It was odd being so much taller than the person whose arm I held. I looked down at the top of his head, noticing a bald spot. Our trip to the castle was made mostly in silence. I think our mutual apprehension about Kafir added to the reticence. Dormand had lit a rush torch and carried it high as we went down one tunnel after another, making right and left turns into darkness as the trail wound through the mountain.
“The castle is around the next turning,” Dormand said, coming to an abrupt stop in front of me. “There are stairs here so mind your step.”
The staircase wound in a circle downward, growing wider as we descended. Care had been taken to show grandeur, with niches carved into the walls containing beautiful light stone statuary of what appeared to be gods and goddesses. When we reached the bottom, an enormous garden came into view, filled with waterfalls, ponds and streams, trees and plants growing in profusion. Light emanated from somewhere above us but I couldn’t see the source. “Is that the sun?”
Dormand turned. “It is Hreidmar’s sun. You do know he is a magician?”
The place was breathtaking and I had a hard time crossing the little gravel path that led away from it. Fake sun or not, it invited me to stay. Dormand disappeared around a wall of rock and I hurried to catch up. “How far is the castle?” I asked, but then I noticed two carved lions in front of me, flanking a grand stone stairway leading toward enormous wooden doors. Above me deeply recessed openings in the stone façade indicated windows, bright colored flowers spilling from tiny balconies. I wondered briefly about the size of things in relation to these short beings, but before I could puzzle over it, the doors swung open and two guards appeared. They came toward us, their expressions impassive.
“I’ll leave you here,” Dormand said, backing away.
“But what about Kafir? Don’t you want to talk with Hreidmar?”
Dormand shook his head. “This is now in your hands.”
My heart raced as I watched him head away. The guards waited until I collected myself and then turned away from me to climb the stairs. I lifted my long skirt, following them up the stairs and through the doors. A magnificent hall stretched into darkness, black and white marble squares under my feet and columns of dark rock leading upward toward a coved ceiling filled with gems of every hue. Torches burned in iron holders on the walls, their flickering shadows undulating across the dark stone.
“King Hreidmar waits for you in the throne room,” one of the guards said, pointing toward another high doorway.
I waited to see if they would lead me there but they headed off down another hall. I stood at the door for several minutes before I grabbed the heavy iron handle, pulling down until the lock clicked open. I was unprepared for the beautifully appointed room where shafts of light angled through stained glass windows to shine down on thick carpets scattered across the marble floors. Dark furniture was arranged in various sitting areas and a fire burned in at least two of the three fireplaces I could see from where I stood.
“Approach, Gertrude.”
The voice seemed to emanate from all around and at first I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. Turning in a circle I spotted Hreidmar sitting on a throne on the other side of the room.
“Yes, yes, here I am,” the king said, a smile in his deep voice.
I walked slowly toward him, my heart in my throat. I couldn’t think of a thing to say.
“What do you think of my castle?” Hreidmar asked, stepping down from his throne to gesture expansively with his right arm.
The only reminder of his injury was the drop of his shoulder and the way he held his arm against his side. I followed his gaze to the enormous trees that seemed to grow out of the floor, birds trilling within their leafy tops. The air was fragrant with the scent of flowers. “It’s remarkable,” I said, finding my voice. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Hreidmar laughed, holding out his good arm. “I will show you where you shall sleep,” he said.
He escorted me from the throne room, entering another hall narrower than the first one. I noticed that Hreidmar was taller than Dormand, only a few inches shorter than I. We walked toward a wide stone staircase flanked with ornate iron balustrades. From the landing above us sunlight streamed through leaded glass windows, making little diamond shaped shadows on the floor. “Is that the real sun?”
Hreidmar chuckled. “It is as real as I can make it,” he said, placing a hand on my waist as we ascended.
I felt the heat, the slight pressure against my skin, as though his fingers had penetrated through the layers of cloth.
“Did I mention how very lovely you look today?” he asked, steadying me when I stumbled.
I turned my head and smiled, astonished by the mossy eyes, the dark eyebrows and the angle of his cheekbones, features that seemed to fit together so well. My heart did a strange little somersault. By now we had reached the second story and Hreidmar led me toward an open door that spilled light in a narrow band across the hallway floor.
“Here is your room,” he said, ushering me through the opening.
The space was filled with light, faceted windows making up two walls. A tree stood in one corner with branches that curved gracefully over the enormous four-poster bed covered in golden silk. A fire burned in the fireplace, crackling merrily and sending warmth into the room. “It’s beautiful,” I gasped.
“This is the best room in the castle. It adjoins mine,” he added, pointing toward a small recessed door set into one wall.
A little panicky sensation went through my mid-section. For one thing I hadn’t planned to stay, had not even brought a change of clothes. I certainly hoped I could get Kafir released without…
“Would you like to see it?”
I followed him through the door, gratified to notice the lock on my side. A fire burned in the much smaller fireplace and on the far wall a writing desk was strewn with papers. Clothing lay in heaps over chairs and on the bed, as though he’d been trying to decide what to wear. What he’d chosen was very fine—a black velvet tunic with gold trim over dark trousers tucked into soft leather boots. “Very cozy and nice,” I managed to say, looking around.
