by Shea,Lisa
A curly-haired young page cautiously approached the group, waiting for a moment to interrupt. Sutton spotted the young man and motioned for him to speak.
“I apologize, My Lord.” The page gave a brief bow. “You asked me to let you know if any strangers came into our walls. A pair has indeed appeared and asked to speak with you.” The lad gulped, then continued. “They say they are from the town of Bowyer.”
The group instantly stilled, all eyes riveted on the nervous young page. It was a few moments before Lord Sutton spoke. “You are sure?”
The page nodded. “I know something of the current situation, my Lord. I made very sure - they say they are from Bowyer.”
Jack looked with concern at Catherine, but she was already pulling her hood up over her head. “I will stay hidden and silent,” she vowed both to Jack and to Lord Sutton. “Please admit them, and question them. I will watch as well, and see what they might reveal, not knowing I am here.”
Jack hesitated a moment, then dropped his hand to the hilt of his sword and nodded grimly.
Lord Sutton’s eyes roamed the party assembled at the table. “Make sure that none of you, by word or look, betray the trust of the woman who sits with us,” he instructed solemnly. “This may be our only opportunity to find out the truth of this matter. If you feel you are not up to this task, please retire now, and no shame will attach to you. It is not an easy thing, to hear lies without a flicker of reaction.”
His eyes went around the table, resting heavily on each person. In turn, each member nodded his assent, taking on the responsibility of controlling every reaction in order to pry the necessary information out of these visitors.
Satisfied, Lord Sutton turned back to the page. “Send them in.”
When the brown-haired page vanished through the front archway, it seemed to Catherine that the world held its breath. She focused with absolute attention on that dark opening. Who would return through its mouth? Rough cut mercenaries whom she had never met? Council members whom she had laughed and played with, trusting them for years? Catherine stared at the stout wooden gateway of the hall as if it held the secret to life itself.
There was a shadow, and a movement, and two figures came striding purposefully toward the table.
Catherine gave a soft cry of disbelief.
“No ...”
Jack placed his hand over hers, comforting her as best he could with his presence. She barely felt his touch, focused solely on the figures approaching the table. Both were relatively short, with one figure appearing slender, the other a bit stout.
As the two approached, they put back the hoods on their long cloaks. Catherine’s heart jagged with pain, as if a razor-sharp dagger had speared her through. It could not be ...
The two women knelt easily before the table, bowing their heads to Lord Sutton. The taller one spoke in a light, melodic voice, her golden hair shining in the afternoon light. “My lord, I bring you greetings from Bowyer. My name is Susan, and my companion is Marcie. We have been traveling many days on our journey, and we beg lodgings from you as well as assistance on our quest.”
Lord Sutton looked neutrally down on the pair, his face not registering a flicker of recognition. “Ah yes, I have met your Lady several times in the past years. How was she when you left her?”
Susan stood, her face weary but genial. “She was well, My Lord. It was she that sent us on our journey. Once we rest, we will set out on it again shortly. We are looking to meet up with Catherine. Have you seen or heard of her?”
There was not a movement in Lord Sutton’s eyes or face to betray Catherine’s nearness to the party. His voice held casual interest. “What is your business with Catherine?”
Susan immediately became guarded, her eyes flickering to her companion before answering. “I am afraid that is privileged information, My Lord. We are only allowed to give this information to Catherine herself. If you have not seen her recently, then we will continue on our way once we take some rest.”
Jack’s voice broke smoothly into the silence. “Exactly when was it that you left Bowyer?”
Both women swiveled their attention to Jack, and their tension became visibly thicker. Marcie spoke up. “It was on the night of the last full moon,” she replied testily. Her eyes narrowed. “I believe I know you, sir. You are the man who is known as Southerner.”
Susan spoke quickly, directing her comments to Lord Sutton. “My Lord, if this man has spoken against us, I insist that we be heard. He is rumored to be a recluse and a miscreant. The Bowyers have been known to you for many years as trustworthy and valuable allies. Do not take his word against ours in this matter. It is critical that we reach Catherine and have a private conference with her.”
Lord Sutton’s eyes flashed at this, and his voice gained an edge which caused both women to recoil. “Be cautious, emissaries of Bowyer,” he warned with a sharp tone. “You are in my territory now, and this man is trusted by me. You are not. If you have a case to make, it is best that you make it clearly.”
Susan spoke more slowly this time, choosing her words with care. “We have been entrusted personally, by Lady Bowyer, to deliver a dispatch to her daughter,” she stated formally. “You do not hold power over us. We will only provide our news to Catherine directly, in private.
Jack rose in a fluid motion, moving to stand in front of the two women. “Just when was it on that day that you left the company of the Lady?”
Susan’s eyes flared at the repeated questioning. Both women’s hands dropped to their hilts at his approach. In a flash Jack has his sword at the neck of the taller one, causing her to stand perfectly still.
Jack’s voice was low, holding a core of steel. “I think you were about to drop your sword.”
Without a flicker, both women moved their hands to their belts, releasing their swords to the ground with a clatter. Susan’s jaw was tense as spoke to Lord Sutton. “I protest this mistreatment, My Lord. If you do not know where Catherine is, simply tell us and we will leave you in peace. This hostility is uncalled for.”
