand, Simon was waving a letter that had recently been delivered. It was the contents of this letter that seemed to have caused his anger. He crossed over to his wife, his face scarlet with rage.

  ‘Look!’ he shouted, thrusting the letter in her direction. Before she could read its contents, he pulled it back. ‘I have been told to vacate Romhill for a nobody!’ he roared in fury.Aubrette sat silently while her husband prowled the floor, watching a vein at his temple throb with the intense anger. She had never seen him in such a high temper before now.

  ‘Darell, that cur Darell, declares Romhill is his by birth right!’ continued Simon. ‘By God’s tits, he has a nerve. Who does he think he is? He guarded you and Romhill while I was away, befriended me, made a tomfool of me and had his greedy eyes on my estate all the time!’

  ‘Why does he want to make us go?’ Aubrette asked, trying to keep her voice calm. Simon stopped his pacing and looked at her. ‘He says he is waiting outside the wall with his men to speak with me, and wants me to hand over the keys of Romhill; just like that!’ he clicked his finger. ‘God damn him. I will run him through with my sword and drink his vile blood.’

  Esma remained silent while her son-in-law stormed around the room, using language to make her and her daughter blush. After hearing enough, she spoke, ‘What shall become of us? My daughter cannot travel in her condition, and what will happen to the boys?’ she asked, her voice trembling.

  Simon turned to look at her. ‘My wife shall not leave Romhill. This is her home and this is where she belongs – as do you, as do my sons and my unborn son, too.’ With another curse, he then departed the room, slamming the door behind him, to prepare for the confrontation with Darell.

  Aubrette and Esma exchanged shocked, silent looks. How could this threat to them be real? Their lives were settled now. Neither had a wish to leave their home, where would they go if the unthinkable happened and along with Simon, they were forced out? Both had total faith in Simon, believing that he would deliver them from this danger and they would return to a peaceful life with their family once more.

  Whether it was time, or whether it was Simon’s shock news, by the afternoon, Aubrette felt the first pains roll through her body and instinctively she knew this birth would take less time than the previous three. However, she also wanted to be with Simon when he faced the challenge from Darell. They would show a united face against the enemy, and show him that he would have to get through both of them if he wanted to take Romhill. She knew this was silliness, as she was a pregnant female and would cause Darell no difficulty at all. He was dangerous and could cause much harm to her happy life with Simon. What if Darell succeeded and killed her husband? Would he show mercy to the pregnant widow and her three sons? She did not want to think this. Simon had come home to her and Rowena after every campaign, so why should this be any different? It must be the pregnancy playing with her emotions.

  She walked along the corridor, hands on hips, to the chamber where Simon was preparing to parley. She entered and both he and the steward looked up at her from the table strewn with documents. The steward immediately moved aside as the scowl of concentration furrowing Simon’s brow lifted, he smiled and crossed the floor to her, taking her in his arms and kissing her mouth.

  ‘My pains have begun.’ she simply said.

  ‘Should you not be in your confinement chamber bringing me my next son?’ Simon asked, concerned for her welfare. He led Aubrette to a chair, as another contraction pulled at her body.

  ‘How can I knowing you are facing Darell alone, Simon? I want to support you,’ she reasoned. ‘I can last a while longer before the baby is born. I know my body and when it is time. He shall see I am not afraid of him and his little army.’

  Simon pulled his wife back to her feet, ignoring the small groan of pain from her and wrapped his arms around her in an embrace. He was grateful for her concern. ‘I cannot allow you to remain here. It is not fitting for a woman to hear what my enemy has to say.’

  I shall not leave you. I want Darell to know I do not fear him or his treachery,” she insisted.

  Simon sighed, how he loved his darling wife. She had endured so much danger, heartbreak and pain; some of it caused by his own insensitivity. She was the bravest woman he had known. ‘When we have talked and he has been sent on his way humiliated, you must go into confinement. I order it,’ he said, firmly, shaking a warning finger at her.Reassured at his touch, Aubrette nodded in agreement. She knew it would possibly be only one day, before the child was born.

  A page tapped on the door and entered bowing with the news that Darell was demanding to speak with him in the great hall. Simon drew a deep breath as he bucked his sword to his side, adjusted his eye patch, and with Aubrette hurrying to keep up, and the steward behind, strode to the hall. They entered, Aubrette ignored the exclamation of surprise from Darell when he saw she accompanied her husband, as she sat herself in the chair, resting her arms on its thick, wooden arms. She hoped she looked confident and that the contractions would not give away the pain and apprehension she was feeling. Simon stood tall, hard faced, alongside his wife, watching Darell’s movements, waiting for the enemy to speak first.

