Avelynn

by Marissa Campbell

  The din of whispers increased, and I raised a hand. My pride swelled, and I stifled a smile as all fell silent. I hadn’t realized until that moment how badly I wanted the villagers to accept me. I set my shoulders. A great deal rested on today’s outcome.

  “I have posted a guard at each granary, and this practice will continue for the foreseeable future. Anyone wishing to have access to any of our food stores must seek my permission. I will review all transactions from this point forward.”

  I swept my hand, indicating the men standing before me. “Sigberht of Otford, reeve of Wedmore; Milo, seneschal of Wedmore; Walther, steward of Wedmore, you are each hereby accused of mismanaging the accounts.”

  Sigberht’s scowl only deepened, while Walther’s mouth went slack. Milo approached the dais. “My lady, please.” I raised my hand, and he stepped back.

  “However, due to the nature of the losses, it is impossible to lay the blame on anyone present.”

  Milo’s and Walther’s faces regained some of their color.

  “While I cannot prove who has committed the crime, someone has been stealing from Wedmore, and it is imperative that we all work together to ensure this does not continue.”

  Milo and Walther rushed up to me, grabbed my hands, and knelt on the ground.

  “Thank you, my lady.” Milo bowed his head.

  “Yes, thank you, m’lady,” Walther echoed. Both men looked up, and their eyes shone, their faces glowing with a relief only those skirting possible execution could know.

  I nodded to Leofric, who escorted them back to their positions. Sigberht’s eyebrow crested his forehead.

  “I am not finished.”

  I could feel the thrum through the crowd. Anticipation buzzed until the energy in the hall near prickled with it.

  “Given that you have all been remiss in your responsibilities, I have no choice but to revoke your privileges as esteemed members of this court and suspend your duties until further notice.”

  Sigberht lunged. “You have no right.”

  Leofric positioned himself in front of Sigberht.

  “Would you like to make a statement, Sigberht, before I suspend your duties?” I sat back and waited.

  “Milo purchased a cow this year, and Walther bought a fine new sword for his son. How did they afford such luxuries? Your guilty party stands before you.” He waved in their direction. “If your father were here, he would have them killed.” He laid a hand on his sword, and his voice dropped, laced with venom. “If you haven’t the stomach for the job, step aside. Your weakness is a disservice to this estate and a disgrace to your father’s good name.”

  The villagers tittered, and for a moment, I sat speechless, his contempt and disrespect disarming me of a response.

  Milo rushed forward. “My lady, Father Plegmund will swear to our arrangement. Walther and I have been assisting the monastery at Glastonbury with their inventories. The cow was a gift in exchange for my services, and Walther received the sword for his son from the Abbot Herefirth himself.”

  Father Plegmund stood. “It is true, my lady.”

  I nodded, sufficiently recovered to find my voice. “Your accusations are refuted, Sigberht, and as overseer of the accounts, you have been found negligent. My verdict stands.” I watched his jaw clench. My gaze locked with his. “In addition to the suspension of your duties, you are hereby charged six hundred silver shillings. Your disrespect for me will not be tolerated. Leofric, escort him from my hall.”

  The hall erupted as Sigberht was forcibly removed. The wergild was usually reserved for matters of injury to person, like death. In forcing Sigberht to pay for an insult, I was setting a new precedent. The charge was equivalent to six hundred sheep or twenty cows.

  I turned to Eata, whose job as butler was to ensure the adequate libation of all present. “Inform the kitchen to serve the feast. Make sure everyone here has a cup filled with mead.”

  I stood and smiled, shaking hands with those who approached me, and gratefully accepted their praise.

  Bertram moved to my side and surveyed the crowd. “Quite the spectacle.”

  I grimaced. The proceedings hadn’t gone quite as planned. Sigberht’s disrespect rubbed like a goat’s-hair tunic, but I wondered if perhaps I had overreacted. Surely, I needed to set an example, to prove I was in charge, that my authority was not to be questioned.

