Fire and Ice (13 page)

On seeing the priest Thorvald groaned inwardly.  He had been looking forward to teaching Sam how to fire a bow
and to catch small game to bring to the table, but now he would have to hear what the priest had to say as he was waving to get his attention.

“
Go inside the stables and wait for me there, Sam.  I won’t be long.  Father Matthew needs me for something.”

Sam too was disappointed the hunting trip had been delayed as he had learned many things from Thorvald recently and looked on him as a father-figure
, but wandered off obediently.

As Father Matthew drew near Thorvald waited for him beside his horse.  “Yes, Father.  What can I do for you?”

The priest moved slightly away to be more private in his conversation and Thorvald followed.  “I think it’s time we put your plan into action, Sir Knight.  Juliana is suffering greatly due to Ulfric’s long absences and also the harridan that is Giselle.  Shall I speak to the Mother Superior at Goxhill?”

Thorvald sighed deeply, “I
will have to speak with Ulfric. I dare not do anything which might cause more trouble with the de Gants, but go ahead Father and make the necessary arrangements in case we need to act quickly.”

“I’
ll visit the Nunnery today!”

“Is that all now, Father?  I need to provide food for the table and teach young Sam how to do the same.”

“You are a good man, Thorvald.  Sam loves and respects you and I believe his mother is ready now to take another husband.”

“Not matchmaking again, surely?” Thorvald
laughed, but the priest noted a glint in the Norseman’s eye as he walked away.

The priest went into the Hall and found Giselle
dressing her distaff.  This instrument kept the wool fibres separate when she began spinning, but her talent at such things was limited and her temper was roused when it became clogged with wool.  To her credit she tried a little while longer while the priest sat and watched but in the end she threw it into the far corner of the room and ranted at Father Matthew.

“What are you looking at, priest?” she yelled.  “That was your fault for watching me, now I’ll have to spend hours unpicking it.”

“My child, I believe your spinning had hardly got started when the wool became fast so I think it’s unfair of you to blame me for your misfortune.”

Giselle stood in front of the fire and stamped her foot, “I tell you it was
your
fault!” she screamed.  Father Matthew tried to calm her down to no avail and was not surprised when Juliana came down the stairs to find out what was amiss.  The priest began to explain what had happened and Juliana retrieved the distaff and spinner from the distant corner and gave it back to Giselle who promptly threw it in the fire.

“Quick, get it
out of the flames,” Juliana said as she reached out to the fire.  “My mother gave me that, it belonged to my grandmother.”

Juliana reached out to the flames and managed to get the spinner out before much damage was done but the distaff was further in.  Giselle saw her chance and moved closer as if to help but slyly nudged Juliana who fell sideways causing her to plunge h
er hands further into the fire than intended.  Juliana cried out as the flames licked her hand and arm but she managed to hook the distaff out even though it had become blackened and charred.

“You did that on purpose!” Juliana accused Giselle.

“I was trying to help,” she lied in return.

“Father Matthew, help me to my feet I beg of you and summon a servant to fetch some salve for my burns.”

“You’ll live, peasant.  Unfortunately!” Giselle commented drily as she reached for her cloak by the door and went outside.

The burn on Juliana’s arm had started to blister and a servant was summoned to bring cold water and some salve which Sara had made.  A wad of cloth was tied around the wound and Father Matthew felt the need to retreat back to his church to offer prayers before finding a carter to take him to Goxhill.

“What’s going on?” Erik asked as he entered the Hall.  He saw Juliana with her arm covered and immediately went to her side and knelt down. “What happened, Juliana?  Why was Giselle so eager to leave?”

“She threw my grandmother’s distaff and spindle into the fire and then pushed me into the fire when I tried to retrieve them
.” Juliana winced when Erik went to touch her.  “No, Erik!  I’ve only just had it wrapped up, please don’t touch me.”

“That’s the last straw!”  Erik’s face was puce with anger and his fists were clenched ready to punch Giselle if she happened to return.  “Where’s Thorvald?”

“He’s out hunting with Sam; he’s teaching him how to use a bow.”

“I’m going out to find him
.  The time has come to put a stop to this!” he declared and left as abruptly as he had entered.

Chapter 14

Erik did not have far to go to find Thorvald who was
standing in the woods leaning over Sam and showing him how to draw the bow and nock an arrow.  The young lad had been given a bow which was easy to draw and was aiming at a particular tree already marked out by Thorvald.  Erik waited for Sam to let the arrow fly before interrupting them.

“Thorvald, we need to talk about Giselle,” he began when Sam ran to recover his arrow which had narrowly missed the tree and fallen in the leaves.

“Oh, not again,” Thorvald groaned pulling a face of despair.  “Is it impossible to find any peace?  I’ve already spoken with Father Matthew earlier and he’s gone to Goxhill to speak with the nuns.  What else do you want me to do?”

“She’
s deliberately pushed Juliana into the fire and she has burned her arm quite badly.  This can’t continue.  Ulfric would be beside himself if he knew; which he will do soon as we’re expecting him back any day.”

Thorvald bit his lip and quickly made up his mind.  “Come on, Sam.  We need to go back to the Hall.  I’ve important things to do.  We’ll carry on with your lessons another day.”

