The de Lohr Dynasty

by Le Veque, Kathryn

  Liselotte quickly went to her father to comfort him, putting her hands on the man’s shoulders as Etzel struggled. She was close to tears herself as she looked to Daniel.

  “My lord,” she said softly. “What my father says… we have indeed prayed for help. We did not know how or where it would come from, but we believed that it would come someday. Yet, what my father has not told you is the toll it has taken on our family and our people. Starvation and little hope have made Shadowmoor a dismal place. My own mother took to her bed last year and has not risen; she remains an invalid, praying for death because she is so miserable. When my younger brother was abducted, we did not tell her for days for fear of what it would do to her and when we finally told her… she has not been the same. It is my hope that Gunnar’s return can bring some life back into her, and now with your magnanimous offer of aid… you are truly an answer to prayer. We are forever in your debt.”

  Etzel regained control of his composure enough to nod, wiping sloppily at his wet face. “What she says is true,” he said. “We are in your debt, always willing to be of service to you and your family. Although I have nothing to pay you with, no money to speak of, I would gladly give you my daughter’s hand in marriage. It is the only thing I have of value. Liselotte is a good girl with many skills. She is not rich, of course, but she would make a fine and dutiful wife.”

  Liselotte’s eyes widened to the point of bursting from her skull while Daniel, equally as shocked by the unexpected offer, was left scrambling for a reply that didn’t sound like an insult. What shocked him more, however, was the fact that he very nearly agreed to the proposal right on the spot. Liselotte was an unearthly beauty and he felt drawn to her as he had never felt drawn to a woman in his life, not ever, but the fact remained that he had only known her for a few minutes at best. Perhaps the only thing he felt for her was a great appreciation for her beauty and nothing more. In any case, he had to bite off an immediate reply, fearful that he would get himself into trouble. He did so want to agree based purely on superficial reasons.

  But he couldn’t.

  “That is a very generous offer, my lord,” he said, sounding a bit rattled. “Of course, if I was in the market for a wife, I would accept your offer without question, but alas, I am not. I do not intend to marry, at least not any time soon. But I would be more than happy to find your daughter a husband if you are in the market for one – mayhap a knight who could bring his army with him and provide protection to Shadowmoor. I know many fine knights who would fill this role, in fact.”

  Liselotte, who had thus far remained silent and polite throughout the conversation, could no longer remain so.

  “I do not need for you to find me a husband, my lord,” she said, sounding righteously insulted. Then she looked at her father. “And you should not have made him such an offer, Papa. See how uncomfortable you made him? What a terrible thing to do to us both. You made it seem as if you are desperate to make me his burden and that is not fair.”

  Etzel seemed genuinely surprised by her reaction. “I did not mean it so,” he insisted, looking between Daniel and his daughter. “I simply meant that you are the only thing of value I have. You are very valuable to me, Leese. You know that.”

  Liselotte shook her head at her father in frustration and turned away, moving away from the table and back over to the fire pit where Daniel’s clothes were drying. She pretended to tend to them when what she was really doing was making sure Daniel couldn’t see the flush to her cheeks, a flush of great embarrassment and humiliation. So he didn’t want to marry her; she did not blame him. She wasn’t worth marrying but at least he had the tact not to say so. No man in his right mind would think a penniless maiden was worth marrying. Still, she was quite mortified by her father’s suggestion, hoping Daniel wouldn’t rescind his offer for assistance because of it.

  But rescinding his offer was the furthest thing from Daniel’s mind, in fact. He watched Liselotte move away from the table to tend to his drying clothing, trying not to make it obvious that he was staring at her, concerned for her reaction to her father’s tactless proposal. She was offended, he could see that, but he clearly hadn’t meant to offend her. He wanted to make amends.

  “She is more than likely the most valuable thing in all of Yorkshire and, I would suspect, the most beautiful maiden in all of Northern England,” Daniel said, loud enough for her to hear him. “If I was the marrying kind, I would accept your offer with great glee. In fact, I have never had a finer offer in my life. But the truth is that I do not even have a home. I travel constantly and that would be no life for a wife. Women want a home and children, and I could not provide that. It is a sorrowful thing to admit.”

