Her Haunted Knight

by Stella Marie Alden

  The old woman tsk-tsked. “I’d nae expect you to, lassie. Those lads are pure evil. The fruit does not fall far from the tree but there’s no time to explain. You need to run.”

  Rose felt tears well up. “Surely, they would not lay with their own kin.”

  “Aye. They would, now go. I’ll tell them you escaped.”

  One of the kitchen slaves with dark skin motioned to them both. “I might be able to help.”

  She pushed on a cupboard and behind it was a small oak door, perhaps three hands tall. “The other day, I heard a hound whimperin’ and scratchin’ and I found this.”

  Squatting, she pulled on an iron handle and a door opened wide, putrid musty air spewing forth. “We can hide her in there and say she ran off.”

  She grabbed Rose by the hand and pulled her down. “Hurry. The bath water will be comin’ any moment.”

  “Bless ye. Bless ye both.” Rose crawled on hands and knees into the cool dark hole, shaking madly while the woman moved the cupboard back in place.

  Small dark places made her want to scream and claw at the wall. It took all her courage not to do so. With only fingers for sight, she nearly went mad when a small critter scurried over her boot. Praying for a slit of light, she inched her way in the dark, talking to the Lord Almighty.

  “Ye give me kin, only to find out they’re monsters of the worst sort? What kind of Almighty are ye? I’ve decided I’ll not be talkin’ to ye again, at least for a while.”

  When a pinhole of light appeared ahead, she stepped over crumbled mortar and quickly added. “That’s much better but I’m still not forgivin’ ye.”

  Putting her nose to the crack between the bricks, she got her relative position. Apparently, she was inside the wall that ran alongside the moat. If she proceeded straight ahead she’d soon meet the main tower that overlooked the bailey.

  Hope of finding a way out made her almost giddy until a dark form bounded up from a stairwell and forced her onto her arse. A warm tongue licked her face with the worst of breath and when she opened her eyes, it was not a demon who held her down rather a huge hound, part wolf.

  “Oh, ye nasty beastie.” Rose laughed. In truth, his company in this dark hole was most welcome.

  The hound ran halfway down some stairs, then turned and barked.

  “Alright. I’m coming. Quiet now.”

  At the bottom, the tunnel grew darker than before and when she turned to the right, she had to be underneath the moat. This hole must be as ancient as the thick Roman wall that divided the region. If she were not so desperate to get out, she’d marvel at the skill it took to make it.

  The hound barked more urgently, she shushed him again, and followed to where a whiff of moat passed on a tiny breeze. At the top of a staircase she almost despaired when the hound disappeared through a very small hole.

  Sighing, she headed back toward her pinhole of light wondering how long before her brothers found and raped her.

  Chapter 6

  While Rose explored the dark inner walls of Naward, Hugh dined a few miles a away, in Carlisle. He sat at a long trestle table with Ali to his right and Sir Wilhelm-The-Pompous to his left. The bore expounded so long on his many exploits that Hugh had decided to call him to the training field and thrash him soundly.

  Killing people was not something Hugh wished to discuss. As a bastard mercenary, he had a different perspective on war than other knights. One day, a man could be your enemy and if enough coin changed hands, that same man could be called friend.

  We are fated by God to kill each other.

  Wars, especially so-called holy wars, made no sense and his heart was no longer in it. For now, he’d only kill if it meant having a home for his good people to lay their heads.

  “Excuse us, if you would. Tomorrow, I prepare my men. The next, I’ll take the keep. The third, I’ll send for my women and children.” Hugh stood and indicated with a glance that Aliyar should break free, as well.

  DeBruce smiled as he leaned back in his chair. “You presume much.”

  “Not at all. I merely state the truth, m’lord. Thank you for the fine meal.” He looked down at the uneaten food on his plate, wondering if he could find something edible at the inn.

  Ali’s bench wobbled when he jumped up. “M’lord, good knights, I too, ask your leave and give you my thanks.”

  DeBruce’s priest stood slowly, his wide sleeves dragging in the gravy while piggy eyes narrowed. “Will you be joining us for mass tomorrow, le Despencer?”