Jack kept his sword at Susan’s throat, and Catherine could see how tightly he held check on his anger. “When you get Catherine alone, then what? What sort of a present will you be offering to her?”
Susan’s eyes flashed with barely controlled fury as she followed the path of Jack’s questionings. “You go too far, sir,” she snarled. “You know nothing of our bond with Catherine. We would give our lives for her, and we will find her to protect her.”
Her eyes flicked to meet Sutton’s, then returned to face Jack’s again, meeting his gaze levelly as she regained her composure with effort. “You could not possibly understand. Catherine is as dear to us as our own families.”
Lord Sutton’s voice cut smoothly into the tension between the two. “Then would it upset you to hear that the town of Bowyer was put to the torch the evening you left, and that every man, woman, and child was slain?”
There was a long moment of silence as both women looked, with shocked faces, to Lord Bowyer. That they were surprised by this was plain to all present.
Marcie spoke out first. Her voice was low and hoarse. “You cannot be serious, my Lord. This is but a lie spread by Southerner. I cannot imagine for what twisted reason he would say such a thing.”
Lord Sutton shook his head, keeping a close watch on the pair. “This information has been confirmed by many sources. It is true. The entire town has been eradicated.”
Marcie sagged against Susan at this. Susan put her arm out automatically to her friend, her own face white with shock.
Lord Sutton did not relent. “If you have something for Catherine, it is time for you to lay it out before us. You admit to having left the compound the day of the attack. The burden is on you to prove to us you were not involved.” He paused for a moment before adding, “We can, of course, take any item you carry by force. We have sworn to get to the bottom of this matter.”
Susan only hesitated a moment before shaking off Jack’s swo
rd and reaching into her backpack. She withdrew a squarish box, slightly larger than a man’s head.
“This is our mission,” she stated, her voice breaking. “If what you say is true, then our need to find Catherine is even greater than we thought. She must be desperate ...” She looked away, the enormity of the situation hitting her fully.
Jack returned his sword to Susan’s throat, and she did not resist the motion this time. Tears trickled down her face as she gently patted Marcie on the shoulder.
Shielded from view by Jack’s body, Peter passed the wooden box into Catherine’s cloaked hands. She quickly worked at the intricate lock to release the latch. The lid sprung open and she unrolled the scroll which laid on top, reading quickly.
When she finished, she stood and laid a hand on Jack’s arm, drawing him back alongside her. “It is all right,” she breathed softly. As he retreated to her side, she spoke up more loudly, relating the contents of the scroll.
“My daughter Catherine,” she read, catching the attention of all present. “I write this in haste. We have only just discovered that Raymond has betrayed us. There is not enough time to mount a defense. The two spies in our midst have been discovered, and we can only send out two in their stead.”
She paused, looking up at Marcie and Susan from her hooded depths. “We have chosen your two friends in the hopes that they, of all people, can discover your location and bring these items to you. Please accept that they know nothing of what is about to take place. If we had told them, they would have insisted on staying and defending their homes. We know that is a lost cause. It is far more important that they reach you, that they bring these items to you.”
Catherine slid back her hood, and Marcie and Susan embraced each other in relief, crying out in joy amidst their sorrow. Catherine smiled at them fondly, then continued reading.
“You have spoken out for action when we counseled retreat. Now our reticence has brought us our doom. I regret so many things, and there is not time to put them right.”
Catherine paused for a moment, her face flushed. She looked around at the group present, then continued. “I also accept now that I was wrong to keep you away from Jack. Word has reached me that you have become close to him. I wish you both joy and, if you end up together, know that I give you my blessing. Yours, Mother.”
Catherine slowly withdrew the other items in the box. She realized with awe that her mother had sent the master set of the Bowyer scrolls. These documents held all training notes for each of the military and diplomatic works done by the Bowyers. She lingered over these for a few moments, fully realizing all they signified.
Then she looked up at her friends, and her resolve broke. She moved past Jack to embrace Susan, closing her eyes and giving herself over to her sweeping emotions.
After the trio had finished reuniting, a page brought a pair of chairs for the two newcomers, and they settled down at the near side of the table. Jack retook his seat by Catherine, and as he did, his pendant fell forward out of his tunic. The two women looked sharply at this, then over to Catherine, their eyes drawn to her golden necklace.
Catherine smiled at her friends. “Let me introduce you to my fiancé, Jack, of the Worcester Cathedral.”
Susan’s eyes widened with shock. “But surely Jack and Southerner are not the same person?”
Catherine laughed merrily at her friend’s confusion. “There is much that you will have to re-learn,” she consoled her with a smile. “There are many things we were told which were not exactly true.”
Father Jeffrey spoke up. “Let me help as I can. Yesterday I retrieved an item from our family altar. It is time I made that known to you all.” He reached beneath the table and brought up a carefully wrapped object. With reverence, he slowly removed its coverings.
