Knight of Runes

by Ruth A. Casie

  “There are sections I find easy to read but there are others where she rambles and it appears to be nonsense.”

  “She was lucid and writing in her journal until her death. She wrote in puzzles to protect what she wrote. Rebeka, have you told anyone about finding them?”

  “No one knows about them.”

  “Good, no one must know. Everyone thinks they were destroyed.”

  “I’ll take special care no one sees or knows about them. Let me show you what I’ve been able to decipher. I’ve translated some of the code but not all of it.”

  “Perhaps I can help you. What have you found so far?”

  “So far, I’ve only found and translated recipes for tonics and salves and not all the ingredients of those could I translate. I hoped Jeannie could help with those. She knows a great deal about Leticia’s recipes. I am getting ready to start this section. It has a reference to weather. I noticed it before you and the girls arrived.”

  They sat together for some time not only deciphering the code but interpreting its meaning. Their progress was slow. They only scratched the surface.

  “It’s getting late. We both need some rest. We can continue this tomorrow. Keep these books safe.”

  “I agree. I will protect them all.” A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the handwritten note she had found. This was so right. She was meant to find Leticia’s journals.

  Logan smiled at her. “I know you will.” Changing the mood, he grabbed an apple from the dish on the table and took a big bite. “Good eve.” He gave her a mock salute and left for the Manor.

  She sat for a few minutes and read on. Tired and elated, she kept going, finding chants and runes. Excitement laced through her, making her feel light-headed. Finally, some progress. Closing the books and gathering her notes, she put them back in the chimney compartment.

  “No one must know about them, absolutely no one,” Logan had said, emphasizing the last.

  Does he mean Katherine? she wondered. Or Arik?

  Damn Arik. Katherine had left the hall in a black mood. She wouldn’t forgive him for his treatment of her earlier. The flash of fear remained with her, a reminder she had to be careful around him. He always does take the side of those brats. A gallant tournament indeed. Waste of time. As for Rebeka—at least he didn’t overrule me there. And a good thing too. That woman is getting in the way. She and the children have planned this, to turn Arik against me. They’ll all pay, every one of them, for this humiliation.

  She glanced out the window of her room. In the darkness she could just make out the shadow of a man coming toward the Manor. Logan. And he was coming from the direction of the cottage where Rebeka stayed.

  Katherine smiled to herself, an idea forming in her mind. Arik may tolerate her presence now but when he learned where his dear brother was spending his evenings…There is time yet. I just need to be patient.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Mother.” Lora, out of breath, threw open the door, burst into the miller’s cottage where Rebeka was sitting and ran to her mother.

  “What is it?” Mary pushed out of her chair, knocking over the dishes on the table. Off balance, she grabbed for the girl.

  “Easy, Mary, or the baby will be here today.” Rebeka rushed from her seat to help steady her.

  Rebeka turned to Lora. “What’s wrong, Lora?” She helped Mary back to her chair.

  “Lord Arik sent word he wants to see Father.”

  “Did he say it was important? Does he need your father at once?”

  “Yes, I was told he wants to see him at once.”

  “He’s not here. He left a few hours ago to find Luke. He was going to the mill and, if your brother wasn’t there, on to the meadow.” Mary sat heavily in her chair and took a deep breath. “Does Lady Katherine know you’re here?”

  “No, I ran here to get Father when I heard Lord Arik wanted him.”

  “Go back to Lady Katherine before she misses you. I’ll get him.” Mary smiled and patted the girl’s hand tenderly.

  Relief smoothed out the worried lines on Lora’s face. Lady Katherine could be vengeful when she was angry and anything could set her off. Lora kissed her mother and dashed out the door.

  “You’ll do no such thing, Mary. I’m going to the meadow. I can easily stop by the mill and give Alfred the message.”

  “You can’t go there. Lord Arik gave orders no one was to go out past the village.”

  Rebeka ignored her. “What did Luke want in the meadow?”

  “He is determined to get some special wood to make a carving for the baby’s cradle.”