  Etzel sighed with relief, happy he’d not offended the man with his offer of marriage. “You understand that I had to offer,” he said. “She is the only thing I have of value.”

  Daniel’s eyes drifted to Liselotte as she knelt next to the fire. He could see her profile with her upturned nose against the firelight. “She is the most valuable thing in all of England,” he said, quietly now. “But I am wholly unworthy of her.”

  “You will tell me if you change your mind.”

  “I will.”

  They fell silent after that, drinking the cheap ale in their crude wooden cups, each man pondering the unexpected course the future had taken. Daniel, for certain, was feeling a bit of excitement at the future because he now had a purpose. He was a man who thrived on purpose, and on a challenge, and he considered the immediate future both of those things. Moreover, he was a man who loved to deal out justice, which Lord Bramley was sorely in need of. Once the man realized that the House of de Lohr had taken over Shadowmoor, he would think twice before continuing with his harassment. But, it seemed, the trick would be getting a missive past Lord Bramley’s men, who evidently watched the roads. Indeed, that would be the key.

  As Daniel engaged Etzel in a conversation about all of the roads leading south, Liselotte was closely listening. She could hear just enough conversation to make sense out of it and it was clear that her father and Daniel were plotting to get a message through Lord Bramley’s net. It was something her father had not dared in years but now with Daniel’s arrival, there was renewed hope. Perhaps something could really be done. But she was distracted when a couple of serving women brought in the freshly baked loaves of bread from the outside oven, so Liselotte turned from eavesdropping on the men’s conversation to serving up the evening meal.

  Mealtime at Shadowmoor was a bit different because one of the key components, the flat stale bread used for a plate or trencher, was noticeably absent. Trenchers were made from precious bread and since food was relatively scarce, Liselotte had a stack of reusable clay plates at her disposal. She had made them herself out of heavy gray clay found on the banks of the River Aire, not far to the west, that had been shaped into flat rounds and baked in the bread ovens until they were very hard. An old woman whose family lived at Shadowmoor, on the outskirts of the walls, had shown her how to fashion the plates. She was an old lady who had seen much hardship in her life and knew how to deal with it.

  In fact, the entire populace of Shadowmoor had pulled together over the past four years, all three hundred and sixty-eight of them, to help each other through this difficult time. No one ever blamed Liselotte for Lord Bramley’s harassment. In fact, those who lived at Shadowmoor were quite protective of their young lady. But Liselotte felt guilty for their suffering nonetheless, just one more thing to feel remorse over in a long line of such things. It was difficult at times not to give in to the weight of self-pity.

  As Etzel and Daniel weighed their options for sending missives, Liselotte collected the first clay plate and spooned a goodly portion of the thick pea stew onto it. Onto the stew she put the best piece of boiled mutton she could find. On a separate plate, she spooned a large portion of the boiled cabbage and, with a small loaf of freshly baked bread, brought the feast to Daniel and placed it in front of him. When he looked up at her with
gratitude, she smiled timidly.

  “We do not have much to share but you are welcome to what we have, my lord,” she said. “I hope it satisfies your hunger.”

  Daniel looked down at the food before him. “It looks delicious,” he said. Then, he focused on her face again. “I have never seen such a fine feast.”

  Liselotte’s smile turned modest and grateful, and she moved back to the fire to prepare her father’s meal as Daniel dug in to his with gusto. The pea stew was tasty and salty, and the bread was surprisingly good, as was the cabbage. The mutton tasted old but he simply shoved it into his mouth as if it were the most marvelous thing in the world. He would never let his hostess think otherwise.

  Soon, Etzel had his meal and the two men were devouring everything before them. Young Gunnar entered the hall just as they were beginning to eat and, sitting on his father’s lap, ate from his father’s meal until Liselotte brought him his own food. But it was clear that Etzel didn’t mind his boy stealing his food. He hugged the child and encouraged him to eat from his plate even when they boy had his own food in front of him. When Liselotte finally sat down next to her father with her own plate of food, she too fed Gunnar off of her plate.

