by Emma Miles
‘We are leaving,’ he said.
She stared at him, her teeth and fists clenched. How dare he order her like that?
‘I will say goodbye to my father and then collect my things from my room.’
Rosa opened her mouth to speak but Jorrun beat her to it. ‘Your belongings have already been sent down to the ship. We can speak to Arrus Silene on the way out.’
She stood frozen in anger; and a little fear. As much as she wanted to flee the great hall she really didn’t want to go with this man. However, she was not about to let him embarrass her in front of all these people. Standing on her toes she caught sight of where her father had moved to and walked slowly toward him. With Jorrun just behind her, everyone moved out of her path and no one tried to waylay her.
Arrus took one look at her face. ‘You’re going?’
‘Yes.’
He hugged her, lifting her off her feet and then putting her down. He turned to the Dark Man. ‘Treat her well,’ he warned him.
Jorrun nodded and then turned to look at Kesta expectantly.
Feeling sick, she made her way to the large arched doorway and down the steps to the long hallway where Jorrun moved forward to walk at her side. She almost laughed at the thought of what they must look like to people; her with her angry scowl and him with his cold eyes and mirthless mouth. Her father had followed behind with Rosa; as had several curious others from the hall. The king and queen had already positioned themselves at the castle door. The king clasped Jorrun’s wrist and then hugged him. For a moment, Kesta thought she imagined a smile on the Dark Man’s face.
‘Good luck,’ Bractius told his Thane. ‘Send me news.’
‘Of course.’ Jorrun bowed and then, taking the queen’s hand, kissed it. Was that the slightest trace of a blush on her face and throat?
Then the king was taking her hands to kiss her lightly on the cheek and he himself led Kesta down to where two horses waited. Jorrun sprang onto one of them and then turned to look at her. She stared at the other horse in growing horror. They had a very few small ponies on the island, so she’d ridden once or twice but nothing this big and never side-saddle. Humiliation stared her in the face, but she forced herself forward to greet the horse. She breathed in deeply and expelled her fear; refusing to let it back in with her next breath. She called up her knowing to let the horse understand her and gauge its temperament. There was a brightness to its mind, and it was curious about a human who could form a connection with it. She sent warmth, calm, and curiosity of her own.
‘Lady Kesta?’ The king stepped forward; at the same time Jorrun raised a hand, and the king halted.
Kesta placed one hand on the horse’s shoulders and the other on the back of its saddle; placing one foot in a stirrup she pulled herself up and managed to twist around to sit sideways. She gathered up the reins and held them very loosely in one hand.
With the slightest of smiles toward the king, Jorrun set his horse forward at a fast trot. Kesta’s horse quested toward her and she gave her assent that they should follow. She could feel how aware the horse was of her on its back and adjusted the way she was sitting. She felt its gratitude and satisfaction. She looked around her, hissing out through her teeth and sitting up straight and tense when she saw that Rosa was hurrying along behind and turned off at the steps down to the lower level of the city. She couldn’t believe that the lady-in-waiting had been left to make her own way. The horse lifted its head to try to look back at her.
‘Nothing to worry about.’ She touched its neck.
Jorrun remained silent for their entire awkward journey down to the wharf. A small ship with two sails and a large cabin awaited them. Two servants came forward to take the horses and Kesta slipped to the ground while trying to prevent her dress hitching up. Her horse refused to be led away, and she felt its disappointment; she reciprocated and stopped holding back on her feelings of sadness and apprehension. To her surprise the horse turned to nip at the unfortunate servant and then trotted forward to nudge her.
‘Are you going to bond with every animal you meet?’ The Dark Man stood glowering at her from the boat’s gangway. ‘Come on.’
Reluctantly, she stroked the horse’s cheek and then closing off her knowing, turned to follow Jorrun. She looked around and was relieved to see that Rosa had made it on-board. Without another word Jorrun strode to the cabin and went in. The door swung shut behind him. The gangway was removed, and ropes were hauled in. Kesta realised that they were in the way and grabbing Rosa’s hand, squeezed past the cabin to the front of the ship. She sat down on the deck and let her legs dangle over the edge; Rosa sat tentatively behind her.
