Medieval Ever After

by Kathryn Le Veque

  Roxane shrugged with a half-hearted attempt at defiance. “I do not kiss Dunstan anymore,” she said, “merely Beauson. I do believe Dunstan has a fondness for you so he is unresponsive to my charms as of late.”

  Cathlina finished with the bridle. “Dunstan is a nice enough man, big and strong, but he is not what I would call a smart man,” she said. “Besides, he is too old. I am not interested in him as a romantic prospect. He will have to seek affection elsewhere.”

  With that, Cathlina finished the last strap on the bridle and moved to secure the basket on the back of the saddle. Roxane assisted her and between the two of them, they managed to tie it down securely.

  “Mayhap you should ask Dunstan or Beauson to escort you to town,” Roxane said. “It is a long ride to Brampton and there are dangers about. You know you should not go alone.”

  Cathlina shook her head as she gathered her mare’s reins and turned to lead the horse from the stable. “I do not need an escort,” she said. “The ride to town will take an hour or two at the most. It is a fine day for travel and I shall return in good time.”

  Roxane didn’t argue with her, mostly because she knew it wouldn’t do any good. Cathlina was stubborn and determined and Roxane was never strong enough to take a stand against her. She didn’t think the ride into town was a good idea but she had already voiced her objections. Now there was nothing to do but wait until her sister returned.

  The wind was picking up as they moved into the stable yard. Bits of chaff blew about as Cathlina mounted her mare and adjusted her cloak, gathering the reins. Once she was settled, she turned to her sister.

  “I should be back before the evening meal,” she said. “If Mother or Father is looking for me, tell them that you have not seen me. Swear it?”

  “I swear it.”

  “Good.”

  “Can I have your clothing if you do not return?”

  Cathlina made a face at her sister to let her know exactly what she thought of that question. Kicking her mare in the ribs, she trotted out of the bailey quite simply, losing herself in the peasants and farmers milling in and out of the open gates. Being the only castle within a several mile radius, many of the locals came here to do business with each other. It was easy to get lost in the masses of the small and crowded bailey.

  Soon enough, Cathlina was on the road south towards Brampton.

  EXCERPT: THE FALLEN ONE

  CHAPTER THREE

  “I am going to marry her,” Sebastian said firmly. “Did you see the way she looked at me? She wants me.”

  Mathias was in the midst of shoeing a massive charger with a nasty temper. He was trying to concentrate as his brother, propped on the edge of a table, chewed loudly of his nooning meal, a large bird leg. Food flew about as Sebastian chomped and spoke.

  “Could you see how attracted she was to me?” he asked enthusiastically. “Mark my words, I have found my future wife.”

  Mathias avoided a thrown horse-head. “You never came even remotely close to her,” he said. “How can you know anything about her?”

  Sebastian tore at the bird. “It was the way she looked at me.”

  “Is that so?”

  “It ’tis. It was the look of love.”

  “How would you know? You have never seen such a look.”

  Sebastian snorted, pieces of food falling from his lips. “I have indeed, my fine lad,” he informed him. “Every time I step foot in The Buck’s Head down the street, those women give me the look. They want me.”

  He was deeply self-assured and Mathias couldn’t resist taking a swipe at his arrogance. “They will give anyone the look that they think will pay for the privilege,” he said.

  Sebastian shrugged, unwilling to admit that only whores were throwing him expressions of passion. “Sometimes I do not have to pay them.”

  Mathias fought off a grin at his brother’s damaged ego. Letting go of the horse’s hoof, he went back over to the fire and pumped it hard as the flames sparked and roared.

  “I would guess that Lady Cathlina does not even know you are alive,” he said as he removed the red-hot shoe. “Besides, she is a de Lara. I told you that.”

  Sebastian was back to snorting as his brother transferred the shoe to an anvil and began to hammer. “What would the great Earl of Carlisle say if one of his lovely relatives ended up married to me?” he wondered. “It would make us family.”