  Daniel watched the interaction between the three and he could see how much family love and devotion there was. It was quite clear how glad Etzel and Liselotte were to have Gunnar returned to them, and that knowledge touched Daniel. Being quite close to his own family, he understood those bonds. That love that only a family can have for each other. It also underscored to him the tragedy of the trouble the family had faced against Lord Bramley.

  “Tell me, young Gunnar,” Daniel said as he slurped up the pea stew with his bread. “Have you seen an education, lad?”

  Gunnar, mouth full of bread, nodded his head. “Papa would take me to Ilkley to the priests,” he said. “They taught me something of reading from the Bible but I have not been back to see them in a long time.”

  Daniel was curious. “Why not?”

  Etzel spoke. “Because of Lord Bramley,” he said. “He watched the roads, as I told you, and has chased us off when we try to reach the town. We simply stopped trying.”

  Daniel swallowed the food in his mouth, eyeing Gunnar. “We shall remedy that,” he said, “because you will have to learn to read and do arithmetic when you become the Lord of Shadowmoor. A good lord must be educated.”

  Gunnar had an odd look on his face. “I will not be the Lord of Shadowmoor.”

  Daniel’s brow furrowed as he took another bite. “Why not?”

  Gunnar collected his cup of watered ale and drank. “Because my brother will be the lord.”

  Now, Daniel looked surprised at the introduction of another family member. “You have a brother?”

  Etzel simply nodded, lowering his head and shoveling food in his mouth. When he didn’t seem inclined to answer, Daniel looked at Liselotte, who seemed hesitant to speak on the subject.

  “Aye, my lord,” she said, eyeing her father. “Gunnar and I have an older brother.”

  Daniel wasn’t quite sure why the three of them seemed so subdued with the mention of another brother. “Where does he live?” he asked.

  “Here, at Shadowmoor,” Liselotte said. “He is… ill. Sickly.”

  Daniel nodded in understanding. “I see,” he said. “A pity. A strong older brother with a good sword might have helped you fend of Lord Bramley.”

  Etzel set his cup down on the tabletop, rather heavily. It was a mask for a gesture of frustration. “He used to be a fine sword,” he said. “He used to be the finest in the land. But his sword hand, and his honor, was consumed by drink and that is the way he wants it. When we salvage Shadowmoor, it will be to turn it over to a drunkard who cares little for anything other than himself.”

  It was a statement wrought with anger and sorrow. Daniel quickly surmised that the subject of the older brother was not a pleasant one.

  “Forgive me for bringing up a painful subject,” he said. “I was not aware.”

  Etzel seemed to calm, realizing how harsh he must have sounded. “I know,” he said. “I apologize if I was abrupt. Brynner does not associate with the family and we do not associate with him. He wishes it that way. You can expect no help from him because, as you can see, he has left us to fend for ourselves as if he wants no part of us. It is shameful but true.”

  Daniel suspected this was not the time for any further questions about the son Etzel identified as Brynner. It was a puzzling and seemingly sad situation, but he knew it really wasn’t any of his affair. He had already imposed himself on the family enough so he respected the information he was given as all he needed to know. It was evident they didn’t wish to speak of the brother so he changed the subject.

  “My lady, your father and I were discussing all of the roads that lead south from Shadowmoor, roads or paths that Lord Bramley might not be watching,” he said, looking to Liselotte as he pulled apart the last of his bread. “He tells me that there are two roads, a main road and a smaller one, and then two smaller paths that lead over the hill towards Hawksworth and Guiseley. Can you think of any other roads that might be worth attempting when I try to send a message south?”

  Successfully diverted off the painful subject of Brynner, Liselotte’s brow furrowed thoughtfully. “I do not,” she said. “Do you intend to take the message yourself?”

  Daniel shook his head. “I intend to hire a messenger.”