‘Maybe you should talk to Thane Jorrun,’ Rosa suggested.
Kesta stubbornly dismissed the idea. ‘If he wants to shut himself away that’s up to him. I want to be out here in the open air.’ She closed her eyes and felt the wind first against the side of her face and then behind her as the boat slipped out onto the lake. She heard the whoosh and crack of the sails filling and took in a deep breath. She wished that she were out on the open sea heading back to the Fulmers. The two women leant back against each other and watched the lake water flow past them. Farmland gave way to forest as the miles drifted by. One of the men brought them some wine and some pastries. Glancing up, Kesta saw that Merkis Tantony was hovering beyond the cabin and she guessed the kindness was down to him.
As daylight began to fade Kesta spotted the dark shape of a tower through the trees. It was narrow with a sharply pointed roof.
‘Is that it?’ she asked Rosa quietly.
Rosa followed her gaze. ‘Yes, that’s the Raven Tower.’
Kesta’s heart gave a leap against her ribs.
The boat was steered to a long, narrow, landing dock and two of the sailors jumped across to tie up the ropes. There was a row of four small houses and a large shelter filled with timber. Smoke curled up from behind the houses and from the smell Kesta guessed they were smoking fish. A small crowd had gathered to meet them and Jorrun had already emerged from the cabin and jumped across to the dock. He strode forward to shake hands with one of the men; his clothes were simple and worn and although he appeared muscular, he was clearly a labourer and not a warrior.
‘That’s Kurghan.’ Tantony stepped up beside Kesta. ‘Shipbuilder, wheelwright, cooper; if it’s made of wood, he can build it. Most of those with him are family. He has two brothers who are fishermen and his sister is married to one of the stronghold’s warriors.’
Tantony stepped across onto the dock and held out his hand; Kesta took it and followed him over. The Merkis helped Rosa, and they caught up with Jorrun. Kesta felt everyone’s eyes on her but she could see only curiosity and no hostility.
‘My wife,’ Jorrun said. ‘Kesta Silene of the Fulmers.’
There followed some clumsy but well-meaning curtseys and bows; Kesta forced a quiet hello and a genuine smile before Jorrun was striding off again. They followed a rough path through the trees to an overgrown clearing. She halted as they stepped out of the trees and Rosa almost walked into her. The outer wall was far larger than she’d expected. Thick wooden stakes encased some tall earthworks crowned with a narrow walkway. There was a wooden barbican and the gate itself was reinforced with stone. Several warriors watched them from above and Tantony raised a hand in greeting. Kesta had to quicken her pace to catch up with Jorrun as he passed through into the outer circle. Several buildings, some of stone and some of wood, but all thatched, stood between the outer and inner walls. The inner wall was constructed completely of stone and the gate which stood ajar, was augmented with strips of iron.
As she slipped through the gate Kesta stopped again but this time her feeling was not one of awe but of consternation. Before her stood the keep, a square building of possibly four levels with a rounded tower at each corner. One of the towers was completely wrapped in ivy. Around the keep was an overgrown wilderness through which chickens pecked and goats wandered untended. Ahead and to her left stood two long
buildings which, from the smell, she guessed to be stables. Before them stood the grey-stone Raven Tower whose summit caught the last rays of the sun. Some grunting to her left drew her attention to a rooting pig.
‘Oh!’ Rosa exclaimed beside her.
Merkis Tantony shifted his feet, looking a little embarrassed. ‘It is a little neglected I suppose,’ he muttered.
‘This is a fortress, not a lady’s garden.’ Jorrun turned to address them with a frown. ‘If you’ll excuse me I have something important to attend to. Merkis, you’ll take them in.’ With that he strode on toward the tower.
‘Well.’ Tantony took in a deep breath. ‘Welcome to Northold.’
They followed him around to the front of the keep; Kesta glanced left but Jorrun had already vanished. Above, a single raven circled.