  Mathias put the shoe into a barrel of rainwater, watching the steam hiss up into the air. “I am sure that would not excite him half as much as it would excite you,” he said, eyeing his brother. “De Lara would not want us in the family.”

  “Why not?” Sebastian demanded. “You served with him and St. Héver and Pembury. You were all as thick as thieves.”

  “I was Tate’s squire when he was a young knight,” Mathias muttered. “I am not sure that makes us blood brothers.”

  “He loved you and you know it,” Sebastian pointed out. “Besides, there is only a few years difference between you two.”

  “Seven years.”

  “He still knighted you at nineteen,” Sebastian pointed out. “Two full years before most knights receive their spurs.”

  “That is because there was a war going on. He needed my sword.”

  “And I would wager he has missed it long enough this year past,” Sebastian said. Then he looked thoughtful. “In fact, I do believe you even saved his life once. He owes you everything.”

  “Sparing his life and saving it are two different things,” Mathias said quietly. He didn’t want to talk about that particular incident. In fact, he didn’t want to discuss that part of his life at all. Politics had separated him from his friends. A king had stripped him of all that he was. Nay, he didn’t want to talk about it in the least and Sebastian knew it, but Sebastian had jelly for brains sometimes.

  But Sebastian didn’t have so much jelly for brains that he didn’t know he had broached a sore subject with his brother. Mathias kept himself so bottled up, however, that sometimes Sebastian wondered if the man cared about anything at all. But he knew, deep down, that he cared a great deal.

  “He would be honored to have a de Reyne in the family,” he said confidently. “De Lara views you as an equal, Mat. You know he does. Ken and Stephen view you as a brother. Mayhap it is time to speak of such things again. Mayhap… mayhap it is even time to contact them again.”

  Mathias kept his mouth shut as he removed the shoe from the water and moved to the horse. Bending over, he pulled the horse’s hoof between his legs and fitted the shoe. The horse tried to move around a bit and tried to kick at him but Sebastian set his food down and went to help his brother. He held the horse firm as Mathias hammered on the shoe.

  Dropping the hoof to the ground, he wiped the sweat off his brow and moved back to the fire where the remaining shoe was being heated.

  “Mat?” Sebastian said quietly. “Did you hear me?”

  “I heard you.”

  “What say you?

  Mathias pulled the shoe out of the fire, his face red from the heat and exertion of wrestling with the horse. “What would you have me say?”

  “Tell me your thoughts,” Sebastian pushed. He could see that he wasn’t getting anywhere with his brother so he ventured onward in an attempt to prompt him. “I heard something the other day that might be of interest.”

  Mathias was only half-listening to him. “What is that?”

  Sebastian reclaimed his food and chewed on the last of the meat. “Henry de Beaumont is trying to put Edward Balliol on the throne of Scotland instead of the infant David,” he said. “I heard some men speaking of it the other day. De Beaumont will need knights, Mat. Mayhap this will be an opportunity for us.”

  Mathias looked at his brother. “De Beaumont is allied with our king,” he said frankly. “If we take up arms for de Beaumont, do you not think that Edward will catch wind of that? Nay, brother, I will not lose my head for a Scots rebellion.”

  Sebastian knew that would be his br
other’s response but he wasn’t pleased with it. He tossed aside the stripped bird bone and stood up, his manner growing agitated as it so often did.

  “I do not want to be a smithy the rest of my life,” he hissed. “Mayhap you find comfort in swinging a hammer instead of a sword, but I do not. I will be a knight again someday, I swear it, and if it is without your support, then so be it.”

  Mathias wiped the sweat off his brow. “Patience was never one of your virtues.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that times change. Tides and the flow of power change. You must be patient, little brother. We will not be like this forever, but for now, it is what we must do to survive.”

  Sebastian wasn’t satisfied with that. He was about to fire off a volley of insults at his brother’s lack of courage when a soft voice interrupted him.

  “Excuse me?”