  Liselotte seemed hesitant when she spoke. “I see,” she said. “If that is the case, then I have been thinking… mind you, we’ve not had the money to hire a messenger but if we did, what if we were to go north to the villages of Cross Hills or Eastburn and find someone to take the message south? Lord Bramley doesn’t necessarily watch the roads leading north too much, only the ones that converge south towards Bradford. He more than likely would not think much of a lone messenger providing the man had money to pay Bramley’s road tariff. We have never tried to slip a message past him that way.”

  Etzel looked at his daughter with some curiosity, as if he wasn’t certain her idea was a sound one, but Daniel smiled broadly at her. He didn’t seem to have the same reservation. “A brilliant idea, my lady,” he said. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

  Liselotte grinned, blushing to the roots of her hair. “We have never had a reason to try something such as that,” she admitted. “We do not have the means.”

  Daniel cocked his head. “But you have men here at Shadowmoor who could take a message and mayhap not be recognized or harassed,” he said. “Men who could take it straight to Henry.”

  Etzel answered. “It takes money to travel,” he said. “We have none.”

  “None to spare?”

  “None at all.”

  Daniel didn’t doubt that in the least. Shadowmoor was clearly poor but he thought they might have some small stash of coinage tucked away because certain items did need to be purchased. Therefore, he was surprised to hear there was absolutely nothing.

  “Then where do you get money for flour and ale?” he asked. “You must purchase such things from a mill or a brewer wife.”

  Liselotte drank the last of her ale. “We spent all summer and into the fall collecting wild grains,” she said. “It is what we use for the ale and flour, but even that store grows low. We will conserve until the early summer when the grains began to reach a state where they can be harvested early.”

  Daniel looked at his clay plate, the meal he had just finished off. “Is everything you collect wild? You purchase nothing?”

  Liselotte shook her head. “Nothing, my lord.”

  Which meant they shared their precious stores with him when he could have just as easily purchased a meal in town. He’d never seen such a level of poverty with people who had been forced into such circumstances.

  “Well,” he said thoughtfully. “If I am to remain here to help you with Lord Bramley, I will pay for my lodgings and I will start tomorrow when we go north into the town to seek a messenger. I wil
l purchase whatever supplies I can find there and bring them back. Is there anything specific that you need?”

  Liselotte was dumbfounded. She looked at her father, fearfully, before replying. “Need?” she repeated. “I do not understand.”

  Daniel could see he’d confused her with his question. Perhaps it was a question she had never heard in her life. “If I am going to eat and sleep here, then I must pay for that privilege,” he explained again. “I intend to pay for it by purchasing supplies. Do you have a cow for milk and cheese?”

  Liselotte stared at him, her features pale with surprise. “We… nay, we do not,” she said. “We ate the cow.”

  Daniel nodded decisively. “Then I shall purchase a cow or two,” he said. “If I am going to stay here, I must have cheese. I cannot do without it.”

  His statement left no room for debate. Liselotte had no idea what to say, looking to her father to see what his reaction was, but Etzel seemed just as speechless as his daughter. He understood that their guest, their savior, had the right and expectation to eat what he wanted to eat, but Etzel also knew that Daniel was preparing to supply them with things they could not possibly pay him for.

  “My lord,” he said. “Forgive us our inability to provide sufficiently for you, but we cannot reimburse you for that which you intend to purchase.”

  Daniel looked at the man. “I do not expect you to,” he said. “Do you understand that I am paying for my keep by purchasing supplies? It is not usual for the host to reimburse a guest the cost of his upkeep. I will purchase the items I need for myself, but I will purchase enough to repay you for housing me. I am not sure how much plainer I can be to this regard.”

  Etzel and Liselotte looked at each other, unwilling to protest for two reasons – they didn’t want to offend their guest and, truly, it had been a very long time since they had been supplied with enough to eat. Perhaps it was their hungry bellies willing to overlook their pride. In any case, they didn’t protest or argue purely out of surprise for what Daniel intended to do. He seemed quite determined to do it and he was quite clear that there would be no need for monetary compensation.