by Ria Cantrell
Bronwyn threw down the flail and ran from the court blindly; not seeing or caring who she passed. Tears clouded her vision and she stumbled out into the bailey. She dropped to her knees and vomited violently. She had seen men’s wounds most of her life, but knowing she had inflicted them onto Drew was more than she could bear. Fresh waves of nausea rose and she vomited again.
Drew was brought before the king and he spoke to the man who, despite the whipping, stood straight with his head held high.
“Since you have sullied the reputation of the Royal Ward, and since it appears that Erik Ragnorsen has sired a babe on the Du Montefort woman, We now declare that you must marry the Scottish girl to save her from being dishonored and disgraced. To restore her reputation, you shall take her as your wife.” Standing as straight as his body would allow, Drew answered, “Aye, I will marry her.”
“It is not an option. Rather it is a command. The choice is not yours to make.” Again, Drew nodded, “aye”. He would marry the girl. It was done. Despite making the claim to never marry, somehow Drew was not perturbed by the command.
“Take thy leave, Sir Andrew Brandham and be grateful for Our mercy.”
Drew nodded and gave the indication of a bow. Rhianna, seeing that he was in great pain, went to him and took his arm. When they had walked out of the spectacle of the court, Drew sagged against Rhianna.
“Poor baby! I will mix herbs into a salve and apply it to the lash marks. Come with me.”
“Thank you, Lady, but I must find Bronwyn. I think each lash she dealt me stripped flesh from her own heart. I cannot bear knowing that. I need to see that she is alright.”
“Rurik is with her. Let me tend to you.”
Chapter Eleven
Drew let Rhianna lead him toward his quarters. He scanned the outer bailey for Bronwyn and saw Rurik kneeling beside her. She was crying and heaving. Rurik was holding her shoulders to steady her, and holding her hair away from her face. At the sight, Drew’s heart twisted in his chest.
“Rhianna, what happened to her?”
“I suspect inflicting your punishment was so abhorrent to her, that it sickened her physically. I will see to her in a moment. First allow me to help you and get you settled, and then I will see what I can do for her. You were very brave. I am proud of you. Quite the honorable thing to do for that girl. Although, I daresay, you were not too wise to be caught leaving her apartments.”
Drew felt his lips quirk up despite the searing pain ripping through the muscles of his back. He shrugged slightly. Then more seriously he said, “She…she said she loves me.”
“Aye, indeed,” Rhianna answered in a matter of fact sort of way.
“And that does not surprise you?”
“Nay. Seemed rather obvious to me, actually.”
“But how could it have happened so quickly? She only met me a fortnight ago.”
“I do not know the ‘hows’ or whys’ of it. Love does not have rules or constraints of time.”
Settling Drew face down on his pallet, Rhianna stated, “You realize you love her too, don’t you?”
Drew fought with himself for a moment and then with a resigned sigh he said, “Yes. You are right. It is true, I suppose. I tried to deny it and pretend she was just another pretty maid to dally with.”
“Hmm, well it would seem that is not the case at all. It was easy for me to see upon watching you both. Be still for a moment. I need Randall to bring me some water. I will send Bronwyn in as soon as possible.”
Once Rhianna’s brother Randall had brought the water from the well to her, she began the task of cleaning the wounds on Drew’s back carefully. She knew that infection could set in with these things and she vowed that it would not if she could help it. She gently swabbed at the broken skin with a cold clean cloth, dabbing the blood that had already caked in livid lines on Drew’s back. He sucked in his breath, not wanting to admit how much it hurt for her to do that.
“That stings.”
“I know. I am sorry. I just want to be sure no infection sets in. Once I put the salve on it, you will feel better soon.”
Drew felt a restlessness of a sudden and he said, “I really need to see Bronwyn.”
“As soon as I am done here, I will bring her to you.”
Drew turned on his side, even though it caused him extreme pain to do so and he looked at his best friend’s wife.
“Lady, you must not worry about me. You are with child. You need to rest.”