  Bertram seemed to sense my doubt. “You did well today. Your father will be proud.”

  Gods, I hoped so. “Will you accept the title of reeve?”

  He rubbed his beard, considering. “That is a lot to take on.”

  “What if Leofric assists you? I need someone I can trust in this position.”

  He nodded. “Very well.” He accepted a horn of mead from one of the servants. “Who will you find to replace Milo and Walther?”

  That was trickier. “Eata is shrewd and keen to earn my favor.” He had done a thorough job of measuring the boundary lines with Sigberht, and, like Milo and Walther, he had been involved in the manor since the days of my grandfather. “If I find a young man to assist him, they might manage until my father returns. Milo and Walther could continue in an advisory role.” I sighed. “In my heart I believe they are innocent.”

  “And what does your heart tell you of Sigberht’s innocence?”

  “Given his desire to silence Milo and Walther by cutting out their tongues, he might have been trying to keep the thefts hidden. Unfortunately, I have no proof.” If Sigberht was capable of such an act, what was to stop him from threatening them further, demanding their silence? The discrepancies might never have been discovered.

  The more I thought about it, the less I trusted the man. “Regardless, I want him as far away from Wedmore as possible. Leofric has assigned someone to escort him to Kent, where he can await word from my father. I can only hope that the time away softens his disposition, rather than strengthens his resolve.” Little pinpricks of cold swept across my neck, and I shivered. Retribution, I feared, would be swift and brutal.

  * * *

  The next morning, I left Bertram in charge of the manor, and Leofric and I rode for Bath. After my experience with the old woman and her harrowing judgment of my character, calling me willful and reckless, I thought perhaps a pair of strong hands on the road might be prudent. I would dismiss him when I reached Bath and return home with one of Ealhswith’s guards instead, decreasing any chance of someone keeping tabs on me while I was there.

  A royal village, Bath was quite large, boasting more than four hundred souls, including a thriving monastic community. Lying just north of the River Avon, it was surrounded by lush farmland, worked by bondsmen and their families who were charged with ensuring the royal manor’s considerable demands were always met.

  Markets were held frequently, and trade goods from all over the continent found their way into prosperous hands. A water mill was in use at all times to grind flour, and bakers churned out fresh bread for the manor and villagers who could afford it.

  We were met outside the city’s large earthen rampart by one of Ealhswith’s guards and escorted to the royal manor near the southwest edge of the village. Once we were inside the walls of the manor grounds, our horses were whisked off to the stables, and I parted company with Leofric, instructing him to return home on the morrow after he was sufficiently rested and fed.

  The manor was in a flurry of activity, and the lady in the center of the upheaval stood holding one hand against her lower back, while her other reached out to take mine.

  “You look well,” Ealhswith remarked.

  “And you, my friend, look as though you are about to burst.”

  “And feel it too.” She wrapped my arm in hers and led me to the hall. “I know it’s well past supper, but I thought you might be hungry after your travels, so I had the kitchens prepare a grand feast for you. I admit the gesture wasn’t entirely altruistic.”

  We ate companionably, catching up on innocent and unremarkable gossip—anything and everything but the
real reason for the visit. When we finished, I watched her rub her lower back and groan.

  “Are you well?”

  “I grow tired of carrying this child around. Everything aches. I don’t believe there’s a spot on my body that hasn’t made its presence known. Come.” She drew me to my feet. “My bedchamber is filled with thick cushions and soft blankets to ease my cantankerous body.”

  At the far end of the hall, we made our way through a narrow passage that led to Ealhswith’s chambers. Upon our entrance, she dismissed her maids, shutting the door behind them. It was a beautifully furnished room with carved panels and vibrant wall-clothing. The herb-scented rush floor was crowded with couches and chairs, which in turn were burdened with pillows of every shape and size. A handsome bed, carved with swirling vines and animals, dominated the far wall. With a grunt, Ealhswith dropped onto the bed, puffs of fabric billowing around her.