  It was a gentle female voice. Startled, Mathias and Sebastian turned to see Cathlina standing at the entrance to their stall. Lit from behind by the nooning sun, her silhouette gave off an ethereal glow as she stood at the threshold. Wrapped in a yellow linen cloak, her dark hair was braided and draped over her right shoulder and her dark eyes glimmered as she fixed on Mathias.

  “I am so sorry to interrupt,” she said politely. “Do you remember me? You saved my sister and me yesterday from a brute, right out there on the avenue. I do hope you….”

  Mathias cut her off, gently done. “Of course I remember you,” he said, realizing in a rush that he was both surprised and glad to see her again. “Are you and your sister well?”

  Cathlina smiled warmly at him, thrilled that he remembered her. “We are very well, thanks to you,” she said. Then her gaze passed between Mathias and his brother. “I did not mean to intrude. I will only beg a moment of your time and then I promise I shall be gone.”

  Sebastian was the first one to move towards her, his enormous red-headed presence overwhelming. “Lady Cathlina,” he said, a smile on his lips. “’Tis a welcome interruption, you are.”

  Cathlina looked at the big, ruddy-faced brother and couldn’t help but be a bit put-off by him. He was smelling and sweaty and large. She instinctively took a step back as he came close.

  “Thank you,” she said, eyeing him. “How do you know my name?”

  Sebastian pointed to Mathias. “My brother told me,” he said. “I am glad to hear that you and your sister are faring well after yesterday’s fracas.”

  Cathlina nodded. “Well indeed,” she replied. “Thank you again for coming to our aid. In fact, that is why I have come. I have brought you something in the hopes of emphasizing our gratitude.”

  She lifted the basket in her hands and both men looked at it as if only just noticing it. Both of them had been looking at her face, mesmerized by the unexpected appearance of such beauty. Sebastian looked at the basket with interest but Mathias was on the move. He didn’t want his brother frightening her, or worse. The man could offend easily.

  “Your thanks yesterday was quite enough,” he said, his deep voice soft. “You did not need to bring us anything.”

  “I realize that, but I wanted to,” she said, once again completely focused on Mathias as if Sebastian did not exist at all. She couldn’t seem to do much more than stare at him. “You would not take a reward and you would not sup with us, so I took it upon myself to bring you a few tokens of my appreciation. I hope you will accept them.”

  Mathias was genuinely touched. More than that, he was coming to realize that every time he saw the woman, she seemed to grow increasingly more beautiful. He was still apprehensive about her being a de Lara but truth be told, every second that he gazed at her saw that resistance taking a beating. Looking at her hopeful face, he knew he could not refuse her.

  “Of course we will accept whatever you have brought,” he said, his eyes glimmering at her. “You did not have to go to the trouble.”

  She smiled brightly and he was enchanted. “It was no trouble at all,” she said, moving to the nearest table surface, which happened to be littered with a mixture of tools and scraps of food. Setting the basket down, she peeled back the embroidered cloth. “I brought you pear and cinnamon compote, and different types of bread, cherries soaked in honey, and – oh! – pickled onions. Have you ever had them? They are quite delicious. The cook pickles them with vinegar and herbs.”

  Sebastian was extremely interested in the contents of the basket, pulling things out to smell them, while Mathias tried to control his boorish brother by putting things back where they belonged.

  “I have had them, aye,” he replied, smacking Sebastian’s hand when the man tried to stick his fingers in the cherries. “This is most kind and generous of you, my lady. This is truly an unexpected treat.”

  Cathlina beamed happily, thrilled by Mathias’ response but rather peeved at his brother’s uncouth manners. She had the little cakes she had made tucked down in the corner of the basket and she pulled them out before Sebastian could stick his fingers in them, handing them over to Mathias.

  “Here,” she said. “I made these just for you. I do hope you like them.”

  Sebastian was busy with the bread and wasn’t paying much attention to the cakes Cathlina had presented to Mathias. But Mathias was acutely aware that she seemed to be speaking only to him. His eyes were on her as he unwrapped the cakes, hit in the nose by the clove and nutmeg smell. The gesture of bringing him gifts coupled with the delight of her lovely face had his careful control slipping.

