Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) Read online

  She stepped around a group of acrobats who practiced for the night’s performance. Variegated meals cooked on open pots and caldrons, filling the air with enticing aromas that caused her stomach to grumble. An animal performer, with his head wrapped neatly in a white cloth, pulled the rope surrounding an enormous bird. She’d never seen such a creature, with its overlong neck and broad beak. The performer offered to let the children ride on its feathered back. She’d been told the animal was called an ostrich and came from a faraway land in the west. Kate had witnessed many unusual sights in the village, but nothing compared to the animals the visitors brought. The bright hues of the tent she sought came into sight, and she hurried inside.

  “Madam Serena? Madam, are you in here?” Kate pulled aside a brightly fashioned curtain inside the tent and entered the personal area of her longtime friend. The scents of rosemary and incense drifted throughout the confines inside.

  “Darling, so good to see ye. Come, sit, Kate.” Madam Serena waved her hand over a table laden with all the tools of her trade: cauldrons, spheres, daggers, sand, candles, and herbs. She even used cards with pictures depicting kings, queens, knights, jesters, and such, in determining the lives who sought her wise guidance.

  Kate smiled at the aged woman. “I’ve seen the vision again.”

  Madam smiled in return and placed a clear sphere on the table. “It does my heart good to know that the spirits use ye. My old Gaelic Grandma used to say that about me.” Madam Serena cackled. “Tell me of your vision, darling, while I look at my ball. Mayhap I can answer you this time.”

  “The dark-haired warrior floated like a ghost in the night, Madam, but I wasn’t afraid. He frowned, seemingly at me, yet I sensed that he was trying to tell me something. Do ye think this has anything to do with my father?”

  Madam shook her head. “Ah, the vision is a sign from the spirits, but alas, it is not about your father. Go on, continue.”

  Kate nodded. “I couldn’t make him out completely, but he appeared to be a mighty warrior. His stance suggested he was fierce and strong. Yet, I felt serene and the vision comforted me. Will he reveal himself to me?”

  Madam Serena’s dark eyebrows furrowed. “Oh, dear, this is quite distressing.”

  “What?” Kate sat forward. “What is it?”

  “It involves a child. You will come to know the warrior when ye meet the child.”

  “How will that happen?” Kate became confused. “I know no children.”

  “You must tell me more, continue.” Madam pushed back locks of her long graying hair, took a handful of wrinkled linen to reposition her garment, and leaned back.

  “I sat in my circle and had just placed my candles, when the vision came. He has dark hair, dark as night, and light eyes, blue, or perhaps gray. He seemed unearthly. The vision cleared before it faded and I sensed he wasn’t pleased with me.”

  Serena’s eyes twinkled. “I hold, darling, that this man will cause ye much grief, but don’t despair, it seems to be well meaning, perhaps ‘tis kismet. I don’t sense anything else about your vision, Kate.”

  “I thank ye for trying. I don’t understand why this vision comes to me. It has for so long, since my father left. That is why I assumed the vision has to do with my father.”

  “All shall be revealed when ye meet the child. Now tell me, have you heard news of your father recently?”

  Kate sighed with despair. “Nay, he’s been gone almost four years now, and still no word since his letter last year. I worry so. Can you see anything?”

  Madam placed her hands above her eyes then glanced down into the glass sphere. After a few minutes of reflection, she spoke. “I sense doom, there’s evil lurking around your father’s spirit. I am sorry, Kate, but I don’t believe your father lives. He’s been gone for quite some time.”

  “How was he killed?”

  Madam looked sadly at the globe. “Beware the friend with the black heart.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It, too, shall come to ye.”

  “Madam, you’re being evasive, ‘tis unlike ye not to reveal the truth. Please, don’t hold back, I can handle the truth.”

  “Greed, he was killed for greed. Your father will not return from the strange land.”

  Kate’s lower lip trembled, hearing that. “I have sensed that as well, and shall miss him. We had a lovely last day together, I shall always remember it.”

  “Tell me of it.”