  ‘You allow a woman to hear us speak?’ he asked, surprised, irritated by her presence. Simon put a reassuring hand on Aubrette’s shoulder and squeezed it gently.

  ‘This is my wife and I commanded her to attend. What you have to say concerns her too, Darell, as she is giving me another son,’ he stressed. ‘Another son who will be born at Romhill, a son who – with his brothers – shall inherit Romhill on my death. That, will be at a very old age and in my bed, here.’

  Darell allowed himself a smile of amusement. ‘Really? Romhill shall never be your sons to inherit, as you shall give it to me with no resistance.’

  ‘Never. This is mine and I shall defend it to my death.’

  Darell smiled again ‘That is the idea. I
shall take it from you willingly or otherwise. Romhill is mine to inherit by right. My aunt was the wife of Oswyn and, as the second son of my father, this estate is to be mine. Oswyn had no sons.’

  ‘I married his daughter who gave me two sons, and this estate is mine by marriage, as what was Rowena’s became mine the moment the wedding band went on her finger,’ said Simon, coolly. ‘You can walk out of here now; alive and we shall say no more. Or I shall arrange for you to be returned to you men in a shroud. Your choice, Darell.’

  Darell took a step forward, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword, and the two men glared icily at each other. Aubrette looked between them and hoped he would not see how scared she felt. She could feel another contraction pulling at her again, so gritted her teeth and bit her lip to keep a groan of pain away.

  ‘If I do not return to my men by sunset tonight, I have instructed them to commence the destruction of this miserable heap of stones and to burn the village to the ground. They are to slit the throats of every man and boy in the village, and every woman and daughter is to be strung up, raped and killed.’ He looked directly at Aubrette, his eyes running up and down her tense, swollen body. ‘Especially the pregnant ones. They shall be violated before their crotchfruit are cut from their bodies and thrown onto fires.’

  She shivered at the threat, Darell grinned, knowing his threat had scared her, and Simon cursed. ‘Bastard,’ he hissed.

  Darell returned his attention to Simon, and raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. ‘Choice words from a one-eyed bastard married to a bastard. If the keys to Romhill are not delivered to me by sunrise tomorrow, I shall attack.’

  With that, he casually turned and walked to the door. Before departing the hall, he stopped and looked back. ‘You may be interested to know the captain I recruited to ensure Romhill comes to me,’ he said. and turned back to face the door. ‘Enter now!’

  Simon watched, shaking with fury. Aubrette realised that tears were running down her face as her half-brother appeared in the doorway and swaggered into the room. He was wearing new armour and had a sword buckled to his belt. He grinned insolently at Simon and Aubrette, giving them a small mocking bow.

  ‘Greetings, half-sister and her husband. I have a new purpose in my life now – a life that shall give me the wealth and security I deserve,’ he said, maliciously, and brushed an invisible speck of dust from the breastplate he proudly wore.

  Darell grinned at the amazement in the faces of the one-eyed man and his pregnant wife. ‘He came to me a beggar, an outcast from the village, who was betrayed by those he thought should love him. He threw himself and his family on my mercy, and I, being the benign and generous man that I am, took him, his wife and son in. They never go hungry or cold now. He is a loyal man and I saw a talent for the sword in him – a raw and natural talent that I could exploit.’ Darell put a hand on Chad’s shoulder. They exchanged glances. ‘I trained him up to be one of my soldiers and he did not disappoint. He shall fight by my side, should you be foolish enough to ignore my proposition. The keys by sunrise tomorrow.’

  ‘Let my wife and sons leave for the safety of the convent, as they are not involved in this dispute between us,’ Simon bargained.

  Darell looked once more on Aubrette, seeing that her face was pale. ‘Very well, I shall permit this. I am an honourable man,’ he agreed, as Simon snorted angrily at his admission of honour. ‘Though I cannot ensure their protection from the men in my command.’

  ‘Let my family pass unharmed. An army obeys their leader without question.’ Simon reminded coldly. ‘If their leader is worthy of their respect.’ he added.

  Darell ignored him, and signalled to Chad to follow him out. As he departed, Chad again gave the slightest of bows, grinning broadly.

  ‘What can we do?’ Aubrette asked, her voice tremulous.

  Simon looked at her. ‘There is no ‘we’ in this. You must leave to save yourself and my sons. I fear what Darell and his rabble would do to you if I am slain. I’ll arrange the steward and my men to escort you to safety.’

  Aubrette shook her head, another contraction shaking through her. ‘No, I cannot make it to the convent. It is too late for me to travel. I will stay and our sons will stay. I will not leave you.’ She began to cry with fear and pain.

