The Lady Bornekova

by Sara R. Turnquist

  For her sacrifice was not in vain. She made a choice—to leave all of this behind to follow Pavel, to marry him. They had been through much, had overcome…she would not give up what they had for her homesick heart. No, she would have a new home. With him.

  After several hours of lying in bed shifting—distracted by her thoughts and uncomfortable with the pain in her limbs—Karin forced herself to sit up. Rising without assistance was difficult. But, inch by inch, she attained greater height. At last, she sat.

  From here it would be easier to gain her feet. As much as she wanted to call for a servant, she held her tongue. She would need to accustom herself to moving about on her own. There would not be help for her on their journey, except for Pavel, whose attention would be on many other things. No, she needed to become much more independent.

  Karin swung her legs over the side of the bed with great care. Then she tentatively put weight upon them, almost toppling when she did so. Grasping the side of the bed, she maintained her footing. And, little by little, she pressed more weight onto her feet until she was certain her limbs would sustain it.

  Once she stood with some confidence, she made her way to the window seat. As she approached the bench-like space, she leaned onto its sturdy structure. Then eased her body onto it. Her eyes sought the sky beyond. How close was dawn?

  In the darkness, it was difficult to make out the familiar shapes of the rolling hills. Or was it because something was different? Something moved upon the horizon… Leaning closer to the opening did nothing to increase her visual range, still she did so, narrowing her eyes to focus her vision.

  The movement upon the hillside drew near. Approaching. Did it? Or was it her imaginings? She held her breath.

  Thud, thud, thud.

  The sound was faint but unmistakably at the door below! Who would come to see Father in the dead of night? Should she go for Pavel?

  A creak, though faint, sounded and the front door opened, light spilling onto the area around the entrance. The intruders were just visible in the faint candlelight.

  Karin scanned the dark figures. What did they want? A flash drew her eyes. Metal? A sword? These men came armed? She honed her vision on the figure at the door. He was tall, dark…looming. This was all the information she could make out from this distance. Were they here for her and Pavel?

  Drawing in a ragged breath, she attempted to still her racing heartbeat. She had to get Pavel.

  Karin made her way to the back of the bedchambers. The door was just steps away, but her movements were slow, careful. It would not do to injure herself further. As she reached for the latch, it moved under her hand.

  She jumped back as the door opened, backing away and opening her mouth to scream.

  A hand clamped down on her mouth, and an arm grabbed her, pulling her against the door, closing it.

  "Shh, it is all right, Karin," Pavel's familiar voice spoke into her ear.

  She relaxed in his arms, nodding against his hand.

  He shifted her to hold her more securely and removed his hand. "It is a patrol."

  She froze. Her worst fear confirmed. What were she and Pavel going to do? There were so many of them.

  Taking a few deep breaths, she attempted to pull the strength she did not have from Pavel.

  "We have to go. Now. And we must leave everything behind."

  She nodded again.

  Pavel released her and then opened the door but slightly. Was he listening? What did he hear?

  Karin held her breath.

  Turning back toward her, he said, "They are in the house. We cannot use the main stairs. Is there another way down?"

  Karin nodded and whispered, "There is an old servant staircase in the library."

  Pavel met her eyes. His nod was almost imperceptible. He took her hand and moved through the slim opening.

  As they stepped into the hall, Karin listened with every silent step. Her heartbeat quickened when she heard voices. Then there were footsteps on the stairs. The men had mounted the stairway! She and Pavel would have to pass the stairs to get to the library.

  We will never make it! Did Pavel know?

  Karin glanced at his features.

  Pavel frowned and looked up and down the hallway. Then he urged her to quicken her pace.

  She did so, as much as she dared while still keeping her footfalls silent.

  As they passed the stairs, Karin saw a light approaching and heard the men closing in. Surely they would be spotted if they tried to make it to the library three doors down.

  Following Pavel’s lead, she pressed her body to the wall farthest from the stairs and chanced making it past another room to slip into her mother's cabinet.

  Karin cursed her white nightdress. If not for her light-colored, easily spotted form, they might have been able to chance going farther. She scanned the room for places to hide while Pavel listened at the door. The reality was that they had but one chance: that the men would search the rooms on the other side of the hallway first.

  She held her breath and prayed.

  "The bedrooms first," a gruff voice said.

  A loud knocking sounded through the hall, Three thuds like before. Then the doors were flung open.

  Pavel grabbed Karin's hand and pulled her into the hall. The backs of the men were visible at Karin’s bedchamber door and another guest room.

  It was eerie, but Karin did not have much time to think on it, as Pavel took advantage of the soldiers' focus being on the contents of the rooms to pull Karin into the library.

  Once inside, Karin walked to a shelf in the corner and pulled a lever. The bookcase opened to reveal the narrow stairs that were no longer in use, but had been a favorite plaything for her and her childhood playmates.

  "Someone was in this room, but has gone. They must have seen us coming," Karin and Pavel heard from the hallway. "Split up. Search the house and send someone to the stables."

  Karin caught Pavel’s serious look before he moved to descend the stairs. He grabbed for Karin’s hand and moved as fast as possible.