  “I’ll go and tell him Arik wants to see him. You sit and enjoy the rest of your tea.” Rebeka got ready to leave. “Don’t get up.” Rebeka smiled and put a gentle hand on Mary’s. “I’ll see myself out.”

  Rebeka, on Skylar’s mare, set off at a gallop. Her unease grew as she approached the mill, and the horse hesitated. “Get on there,” she clicked, pushing the mare on. A drumming in the back of her mind made her shiver and sent a tingle up her spine, but she shook it off. She had to reach Alfred.

  She reached the mill and jumped off the mare. She scanned the area but it was quiet. Too quiet. Another shiver and she stopped in her tracks, her hand on the door. Don’t be ridiculous, she told herself. She opened the door. Her mare bolted behind her. Too late she recognized the danger. A shadow moved behind her as she saw the silver flash of a knife. In an instant it was against her throat. Her eyes adjusted to the low light. Across from her Alfred, his eyes dark with anger, and his son Luke were held hostage.

  She dropped her staff and put her hands up in surrender. The thief relaxed—his first mistake. She instantly grabbed his knifed hand with both of hers and spread her legs out wide bending over, her backside pushing against his groin while she pulled his arm forward to throw him off balance. She turned, raised her right knee and brought his arm down hard onto it. Gathering momentum and in a smooth, continuous movement, she brought her right heel down on the back of his right knee. She felt the bone crack. He screamed in her ear but she didn’t stop. She pivoted, the swaying of her hips shifting her weight, and smashed her right forearm into his throat. He crumpled to the ground.

  Taking advantage of the confusion, Luke bit the hand covering his mouth and kicked the man in the shin. His captor dropped him to the floor. Alfred turned to face his attacker.

  Rebeka’s attacker writhed on the floor in pain. She rushed to Luke and heaved him out the window. “Get help.” Luke ran.

  Alfred took the metal pan he used to examine the milled grain and, using its thin edge, swiped it across the thief’s neck, leaving a thin red line.

  The thief reached for his throat, coughing uncontrollably. Alfred grabbed the man’s hair and threw his face into the oak support beam, dazing him.

  “It’s Skylar’s mare?” The riderless horse barreled down the road toward Arik and his patrol.

  “Yes, but Rebeka took the horse out for some exercise,” said Willem. He caught and reined in the skittish animal, quieting it down.

  “I gave orders no one was to go outside the village.” Arik’s body tensed and the vein in his forehead pulsed. Anger rolled off him in waves.

  “Lord Arik!” The men turned to see Luke scrabbling over the hill screaming and waving his arms. The boy rushed to Arik.

  “Luke?”

  The boy, terror in his eyes, ran up to Arik, pulling on his legs. “Father and Rebeka are being attacked at the mill. Come quick!”

  Arik squeezed the reins he held in his hands and the sound of his heartbeat roared in his ears. She was in trouble. What was she doing outside the Manor? He stifled his anger. There would be plenty of time for that later.

  “Whoa, son, slow down. Tell me what happened and how many attacked them?”

  “Twelve all together, Lord Arik. Six inside the mill and another six outside under the trees waiting. They held Father and me in the mill and waited. Rebeka came in. They tried to kill her, then the fight starte
d and Rebeka pushed me out the window to get help.”

  “Well done, Luke. Take Skylar’s mare and go to the Manor. Tell Marcus what’s happened and that I’ve taken the patrol to the mill. He’ll know what to do. At the Manor find Jeannie and stay with her. I don’t want you worrying your mother in her condition. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.” The boy got on the mare and galloped away.

  It’s been very quiet for a long time. I’ve been waiting not knowing what would happen ever since the incident at the river. I hope Doward has news for us when he returns. He wheeled his war horse around and called to his men. “We ride to the mill.”

  The men did not slow down until they approached the mill. Arik was battle ready and brought his men to a halt at the forest edge. Alert, he scanned their surroundings for other threats.

  “Victor, to the right, under the trees. Those must be the men Luke mentioned. Take some men, go behind and quietly dispatch them. Signal when you are done.” The men moved silently toward the enemy.