  “They smell wonderful,” he said quietly. “It was very kind of you to do this.”

  She picked one out of the bundle and held it up to him. “Would you try one?”

  He did. It was a marvelous bit of culinary achievement. “Did you make these yourself?” he asked.

  “I did.”

  “Then they are the most wonderful gift I have ever received,” he said. “No one has ever made treats for me before.”

  Cathlina was smiling so broadly that her face threatened to split in half. “Then I am happy to be the first,” she said, noticing that Sebastian was tearing into the onions. She sighed at the sight. “Mayhap I should have made two baskets – one for you and one for your brother. It would seem he is going to eat everything before you have the opportunity to taste it.”

  Mathias cocked an eyebrow as he snatched the basket away from his brother, shoving the man back by the chest when he tried to pursue. Sebastian balled a fist but Mathias held up a finger.

  “You have already shown Lady Cathlina what an animal you are,” he said. “Would you show her that you are a brute as well? Show some manners in front of the lady, Sebastian. You are shaming me.”

  Sebastian tried to throw the punch but couldn’t bring himself to do it. His brother was right; moreover, if he had any chance of wooing the woman, he would have to behave himself.

  Lowering his balled fist, he forced a smile at Cathlina and sought to apologize for whatever brutish manners he had thus far shown when Justus entered the stall with a customer, bellowing for Sebastian. Disgruntled, Sebastian was forced away from his brother and the lovely lady.

  “Good,” Mathias snorted as he watched his unhappy brother stomp away. “That should keep him occupied for a while.”

  Cathlina watched Sebastian move away. “Your brother is quite… lively? Friendly? I am searching for the correct word that will not offend you.”

  Mathias laughed softly. “He is aggressive and he is a boor,” he said. “But he is also fiercely loyal and strangely compassionate. It is an odd combination.”

  Cathlina grinned at him. “Mayhap you should hide this food from him. I have a feeling he will eat it all given the opportunity.”

  “He will,” Mathias agreed, his gaze drifting over her delicate features. “Truly, it was quite kind of you to bring this. Where is your father so that I may thank him also?”

  Cathlina’s grin faded. “He is at home,” she replied. “He did not come with me.”

  Mathias loo
ked over her shoulder, back in the direction she had come from. “Where is your escort?”

  “I do not have one.”

  His brow furrowed. “Did you come here alone?”

  “It was not a long ride and the day was fine.”

  Now both eyebrows lifted in a mixture of concern and disapproval. “It is not safe for a lady to travel alone,” he said as mildly as he could. “Does your father know you have come?”

  “He does not.”

  Mathias wasn’t sure what to say to that, but one thing was for certain; he was very flattered that she should risk her personal safety to deliver what she considered a reward for assisting her. In fact, he was rather stunned.

  “Would you allow me to escort you home, then?” he asked softly. “I cannot allow you to return home unattended now that I know you have no escort. I hope you understand.”

  “It is truly not necessary. I can find my own way home.”

  “I am sorry, but I must insist. If you will not give me permission to escort you, then know that I will follow you all of the way home to ensure you do not run into any trouble. I can either ride with you or as your shadow. It is your choice.”

  Cathlina very nearly refused him again but she quickly realized that if he escorted her home, they would have more of a chance to talk. Perhaps she could come to know him better. Clearly, she was attracted to the man. Now that she had seen him again, it served to reinforce her initial opinion of him. He was handsome, gentle mannered, and undoubtedly brave. There was much to be attracted to.

  Unlike her sister, Cathlina didn’t particularly care if he was a lord or not. Roxanne was the one with lofty goals. Cathlina had, since she could recall, merely wanted a man she liked a great deal no matter what status he held in life. She’d heard of many lords who were selfish, vain, and immoral. Being a lord didn’t mean one was automatically of good character. Cathlina would rather have good character and love over wealth and status. The man in front of her was of good character. She could sense it.

  “Very well,” she said after a moment’s deliberation. “I would be honored with your company. Are you certain you can spare the time?”