Chapter X

Wren

Sedlyn’s keep was impressive on its own; however, in contrast to the ruined keep of Iselyn it was clear that Iselyn had been the greater fortress in its glory. To enter, we passed under a great archway, twice the height of a grown man, supported by stone walls twice my width. The great hall, the center of all keep activity opened up before us. Heavy wooden beams, black with soot and age, crisscrossed above us while fresh rushes sweetened with herbs crunched beneath our feet. I scanned the empty tables shoved against the walls and tried to estimate the number of men and women that usual sat at them. I had counted seven tables that could easily seat twenty when loud male voices interrupted me and drew my attention to the dais where the high table still stood and three men and two women were gathered.

“I tell you that I saw eight points,” a well-dressed, slender man declared loudly.

“It was hardly four. You must be seeing double,” a gruff man built like a bear replied. His shaggy beard and worn clothing would have normally indicated a woodsman of serf status, but the casual manner in which he punched the slender man’s shoulder signaled something more.

“Just because you can claim the best prize, the twelve pointer, doesn’t mean that the rest of us were less impressive, Warwick. That eight pointed buck led me on a merry chase, and I feel quite accomplished in bringing in the meat.”

The burly man whom I assumed was Warwick Pendraco opened his mouth to speak, but was stalled by the wispy woman at his side. She pulled hard on his arm. “Leave him be. You have your prize. Let him enjoy his.”

The man sighed. “But if I let him, he will be saying he brought down a ten pointer by nightfall and challenging my dozen by morning. With each telling his buck’s rack grows.”

“It is his last excursion of the fall, Warwick. You will have plenty of opportunities this winter to prove your prowess.” The speaker rose to his feet, his face coming into view for the first time. His square face was partially covered with a thick brown beard, trimmed and well-kept. “We all know Hiller will not challenge you and I know of no other hunter in our midst that is your equal.”

“Ah, but there you are wrong, My lord,” our escort responded. “May I present Mistress Wren Romany of Braedoch, a huntress of men.”

I felt Kat stiffen beside me. She hadn’t known I was a bounty hunter. All eyes turned to look at us. I could hardly explain my past to her now.

“Eron, you have forgotten to introduce her companion.” The man I had tentatively identified as Lord Eryant stepped forward from between his brothers. “Lady Mynth, we are honored to have you visit us after so many years.” Taking Kat’s hand, he bowed deeply over it.

“Kat?” Warwick exclaimed, suddenly intent on examining Kat’s face. “Not the same girl who used to tag along behind us with skinned knees, frizzy pig tails, and black fingernails.” He looked her up and down. “I can’t believe it.”

Kat blushed to the roots of her hair. “Yes, that sounds about right.”

“You forgot to mention the bare feet,” the third man, the one bragging about bringing down an eight point buck, added. “I distinctly remember some very filthy bare feet.

“I have left those habits behind me,” Kat replied. “Though I dwell on those days as distant happy memories I shall cherish always.”

“We cherish them too,” the third man replied.

“Where is our manners?” Lord Eyrant exclaimed. “We have been sadly remiss. I believe introductions are needed all around. Mistress Romany, I am Philo Pendraco, Lord Eyrant and theses knaves are my brothers: Warwick,” he gestured to the rugged looking one in hunting clothes, “and Iscarus.” The slender, well-dressed man bowed slightly. “The woman attempting to keep Warwick from teasing Iscarus too much is his wife, Lorena. And, this vision,” he turned to extend a hand to the other woman, “is my wife, Annalyse.”

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Mynth,” Annalyse added immediately. “All of my husband’s brothers and Philo have told me stories of their fostering years with your family. I have longed to meet you and your brother.”

“How is old Tourth these days?” Warwick asked. “Surely he has returned to Iselyn by now.”

Kat’s features lost the glow of joy as she turned to glance at me. I could see her hesitancy to speak. Despite the fact she was among old friends, they were friends of childhood. She did not know these grown men as she had known them as boys. I stepped in to her rescue.

“That is why we have come.”

Lord Eyrant immediately regarded me with a measuring look. He glanced toward Kat and then focused all of his attention on me.

I answered his scrutiny. “I do not know how aware you are of the events that have occurred in Iselyn, but Lord Mynth’s position is precarious at best at the moment. He and…” I stumbled over Kat’s title, and Lord Eryant raised a hand to stop me.

“Tourth and Kat are old friends of ours. If they have taken you into their confidence to the point that you are on a given name basis, then consider us the same. May we call you Wren?”

I nodded.

“Continue.”

“Tourth and Kat have been living in hiding along with some of Tourth’s sword-mates from his time spent fighting. They have been living thus since his return a bit over a year ago.” I looked to Kat for confirmation. She nodded without meeting my gaze. “During this time an enforcer has been ruling the valley.”