‘There are a few of us live in the keep,’ Tantony said as he walked up the steep steps and pushed open the heavy door. ‘Myself included. There is the cook who is the wife of one of the warriors; she is very good. She pretty much runs the household for me. Four of the other wives assist her and they have various children who run errands and look after the animals. There are others who come in a few times a week to clean and help, but they live in the outer circle.’
‘And does your wife work in the keep?’ Rosa asked.
The Merkis turned away and coloured slightly. ‘I am a widower, ma’am.’
The door opened straight into the great hall and fading light spilled in from a large, high window at the opposite end. To either side stood a huge fireplace in which a dozen men could have stood; only one was lit, and a boy stood turning a carcass on a spit while steam rose from a large cauldron. The boy froze, his eyes widening when he realised who these ladies must be; but Tantony waved a hand at him to indicate that he should get on with what he was doing. There was a raised dais with a long table and decoratively carved chairs below the window. Two long tables stood on the lower level and ran from the dais as far as the fireplaces. At each corner of the room stood an arched door and Tantony headed to the one at the far left. He lifted the latch and pushed the door open; smiling when he saw that candles had been lit in sconces along the wall.
The room at the base of the tower was larger than Kesta had imagined but dark despite the candles as there were no windows at all. The room was empty but for a few chairs pushed against the curving wall and an old dusty tapestry of a stern-looking woman reclining in a garden.
‘These two southern towers are set aside for guests, normally,’ Tantony told them as he started up the steep stairs. ‘When the king stays he’s given the south-west tower. This first room here is more often than not used for storage when not in use. The room above has a small fireplace, two bronze baths, and a garderobe. Above that is a room for entertaining and then a bedroom on each of the remaining three levels.’ He looked back over his shoulder. ‘Jorrun thinks the highest tower room would suit you best – and to be honest I think he’s right – but if you find the climb up the stairs too much, you can, of course, use whatever room you like. This whole tower is yours.’
‘So …’ Kesta bit her lower lip and forced herself to ask. ‘Does Thane Jorrun use one of the other towers?’
Tantony gave an audible sigh. ‘Jorrun lives in the Raven Tower. My room is in the main building on the level above the great hall; just above the door. You can get to the two upper levels of the main keep from the stairway in the north-east tower. The kitchen and storerooms are below the keep and the stairs down to them in the north-west tower. Now then …’ he opened the final door at the top of the stairs. ‘I will leave you to settle in; your belongings will be on their way. I need to catch up on things, so you will probably find me down in the kitchen or stores, or in the steward’s room above the stairs to the kitchen. We normally only have a formal dinner in the great hall when we have visitors or on feast days; but Reetha, our cook, will set out food in there for whoever is about. Jorrun has his meals taken to the Raven Tower; you are of course welcome to have yours brought up here. Jorrun has instructed that if you so wish you may take over running the household and I am to hand over the relevant keys and funds to you.’ He looked at her expectantly.
‘We can talk about that later when I’ve had time to get my bearings,’ she replied. ‘Thank you for showing us around. We won’t keep you any longer.’
He gave a small bow and then hesitated. ‘Just one thing … no one is allowed in the Raven Tower except Thane Jorrun. Not even I’ve set foot in there since he came to the stronghold. Well … find me if you need me.’ With that he squeezed past them and headed down the stairs.
What was it he got up to in his tower? Kesta shuddered. She walked cautiously into the room and was surprised at how light it was despite the fact dusk was now upon them. There was a chill breeze that raised goose bumps on her skin and she saw there were three windows facing east, south, and west. There was a four posted bed with heavy green and brown curtains and a large clothes chest covered in the same fabric. There was a stunning table cut from a thin section of a gigantic tree’s trunk and polished with a red-brown sheen. Kesta ran her fingers across it, looking down at the swirling pattern of rings. Four chairs were set about it cushioned in dark-green velvet. A long window seat curved with the tower below the west window and on the north side was a small fire grate.
‘It will be cold in here in winter,’ Rosa said.
