Nodding her head, Lisette moved to stand near Ariel and took up the same position. And so began Lisette’s education in sword play and Ariel’s in herb lore.
Chapter 35
Days passed and Ariel found Lisette to be a true friend. She made her life more bearable. Having the excuse of teaching Lisette how to handle a sword, a familiar routine had been established once more. Even though six months gone, what little Ariel could do gave her a sense of normalcy.
Lisette turned out to be an apt pupil. She would not be able to progress as far as Ariel, but she would be able to defend herself. As for Ariel becoming a healer, she had already learned enough to be considered passable.
Each day started the same. Ariel would wake up, dress and go to Lisette’s solar. There, she would help Lisette dress and then they would both go to the hall to break their fast. When Geoffrey finished his meal and left the donjon, Lisette and Ariel would return to the solar and collect the swords. Shortly after that they would go to the clearing to practice. Today was no exception to that routine.
The day was warm and bright. With each stroke of their swords the sun flashed reflectively off the blades. The jewels in the pommels sparkled, colored lights mixing with the myriad collection of flowers that were scattered throughout the clearing. The sounds of their clashing swords mingled with the songs the birds in the surrounding trees made.
When the sun moved to shine directly above them, Ariel held up a hand bringing a halt to their exercise. Lisette lowered her sword so the tip of the blade rested on the ground. She stood puffing while giving Ariel a stare.
“How is it that at the end of our lessons you are hardly winded? Where as I huff and puff like a bellows. You are six months pregnant and you still could out last me.”
Ariel smiled reassuringly at Lisette. “It takes time. You have only been at this for a month. Six months from now you’ll be able to keep up with me.”
“Something to look forward to. At least my muscles don’t ache at the end of each day as they did in the beginning. I thought the pain alone would kill me.”
Smiling, Ariel shook her head. “Hardly. You have grown stronger. I am surprised Geoffrey hasn’t noticed the difference. Your body has become stronger.”
Lisette giggled. “Geoffrey is more interested in another part of my body, one that I don’t use for sword practice.”
The girls’ laughter filled the air, echoing among the trees. Before the sound of their mirth fell away to nothingness, four men stepped out of the trees and into the clearing. Slowly they moved to surround Ariel and Lisette.
Letting her eyes quickly fall on each man, Ariel realized they were Saxon. They had to be some of the men who had taken to living in the woods after the Normans had come to England. Their long hair hung in scraggly, greasy sections. Their clothes were rough homespun, dirty and torn. From the looks on their faces, Ariel guessed the men would not be too friendly. Each man carried either a battle axe or a sword. The latter probably coming from the Norman victims they had robbed.
Edging closer to Lisette, Ariel looked at her briefly. She hoped Lisette wouldn’t try anything that could get her hurt. She had raised her sword, making Ariel afraid that Lisette intended to use it against their attackers. She was not ready to confront an enemy with killing on his mind.
The men moved in closer, drawing the circle tighter around the two women. The one closest to Ariel smiled wickedly at her. His teeth were black and the stench of his breath wafted over her.
“What do we have here?”
“Looks like a couple of lovelies. They would make good sport, even that one with the child in her belly.”
The man who stood closest to Lisette was the one who had spoken last. Both he and his companion had spoken in English. Ariel was glad Lisette only spoke French. It was better she remained oblivious to what was being said.
When the man who spoke last poked at Lisette with the tip of his sword, Ariel knocked the blade away with her own. The one with the foul breath chuckled. “It looks as if this one will give us a fight. She holds a sword well enough, but will she be able to wield it with any kind of skill is the question.”
That made the three other men laugh. They obviously were over confident, taking their success for granted. Ariel knew they really didn’t expect any kind of resistance from two lone women. They would be in for a big surprise. Nothing would turn out the way they thought it would.
When the sword poked at Lisette once more, Ariel’s reaction was automatic. Pushing Lisette out of the way, she moved to match her sword against the man. She put her full strength behind the blow and her opponent’s sword flew out of his hands. A look of utter surprise crossed his features before he turned to retrieve his weapon. The others’ mood of light banter changed to aggression after that.
With a growl of rage, the first man who had spoken lunged at Ariel. Making sure Lisette stayed behind her, she let her training take over.
The man with the bad teeth raised his battle axe above his head. Ariel blocked the blow and made one of her own, catching the man across the ribs. Her slice cut through his clothes, causing blood to well. He bellowed in pain. After that everything became a blur.
When Ariel finally lowered her sword, there were three bodies on the ground before her and one man was running back into the woods. Breathing heavily from her exertion, she realized Lisette was no longer standing behind her. Quickly turning around, Ariel looked for Lisette only to come face to face with Geoffrey. Lisette stood a few feet away.
The utter silence that had fallen in the clearing became ominous. At least to Ariel it did. Here she stood with a bloody sword in her hand facing the man who owned her. She had no idea what Geoffrey would do to her. Before he could act against her, she let the sword fall out of her grasp so it landed on the ground at her feet. She could do nothing about the blood splattered on her hands and clothes. Pulling herself up to her full height, Ariel watched Geoffrey bend down and pick up the discarded sword.
“Who are you, Ariel?”