“A regular…” Warwick swore colorfully. His wife tugged on his arm with a reproachful look.

“Though I don’t agree with my brother’s choice of words,” Lord Eryant shot Warwick a look, “I completely concur with the sentiment. You will find no friends of that Enforcer here, Wren.”

“He poaches our game,” Warwick explained.

“His men frequently harass my patrols.” Iscarus frowned.

Annalyse put a hand through her husband’s arm. “They also come into the border villages and homesteads to assault our women.”

“As I said,” Lord Eryant concluded, “he is a terrible neighbor.”

“That is not actually what you said, Philo,” Iscarus interjected.

“This is hardly the time,” Warwick told Iscarus.

I saw that this could easily get off course so I interrupted. “Kat and I are requesting help for Tourth as he makes a claim on his title. It sounds as though helping him would be in your best interest.”

Lord Eyrant studied me for a moment. “Is this request from Tourth himself?”

Kat answered him before I could, pulling his attention to her. “He refuses to ask for help, but we desperately need it. The Enforcer has been demanding labor from the people Five days out of every seven they are required to work on constructing his castle on the opposite end of the valley from us.”

Lord Eyrant nodded. “I know of it.”

Kat continued to explain. “Because of these restrictions, many of the households in the valley are going to starve this winter. There have not been enough men or women to work the fields. The crops have not been harvested or were never planted. We have tried to help where we can, but there is too much need.”

“And you? How do you stand for supplies?”

Kat glanced my way. “We will be well. Wren has promised to assist in exchange for bed and board.”

“Then you should be in plenty of game,” Warwick commented.

“It is not just that,” Kat said, ignoring Warwick’s comment. “Now the Enforcer is instituting press gangs to pick up any male they encounter and put them to work. Tourth, Arthus, Dardon, and Svhen are all endanger of discovery. And should they be discovered, the Enforcer would have no reason to not murder them.”

“He has killed before?”

Kat nodded as my gut tightened. “He killed my parents. He was seen descending the stairs from their solar with a bloody knife.” Her hands were clenched so that the knuckles shown white against her skin. Suddenly she turned to me. “Please don’t tell Tourth, Wren. If he knew…” Her voice trailed off.

I had a feeling that I knew what would happen should Tourth find out. Beneath the calm exterior and the precisely logical decisions raged and anger that had not been confronted. Its existence was what kept all of his friends at bay. Despite their apparent willingness to confront Tourth over his plans, his fellow warriors were not willing to press to the point of breaching that fury. Yet someone must. If it remained as it was, buried deep beneath the surface, burning low and hot, it would consume him. I fully intended to chip away at that anger, but I wasn’t foolhardy enough to tell him this tragic news and confront it head on.

“I won’t tell him until he is ready to hear it,” I assured her.

“But…” She opened her mouth to try to explain further, but Iscarus interrupted her.

“I think we have reason enough to help them, don’t you Philo?”

Kat and I both looked to Lord Eryant, his sharp gaze flickered over all our faces, lingering for a moment on Kat’s tear stained countenance. “Aye, Iscarus, I do think we have reason.” He turned to his brothers. “Where are Hiller and the troops at the moment?”

“The eastern border,” Iscarus replied.

Annalyse stepped forward, collecting Kat’s hand from the folds of her skirt. “Come. Let us leave them to their planning. We should see to your accommodations and organize the supplies their will need.”

Lorena stepped to Kat’s other side as they walked away. “Please tell me more about Warwick as a boy. Unlike Philo, he is very reluctant to talk about those times.”

“If you tell her anything about you know what,” Warwick called after them, “I’ll…”

“Ignore him,” Lorena told Kat loud enough for her husband to here. “He is all bluster and no bite.”

Kat replied, but her voice was lost to the distance.

“Warwick, please focus on the task at hand,” Iscarus prodded. “It isn’t like anything Kat would say would change Lorena’s opinion of you.”

Lord Eyrant’s face brightened with amusement. “Ah, but you are forgetting about that time…”

“Okay, how many men do you think we should send?” Warwick asked loudly over riding his brother’s voice as he turned back to us. Lord Eyrant and Iscarus shared a smile when their brother wasn’t looking and the discussion began in earnest.

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Wren Romany - © 2009 Rachel Rossano

Chapter IX

Tourth

“We are leaving.” Wren’s voice interrupted my thoughts, drawing my attention away from my task of repairing the tack. She stood in the doorway, an unfamiliar outline against the early morning light outside the stable. Stooped shoulders, overwhelming wimple, and a voluminous dress of homespun green wool seemed to swallow up her slight form.

