A Witch's Tale (34 page)

“I
will see her dead!” Robert railed and glared at his older sister.

“You
will die as horribly as she, Brother. You get it all back to you times three,
do you not?” Mary predicted sadly and shook her head. “Have you learned nothing
at all? We all loved Alessandra before mother turned our minds; even you! We
turned upon her because of mother’s lies! We watched mother give her that tea.
We even stood by that lie to Madeline and said she killed herself. We more than
earned her spite! We even denied her daughter what father wanted for her to
have.”

“When
she is dead it will all end, you will see,” Robert raged, his blue eyes filled
with contempt.

“You
must find her and atone for what you did to them, Robert,” Mary whispered
furiously with fear in her eyes to see the stark hatred in his face. “We will
never be free of this until we do.”

“I
will not bow to my father’s evil bastard, Mary,” Robert said coldly. “I took
great pleasure in seeing father’s whore die. It was just and God’s work!”

Mary
flinched to recall seeing Alessandra drink her poisoned tea. She fell to the
floor clutching her throat, staring at them all in shock. Robert laughed then,
enjoying seeing their former nurse be poisoned, or cleansed by God as their
mother said. She was just a girl of fourteen then, Sybilla was ten, and Robert
was eleven. 

Lady
Agnes made them all watch, forced them to endure their beloved nurse’s death
throes that long, hellish day before the poison killed her at last. God was not
at work that day, but their mother’s spite and jealousy their father loved his
mistress more.

She
gazed at Robert in pity. “I no longer fear the creature I see in the mirror,
Brother. It is but a reminder of where I failed in this life. You persist in
this, you will suffer far worse.”

Robert
Lunley glared at his normally timid older sister, wishing she had half of
Sybilla’s backbone. “You will thank me when the witch is dead, Sister, and men don’t
run screaming from your presence to this day. I will free us from this curse.”

“Then
you will die as horribly as our mother, Robert, and none can save you from your
hatred.”

He
stormed out of her bedchamber and she collapsed into a nearby chair, feeling
desolate to know she had only one choice. The lady stood up and hesitated to
approach the mirror. She kept this one to remind her of the evil she acted upon
another. Mary gazed at her reflection and didn’t flinch to see the monster that
stared back. It no longer scared her as it did the men who gazed upon her. She
touched her cheek, feeling it’s smoothness despite the green scales she saw
within the looking glass. Her blue eyes met the glowing orange ones and filled
with tears and she turned away from the horrid-looking creature.

Mary
went to her writing desk and wrote a note to her half sister, imploring her to
run for her life. Robert would seek the king now with his claims Madeline was a
witch. He had the priest at Valmont’s word Madeline cursed the baron’s son. The
baron signed her death warrant. It was all he needed, and would insure their
doom.

****

Madeline
gazed at the pile of rubble within the courtyard in approval. With the help of
Rohan’s men, they cleared the house of broken furniture and rubbish. They swung
mops and brooms as they once swung swords by her command. It was a month since
they arrived and the house was coming along.

Even
her husband rolled up his sleeves to wash the grime from the walls, though he
eyed her pleadingly throughout. The men all white-washed walls and sanded down
banisters and wooden trim, scarred in the years of neglect and abandonment.

They
found enough furnishings within the attic to make do. Madeline was encouraged
by her husband to add as many comforts as she thought they would need. She
smiled as she thought of how contented she was he knew the truth of what she
was. Rohan didn’t run from her screaming or fear her. No, her handsome husband
quite exploited his wife for every comfort she could bestow upon him. She
chuckled to think of his childish demands for treats and the like daily.

Her
eyes filled with softness to know the weeks she abstained from the potions to
stop conception were realized. She was carrying Rohan’s child. The thought made
her so happy she longed to share it with him. It would be many weeks before she
would be confidant to share it with her husband.

Suddenly
the rest of her life was filled with faceless children and the dark-eyed blond
man who tormented her daily, teased her unmercifully, and captured every bit of
her attention. Rohan’s new men all volunteered to serve Rothford, she learned.
They reminded her of the foundling knights with Gavin, those dear friends she
missed sorely. They never failed to jump to do her bidding. She giggled to know
they all complained of the women’s work out of earshot, but felt obligated for
her feeding them so well.

Her
husband’s liege lord had yet to arrive at Rivenhahl. The black smoke that
filled the sky in the distance alerted them not long after their arrival. They
sent men to the estate and the scene there was far worse than what they found
at Rothford. Gavin’s dream was now rubble, the grand keep a burned-out shell.
Madeline knew the act had to have been deliberate. Rohan levied blame at
Strathmore first, but reasoned the Scottish rebels and outlaws might have
learned they had a new border lord.

He
sent word to court and Gavin and his men had yet to arrive. She knew Rohan was
anxious to be off and matters were spiraling out of control along the borders.
Two horses were stolen in the night, the act of petty reevers, it was believed.

Madeline
could see her husband thought his job along the border to be a thankless one.
He joked of his gift from the king now, saying it was more of a punishment than
anything else. She could see the pride restored in his gaze as their hard work
revealed a house that now glowed with cleanliness and added comforts
from
his wife’s magic.

The
men were building a new barracks in the back. Madeline found a loose stone in
the wall of their room. She hid the gold inside and made sure her husband found
it. He believed it the fortune of the former baron of Rothford. She saw the
light of relief in his gaze as he assessed the wealth there, telling her they
had nothing to worry about now.

Rohan
purchased enough wood to add onto the stable and build the men’s barracks. He
seemed to have recovered from his loss in London, telling her stoutly these
days he was the true winner that day.  Madeline believed more than
anything she won that day, getting the better man and more than she could have
ever dreamed.