  Hugh gritted his teeth. “Thank you, father. I will.”

  He’d make himself known and be gone in several heartbeats. Hugh had no love of religions. If God had something to say, Hugh had yet to hear from Him. And if He was truly omnipotent, He’d only side with the righteous and Hugh had yet to see any sign of that either.

  Aliyar followed him across the moat, through the quiet town, and to the main gate. There, Hugh had to insist by knifepoint that the portcullis be lifted so they wouldn’t have to stay the night in the inn.

  Ali grumbled along the road to where their people were camped. “I don’t like this, my friend. Something is amiss.”

  “Agreed, but I think we can bring some good from it. They think we’ve not the men nor the skill to take Naward.” Hugh chuckled. “Remember how we took the Grand Vizier’s palace with far less men? I so did enjoy the look on his face when we took his throne room.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man more surprised.” Ali slapped him on the back as they wandered into camp.

  “Mayhap the Douglas brothers will be even more so?”

  “Inshallah.”

  “Yes, God willing.”

  They walked by the single women’s tent and Hugh stopped. “Azzah? It’s me and Ali is here. Do we have permission to enter?”

  There was some giggling and a moment while no doubt they made themselves presentable for male visitors.

  “Come in, m’lord.”

  Hugh studied the smiling faces gathered in a circle on the pillows and noticed that one in particular was missing. “Where’s the healer?”

  The tops of Azzah’s cheeks heated and her eyes lowered to the floor. “I apologize, m’lord but there was no stopping her.”

  “I don’t believe I understand. Where did she go?” His chest constricted and his heart skipped a beat. After learning she was no nun, he was going to convince her to come to his bed tonight.

  Azzah’s eyes lifted, pleading for mercy. “She said she had to save you and followed you into DeBruce’s lair.”

  Save me?

  Ali snickered but Hugh was not amused. The little idiot could get herself killed and worse yet, had not returned. There wasn’t a man to spare and even if he had, Carlisle’s gate was locked tight until morn. He’d just have to hope that she’d found shelter.”

  Confused, he shook his head and yet something long dead stirred within. When was the last time someone had wanted to save him, not the other way around?

  Damnation.

  Since meeting her, there was a longing in his loins and it made him most uncomfortable.

  “No one else is to leave the safety of the caravan until I say it’s safe. Is that understood?” He stood in the center of the room recalled DeBruce’s threat as a dozen yes m’lords responded. Should he fail, these women would be sold into slavery, perhaps into prostitution.

  Everything rested on his ability to take Naward.

  Despite the responsibility that weighed him down, he did manage a small smile. “Rest well. DeBruce has agreed to give us a place for us to call home. Be prepared to leave in two days.”

  He glanced at his friend staring at Azzah. “Aliyar, are you coming or are you going to make moon eyes at the lovely Azzah all evening?”

  “Ladies, my apologies. Until the morrow.” His friend backed out of the tent with his eyes resting on the woman he refused to claim and once outside Hugh sighed.

  “If you don’t claim her soon, I will.” Perhaps, if he made his friend jealous,
he’d stop this foolishness and wed the woman.

  Ali’s eyes sparked fire and his hand clenched. “I would thrash you into the ground before I’d allow it.”

  Hugh chuckled and slapped him on the shoulder. “Be Calm. I know, I know. When we’re done, you bring her to my tent and I’ll announce your betrothal.”

  “What if she’ll not have me?” His dark eyes betrayed deeper feelings than Hugh had first suspected.

  “Is that what this delay is all about? I promise, that woman is more than willing.” Mud squished under his boots as Hugh walked them toward the center of the field.

  “Mayhap it’s better to dream of what could be than be crushed down by reality?”

  “Now you’re a bloody bard? Give it up, Ali, or I’ll give you a lute and a suit befitting a jester.”

  “As if you fare better? I saw how you paled when you learned the fair Rose is missing.”

  “Your arrow hits true, master poet. My chest is tied in knots at the thought of her somewhere alone in the forest.”