“Cozy. That is a word I do not know.”
“It means homey, comfortable.”
“Ah, yes. That it is. I didn’t mention where the water is—you may bathe and do your other womanly things there.”
I followed him back into the room and then through another door on the other side. For all accounts it was a bathroom but not like any I had ever seen. A round pool sat in the center, water bubbling into it from the mouth of a carved stone lion set into its side. Where it drained I couldn’t say. Against the wall was what I assumed must be a toilet—a round stone bowl with a drain in the middle. A stained glass window ran along the back wall with a design of vines and flowers. Folded sheets of some soft material had been stacked against the wall where the toilet bowl sat—I assumed they were towels. I looked over at the king who was watching my reaction. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” I said truthfully.
“The water is warm,” the king added proudly, dipping his hand into the pool. “I have bathed here with others and I hope to do so with you.”
I stopped the little gasp that almost came out of my mouth, telling myself that I could think of it like a hot tub—it didn’t mean anything.
“Well, bathing is for later,” he said turning. “A meal is prepared.”
I followed him into ‘my’ bedroom and then down the hall, descending the staircase behind him, my mind grappling with the situation. This was not going to be as easy as I had hoped.
***
Over lunch I finally found the nerve to bring up Kafir, asking where he was being held and if I could see him.
Hreidmar frowned. “Kafir is where he should be—in the dungeons. The man has overstepped his bounds one time too many.”
“You seem well recovered from the knife wound,” I ventured hesitantly.
“I have magic at my fingertips
, but even so it will take a few days to heal completely.”
“I hope you’ll release him. Without Kafir I’m stuck here with no way home. He’s the skipper of Gypsy--I know nothing of sailing.” I looked at the king hopefully, my nervous fingers trailing along my braid.
He smiled at that, gazing straight into my eyes so that I couldn’t look away.
“I hardly think that is my problem. I would be happy for you to stay here with me forever while the man languishes and dies down there. As far as finding your way home, why not make your home here with me? Once we find your son all will be well.”
I grabbed onto the last part of his statement, my heart leaping. “Do you know where Adair is?”
Hreidmar looked thoughtful, his lips pursing together. “I can find her. But there is a small fee for my services.”
Our eyes were still locked together and in that moment I knew there was no way out of this without giving myself over. It wouldn’t be so bad, I rationalized—no different than Tamar. And in all honesty I was very attracted to him. When I finally was able to pull my eyes away, my gaze went to the table where my plate of food lay untouched.
It was in the gardens later that I brought up the subject of Kafir again. “I understand that what Kafir did was reprehensible but he was defending his honor. Whatever happened between you and his wife hurt him deeply and made him very angry.”
“Are you saying he had a right to stick that knife into me? If so, you may go and join him. I’m the king and I deserve to be treated as such.”
His tone was harsh and I could see anger in his eyes. Wishing I hadn’t said anything I wandered away, settling on a boulder beside a narrow stream.
“You do not understand what happened between Ella and myself. Kafir was and is a fool to let that woman go,” Hreidmar continued, coming over to stand next to me. “We never made love, but we did speak intimately about a great many subjects. Ella was very unhappy. Kafir assumed the worst, of course, and Ella never told him the truth. By that time she had made up her mind to leave him.”
“What was the problem?”
“It had to do with trust and his travelling. She was sick of him disappearing for days and sometimes months at a time. They had made a pledge to one another when they married and leaving her saddled with two small children to raise by herself was not part of it. Now, if you insist on seeing the man I’ll take you to him. But I will not be cajoled into letting him go.”
I stared at the king in surprise. “Thank you.”
Hreidmar nodded once and then jumped over the stream. I followed, holding my skirt high to make the leap. On the other side I had a hard time keeping up with him as he wended his way around trees and bushes. I caught up with him in a clearing where he had stopped in front of a trapdoor set into the ground. He took a key from his pocket and undid the lock before pulling it open.
“I’ll go first,” he said, slipping inside.
I followed him into darkness, climbing down the ladder after him. There was very little light inside and I strained to see.
At the bottom Hreidmar took hold of my arm. “I’ll leave you to it. When you’ve satisfied yourself that the man is alive and well, meet me in the garden. Head straight down there,” he finished, pointing into the darkness. “At the end you will come to a cage. Kafir is inside.”
A cage? I had a moment of panic in the dark, my thoughts going to the trapdoor and the lock. If he locked me in here…
“I will wait for you at the top. And if you don’t trust me here is the key.”
I took it from him, slipping it into the pocket of my dress.
“Do not be too long, Gertrude. If you are I will come for you and I will be unhappy.”
The tone of those words sent a chill down my spine. “I want to make sure he’s all right,” I answered, but he was already climbing the ladder.
Groping my way down the dank passage I wondered what I would find. According to Dormand, Kafir had no food. Who knew what the conditions were? Hreidmar seemed so kind when speaking of Ella but this was not a kind act and I cringed at the thought of Kafir imprisoned here.