Kesta went to the windows. To the west most of the view was blocked by the southwest tower but when she strained her eyes against the gathering night, she thought she could make out the lake. To the south there was the slightest of silver and orange glows where the clouds were thin low on the horizon, against which the vast forest was a black silhouette. To the east was the imposing solid shape of the tall Raven Tower. In one of the narrow windows yellow candlelight flickered.
‘Shall we look at the other rooms?’ Rosa asked.
‘Much as I hate to admit it, Jorrun was right.’ Kesta winced. ‘I love this room. If only it looked out over the sea! But yes, let’s look at the other rooms and see which one you would like.’
As they were exploring, a young nervous woman, barely more than a child but rounded with pregnancy, found them and knocked softly at the open door.
‘Excuse me, my lady, miss.’ She bobbed; more crouch that curtsey. ‘Mum – I mean Reetha, the cook – sent me t’ ask. She says that she ’asn’t ’ad much call to cook for a lady who … um … a lady from the islands, but that she ’as done ’er best until you let ’er know what y’ like. She says is mushrooms in white wine and cream, with ’erbs an’ early greens, an’ scrambled eggs with goat’s cheese an’ dried tomato any good to y’?’
The young girl pulled a face as though expecting to be yelled at.
‘That sounds lovely.’ Kesta tried not to laugh and said seriously, ‘And what is your name?’
‘I’m Trella, my lady. Miss, my lady?’ she turned to Rosa. ‘Are you a d … from the Fulmers too?’
‘I’m not, but I am happy to have the same.’
‘Rosa would also like some of the meat off the spit and a little of that stew I smelt in the great hall.’ Kesta glanced at her companion. ‘No one else needs to go without and be hungry because I’m a fire-walker. Would you kindly have someone bring it up to this receiving room?’
‘Of course.’ Trella’s smile was sudden and brief. She turned to go and then remembered. ‘There are some men downstairs with trunks of yours, shall I let ’em up?’
‘Please do.’ Kesta nodded.
The girl span away and scampered down the stairs.
***
Rosa decided on the room below Kesta’s and she wondered if it were because the woman didn’t like the idea of being alone in the tower. Kesta herself wished with all her heart that she could be left alone; she thought of the candlelight in the window of the Raven Tower and fear squeezed all of her muscles.
‘I hope you stay in there forever,’ she whispered under her breath.
As they’d begun t
o unpack her things she’d found her belt knife and had placed it under her pillow. She had agreed to the marriage and that meant she’d agreed to what came with it; but the idea of allowing the Dark Man to have use of her body against her will filled her with equal measures of fury and terror. One minute she felt as cold as though all the blood had drained from her and the next so hot that sweat trickled down her back. She knew that she could never go through with it willingly; did he know that too?
Voices heralded the arrival of dinner and they made their way down. Trella was back, with another woman almost Rosa’s age, and two boys of perhaps eight or nine years. They set out the food on the long table and poured some wine and then all but Trella backed away.
‘Is there anything else you’re needing?’ Trella searched their faces.
Kesta’s eyes glanced over the room without taking anything in. She sagged against the wall but couldn’t draw the strength from her unresponsive muscles to pull herself upright. Her appetite had fled, and she felt sick at the thought of putting any of the food in her mouth.
‘That’s all, thank you,’ Rosa said for her.
The four servants scuttled out.
Rosa regarded at her and said softly, ‘Sit down Kesta, before you fall down.’
Kesta did so, and she looked forlornly at everything set out on the table. Rosa picked up the wine and poured more into Kesta’s chalice.
‘Drink that; all of it.’
Kesta’s stomach flipped, but she picked up the chalice and forced all the wine down her throat. Rosa winced and leaned over to pour her some more before sitting back in her chair.
‘I’m sure it won’t be as bad as you fear,’ Rosa tried, picking up a thick slice of bread and ladling some stew over it.
‘You don’t even sound convinced!’
‘Well … then get really drunk and you might not care so much!’
‘That’s the best plan you can come up with?’
They stared at each other across the table; then a laugh burst from Kesta at the same time as a tear slipped from one eye.