Rhianna laughed and said, “I am fine, Drew. Try not to move too much for a time. It causes the skin to tear open more.”
For indeed, just that small amount of shifting rented the marks open again, and fresh blood seeped out. Rhianna dabbed it away quickly and as Drew’s breath caught again, she soothed, “I am sorry. I was trying to use the most gentlest of touches.”
“Is it very bad?”
“It certainly is not good, but I suspect it is much better done by Bronwyn’s hand. I am quite certain the worst ones are the ones dealt by the king’s guard. I could see that Bronwyn was trying to not strike directly. It’s just that from the repeated blows, some skin was torn away. The welts will purple but then fade. I fear the open ones may scar a little.”
Drew shrugged and said, “I don’t care about that. I have other scars and I expect these won’t be my last. I am more concerned with the scarring of Bronwyn’s heart to have been forced to do this.”
Rhianna smiled at the man’s back before her. He was in love alright, and her heart was gladdened by it. It was about time Drew had found love. He had fallen hard for this girl and his willingness to take the beating for her bespoke volumes of his new found love. Fate was funny. He would not have met Bronwyn if the king had not betrothed her to Erik. Drew fell in love quickly, when Rhianna thought he would never be one to stop wandering. The ladies loved him and he was not known to spend a night alone. But here he was, striped for an honor beating, worrying more about the upset of the girl than the lash marks on his own back. Rhianna poured Drew a mug of a strong fermented liquid. Handing it to Drew she said, “Drink this.”
Drew took a few gulps of the whiskey. He grimaced and said, “How came you by such a drink?”
“I keep it for pain. Drink some more and lie still. I will fetch Bronwyn for you.”
Chapter Twelve
Rhianna went out and found Rurik stooping still beside Bronwyn. He had his hands gently resting on her shoulders and he was steadying her sobbing body. She continued weeping and Rhianna saw she had indeed been sick. She was grateful that she had passed the morning sickness by this time of day, or she would have been sick right along with Bronwyn. Bronwyn looked up pitifully and asked, “Why are ye’ both being so nice to me? Erik and I…”
“Girl, you are not going to marry Erik. You are going to marry Andrew.”
“I canna’ marry him after what I have done.”
Rurik helped Bronwyn to her feet. He said gently, “He knows you had no choice about that. He did really well, girl. He bore it with honor and bravery. He barely made a sound and stood stoically before the king.”
Rhianna patted the girl’s back and she said, “He needs you right now. Go to him, Bronwyn.”
“I dunna’ know what to say to him.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just go to him. Be with him. I need to give you some soothing balms to rub into his back. Tend to him. He is worried about you. He needs to see that you are alright.”
“Me? Why would he be worried for me?”
“He is afraid striping his back cost you dearly. He is afraid that it striped part of your heart. His scars will heal, but he is worried yours won’t.”
Shaking her head, Bronwyn did not know how to face him. Once she had stood, Rurik brought water to her to wash her face and to rinse her mouth. Just then, Erik was being lead from his cell across the bailey and Rhianna dropped her pouch and ran to him. His eyes beamed love at her when he spotted her and as her arms went around him, he said gruffly, “What are you d
oing here?”
“I…I…well we came to bring you home.”
“We?”
“Your sire and my brother.”
As Rhianna said the words, Erik spied his father next to the Scottish witch. His expression turned cold.
“What is she doing with my father,” Erik demanded.
“It is a long story, but it has been a terrible day. I will explain it later. Let me look at you. God, you are wonderful to see.”
Erik felt far from beautiful. He was filthy, flea bitten, starved and tired. His hair felt lank and greasy. He was in severe need of a bath and he imagined swine in the pens smelled better than he did at this moment.
“I am far from wonderful, honey,” he exclaimed. Smiling, Rhianna said, “Well, you could use a little cleaning up, but you look wonderful to me. Just to see you again…I have been worried sick about you.”