“So, you are traveling as old women?” I asked.

“Yes, and your sister wishes to say goodbye.”

I nodded and set down the harness in my hands. “We are going to miss you both.”

“I will be returning.”

“Still, we shall miss you. Arthus has volunteered for kitchen duty, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he poisons us all.”

She smiled. It moved across her face in the twitch of her lips and was gone. “I am certain you shall all be fine.” She stepped out of the doorway to let me pass. “I will return in three days and save you from his experiments.”

“That will be much appreciated. Why three days? It will only take you a day either way.”

“I have business of my own with Lord Eryant.”

Before I could ask her what business she spoke of, Kat spotted me.

“Tourth, what do you think of our disguises?” She spread the skirt of an identical dress to Wren’s except instead on a non-descript green, hers was rust brown. Padding changed her shape, giving her more generous curves and the well padded hips of a matron. The wimple concealed her hair. “Do you think we will be accosted?”

I shook my head, suddenly realizing what I was doing. I didn’t know when I would see her again, if ever should this plan fail. “You will be safe in Wren’s hands. I trust her.” Even as I said the words, I found that I believed them. I did trust her to protect Kat. She liked Kat. The two of them had bonded on a level that I had never seen Kat bond with another woman before. Wren would let nothing happen to her.

“I am going to miss you, Tourth.” Kat wrapped me in a fierce hug with her head to my chest, face buried in the front of my tunic like she had as a child. “Promise me you will be careful.” They were the exact words she had used the day I went off to war. I tightened my arms around her, squeezing her back.

“I will. I promise.”

“You better. You are all the family I have left.”

“And what are we?”Arthus asked from a short ways away. “Strangers?”

“Is she crying yet?” Dardon asked.

“I don’t cry,” Kat protested with a suspicious swipe at her face as she whirled around to face him.

“Well, if you are done breaking your brother’s ribs, can I get a squeeze before you go?” Dardon opened his arms to her.

She hugged him before looking around. “Where is Svhen?”

Arthus shrugged. “Who knows. You know how he is about partings.”

“I am here.” Svhen stepped out from behind the smoke house and crossed to Kat, offering an uncharacteristic hug, which Kat willingly accepted.

“Hey!” Arthus protested. “It is my turn.”

Kat smiled and plowed into his waiting arms. Something was different about their exchange, though. It took me a moment to realize what it was. It actually was a couple things: the way he stroked her hair, pressed his cheek to the top of her head, and closed his eyes as though drinking her in. Something more than just brotherly affection appeared in his expression. I tore my gaze away, unnerved by the possibility, only to find Wren studying me as though waiting for me to react.

“It was about time you saw it,” she commented under her breath.

“How long has it been going on?”

She shrugged. “Since before I came.”

“It is reciprocated?”

She looked back at the couple, now separated and bantering like best pals. “It is definitely not communicated. I have yet to determine if she is aware of it.”

“Yet, you are?”

“I suspect that Arthus has loved your sister for a very long time. He has all the signs of a young man resolved to never admit it.”

I groaned. All I needed was a love sick man on my hands along with all my other problems.

“I would recommend leaving them alone to work out their issues. Kat is not completely apposed to Arthus. If he ever gets around to courting her, he will probably find her welcoming.” She glanced over at me. “We should be going.”

I nodded.

“Three days,” she reminded me and then went off to gather Kat from her conversation with Arthus. Within moments they were both mounted and riding out the gates. I couldn’t help praying that we would still be here when she returned.

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Wren

Our journey passed more quickly than I expected it to. Fall sunshine warmed out backs and heads. The roads, still slightly muddy from the rain the day before, were passable with very little inconvenience. I found it very pleasant traveling with a companion. Even when we lapsed into silence, it was nice having someone there.

We arrived at the border of Lord Eryant’s land as the sun was beginning to approach the horizon to our right. The transition was marked by a well kept stone wall, stretching off into the forest perpendicular to the trail to the east and west. A sign post, solidly placed, declared that we were entering the domain of Earl Eryant, Lord of Sidle Valley and its citizens.

Passing that marker was like stepping into a completely different world. Well tended fields spread out from the road, bordered by hedges, stone walls, and long rows of trees. The road changed as well, it was well maintained, clear of the holes, deep ruts, and other hazards of the roads on the other side of the mountain. Men, on their way home from the fields, joined us as we continued toward the castle gleaming in the setting sunlight. I was impressed with the number of respectful salutes we received as we passed the men.

As we neared the castle, I began to look for a place to shed our disguises. Spotting a cluster of trees a short ways back from the main road, I turned off toward them.

“Where are we going?” Kat asked as she followed.