  I rearranged some of the copious pillows to find station on a chair. “How does Alfred fare?”

  During their wedding feast, Alfred had been stricken by a strange ailment. The court leeches couldn’t discern what had caused the sickness, and there was much speculation that he might have been poisoned. In the end, no one knew the reason, and it had been some time since I had asked of him.

  “He fares well enough, I suppose. He’s still plagued by griping pains in his belly, but he tries to make light of them. No one at court is the wiser to his discomforts.” She rolled onto her side and grimaced. It looked as though the babe could come at any moment.

  “Perhaps I should stay here with you. Not leave for the coast.”

  “Having come this far with the ruse, my dear friend, I won’t allow you to fail now. Besides,” she added, rubbing her lower back, “I’m living vicariously through you and am in need of much distraction.”

  “Speaking of ruses, how do you know the old woman you sent me to see?”

  “I’ve used her services in the past. Why?”

  “Because she’s a raving witch.”

  She sat up and shrugged. “Perhaps. But her medicines work.”

  “Do you know she has a pet bear for company?”

  “A bear? How wonderful.”

  “You wouldn’t say so if it had sized you up as its supper.”

  She propped her elbows on her belly and rested her chin in her hands. “Sounds positively thrilling.”

  “She knew my name.”

  “I assure you, she didn’t learn it from me. I sent a message to my contact in Congresbury. But all it relayed was, ‘Tell your mistress a friend comes to call. She must not have children.’”

  I rose and poured us both a cup of ale from an olive-green clay pitcher, its neck stamped with circles and notches. “That at least explains how she knew the reason for my visit.” I handed Ealhswith a cup. “She knew my mother.”

  “That’s not too surprising, is it? After all, there aren’t many pagans left wandering about England. It makes sense they would perhaps know one another. Did you recognize her?”

  “No, I couldn’t see her face. She kept to the shadows the entire time.”

  “Now, that’s interesting. I wonder if you’ve met her before, and she wanted her identity concealed from you. Avelynn, you do get into the most fascinating situations.”

  “Humph.” I wouldn’t have been in that particular fascinating situation if it hadn’t been for her, nor would I be in this one presently if I hadn’t confided in her and agreed to see Alrik again. “What’s the plan for this evening?”

  “You’ll retire to my guest cottage. There will be a black cloak hidden beneath the mattress of your bed. Three bells will toll, each marking the hours of the night office. On the third bell, it will be midnight. Leave the cottage at that appointed hour, and there will be no sentinel guarding the gate.”

  I felt my throat tightening and took a healthy swallow of ale.

  “On the southern side of the main road you’ll find a horse saddled and ready. He’ll be tethered by the King’s Oak. You cannot miss the ancient tree. It is gnarled and massive; its twisted body stands sentry at the road’s edge.”

  “Should I be taking notes?” There seemed so many details.

  She laughed. “All you need to remember is the cloak, the bell, and the tree. I’ve even taken care of equipping the saddlebag, so there’s nothing to worry about.” She leaned back, a wall of pillows between her back and the thick oak headboard. “I’ve also included a flask of my finest wine—a gift to help get the festivities under way.”

  “What was I thinking?” I muttered into my cup.

  “You’ve nothing to worry about. I’ve covered every aspect of your disappearance. No one will see you leave. No one will know you’re gone. And when you return, all will be well … though you must return at night. I’ll leave a dove tethered to a stake behind the King’s Oak. Release the bird and it will alert me to your return. Once you see a candle burning in the gatehouse, it will be safe to make your way back to the cottage.”

  Fear blazed in my veins and gripped my stomach.

  “Return at night, release the bird, and watch for the candle. That’s it.” She rested her hands primly on her belly.

  “This is madness.”

  “Nonsense, I’ve thought of everything.”

  “I can’t do this.”

  “What are you afraid of?”

  I grabbed one of the colorful pillows and studied the detailed embroidery. Where to start? “I’m not afraid of the deception. Believe it or not, your plot doesn’t concern me—much,” I added honestly. “I knew you would have thought of every possible scenario, and in that regard, you’ve outdone yourself.”