  The quiet setting erupted into turmoil when the door to the mill sprang open and five thieves shoved Rebeka and Alfred out the door. Arik’s eyes were riveted on the scene. Alfred flew out the door and landed sprawled on the ground. He lay there wounded. Two of the thieves surrounded him.

  Rebeka fell to her knees but quickly got to her feet. She stood defiantly inches from her tormentor. She did not back down.

  “Hurry up with her. We need to get out of here,” said one of the men standing over Alfred.

  Arik watched from the trees, hearing them clearly. Who dared to threaten his people and his land! Who dared touch what was his! Arik was primed to fight. He faced his men and gave them a silent signal to get ready. He turned back and watched in icy detachment, itching to rush in but cautious about making his move too soon. Rebeka pivoted to avoid the punch the man threw but she was a second too slow. His fist grazed her chin.

  Recoiling from the blow, she flew up, her legs shooting out at an angle, catching her tormentor in his chest. She landed lightly. Her attacker didn’t move. He stood planted on the ground leering at her with a lopsided grin. He grabbed her arm with his large meaty hands and started to drag her away.

  “I likes ’em when they fight.”

  Rebeka struggled to get out of his grasp but he grabbed her by the throat and pulled her off the ground.

  “This’ll takes the fight out of you.” His hand tightened. His grin told her he enjoyed her struggle.

  Fear ripped through Arik as he watched her struggle hungrily for air. What was taking Victor so long? His hands flexed as if trying to help her pry the man’s fingers from her throat. He saw her eyes start to fade and suspected she was getting light-headed from the strangle hold. It was only a matter of moments before she would pass out. White-hot anger filled him and his body went tense like a tight coil ready to spring. He waited.

  At Victor’s signal, Arik motioned to his men to attack.

  “For Honor!” Arik and his men burst out of the trees on foot. The three assailants turned.

  The two men abandoned Alfred and attacked Arik. The man holding Rebeka dropped her and reached behind him, bucking with each hit. He spun. Three arrows sunk deeply into his back.

  “You’re the one,” said the attacker to Rebeka as he lurched forward. “You’re the threat we have been told would come.” He backhanded her and she landed sprawled on the ground.

  Startled, Rebeka looked up rubbing her cheek. She was not afraid. No, she was filled with a cold determination.

  He staggered toward her with renewed strength. “Go to hell where you belong!” he yelled. He drew back his knife ready to unleash a deadly blow.

  Unsolicited, she heard the murmur of a chant. She didn’t take the time to identify the source. Building on the chant’s foundation, she added to it and gave it strength. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Arik fighting off the attackers. She felt his urgency and drive to get to her. She was still on her back, scrambling like a crab to get out of the attacker’s way. Arik broke free of the men who attacked him and closed the distance between them. He was still too far away. The chant changed and exploded in her head when Arik pointed his sword at the back of the man who attacked her. The fight raged around them, but in their small circle time moved slowly. Close now, she watched Arik thrust his sword in a twisting motion, skewering the thief in his back. Arik’s long blade pierced his heart.

  His eyes wide in disbelief, the attacker fell forward. Arik withdrew his blade. The man reached out to kill her but he fell dead on the ground. The chant silenced in midsentence, the small circle vanished, and time resumed.

  The fight was over. Willem knelt at Alfred’s side applying pressure to the wound. The bleeding was under control.

  Rebeka walked toward Alfred, passing the only surviving attacker. His broad scarred face twisted in anger when he looked at her. With lightning speed, he grabbed her leg and pulled her down. Moving swiftly, he rolled over her and grabbed her throat. Her arms free, she moved to slam both hands on his ears.

  Arik responded like a berserker. Before her hands landed, Arik grabbed the man by his hair and pulled him off her. With one swipe of his knife, he cut the attacker’s throat from ear to ear and tossed the body aside.

  Rebeka was startled but safe. She sat on the ground and rubbed her throat to get the circulation going.

  “Arik, what were you thinking! You didn’t have to kill him. I had everything under control. I wanted to stun him. We could have gotten information from him.”

  “Woman!” he said through clenched teeth. “Once again you put all in jeopardy.”