Before she could answer, Lisette spoke to her husband. “She’s a knight.”
Geoffrey roughly ran his fingers through his hair making it stick out in places. “How can you be a knight?”
Ariel held up her hand to silence Lisette before she could answer for her. Her friend closed her mouth and nodded her head in agreement. “Easy, I passed myself off as a boy and a Norman finished my training. In the end, he knighted me.”
“Your training could not have lasted very long. We have only been here since this past October.”
Ariel shrugged her shoulders noncommittally. “I know that, I fought at Hastings. I was part of King Harold’s house carls.”
In shock, Geoffrey sucked a breath in through his clenched teeth. “That scar on your shoulder, did you get it at Hastings?”
“Aye.”
“And the knight, the one who knighted you, who was he?”
Ariel was not ready to divulge that information just yet. “His name is of no importance to you. Now, if you do not mind, I’m going back to the castle to clean up.”
Brushing past Geoffrey, Ariel started to walk out of the clearing. She had only taken a few steps before Geoffrey thought to stop her. “Is he the father of your child?”
Without slowing her steps, Ariel answered. “Aye, he is.”
* * * *
Slipping through the castle gates without drawing attention to herself proved easy enough. Nobody ever noticed a serf. Ariel gained the donjon entrance and quickly climbed the stairs. She literally ran into the peddler who had been waiting in the hall.
Keeping her head down while making excuses for herself, Ariel tried to step around the man. He didn’t allow it. He kept his hands around her upper arms.
“Are you all right? You have blood all over you.”
Still not looking at the man, Ariel shook her head in denial. “Aye. It’s somebody else’s, not mine.”
Geoffrey bounded up the stairs. The peddler quickly released her, allow
ing Ariel to continue on her way. Geoffrey halted her once more. “Ariel, please stop.”
Knowing Geoffrey would follow her, Ariel made no move to walk away from the peddler. Steeling herself for a confrontation, she took a deep breath and turned to face Geoffrey.
“I need to change.”
“Give me a moment. I want you to keep this.” He carried a sword, the one she had used during Lisette’s training. Stepping forward, he held it out to her with the pommel pointed in her direction. Ariel couldn’t bring herself to take it.
“I’m a serf. Weapons are forbidden to me.”
Geoffrey shook his head and offered her the sword again. “Take it. You kept Lisette from coming to any harm when those men attacked. You handle a sword better than I. Ariel, you’re a knight, a knight needs a sword.”
With a shaking hand, Ariel accepted the sword. Clasping the cold metal to her chest, she made a hasty retreat to her chamber. She didn’t want Geoffrey to see the tears that could no longer be held back.
Chapter 36
The peddler stayed at Kilsmere only long enough for the Lady Lisette to make a purchase. He managed to get one more look at Geoffrey de la Roche’s serf and then slipped out the castle gates. He could not tarry. London was his destination and he had many days of travel before he reached that great city.
He rode well into the night, only stopping long enough to rest his horse and eat. He continued the grueling pace until London could be seen in the distance. Pulling over to the side of the road, he paused only long enough to change his travel stained tunic and pull on his chain mail. His sword followed. Once it hung at his hip, he hopped into his saddle and rode the final distance to London.
* * * *
London was a hot and foul smelling place during the high summer months. Broc felt like he had been in the city for an eternity, but he couldn’t bring himself to go back to Elmstead. Too many memories were there, memories of Ariel. They were too much to bear.
William’s tower neared completion and like every other day, the king was there watching over the construction. Broc headed in the direction of the tower hoping William could provide some distraction, anything to keep his mind off Ariel. All these months and nothing could be found of her. The not knowing constantly ate at him.
William was there. He stood among the workmen, pointing out any faults he could find. Moving closer, Broc held back a chuckle. William’s presence had all the workers on their toes. When the king finished speaking to the foreman, Broc went and stood beside him.
“Have you finished harassing the workers?”
William laughed and turned to look at Broc. “What is this? No child attached to you? I rarely see you without your son in your arms.”
“He’s sleeping and Lily is watching over him.” Even though William had exaggerated a bit, he was right. Colwyn had become a big part of his life now. With Ariel gone, his son filled some of the gap his mother’s disappearance had made.
Knowing what was going through Broc’s mind, William squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “I know. Something will happen soon.”
“It has been too long.”
“Do not give up hope. She will be found.”
The sound of a horse’s hooves pounding into the yard drew their attention. Seeing the king, the knight dismounted and made his way to William. Bowing to the king, the man waited for William to acknowledge his presence.
“Sir Thomas, you have returned. Do you have anything to tell us?”
Quickly glancing at Broc, Thomas nodded. “Aye I do, sire. I think I may have found the girl.”
“Where?” Broc all but shouted that one word, drawing the attention of the workers nearest to them.
William squeezed Broc’s shoulder. “Calm down, Broc. Let the poor man tell us what he has found. Continue, Sir Thomas.”
The knight gave a nod of his head and then continued. “Far to the north there is a new castle called Kilsmere. It’s owned by a Geoffrey de la Roche.”
“I know of him. He’s a second son of one of my barons.”