  Making every effort to keep up, Karin tried to ignore the pain tearing through her torso. As she neared the bottom of the stairs, she moved her hands from holding the skirt of her nightdress to her side. Moving down the stairs with such speed, the nightdress became twisted in her legs, and she lost her balance, pitching to the side. She fell down the last three steps.

  * * *

  Pavel was on his knees in a moment. "Karin!"

  She tried to catch her breath. "I'm all right," she managed.

  He didn’t believe her. One look at her face told a different story. Pavel helped her to her feet, but when she tried to put weight on her right foot, she crumpled.

  "You have to go without me," she cried. "Just go!"

  How could she even think he could go on with her?

  "Your fate will be mine," he said with finality. Leaning over, he reached under her knees and picked her up.

  Pavel continued with as much speed as he could bearing her injured body. He rushed to the stables. They arrived before there was any sign of a soldier. But they were on borrowed time. The soldier would be here soon.

  Setting Karin in a stall, Pavel began to saddle a horse. His fingers fumbled more than he would have liked, but as the seconds passed, he was nearly done.

  "You there!" he heard from behind. "Stop!"

  Pavel held up his hands and turned. One of the soldiers stood behind him, sword drawn, moving toward him.

  "We should make our way back into the hou—"

  There was a thud, and the man sank to the ground.

  Karin stood behind the soldier's slumped body, leaning on a shovel. Had she just struck the man?

  Pavel closed the gap between them, taking the shovel and kissing the top of her head. Then he lifted her once again.

  "Let us make haste." He set her on the horse. They were going to make it!

  Just then, men came from all directions. Pavel was wrested from two sides.

&nbs
p; Karin's horse shifted nervously, causing the men to give it wide berth.

  Go! Pavel's silently pled. This was Karin’s chance.

  Her eyes met his. Your fate will be mine.

  Karin stilled the horse and took her hands off the reins.

  "I need help dismounting," she said. "I am injured."

  "I will assist with that," the earl said as he stepped into view from behind the men. "And I thank you for helping me find my daughter."

  The earl walked to where Karin sat on her horse and pulled her down. "My daughter and her betrothed were clearly out for a moonlight horse ride. Unchaperoned. I am most disappointed, and most dishonored that my disgrace will now be made public."

  The men appeared confused.

  "You thought...oh, be assured not!" Karin’s father put on his most jovial laugh. "I have nothing but the utmost respect and complete loyalty to the crown. You would not find me harboring Hussite sympathizers! My daughter and her betrothed are pushing the boundaries of propriety. Though I would not rely on them for good judgment in light of their behavior this night, I assure you they are not Hussite sympathizers. If you doubt me, I invite you to check their rooms."

  Karin’s father chose his words with care. He was not, in truth, lying about their identities. For they were not sympathizers, but Hussites. But would he be so bold to allow their rooms searched? Did Karin have incriminating materials within?

  "We will do so." The leader seemed agitated that his chase had not given way to his imagined prey. "What happened here?" he indicated the soldier on the ground.

  "He came after us with a sword," came Pavel's honest reply. "We defended ourselves."

  "If I may, I would like to move my daughter and her guest to my solar while you search their rooms and anywhere else you choose," the earl requested. "We have much to discuss."

  The leader of the group nodded, a deep frown upon his features. Did he not believe the earl’s story? He indicated for two of his men to follow the small group.

  Karin’s father hoisted her into his arms with ease. And so, he carried her, Pavel following, then tailed by the two guardsmen, back into the house and toward the earl’s solar.

  Once inside the solar, the earl sought a comfortable chair to set Karin on. The two guards stayed by the door across the room. The earl made a show of examining Karin's leg and ankle, while Pavel came over to offer what assistance he could.

  With Pavel's body blocking the guards' view, Karin dared to whisper to her father between grunts of pain from his prodding.

  "Father!"

  He tilted his head.

  "How can you let them search our rooms? There are writings..." She let her voice trail.

  "While you two were having your little escapade, I was busy with my own." Tilting his head, he indicated the fire.

  Pavel craned his neck, glancing into the fire. But he could not see what the earl might have been referring to. Still, he caught the meaning. The earl had scavenged their rooms and burned every incriminating thing he found.

  Karin breathed a sigh of relief and Pavel prayed that Karin’s father had, indeed, found everything.

  The earl glared at both of them. "If either of you has more on you, now is the time." Just then, Karin’s father must have touched a tender spot on her ankle, as Karin let out a yelp before she could contain it, biting her lip to keep from crying out again.

  "Can you not see my daughter needs a doctor?" the earl said to the guards, rising and walking to the guards.

  Pavel moved a chair closer to Karin so he could sit. He took her hand in his.

  "I have done all I can. Now, do you want to be responsible for further pain and injury to my daughter because she was denied the care of a doctor?" the earl continued his rant.

  The guards glanced at one another and then at Karin.

  Karin chewed on her lip, eyes shut.

  Had her father’s manipulations of her ankle made things worse?

  The guards conversed between themselves, and one left the room. Did he leave to ask their commander if a doctor could be sent for? Pavel hoped so.