  “From what I saw, the woman is most capable. Can you imagine her storming into DeBruce’s chambers?”

  Suddenly, both their eyes widened and Hugh moaned, standing now in front of his tent. “The serving wench. By God, it was her.”

  “Aye. I believe you’re right. But don’t fear. She’s no doubt safe within the castle, sharing the warmth of the kitchen.”

  Hugh’s well-honed instincts said something quite the contrary and as much as he wanted to find her, it would have to wait. “Call the warriors to my tent. We have a battle to plan.”

  Ali bowed. “As you wish. I’ll be back anon.”

  Alone, Hugh paced inside his tent and checked the center pole for stability. It would do for overnight and hold off the rain. Tomorrow night they’d attack Naward. After that, it wouldn’t matter.

  ~~~

  Only a few miles away, Rose awoke from within the walls of Naward and when she peered through the small crack in the outside wall, all was quiet, not a soul in view.

  It had to be very late.

  Should I warn my brothers that The Destroyer is coming?

  No two were ever less deserving. However, with them dead, how would she find the rest of her clan? Surely, not all Douglas were so evil? Her mother, at least, must’ve been brave and wonderful.

  What if the letter was all a lie?

  Even if it was, she had to take some kind of action. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life inside these walls.

  She imagined herself dying and how she’d ask St. Peter to send her back to earth. Then, she’d haunt her brothers until they confessed all of their sins and prayed to God for forgiveness. Especially, for how they treated her.

  With those gloomy thoughts in mind, she felt her way back to the kitchen, opened the small oak door and shoved at the cupboard with her shoulder. When it teetered, Rose held her breath for if it toppled, the crashing would surely bring the whole of creation to investigate.

  With more care she pushed the base with her heels until she made a hole big enough to squeeze through and onto the kitchen floor.

  It was too dark to see much but from the sounds of snoring, several kitchen women slept nearby. Holding her breath, she felt along the many flat surfaces until she found a candle with a flint-key resting beside it. She grabbed both, crawled back into the hole, shut the door, and lit the wick.

  Hopefully, when her old nurse woke, she’d push the cupboard back in place before anyone took notice.

  With only shadows for companions, she made her way along the wall until she arrived at the downward staircase where the hound had left. She passed that by and forged ahead. Soon she came upon another set of steps that curved around the outside of the tower and went up.

  Every so often she stopped at an archer’s slit in the wall and marveled at the view. Outside, the full moon lit the long, thatched roof of the barracks and the many shops of the bailey.

  At the top, she stopped and held her breath upon hearing her brothers shouting.

  “I tell ye, she was the spitting image of ye and now she’s gone and drowned herself.”

  “Are ye saying she was really a sibling? Are ye daft?”

  “Are ye? Da killed Kelly, did he not? Huh? He admitted it on his death bed. It makes sense that mother would hide her next bonnie bairn.”

  “Da would not kill an innocent child.”

  “He could and did. Told me he wanted no females. They cost too much in dowry, he said. Of no worth, he said. If ma wanted to save a baby, she would’ve brought her to the Lanercost. It makes sense.”

  “Christ’s nails. Go to sleep. I’m tired of hearing you yammer like an old woman. I care not. The wench is beautiful and if she’s not dead, I’ll take her. Sister, nun, or no. She’ll make a fine meal to go with the barrel of wine I intend to steal.”

  “Wait. What’re ye speakin’ about?”

  “Tomorrow, sacramental barrels travel to the priory through Inglewood. My spies in Carlisle heard it said.” He laughed with a snort through his nose. “Also, The Destroyer intends to take the keep.”

  Rose inhaled sharply from within the walls.

  So… they know.

  The harsher and older of her two brothers sniggered. “If how they battled in Inglewood was any hint, there’s naught to worry about.”

  “We’ll send those infidels to hell, rape their women, then set fire to their tents.”

  If Rose had any love left for her brothers, it was lost at that moment but still, she’d not have them killed by The Destroyer. Neither would she let her brothers destroy the people who’d treated her so kindly.