“To take off our disguises. You don’t want to ride through Lord Eryant’s gates dressed as you are.”

“You have a point.”

“I was thinking those trees up ahead would work.” I glanced back at her. “How long have you known Lord Eryant?”

“Since childhood. Our parents would visit each other at least once a year. I was good friends with his younger brother growing up. Father fostered Lord Eryant and his brothers when he was still only Philon Pendraco and a nuisance.”

“Brothers?” I asked, thinking of my own. I was thankful that we had not been part of the nobility. The thought of losing a moment of my childhood time with my brothers was painful. We had such a short time as it was.

“Three. Hiller, Iscarus, and Warwick were always getting into trouble.”

“And Lord Eryant didn’t get into trouble?” I asked.

She laughed. “He was usually starting it.”

“Where was Tourth at the time?” I asked as we entered the grove. I dismounted. “Did he foster with the brother’s father?”

“No.” Kat dismounted smoothly despite her cumbersome outfit and padding. “Father needed him to remain at home. The fostering of Lord Eryant’s sons brought companionship for Tourth. He was into mischief right along with them. Father constantly had to punish all five of them because he wasn’t able to find out which was actually at fault.”

Unwrapping the wimple from around my head, I frowned. It didn’t make sense. If Tourth had been so close to Lord Eryant and his brothers during their youth, why was he not willing to seek their help now? I puzzled over this as I continued to strip to my usual clothing beneath the padding and dress.

“Did they have a falling out about anything after they grew up?” I asked.

Kat paused, hair pin in hand, in the midst of letting down her hair from the wimple. Her brows furrowed slightly. “No, I don’t think they did. Why?”

“I was trying to figure out why Tourth has not asked for help from them. Based on what you have told me so far, Lord Eryant would be the perfect one to offer assistance.”

“Oh, that. Tourth is just being stubborn. Ever since he returned from the war, he has acted like he is no longer what he was. He cut his ties to everyone except those who need him.” She frowned. “It is as though he wishes to do penance for his part in the war. It is only recently that he has been opening up to Arthus, Dardon, and Svhen.”

“So, Dardon and the others were not invited to return to Iselyn?” I frowned. That was not the impression that Dardon had given me.

“Tourth did invite them.” She tucked the final strand behind her left ear. “He knew if he didn’t they would have no place to go.”

“They were the first of his good deeds with which he attempted to atone.” I nodded. It made sense. The problem was that it was very wrong. I was thankful that he had done what he had, taking these men in and giving them purpose, but his motives, if Kat was correct, revealed a deeper problem than I realized before. He didn’t see that he was already forgiven. Deus had atoned for his sin long ago.

I smoothed my tunic, settled my belt around my hips, and checked my throwing knives. I would have to pray about this. I had no ideas on how to address the new problem, but I did have ideas about dealing with the issue of needing support. Just because Tourth wasn’t willing to ask for help from the Earl of Sidle, he couldn’t prevent me from calling in a favor.

“Are you ready?” I asked Kat.

“As ready I am going to be,” she replied.

We mounted again and returned to the road. The sun was kissing the horizon now, coloring the sky in a blush of pink. There were still men on the road traveling home. I was astonished when they extended the same greeting as they had when we were old women. I tried to recall back to the last time I had traveled in the valley of Sidle. As far as I could recall it had been the same, a friendly courtesy.

Our approach to the castle was noted despite our lack of entourage or banner. I watched the activity with amusement. Two women traveling alone were unusual enough to cause a stir. When one dressed as I did, it was bound to excite action. As I expected, we were greeted at the gate by an armed man in uniform.

“Welcome to Sedlyn Castle, Mistress Romany. We are delighted to see you again so soon.” He bowed deeply. My astonishment must have shown on my face because the man hurried on to explain. “You were recognized by the sentry on duty. Lord Eryant has been notified of your arrival and asks that you accompany me to the great hall.”

I glanced at Kat. She was preoccupied with getting to the ground. I wondered what she thought of this. I wasn’t even sure I knew what to think about this twist. I had not met the Earl. However, I had done him a great service.

A month ago, he had been on the trail of a band of marauders. They were raiding his outlying homesteads, trampling fields, and harassing his peasants. I happened upon his men on the far southern border of his lands. They needed a tracker to find the marauders’ camp. I located them within two days, in time for them to prevent the planned raid on the Earl’s granary.

“How do they know you?” she asked softly as we walked across the inner courtyard toward the keep.

“I did his men a favor a little while ago. I had hoped he would be grateful enough to consider helping Tourth. However, this is more than I expected.” I looked up at the heavy doors at the front entrance of the keep. “At least I can use it to your brother’s advantage.”

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Wren Romany - © 2009 Rachel Rossano