  “What did you expect me to do?”

  “I ordered everyone to stay in the village.” He stood directly over her. She could feel his anger wash over her. It suffocated her.

  She got up and stood her ground. With hands on her hips, their eyes locked. “I got the boy out of there, sent him back for help and stayed to help Alfred. Leaving Luke was not an option. He could not help his father fight off those men. The men would only use the boy to their advantage. I saved Luke’s life,” she said. He will finally have to admit I was right, I can take care of myself, and I don’t need his help.

  Arik’s men emerged from the trees. They brought out the bodies of the six men they killed. Rebeka stood motionless.

  “Woman, it is only by some great providence Luke got away. If Luke had gone off into the trees, he would be dead. Alfred and you too.”

  She knew she and Alfred could manage six mercenaries but six more…even she didn’t think she could keep all those men at bay.

  Alfred sat on the ground, a bandage on his leg. Arik turned on him. “And what are you doing here? You know I have banned all from going outside the village.”

  “Lord Arik, Luke wanted birch wood. He was determined to go to the meadow and get some. Drago told him the wood is special and would protect the baby. I told him he couldn’t go but he went anyway. I came to find him.”

  “All well and good, Alfred, but it was foolish to take the chance. This needn’t have happened if everyone followed my orders. What say you?”

  “Lord Arik, I knew before I even left the comfort of my cottage no good would come of this venture. But I would not let my son go off by himself. I will take whatever punishment you see fit, m’lord.”

  Marcus and his patrol rode up.

  “M’lord, I brought reinforcements as soon as I spoke to Luke. It appears all went well.”

  “Yes, Marcus. Victor did a good job. He can tell you what happened. After you have examined these bodies, take care of them. Willem, take Alfred on your mount and bring him to Jeannie. She will see to his wounds. I will take the woman. Mount up.”

  He pulled her up onto his lap. His face went deadly still, his features were cold and stonelike as he looked at her bruises. Instinctively she reached up to touch her throat and cheek.

  He turned away abruptly and coaxed his horse into a gallop back to the Manor.

  “I didn’t know
about the men hiding in the trees.” Rebeka spoke to Arik as they rode under the great oaks on the tree-lined drive. “I only saw Alfred and Luke under attack.”

  “You should take your own advice, woman, and look from all angles and at all possible challenges.”

  She shifted in his lap and he drew her close as if he was lending her his protection. He pulled her back against him, and his hard muscles supported her.

  “Will you give me credit for getting the boy away safely? And did you notice…”

  “Woman, the boy, while I like him, is expendable. His father, the miller, is not.” He spoke without any emotion. “Sometimes the choices are not easy, nor are they pleasant. We can discuss what you noticed another time.” He rode through the gate into the Manor courtyard.

  She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. His whole attitude was remote and distant. Am I expendable too? I wish I could be through with this place.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Arik deposited Rebeka in front of the cottage.

  “I’ll go on to Jeannie and help with Alfred and Luke.”

  “No, woman, I’ll see to it.” Arik rode toward the stable, leaving her stunned standing out in front of the cottage. She slowly turned and went in.

  “Luke, what are you doing here?”

  “Lord Arik told me to go to Jeannie. I asked her if I could bring you your pouch. You left it on the mare. So I waited for you. She said she saw no harm in it but I was not to go anyplace else.” Luke finally took a breath. “Rebeka, is my father all right?”

  “He’s wounded. Arik took him to Jeannie. I’m sure he’s fine.” She hoped she told him the truth.

  Luke nervously paced the cottage wringing his hands. “He told me not to go to the meadow. Why did he have to come for me? Once I saw the men, I hid in the mill. If he wasn’t there, they would’ve gone. I know where to hide.”

  He stopped his pacing and stared at her, a look of misery on his face. “I should’ve listened to him.” He started pacing again, unable to remain still. The usually active boy had his chin dug into his chest and was unnaturally quiet. He stopped in front of the window. “Drago told me the birch wood was special and would protect the baby.” He turned and faced her, his lip trembling. “What should I do?” He shrugged his shoulders and lifted his palms, pleading for direction.