  “I had just put away my herbs when he came to tell me of the missive from Aldwyn. Our overlord requested he leave at once for the excursion to Egypt. He was to relieve the knights … He called me his fairy and we talked of my marrying. I tried to tell him that I didn’t desire to leave our home or him, but he wouldn’t listen and made me promise to write him with my choice. Of course, we both knew that I wouldn’t.”

  Madam Serena looked at her with her dark eyes, and smoothed Kate’s flaxen hair with a touch of her hand. She sighed. “Kate, I shall not see ye again. You will embark on a somber mission, and I shan’t be here when you return.”

  “Where are you going? What kind of mission am I going on?”

  “Your questions shall be answered when ye meet the child, and you will know where to go. Your life will forever be changed. I shall miss ye, darling.”

  “I will miss you, too, Madam.” Kate placed her hand upon Madam’s wrinkled hand and gently squeezed it. “I thank ye for your guidance these past years. I have learned much from you. You’ve been a wonderful teacher.”

  “I packed a trunk full of objects, take and use them.”

  “Oh, Madam, your lovely things, I cannot, please, take them back.” She sensed sadness in Madam’s dark-brown eyes.

  “You need the objects more than I.” Serena scratched her silver-streaked raven hair. “I am leaving the area to visit my brother.”

  “But you never travel.”

  “I fear my age won’t allow me to continue as I am. I will retire from advising these good people, and shan’t return.”

  “How will we ever get along without ye?”

  “They will survive, just as you will.” Madam rose. “Go now, and remember all I have foretold. Here.” Madam handed the small trunk to her.

  Kate placed the trunk aside and hugged Madam fiercely. Afterward, she turned, picked up the trunk and went through the curtain. She glanced back at the tent, knowing she would miss her good friend, but Madam had aged and needed rest. Kate’s grandmother had been Madam’s childhood friend, and she’d made Madam promise to show her the ways of their ancestors. Kate was glad Madam would retire, but she seemed immortal to her, having enlightened people for many years, even before Kate had been born.

  Kate reached the manor and went to her chamber. She placed the chest beside her door and lit a candle. Once she erected a circle in the center of the room, she readied for her morning ritual. She sat inside the circle, holding a shining golden goblet high—an offering to the Goddess. Candles sat around her, with four others outside the rope pointed to the cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. She meditated with her eyes closed, concentrating on the silence with her cat curled into a ball beside her.

  She hoped the vision would come again. It had haunted her since she’d turned four and ten, coming to her time and again. If Madam Serena’s prophecy came true, she would meet the vision in the flesh. Yet, the vision didn’t come while she prayed.

  Each morning, the same prayers and queries crossed her lips. She prayed her father would return safely and that she would meet the warrior. She appealed to the gentle spirits to guide her in her choice of husband, yet she worried that whoever was chosen as her guardian, would select someone unsuitable. Her father had said he would take her to court when he returned, but now that wouldn’t happen.

  Kate receded deeper within herself, chanting the Celtic prayers taught to her by her mother, grandmother, and Madam Serena.

  After a time, she opened her eyes to find her beloved nurse standing at the door. Lolly
’s frail figure was barely noticeable as thin as she was. She wore her silver hair knotted at her nape and those startling green eyes often reflected motherly adoration. Something was wrong, Kate could sense it, and upon closer inspection, Lolly’s face seemed downcast.

  “Lolly, what brings ye here?”

  “Good morn, my girl, I must speak with ye, but if you are busy, I shall return later.”

  “Nay, do come in. You’re always welcome here, you know that. Come inside and sit with me. You work too hard. I told ye to have others see to the chores. We should take care of you.”

  “Bah, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. ‘Tis not fare tidings I bring. Manik has returned with news of your father.”

  A sudden chill made Kate shiver. “Oh, dear, come and sit next to me, Lolly. I know he has not brought good tidings.” She went to her pallet and waited for Lolly to join her.

  Lolly took her hand. “Dear sweet girl, I fear you’ll become distraught when I tell ye—”

  “I know my father is dead. Go on, tell me the news, I am prepared to hear it.”