“Who’s there?” Kafir’s hoarse voice echoed against the stone.
“Kafir, it’s me,” I called back.
“Gertrude? How did you get down here?”
In the next second I came to the end of the passageway. In front of me was wire mesh and behind it Kafir’s pale face. One candle burned on a table behind him, sending strange shadows dancing across the dank walls. I reached forward to touch the fingers he stretched through the wire. “Are you all right?”
“Do I look all right to you?”
I stared into the sunken eyes, my gaze travelling to the cuts that covered his face and arms. “What have they done to you?”
Kafir shook his head. “It’s the way of things here. That isn’t my main worry. You didn’t answer my question.”
“The king brought me. I asked to see you.”
“That bastard,” Kafir mumbled.
“Well, you did stick a knife in him. He could have killed you for that.”
“Ah, so I see he’s working his magic on you. You better watch out, he’ll have you in his bed before you know it.”
“He told me that Ella didn’t sleep with him. He said they talked about all sorts…”
“He’s a liar.”
“I don’t think so, Kafir. But let’s concentrate on how to get you out of here. I can’t stay long. Are they feeding you?”
Kafir turned away to pick up the pewter mug, upending it into his mouth before replacing it with a bang. “So far I’ve been given water, nothing more, and now it’s gone. I’m sorry about this, Gertrude. I know you want your son back. I’m of no help.”
“How do I convince the king to let you out?”
“I have the sense that you know the answer to that. I’m sure he’s made some sort of proposal.” Kafir laughed derisively. “I know how this man operates and you will not escape him. The problem is that he may not keep his word.”
My skin grew clammy at his words of warning. “He did say he would help me find Rifak.”
“For a fee?” Kafir laughed again. “Everything Hreidmar does has a price attached to it. Don’t be fooled.”
“But if he knows where the sorceress is and can help, it’s definitely worth it. It’s only sex.”
“I’m warning you, do not believe him. He is a magician and has obviously already cast a spell over you. It will seem a lovely dream while it lasts, but afterward…well, I won’t go into it.”
“Please tell me.”
Kafir shook his head. “You’d better get back. You don’t want to anger him. I won’t last long in here without food and the miniscule amount of water I’m being given, so if there’s anything you can do, please do it soon.”
“But…”
“Just go.”
When I emerged through the trapdoor, Hreidmar was waiting, arms folded across his chest. “I take it Kafir still lives?”
I nodded, averting my gaze. Kafir’s warning rang inside my head and I had the feeling that Hreidmar’s spells were worked through his eyes. “I want you to release him,” I said, “he won’t last long without food.”
Hreidmar laughed. “The man is being fed. Maybe not the quality that you and I are enjoying but it will sustain him until I make up my mind what his punishment will be.”
“Isn’t it enough that he’s being held in that horrible dark place? What other punishment do you have in mind?”
“Death is what normally happens to someone who tries to kill me.”
“He didn’t try to kill you!” My voice echoed loudly and I didn’t know how the king would react.
Hreidmar was silent for a moment and then turned toward the castle. “This is the second time I’ve been attacked by the man. I suppose he didn’t mention the last time when he cut me with his sword. He doesn’t deserve your sympathy. I will see you at dinner.” With that he strode away leaving me alone with only my muddled thoughts for co
mpany.
***
It was some time before I left the garden, making my way quietly up the stairs to my room. Inside I closed and locked both doors, sitting down on the window seat to think. Outside the glass several bright colored birds flew by, their frantic calls echoing my state of mind. If I didn’t do what the king wanted I had no hope of finding my son or releasing Kafir. If I did what he wanted there was also the chance he would renege on his promise. My leverage lay in making him think I would sleep with him. I worked that thought around in my mind, imagining scenarios and situations where I might retain the upper hand. I had to keep myself from looking into his eyes or there was no hope at all. Tonight at dinner I would steer the conversation to the sorceress and find out as much as I could while maintaining a flirtatious manner. Maybe we could find Rifak before I fulfilled my end of the bargain. Two could play this game.
***
What I hadn’t prepared for was Hreidmar’s charm. Before we had finished our first glass of ale he had tilted my chin up to stare into my eyes.
“I am very lucky to have you here with me,” he told me. “I’ve been lonely these past years since my wife died.”
Wife? This was the first I’d heard of it.
“She was in childbirth, about to give me a boy—an heir to take over the kingdom when I die. But they were both taken to Helheim. Since then I have only lain with a very few.”
His hand was still on my chin, his fingers warm and caressing, and as I stared into those moss-colored eyes something inside me loosened. When his lips touched mine I didn’t pull away. My thinking mind seemed to shut-off as emotions and feelings rose up. He was wonderful, charming and kind, and I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anyone. When he finally released me I fell back against my chair. I struggled for composure, trying to maintain an attitude of hard-to-get but it was a battle I knew I would lose. I had to say something, I told myself, sitting up straight. “Before we go any further I want you to either release Kafir or find the sorceress. You told me that you could do this. I promise I will fulfill my end of the bargain, but I have to know that you’ll follow through.”
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