  Karin’s father caught the other guard in a plea. "My wife may have herbs which can ease my daughter's pain. If I could but bring my wife here..."

  It was a ridiculous request. Of course the guard would not leave, nor would he let the earl depart his watchful eye. Perhaps all of this was to distract the guard.

  Karin turned to Pavel.

  His gaze was fixed on the guard, but he began pulling a small slip of paper from his pocket. Pavel moved his hands over her hair as if to soothe her and leaned in to press a kiss to her forehead.

  Then he whispered, "These are the names of safe houses between here and Hussite-controlled territory. I cannot burn it. We need these names if we are to survive." They could not be found with this paper on them, but this paper was too valuable to dispose of.

  Karin licked her lips. She accepted the parchment and rolled it, making it quite small. As she watched the exchange between her father and the guard, she let down one side of her hair and re-braided it, concealing the paper within the braid. It was risky, but what choice did they have?

  The other guard returned and spoke with the earl. Karin’s father seemed somewhat satisfied with what the guard had to say. Turning, he then moved toward Pavel and Karin.

  "They have sent a manservant for the doctor," the earl said. "But you two and the solar will have to be searched before the doctor arrives. So, prepare yourselves."

  Pavel and Karin exchanged a look. Clasping her hands, Pavel brought his forehead down to rest on Karin's.

  "I love you," Pavel said.

  "I love you, too," Karin replied.

  After a brief moment, he brushed her lips with his.

  * * *

  Karin winced as the doctor moved her ankle this way and that, inspecting her full range of motion. The doctor had arrived and was ushered into the foyer to wait, while the solar was searched along with Karin and Pavel.

  Determined to find something amiss in this house, the commander was certain that the trouble centered on Karin and Pavel. But, search as they may, they had been unable to find anything incriminating within the house or on any person. So, they had no choice but to take their leave of the Bornekov residence.

  Still, the commander had his own way of letting the master of the house know it was not over and that they would still be watched. Upon exiting the house, he dug a dagger into the door, marking the house with a bold letter “H” scraped across the front. His gut had not led him astray yet.

  Now the only fight Karin found herself waging was with the doctor—not so much a fight as a willing surrender followed by a torture session. If only he would ask for information, Karin would certainly give it up.

  "It is not broken," the doctor concluded, "but it is sprained."

  "What does this mean for me?" Karin asked.

  "I will wrap it, but you must not walk on it for one additional week.”

  Karin did not like this plan. She and Pavel should be leaving the next day, but they must be married first. Never had she imagined a wedding day in which she was carried down the aisle.

  "In the meantime...," the doctor began.

  "Yes, I know. Drink this tea," she interrupted the doctor as he was reaching in his bag.

  He nodded. "As needed for pain."

  Karin bobbed her head. Her eyes sought Pavel's. How could she communicate an apology? This recent intrusion had to make him all the more eager to get underway.

  Pavel's features were not anxious or frustrated, though. They communicated nothing but his concern and love for her. For that, she was grateful. She would have hated to feel even more like a burden.

  The doctor had continued speaking, but Karin was so lost in Pavel's eyes she had failed to catch any of it. Had her mother gathered the important information? Had he even said anything of significance?

  When the doctor stood, Karin directed her attention back toward him. "Thank you, doctor."

  He took
her hand. "Be sure to rest. I will see you in a week."

  She nodded. This was perhaps the last time she would ever see this man.

  Mother escorted the doctor out of the room.

  Pavel came to sit on the edge of the bed, the seat the doctor had recently vacated. He took Karin's hands in one of his and rubbed his other hand over their clasped hands.

  "It will be all right," Pavel said, breaking into the silence.

  Was he putting on a brave face for her? Didn’t he worry about their delayed departure and what it would mean for the safety of their travel?

  "Perhaps I will heal faster,” she interjected. “We do not have to wait for the doctor's permission."

  "I do not want to do anything that may risk injuring you further."

  Another silence fell between them.

  "The only thing I regret," he said, reaching forward and brushing a stray hair out of her face and behind her ear. "Is that I will have to wait longer before calling you my wife." His hand lingered, cupping her face.

  Karin took a deep breath and let it out over several seconds. "Then let's not wait."

  His brows rose. "But, you can't walk... How will you...?"

  She leaned forward and took his hand in hers. "We will figure it out."

  He pulled her hand toward himself and pressed the palm to his lips before clasping that hand to his heart. "I do not want to wait either." Leaning in, he caught her lips with a passion that surprised her. Warmth spread through her entire body, lighting a fire within.

  His hands moved to her shoulders, then to her back, one holding her fast, one tangling in her hair.

  Her hand, already over his heart, clung to the front of his shirt as if he was her only hold on reality, while her other hand wrapped around his strong shoulder.

  They remained, locked in their embrace, lips hungry for more.

  Pavel gently broke away, holding her to himself.

  When they did draw apart, she still wanted for more. She longed for a second kiss, but it would not come. Pavel was always prudent about their physical interactions, and they both knew this one had reached a limit they dared not cross. A second kiss might invite danger.