  Lolly took a deep breath. “Perhaps I should read ye the missives he gave to Manik, ere he died.” She opened a scroll written in Lord Hawk’s hand and read:

  “Dearest fairy, I’ve been on this excursion for years, yet I tire of fighting the heathens and destroying their homes. My heart is heavy. Death surrounds me, likewise I fear for my own. We’ve made progress and moved our forces along the river. This morning, my regiment was chased by a score of soldiers into the jungle. I only tell you this because we retreated to a cave hidden behind strange looking trees. We crawled on our knees into the cavern and once inside, we were able to stand. I lit a torch, but couldn’t see much. The walls were wet with slime, and emitted a sulfuric smell.”

  Lolly stopped reading and looked at Kate.

  “Oh, goodness, Lolly, that sounds horrible. Pray, continue.”

  “Creatures hung on the ceiling above us; red eyes glowed in the darkest part of the cave. All I could see was blackness. I’m sorry to say this, fairy, but I thought I entered hell for all the sins I have committed. We followed rugged corridors and didn’t know which direction to take. We went into the bowels of obscurity and stopped at a dead end. Worry not, but I received a wound on my leg. I leaned against the wall for support and knocked something loose. When I lifted the strange object, it gleamed in the torchlight. I didn’t have time to view it, and shoved the object in my pouch.”

  Kate interrupted, “What do you think it was, Lolly?”

  “I know not, let me continue.” She lifted the parchment closer to her eyes.

  “A guard found a way for us to leave the cave. We crawled through a hole in the rock. When we reached the outside, we were in a jungle of sorts, not lush with green, but enough to give us cover. We ran back to camp and I had my leg tended to by the camp healer, and remembered the object. I pulled it from my pouch and studied it. It was a medallion with a strange spider-like symbol on the front. I flipped it over and found a smooth surface of the back. There was a hole on the back and I pried it open. Inside, I found a map with unusual writings and symbols, but I couldn’t read the heathen’s language. How fortunate am I to have found it. Your loving father, HS.”

  Kate stood and turned to Lolly. “What do ye think the object is? Do you deem it caused my father’s death? What did Manik say?”

  “I know not. Manik said he would come to see ye after you read the letters. There is only one more. Shall I read it to ye?”

  “Aye, please.” Kate took her place again next to Lolly.

  “My sweet fairy, I write with such discontent. Richard de Morris, my comrade, became interested in my find. He has threatened to take the medallion. I should never have confided in him, and now I regret showing it to him. He has attached himself to finding it and claims we shall be rich men. I just want to return home to ye, and don’t know what will happen. I refuse to give Richard the medallion. If anything should happen to me, Katie, I warn ye. Beware the friend with the black heart. I hope to be home with you soon, HS.”

  Kate’s eyes widened. “Madam spoke those very words this morn. She said to beware the friend with the black heart. Richard must have killed my father for the medallion.”

  “Mayhap so. I’ll have Manik come to ye. I loved Hawk like a son. He was such a sweet lad. How I shall miss him. Will ye be all right?”

  “Aye, Lolly, I expected this news, and Madam’s visions confirmed my fears.”

  “Did she tell ye he was dead?”

  “Aye, she said there was evil afoot and many other things, but you know Madam. Lolly, she’s leaving, retiring to her brother’s.”

  “Serena’s leaving? Oh, dear, I must go see her before she does and say farewell.”

  As Lolly left, Manik entered the chamber, looking sullen.

  He shook his head when she stood. “Nay, my lady, please sit. I must talk to ye privately.”

  Kate couldn’t sit, knowing the news that he’d brought. “Manik, I’m glad you made it home safely. Are you well?”

  “Aye, I’m well. I’m sorry, my lady, but your father is dead.”

  Kate’s head lightened, she sat on her bedding. “Papa is dead, I didn’t want to believe …”

  “My lady, he asked me to give you this.” Manik handed her a wrapped cloth.

  She held it, looking at the floor. “How did he die?” Shock lodged its unemotional bearing inside her, and she felt coldness in the pit of her stomach.

  “Your father gave me the item and told me to hide it. I went to put it with my belongings, and when I returned, he was injured. He told me to go, but I didn’t want to leave him, my lady, but he commanded me to.” His voice grew thick with emotion.