She
hardly thought of Gavin anymore, realizing it was merely infatuation that
pulled at her then. Now that she was married to Rohan, he was all she thought
about. He never failed to make her feel his presence, even when he was out
patrolling with his men as he was today.

He
left Burroughs and Sir Kildare behind with her. When the runner arrived from
London with a missive for her, she fought her trepidation as she accepted the
letter and bade the man seek refreshments in the hall.

Her
hand trembled as she saw it was a letter from Lady Mary Lunley, her oldest half
sister. The lady began by apology, citing youth and her mother’s lies for her
regretful behavior then. It warmed Madeline to know not all Lady Agnes’s
children despised her. After congratulating her on her marriage, the lady
informed her that their brother still meant her harm. He sent word of the
charges against her to court. Her sister then implored her to run. Lady Mary
told her their brother Robert was unwilling to relent and feared she would be
arrested soon.

Madeline
bit her lip as she thought of being clapped into the tower and tortured as was
rumored until she admitted to being a witch. Robert Cecil, the king’s advisor
would hardly listen to Gavin or Rohan when the priest at Valmont was given a
chance to speak. Even with the baron and Hugh missing and unable to give
testimony, she could be sure her arrest would be ordered. Tears filled her gaze
to know the happiness she found with Rohan was to be denied her.

Thoughts
of all he gave up for her made her hesitate to tell him of Lady Mary’s warning.
He would risk all once more to run with her. She wouldn’t have it. He didn’t deserve
to give up anything more. Thoughts of leaving him and setting out alone made
her think of the child. She closed her eyes in dismay, feeling miserable to
know there was no choice. She must leave, or her husband’s future would be in
jeopardy. Even Gavin could not save her. No, the king’s guards would come for
her soon. She must go before they arrived back at nightfall. It seemed a good
time to go. The men’s dinner simmered in the kitchen’s under Burroughs’s
watchful gaze. Sir Kildare was exercising his horse and not paying any
attention.

She
stuffed the letter in her skirt pocket, too distraught as she packed a bundle
to know it fell out. She took a small cache of coins and looked about the room,
sorrowful to leave. The warrant issued by the baron would force the king to
have her arrested and questioned. Madeline would rather run than endure such
torture as she heard went on within the tower. They had methods for getting
some poor creature to admit to anything. She didn’t trust herself to not use
magic to save herself.

The
child’s fate was uncertain and all that mattered now. Rohan’s child made her
decision. She’d not have the baby suffer her same fate or die by fire with her
to appease those who meant her harm. She snatched her cloak and left the room.

Sir
Kildare didn’t see her lead a mount out of the stable or ride away in the rear
field, heading north. She knew going to Scotland was foolish, but it was likely
the only place she could run. Thoughts of the keep once owned by Gavin made her
plan. It was likely Gavin’s sister was still there and would take her in.

Rohan
couldn’t know where she went or why. He was under Gavin’s orders to secure the
border now. She’d not let him go down with her. He might trust the king and the
church’s justice; she did not. To stay would be to burn as she would have two
months before. No, it was better she go. Rohan could seek another wife. Just
the thought of not being there when he and his men returned from the border
patrol made her weep as she rode hard for the hills.

As the
heat reaches the people's faces,

witches
succumb to the blaze,

In the
little town of Salem,

they
think of it as God’s praise,

~Anonymous

Rohan
snatched up the letter and his expression darkened as he read Madeline’s sister’s
words of warning. He burned the letter, hearing the sounds of horses to know
the king’s guard had arrived finally to arrest his wife. He ran outside and
stood with his men as they filed into the courtyard and dismounted. The head of
the king’s guard approached with a look of disdain.

“Were
here by order of the king to remand the condemned witch Madeline Farrand to the
tower for examination, Lord Rothford,” the man said in a clipped tone. “My men
are prepared to take the baroness of Rothford by force if necessary.”

“She’s
not here,” Rohan said coolly and shrugged. “She didn’t find marriage to her
liking and ran nearly a fortnight ago. My guess is she returns to her former
village.”

“We
will see for ourselves,” the man said in obvious disappointment their long
journey was for nothing. “You are reminded that hiding her from the king’s
justice is an act of treason, Lord Rothford?”

“Since
I was unaware of any of this; I find it hard to anticipate hiding anyone,”
Rohan said with a glare at the man. “Search all you like. She is not here.”

The
king’s guards searched the manor from top to bottom. He was warned by the
leader of the king’s guard again to aid and abet his own wife was tantamount to
treason. The desire to take a sword to the man was strong as he waited for them
all to leave.

He
glared at the man who handed him the arrest warrant. It was signed by the baron
of Valmont. The king was enforcing the man’s will, even if he was now missing.
He could do nothing as they tramped through his home with their dirty boots on
the king’s business.

His
men were chomping at the bit to go after Madeline. Rohan was hard-pressed not
to deny them refreshments before their return to London, wanting only to go
after his wife too. They went on their way and he stared at them all grimly as
they stood in the stable yard at his command.

“Suit
up and travel warm. We go north,” he told them and his dark eyes were filled
with worry. “Bring as many weapons as you can carry. We go right into a hotbed
of rebels.”

Sir
Kildare stepped forward. “Are you sure she would have fled that way, my lord?
Its right into the heart of all this mischief we chase here nightly.”

“If
I know my wife, she heads straight for the trouble,” Rohan replied and shook
his head, knowing Madeline likely panicked when she got the letter. He silently
praised Lady Mary for her kindness to her sister. He knew her brother Robert
was at the bottom of it all, plotting against Madeline as his mother once had
while alive.