The item was revealed to be an ornate register, surrounded by a finely tooled leather covering. “This is the church’s records,” he explained to the group. “The mercenaries and Lord Raymond were both insistent on finding it, but it was well hidden. It traces the Tanner family back many generations. The records show that the Tanners are direct descendants of the same line Sir Magnor is a member of. Sir Magnor is currently without an heir, which as you know has caused quite a strife-filled situation.”
He tapped his hand on the register. “All of those lands, according to these records, would descend to my older brother. With him dead, they would go to ...” his eyes moved across the room to meet with Jack’s. “To you, Jack.”
Jack looked at his uncle in surprise. “Why would Sir Magnor not have known of this?”
Father Jeffrey chuckled softly. “Ah, but he did know of it. My mother and Magnor were cousins. The battle goes back a previous generation, when two men fought for the love of a woman.”
His aging eyes lost their focus. “My grandfather won the heart of the lady, but his younger brother swore to kill both of them out of spite. The lovers fled, abandoning their land in order to be together. They came here, and helped to found this village. They deliberately chose to live in quiet exile.”
The priest held Jack’s eyes. “The couple had one daughter, my mother, your grandmother. She made it clear to Magnor that she would not make any pretensions to his position, as long as he left her family alone. It seemed there would be a truce.”
“So what happened to start the fighting?” asked Jack, unraveling the layers in his mind.
Lord Xavier spoke up. “I can answer this. Raymond happened. As a neighbor, his greed for land knew no bounds. He spurred other bordering lords into causing trouble, to weaken Magnor’s forces. From his point of view, the situation was ideal.”
He leant back in his chair, talking through the sequence of events. “Raymond used the strife to lure in Catherine’s father, and then had him assassinated. He almost succeeded in killing Catherine there, many years later. In the meantime, to remove any other claimants, it appears that he had arranged for your parents to be killed, Jack.”
Lord Xavier nodded wearily as he recounted the tale. “I suspected some of this, but I could not tell who was working with Raymond. I was unable to determine if other Bowyers were behind the assaults on Magnor, or if the Tanner family was somehow involved, seeking revenge.”
Father Jeffrey looked fondly at his nephew. “I thought that all three of you had been lost, so many years ago. I am grateful to find that you, at least, slipped through their nets.”
Catherine shook her head, entwining her fingers with Jack’s. “Yet, this cannot be the whole answer. It is one thing for Raymond to have sought the death of those in line of our leadership, to expand his land base. That, at least, makes some sense.”
She looked over at Marcie and Susan, her eyes shadowed. “However, why would he have killed off the entire clan? Why, only now, move against the rest of your village, when he had killed Jack’s parents so many years ago?”
Lord Xavier nodded in agreement. “Until recently, it seems that Raymond felt he had things under control. He was working at a slow pace, so as to not raise suspicion. It would even appear that, with Catherine’s exile, he had succeeded. He would have had control of Bowyer on one side, and once Magnor died, moved into that area as well. He would have tripled his holdings with minute effort; certainly no true battles. That seemed very much his style.”
He looked around the table. “We still do not have all the pieces. Catherine has convinced me to come to London, to join the conclave. Maybe with all of us present we can sort out what is happening.”
Jack nodded. “Then we should leave first thing tomorrow morning. We have three days’ travel in front of us, if we pace ourselves more properly for the journey.”
Lord Xavier smiled. “Then let us get you properly ready!” He clapped his hands, and servants streamed in carrying roast goose, steamed turnips, and mugs of ale. Catherine took down a long drink, then leant against Jack. His arm came up around her shoulder as naturally as if they had been together for years. She looked over to Marcie and Susan, and ease settled into her c
enter.
Somehow, they would figure it all out.
* * *
Catherine pulled the cinch on her horse’s saddle, gathering up the reins to guide him out into the center of the courtyard. The early morning sun drifted in golden sparkles across the gathered group. Peter, Lord Xavier, young Nicholas, and Father Jeffrey were already mounted, and Marcie and Susan emerged from the stables right behind her. Lord Sutton had his head down with Jack, sharing some last minute thoughts.
Catherine stepped forward to embrace Lord Sutton as the others sat ready on their horses. “Thank you again for all your support,” she offered warmly. “We will send word once we have any news for you.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that immensely.” Lord Sutton looked across at the spread of villagers moving about in the walled enclosure. “I will make sure these villagers are resettled securely, and that any wolves’ heads who remain on our lands are tracked down and brought to justice.”
Catherine mounted, and in a moment Jack had pulled alongside her. The group walked along the road to London, taking an easy pace to get them there within three days. The weather was turning toward summertime and the travel was quiet and restful. Catherine found herself relaxing on the road, falling into the easy rhythm with her friends all around. The time passed quickly with the telling of tales, either of Susan and Marcie sharing tales of Catherine’s youth, or Father Jeffrey filling Jack in on tales of his parents’ younger years.
It seemed only a short while before they were riding into London itself, down the familiar streets. When they turned onto the lane which held their inn, John was waiting out front, a large grin on his face. He ran down the street toward them, calling with loud joy. “Catherine! Jack! Peter! You are all right!” He ran up to grab onto Catherine’s reins, holding her steed while she dismounted and swept him up in a warm embrace.