Some of the guards broke them apart and one said, “Well, ain’t this a cozy scene, but off with you. The king has decided to grant you audience. Mind you, you best show the proper respect due to his majesty; else you may not be so lucky to be his guest in his cellars, but rather one on his gallows.”
Erik bristled at that proclamation. Guest indeed! He had been shuttered in squalid conditions amid vermin both of the human and creature kind. The guard interrupted again and said, “Report now to the king.”
Rhianna did not want him to appear before this twisted monarch without her. She said, “I will go with you. Just give me a minute.” She picked up her pouch and told Rurik what herbs were needed to be minced and mixed into the balm for Drew, but he just wanted to see and speak to his son. He also did not want Rhianna to face the king alone again. She had been through enough at his hands and Rurik could not bear to think of her suffering more indignities for the sake of his sadistic pleasure. Rurik had witnessed enough cruelty today. He did not want to think of harm coming to his son’s wife or his unborn grandchild. Bronwyn then agreed to fetch the items needed. She promised to tend to Drew while Rhianna, Rurik, Randall and Erik went before the king once again. Personally, if she never rested her eyes on the English tyrant, she would be content.
Chapter Thirteen
Upon their admittance, the king looked at them all with distaste. He was brief and matter of fact.
“Erik Ragnorsen, you are hereby released. You have displeased Us with your disobedience. Gather your things and leave this court immediately.”
Rurik harbored restrained anger at the treatment of his son. Both he and his son had proven to be loyal vassals and deserved better than what had been presented to them. At last he spoke, saying, “Majesty, my son has been a loyal and faithful servant. You have stripped him of his spurs when he had only honorably done what you first had commanded him to do. I beg you to reinstate his knighthood as well as to declare him once again married to Rhianna Du Montefort.”
“His spurs are returned and his knighthood stands, but We stand on the annulment of his marriage. What We have done, is done.”
Seeing Erik strain against his restraints, the king raised his hand and continued, “However, if he wishes to remarry this woman, We will not prevent it, nor will We strip him of it again. That is my final word on the matter.”
Rhianna looked at Erik and saw he was nursing a simmering fury. None of that mattered, now, because they would be back together. Erik accepted his spurs and turned to leave. Rhianna tugged at his arm and whispered, “Wait, Erik. I need to beg a boon from the king.”
“What could you possibly want to ask of him?”
“There is no time to explain at the moment. Please just let me speak to him.”
She did not wait for Erik to respond, but she faced the king and said, “Majesty, we will leave immediately but Drew is not able to ride tonight. Also, I would beg that Bronwyn MacCollum ride with us to Erik’s home, so that the wedding can be held there, with proper time to post the banns.”
Erik nearly exploded, “What! What wedding? What means you that Drew cannot ride? That savage will not enter my home. Father, what is she talking about?”
“Hush, son, she knows what she is doing. She is securing the proper protection so as to avoid this sort of misunderstanding again.”
Instead of addressing Rhianna, the king addressed Erik.
“Erik, collect this harpie. Are you certain you wish to remarry her? She is quite the handful.”
Rhianna planted her hands on her hips and she demanded satisfaction. With a definite tone of sarcasm, she said, “Majesty, while I might only be a dull woman, I must insist on these indulgences.”
Rurik groaned out loud and tried to get her to budge, but she stood firm. She repeated, “Please allow Sir Andrew to ride on the morrow and to marry Bronwyn MacCollum at our home. It is not a large request. He cannot ride this night and you know it. And Bronwyn must be granted the proper banns to avoid any further trouble.”
“Rhi, I do not want that savage in my home.”
Rhianna shot Erik a murderous look and she said, “She is not a savage. I want the king’s word on this or else there will be more trouble to befall us. Majesty what is your decision?”
“If I agree, will you leave and distress Us no further?”
“Aye, gladly.”
“So be it, then.”
Then, with the first hint of amusement, the king addressed Erik once more.
“Her beauty pales only in her fiery temper. I suspect you will be punished enough with that sharp tongue of hers, beauty or no.”