  ‘I will not give up,’ Simon vowed, shaking his fist. ‘If he wants Romhill, then he will have to kill me first. You must get away, Aubrette. I do not want you or our boys in peril.’

  ‘I want to be with you all the time, whatever happens to all of us.’

  ‘But what about the boys? We put them in danger if they stay here.’

  ‘Eustace will not want to run, he is growing to be like you, and Raymond and Corbin will stay if their brother stays. We shall all be together. If Darell does win, we shall all die and be reunited in heaven,’ Aubrette announced, firmly.

  Simon was about to argue, but knew it would be pointless. ‘As soon as you can travel after the birth, you will leave with the boys. Take the chance to live, Aubrette. I will come to you.’

  Simon omitted that he would either be coming back to his wife in victory or in a coffin. For this he had to win, there was no other option. Simon had to fight for the lives of himself, his wife and his sons. He summoned a frightened servant to him. ‘Bring me my sons,’ he said. ‘Fetch the captain of the guard, too.’

  Aubrette proudly watched as her sons, escorted by Esma, file into the hall. They were handsome lads, all three of them. Eustace, the eldest, was most like his father, and would become a warrior, a fine soldier, one day. Then there was the middle son, Raymond, who was a gentle boy and already more a poet than a soldier. As he grew, Aubrette assumed, he would choose a life in the religious orders. Finally, there was Corbin, who was holding his grandmother’s hand as he walked in. She still regarded her youngest son as her baby and her favourite. His character had not yet developed and he would copy his brothers, she was sure. Aubrette secretly loved Corbin the most, with his big blue eyes and his mop of auburn hair.

  Simon brought his boys together, taking Corbin on his knee to tell of the dangers that faced them as a family. Eustace behaved exactly as his father knew he would. The boy wanted to fight alongside him, to protect his mother and siblings. It made Simon smile with paternal pride. Raymond was visibly afraid and his lower lip trembled, as he attempted to hold back the tears. He so wanted to appear as brave as his older brother. Corbin, still too young to realise what was happening, but sensing it was serious, buried his face in his father’s jerkin and began to cry. Then, frightened, scrambled from his father’s knee and ran into his mother’s arms for reassurance. She cuddled him tightly. Raymond followed his younger brother towards his mother, and only Eustace stood firm. He was the eldest of the three and was expected to behave like a man, but Simon saw the worry in his eldest son’s face. He put a reassuring arm over the boy’s shoulders, promising him he would not fail and they would be safe. He then gently pushed him towards his mother. Eustace was reluctant to show any sign of weakness before his father, but was still young enough to need his mother, so walked to her outstretched arms and the four of them held on to each other.

  Simon looked at the family he loved with all his heart, knowing he must not fail in this crazy venture. For Aubrette, Eustace, Raymond, Corbin and the new child, he had to succeed. He called his captain over and spoke privately to him. He was to select one of his best soldiers to protect the three boys with his life. He then turned to his sons, calling their attention back to him. The three pairs of frightened eyes all turned to him, waiting.

  ‘Say your farewells to your mother, and go with your grandmother and a guard to the tower. Do not leave under any circumstances. You will wait there until I tell you it is safe to come down,’ Simon instructed.

  Aubrette once again kissed the three boys, telling them to be brave. Eustace lead his brothers to stand before their father and went down o
n one knee. Raymond copied and Corbin carefully knelt on both of his little knees, placing his small hands on the floor.

  ‘Father, bless us. We will obey your word as the loyal sons that we are,’ Eustace declared, looking up at Simon and pressing his hands together. Again, Raymond copied, and Corbin clapped his baby hands. Aubrette could see Simon visibly swelling with pride. He enclosed each son’s hands with his own, before laying a hand on each of their young heads.

  ‘No father could desire such fine sons, and I bless each one of you,’ he said, proudly.

  ‘We bless you, father, to succeed over evil,’ said Raymond suddenly, making Eustace look quickly at him, instantly wishing he had thought of these words. However, this was Raymond, who was already clever with words. Simon signalled to his boys to go. Eustace, leading his brothers, left the hall to wait in safety for the danger to pass and the enemy to be defeated. Esma hung back and took up her daughter’s hand, looking at Simon.

  ‘How real is this threat?’ she asked.

  ‘It is real,’ he replied, grimly. ‘Darell is as fine a soldier as I. He, too, fought in the Holy Land, so we know each others strengths and weaknesses.’

  ‘What will happen to my daughter if you fail?’ Esma continued, feeling Aubrette shudder at the thought.

  ‘I shall barter for the safety of all of you. For all his posturing, all his threats, like I, Darell has been a soldier of Christ, so he must be honourable to his hostages and allow you safe passage from here – should it come to that.’