  “What then?”

  I traced the embroidery with my fingertip. “I’m uncertain what to do when I see him.” I could feel myself blushing. “I don’t know what will happen … I don’t know what to expect when he … takes me.” I’d heard enough bawdy remarks from the women in the village to know being with a man could be satisfying, and I was no stranger to exploring my own body and its pleasures, but I also knew lying with a man could hurt. I’d heard women whisper about bruises and being unable to walk for days afterward. Women also screamed and cried out. I’d heard my own mother often enough, and she sounded as if she was in terrible pain. When I asked her about her nightly sojourns, she just smiled and said it was a good sort of pain and that one day I would understand. But I didn’t understand and, hidden behind the bed curtains, I couldn’t see what they were doing, though in truth, I was too terrified to look.

  “Come here.” Ealhswith patted the vacant spot on the bed in front of her. I lay down, facing away from her.

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of,” she said, stroking my hair. Her fingers brushed and lifted the long strands, and I felt myself relaxing.

  “That’s easy for you to say—you’ve been with a man.” The occasional sweep of her fingers across my back sent shivers up my spine.

  The bed shook with her laughter. “Yes. I’ve been with a man and, really, there’s not much to it, after you get over the initial shock of how the bodies fit together and where everything goes.”

  I groaned and buried my head in one of her pillows. “I don’t want to know.”

  “If a man is gentle, there’s no reason it should hurt. Unless his manhood is very large, in which case you will feel considerable discomfort until your body learns to ease and accept him. However, once your body becomes accustomed to his, you may find yourself quite appreciative of his considerable attributes.”

  “What of the blood?”

  She started braiding small sections of my hair. “That’s more of a man’s dream than a reality. Men like to judge a woman’s chastity by the presence of blood, but chances are you bled when you were younger, galloping over hill and dale on your horse. You’re not likely to bleed now.” She paused. “Though it’s still possible you might, in which case it will hurt.”

  “You’re not helping.”

  She laughed. “Close your eyes. Let me paint
you a picture.”

  I did as instructed.

  “Does your paramour have a name?”

  I hesitated. Alrik wasn’t an Anglo-Saxon name, but I had told her he was a merchant … “Alrik.”

  She shifted closer until I could feel the press of her belly against my back. “Good. Now I want you to imagine Alrik’s kiss, imagine how it made you feel.”

  That wasn’t hard to do. I had replayed our encounter over and over again in my mind until I felt faint with desire.

  “Keep imagining his kiss, his lips, his tongue, his breath heavy and hot against your skin.”

  My body stirred. The embers of desire, so quick to light, caught and blazed through me. Her hand ran down the length of my leg until it found the hem of my skirt. Setting the cloth aside, her fingertips brushed the skin above my ankle.

  “He’s kissing you, but his touch, hungry and eager, conquers your body.” Her hand moved higher up the indent of muscle that outlined my calf, over the side of my knee. “His body aches for you.” Her fingers trailed along the length of my thigh, her breath warm and moist against my neck.

  “Have you ever pleasured yourself, Avelynn?”

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  Her hand slid between my legs and I gasped.

  “So you know what this feels like?”

  “Yes.”

  “There’s a sweet channel that the man enters when he takes you. Do you know where that is?”

  I shook my head.

  “Sometimes he will use his fingers to help prepare you.” I felt her fingers glide through the wetness and then one stopped, teetering on the edge, just barely slipping inside me. “Does that hurt?”

  “No.”

  Her finger slid a little deeper. “How about now?”

  I shook my head.

  Her finger probed a little farther. “Now?”

  “No.” It came out in a hoarse whimper.

  She pressed down harder. I inhaled sharply.

  “If this doesn’t hurt, Avelynn, there will be no blood. If he’s slow and careful, you should feel only pleasure.” She held her hand very still. “Do you want me to stop?” Her lips tickled the edge of my ear.