With a glance toward Randall, Erik said, “Aye. She was left to go wild, I fear.”
“Go, before, I change my mind.”
They turned to leave and Erik took Rhianna by the elbow. Growling softly next to her ear, he said, “What sort of trouble did you cause?”
She batted her eyes innocently.
“Enough to free your sorry hide from prison. Only poor Drew received the brunt of the king’s wrath. He has been flogged. I will explain all.”
“Flogged! For what offense?”
“I will explain. There is much I need to tell you.”
Rurik stepped between his son and daughter-in-law and said, “I have arranged for lodging for us at a manor toward the west. There, we will be given food and shelter for as long as we need before we journey home. Take Rhianna there and allow her to explain all that has transpired here. Oh, and you should best think about remarrying her quite quickly. I’ll not have my grandchild labeled bastard.” Rhianna shot Rurik a glance filled with ire and fury.
“Grandchild? What is he saying, Rhi?”
“What the big Norse meddler is saying is that we are expecting, Erik. T’is why the king agreed to let you go.”
“You are with child? Pregnant?”
“Aye.”
Rhianna watched as a gamut of emotions played upon Erik’s face. She could see burgeoning love which quickly turned to simmering rage.
“You endangered yourself and my child? By God, Rhianna, you are reckless.”
Rurik kissed the woman who had married his son.
“You leave her alone. She stood up to that king. T’would have made you proud. Now go, get yourself a bath and a warm meal and properly thank this angel in a way befitting the Ragnorsen name,” he said with a wink.
Rhianna blushed and hissed, “Rogue!”
Rurik slapped Erik across the shoulders and said, “The king is right. He could not find a more dire predicament than to saddle you with this little hell cat. But, I suspect she makes it worth it where it counts.”
Rurik kissed her again and said, “I love you, girl. Now go be a wife to my son. We will make you an honorable woman again soon.”
Erik took her hand and stroked her arm. “Aye, but tonight, I intend to make her as dishonorable a woman as possible.”
Rurik smirked and warned, “Have a care, son, she is carrying my grandchild after all.”
Erik was again reminded of that and he looked at Rhianna with a tender gaze. “Rurik is right. I need to have caution.”
/> “You need not worry, my love. I am well enough, I can assure you. I just need to check on Drew and leave him in Bronwyn’s care.”
At the mention of that Scottish hellion’s name, unbridled anger surfaced once more. She was the embodiment of all the wrong that had befallen him in the last few weeks. Her name fostered a hatred so strong; it was nearly a tangible thing.
“Why would he want that woman to take care of him,” Erik spat vehemently.
“Because, he loves her.”
“Loves her! Not possible. I know Drew. He is a flirt and charmer of women, but love. No. Drew likes pretty lasses; that is all. Drew is a man not ruled by the romantic notions of love.”
Rhianna rolled her eyes, remembering that Erik seemed not to be either.
“That is done now. He is in love. Drew’s wandering is ended. He loves her. It is just that simple.”
“He doesn’t! She is a hateful creature.”
“Apparently Drew does not think so. He took a beating for her honor.”
Erik shifted uneasily on his feet. He was sure that Drew could not love so vile a woman.
“That is not love. That is just Drew. He would do the same for any woman, I suppose.”
“He did not do it for any woman. He did it for Bronwyn. It matters not what you think. Drew loves her. That is what matters now.”
Erik brooded like a little boy recently punished and scolded. He grumbled, “How could he fall in love in just a matter of days? It is not logical.”
Rhianna’s face remained impassive.
“It took you half that time, I recall.”
“Aye, only because I was bewitched!”
Rhianna raised her eyebrows at the jab and reference to her supposed “witchcraft”. She had already suffered greatly because of such a claim. While she knew that Erik was being playful about it, she still prickled at the title. She had been abducted by an enemy of her brother and he felt it necessary to be her judge and jury. If it was not for Erik coming to her rescue, she would have been burned as a witch in the clutches of that evil man.