“He has a serf who matches the girl’s description. When I arrived she came into the hall with blood on her clothes and hands. Geoffrey de la Roche followed her. He gave her a sword and called her a knight. Apparently she saved his wife from some Saxons who had attacked her and the serf. He made her take the sword.”
Broc became very still. “Did you hear what name the serf was called by?”
“Aye, I did. He called her Ariel.”
Broc closed his eyes, sending up a silent prayer of thanks. They had found her. He would go to Kilsmere and take back what was his. God help Geoffrey de la Roche if he had harmed Ariel in any way.
* * * *
The lessons continued, only now Geoffrey took an active part in them. They still used the clearing as their practice field, having no fear that their attackers would return. Ariel had dispatched most of them and the one remaining man would be a fool to return. A week had gone by and no trace of the man could be found.
Word spread quickly throughout Kilsmere of Ariel’s victory over the Saxon men. Since coming to live with Geoffrey, she had been treated with little to no respect, now that had changed. The guards went out of their way to talk to her. They no longer leered at her, making her feel like a piece of meat they wished to devour. Even Dame Marguerite had grudgingly accepted Ariel’s part in Lisette’s life.
The practice that took place this day was a bit of a surprise to Ariel. Before she and Lisette could begin Geoffrey went to stand between them. “It’s time I tested my skill against Ariel’s abilities. I have to know if she is really better at handling a sword.”
Ariel chuckled. “If I should be the better?”
“I will remove the collar from around your neck.”
Ariel could tell Geoffrey meant every word he said. She couldn’t stop herself from making sure she had heard him right. “Truly? If I disarm you, I will no longer be a serf.”
“Aye, you should never have been one in the first place. But be prepared, I will not make it easy on you. I really don’t wish to see you leave Kilsmere.”
“Just because I would leave Kilsmere does not mean I would never return. I have come to think of you both as friends.”
Ariel’s words sobered Geoffrey from his bantering mood. “Even after the way I treated you?”
Looking at Lisette, Ariel tried to see whether she was bothered by what Geoffrey had asked. Lisette smiled reassuringly at her. “I consider myself lucky Theodoric sold me to you. Another owner could have treated me much worse. Sharing your bed for a short time was far from being a hardship. I expect Theodoric thought you would use me terribly.”
“I’m glad you can think of me on such friendly terms.”
Smiling, Ariel raised her sword. “Enough talking. Let’s get down to business here. You also be prepared, I will not make it easy for you either.”
With Lisette watching on the side lines, Geoffrey and Ariel crossed swords. The clearing filled with the ringing as their blades met. For the first time in months, Ariel allowed herself to be what she truly was, a knight who happened to be a lady.
Laughing, Ariel pushed Geoffrey across the clearing with blows of her sword. True to her word, she gave it her all. Once she figured she had proven herself, she made her move to disarm Geoffrey, but at the last moment he dropped his sword. He appeared to be staring at something just over her shoulder. Before she could turn around to see what had caught Geoffrey’s attention, Ariel heard a deep voice call to her. One she had thought at one time to never hear again.
“Ariel, is it really you?”
Turning in the direction the voice came from, Ariel found Broc standing a foot away from her and he wasn’t alone. William was there, along with the peddler. But from the appearance of the “peddler”, Ariel realized he really was a knight.
Seeing how Broc’s eyes stared at her protruding stomach, Ariel placed her hand on it. Her simple movement caused fury to kindle in the golden eyes that stared at her. Ariel o
pened her mouth to speak, but Broc’s eyes had moved to Geoffrey.
“Are you Geoffrey de la Roche?”
“Aye.”
Broc’s fist came up and slammed into Geoffrey’s jaw. Not expecting it, Geoffrey lost his balance and fell to the ground. Broc stepped closer, ready to hit the downed man again. Ariel moved to stand over Geoffrey.
“Stop it, Broc! There’s no reason for you to hit Geoffrey.”
Broc’s eyes seemed to burn right through her. “Really? I have every reason. Look at you. The collar is bad enough, but to see you carrying his child makes it even worse.”
Ariel was shocked that Broc would think the baby wasn’t his. “You think the child is Geoffrey’s?”
“Are you telling me he never took you to his bed?”
Ariel hesitated in answering him. If she lied to Broc it could cause further problems down the road. It was best to get it all out and in the open. “Aye, he did.”
“Did he force you?” Broc growled.
“Nay.”
Broc’s face lost all traces of emotion. He turned and started to walk away from Ariel. This was not working out the way she had thought. He had to understand.
“Broc, wait. I can explain.”
Without stopping, Broc said, “You do not need to explain. It’s very clear to me, you allowed another man to take you.”
Realizing Broc had no intention of listening to her Ariel stuck out her sword and tripped Broc. When he fell Ariel moved so she could sit on his chest.
“You will listen to what I have to say. Aye, I did sleep with another man, but not in the way you think. Besides, a serf has no rights. He wanted me there. I had to do what he wanted. As for giving myself to him, I was already pregnant with your child when Geoffrey bought me. This babe was all I had left of you. I wouldn’t have done anything to harm it.”
Broc’s expression never changed. “Are you through? I would like to get off the ground now.”
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