  “Who killed him?” Kate looked at the cloth she held. She didn’t want to believe her dear papa was gone. It seemed unreal, as though she’d dreamt it.

  “I know not, my lady, the heathens were coming and a battle ensued just outside the tent. Lord Hawk told me to tell ye that he loved you then he yelled at me to leave. He was a good man, the Hawk.”

  Kate knew how fond he’d been of her father. “Manik, you were brave. I’m sure Father thought so, too. Now, tell me, what does Lord Richard have to do with this?”

  “When Lord Hawk returned from battle, I took his gear to clean it. The healer tended his leg, and I saw Lord Richard and my lord talking, they became heated, but I know not what they said. After Lord Richard left, Hawk ordered me to hide the object. When I returned, he lay dying.”

  “Did you see Richard?”

  “Nay. Hawk fought to stay alert, but the sound of soldiers’ loud voices bore down on us. He kept telling me to leave, so I lifted the edge of the tent to escape, knowing there was little I could do for him. Before I slipped out, I saw a large man enter the tent. I waited for the blow that would surely end my lord’s life, but I admit my fear, and I quickly left the tent. Look at the object. My lord said he wrote ye a note.”

  Kate unwrapped the cloth and found the medallion, it looked old, but lustrous. She turned it over and back again.

  “My lord put the note inside, open it.”

  Kate turned it over, took the dagger he held out to her, and pressed the tiny clasp, it clicked open. She removed the folded parchment and read it.

  “Beware the friend with the black heart. Where was Lord Richard when this happened?” She didn’t trust Richard, not after hearing in her father’s words that he’d wanted the medallion.

  “I know not, when I returned, Hawk was alone.” Manik’s face looked bleak.

  “We’ll have to keep this a secret until I can figure it out. Pray, don’t let on that I have it. I sense evil afoot. I do not trust Richard.”

  “I shan’t tell a soul, my lady. I was unable to protect my lord. I’ll never be able to …”

  “’Tis no fault of yours, Manik, don’t feel guilty. You’re back with us and that is all that matters. My father wouldn’t have wanted you to hold yourself accountable.”

 
“Thank you, my lady, for such kindness.” Manik opened the door and left.

  Kate sat on the bed, staring at the medallion. She glanced at the note again, recognizing her father’s writing. Why wouldn’t he tell her whom he referred to outright? Until she could uncover its meaning, she would be wary.

  *****

  Kate stood in stunned silence. Immediately upon his unexpected arrival, Richard de Morris handed her a missive, which she read with furrowed brows.

  Lady Stanhope, I regrettably inform you that your father is presumed dead. His tent was found burned to the ground and we could not locate his whereabouts. I will be staying in Egypt for sometime and have given your guardianship to my vassal, Lord Richard de Morris. On my return, I shall turn your father’s lands over to your husband which the king has selected. His Highness has betrothed you to Angus Barclay of Scotland, and your marriage will take place upon my return.

  Condolences,

  Lord Aldwyn de Guylet

  Apparently, her betrothed wasn’t even knighted or titled and likely landless. The most astounding news was that he lived in Scotland. Her worst fear had come true. She was betrothed to a man not worthy of her rank, but the king had chosen him so she had to have hope that he was prosperous. With shaking hands, she rolled the missive, and handed it back to Lord Richard. She felt forlorn, but resisted the tears building in her eyes. Would that she could flee the hall and retreat to her room where she could sooth her restlessness by praying to the spirits.

  “Lady Kaitlin, I’m sorry for your grief.” Richard stood next to her, speaking gently. “I cared for your father as much as you did. ‘Tis sorrow for us all.”

  “Thank ye, Lord Richard. I shall go to my chamber and pray for his soul.” Kate turned to leave.

  “Wait, ah, I regret not coming to ye sooner. I’ve been home for several months, but had business to attend and when the regent sent for me, I hadn’t known Hawk was killed. This is dreadful. I should have stayed to protect him. Is there aught I can do to make you feel better?” Richard folded his hands behind him and walked beside her. “If I hadn’t gone to Henry’s court three months ago, I would have been here to comfort ye.”