  She knelt and prayed. “I know we’re not on speaking terms, m’lord Almighty, but maybe we could be, if ye’d give yer all-knowin’ noggin’ a thought to be takin’ care of this mess.”

  Maybe it wasn’t the most gracious of supplications but given her circumstances, it was the best she could do.

  “And bless Hugh, The Destroyer. Keep him safe. I think he’s a verra good man. And if ye have even a small amount of carin’ for me. Let him think of me the way I think of him.”

  She said three Holy Marys, five Our Fathers, and two Glory-Be’s. She’d just started another round for the sinful thoughts she was having about the handsome warrior when she finally succumbed to sleep.

  Chapter 7

  A fierce desire to outwit DeBruce and claim Naward kept Hugh’s thoughts churning until dawn. How to prevent war, to make a home for his people, and to bed that sweet lay-sister?

  God’s blood.

  Something about her had crawled into his very spirit, making him ache and walk around with a rock-hard want under his tunic.

  No, I’m not addled. It’s quite reasonable to be concerned. After all, she’s under my protection and if DeBruce finds out she’s a spy, she’ll pay dearly.

  Not long before dawn, he stretched and lifted his eyes to the front gate of Carlisle where torches burned bright. He let go his breath when Rose’s lovely head was not atop a pole nor her chin lolling over a rope above the gallows.

  Despite the inner voices that advised Hugh to focus on tonight’s battle, he strode across the field to where a guard snored upon a bench inside the gate. He reached between the iron bars, stole the man’s sword, and played with it. “Good morn, sir. I was wondering if I could ask you a question?”

  The knight’s toothless grimace changed to a surprised frown. Then he rattled the portcullis with his fingers wrapped around the bars.

  “Bastard! Give me back me blade and I may answer ye instead of kill ye.”

  “A fine weapon. Mayhap I’ll keep it if I don’t like your answer. Now, tell me. Did you see a healer that was under my protection, a lay-sister from the priory?” Hugh pointed the sword at eye level, as if studying the edge while the man shifted uncomfortably.

  “And what if I did? What would she be doing with the likes of you?”

  “The abbess claims she murdered one of the nuns.”

  “By God’s nails, sh
e lies! That sweet flower would nae harm the smallest of beetles that crawls upon the earth. She saved me bonnie bairn, she did, and a lot of other good folks around here. She’s a merciful angel.”

  The weight upon Hugh’s chest lifted as he gripped cold iron bars with one hand, the sword’s hilt with the other. If someone harmed the girl, he’d storm Carlisle, Edward be damned.

  “She’s here?” His worry settled as the guard’s eyes narrowed. “First, tell me. To whom do ye owe allegiance?”

  Hugh had way too much to accomplish this day and this game of questions grew tiresome. “At the moment, only Edward, but I’m soon to become Steward of Naward a vassal of DeBruce. Anon, raise the gate.”

  “Hold fast. And the bishop at Lanercost?”

  “Lift the bloody gates. I have no ties to church or pompous pope.” He swung the side of the sword into the bars making it clang so loud that all the hounds within the bailey began to bark and howl.

  The guard shook his head back and forth, eyeing the ground. “Mary Rose ran off yesterday as if hellhounds nipped at her heels. I knew I should’ve stopped her.”

  “Damnation. Do you know where she was headed?”

  “She took the forest road. I assumed she was going back to the priory. She only asked that I tell no one that I saw her if they asked.”

  “Believe me, I’ve no ill intent. I swore I’d protect her.”

  “I’ll take her over my knee when she shows up again. My wife will have me head if anything happens to her.”

  “I’ll send word when I find her. Prithee, do the same.” Hugh spun on his heel and walked back across the field all the while his gut tightened in an odd way.

  How could one small healer put him in such a state? He couldn’t imagine her going into the forest nor back to the priory. Perhaps she stayed in one of the many thatched cottages outside the gates?

  She’s a resourceful woman. Surely, she survived one night on her own.

  Once Naward was won, he’d send his men looking but for now, could spare none. He summoned his warriors and explained his plan. It was an over-used tactic but from what he’d seen, the Douglas brothers were a dim-witted lot.