Sam’s face was a picture of disappointment but he did not argue, just gave a deep sigh and went to gather his things.  They led the horse back to the Hall where Thorvald listened to Juliana’s story.

“I think the time has come when we must let you in on our plan.”

“What plan?” she asked.

“Does she really need to know?” Erik asked, worried that Juliana might refuse to go along with it.

“Yes,” was the short reply from Thorvald.

They huddled together and Juliana heard about the plan that had been conceived months ago.

“And you say Ulfric has full knowledge of this?” she asked wide-eyed when all had been revealed.

“Yes, but he wanted to give her one more chance, but she’s had a lot more than that and I for one think enough is enough,” answered Erik and Thorvald nodded.

“How are you going to get her to Goxhill without her kicking up a fuss?” Juliana asked.

“Have you any of that sleeping powder that Sara gave you?” Erik asked
.

“Yes, I think so.  There should be some in my mother’s room.”

“That’s the answer then.  I’ll put some in her wine tonight and the next thing she’ll see is the inside of the nunnery.  First though, I need to speak to Father Matthew to see if all is well and that the nuns will accept her.”

“I’ll go and see if he’s back yet,” Erik said, and went to walk round to the church.  As he was passing the dogs he stopped and turned, “Where’s Kyle, Juliana?”

Juliana stood up quickly and looked around the room, “He must be with my mother.  I’ll go and check.”  Her slippered feet flew up the stairs and just as quickly flew down them again.  “He’s not in there.  He must be outside, maybe in the stables.”

Thorvald returned from the stables shaking his head, “No, he’s not there either.”

“Who’s not where?” Giselle asked as she breezed back in the Hall.

“Kyle, we can’t find him,” Erik answered, “Have you seen him?”

“What would I want with
that
mongrel?” she asked innocently.

“Giselle, if you’ve seen the dog please tell us now,” Thorvald warned.

“I’ve told you I haven’t seen it, and if it’s run away good riddance I say.”

Tears gathered in Juliana’s eyes and Erik felt her pain.  She had always been fond of animals and had kept many pets since she was a child.  “I have to go and speak to Father Matthew.  I’ll go and l
ook for him after that,” he said, trying to comfort her.

“Thank you,” she sniffed.

Father Matthew confirmed that the nuns were ready to accept Giselle at any hour and was not surprised when Erik told him of their plans for that evening.  Having seen the damage she had done to Juliana’s arm he had told the nuns that Giselle suffered from some kind of madness but they were convinced that their prayers would help and calm her spirit.

An hour later, Erik had
searched every corner of the town looking for Kyle and entered the hall forlornly hoping to find the dog had returned of his own volition.  He was disappointed because as soon as he saw Juliana’s face he knew her pet had not come back. 

Thorvald forced a laugh, “He’s probably found a girlfriend somewhere in the town.  He’s a young dog and is
likely exploring looking for excitement.  He’ll be on the doorstep tomorrow you’ll see, Juliana, and you’ll be able to scold him as only you can.”

Juliana smiled but was not convinced.  She also knew that their plan to get Giselle out of the way must go ahead if there was to be any peace at all in the Hall.

Darkness had fallen and wisps of fog played around the rooftops as the occupants of the Hall ate their evening meal.  Meat, peas and vegetables with lots of gravy was consumed by everyone except Juliana, who watched as the others mopped up their plates with
thick wedges of bread.  She nibbled at her bread but consumed very little, wondering where Kyle could have disappeared to and resolved to go looking for him when everyone else was busy with Giselle.  She had given the sleeping herbs to Erik who had already asked Sam to put aside a flagon of mead and then proceeded to crumble the herbs into it.  He had been coerced into paying Giselle a lot more attention than he normally would and had decided that flattery would be his weapon of choice and she fell for his ploy totally.  Sam brought the mead to the table and put it by Erik’s right arm and he filled his goblet before offering some to Giselle.

“You’re looking extremely beautiful tonight, Giselle, is that a new gown?” he said with all the charm he could muster.

“Why, thank you, Erik.  Er... Yes, the gown is fairly new.”

Erik had to bite his tongue because he had seen Hilde wearing that very gown on special occasions and here was this upstart of a Norman she-dog parading herself around in stolen clothes.

“It becomes you very well.  Here let me pour you some more mead.”  The evening continued and he drank from his horn of ale while his cup of mead stayed untouched, but Giselle had a liking for the sweet drink and consumed more and more.  “Have you done your hair differently, Giselle?” he asked as he noticed her eyes starting to drop.

“
Hair - hair did you say?” she mumbled in reply, her tongue seeming to trip over every word.

“Yes, your hair is really beautiful.  So black and...” Erik
saw her eyes had closed and she began to sway until she slid sideways against his shoulder.

“Thank heavens!” he said with feeling, “I thought she was going to last all night.
Quick, Thorvald.  Get her cloak and bring the wagon round.”

Thorvald jumped up and grabbed Giselle’s cloak and threw it towards Erik then disappeared swiftly out of the door.  Juliana helped Erik wrap Giselle in the cloak and he lifted her thin body easily, depositing her with some rough glee into the back of the wagon where Thorvald was waiting for them outside. 

“Get into the wagon and we’ll go and get Father Matthew.  He can explain to the nuns why she’s asleep.”

Within minutes and not caring which servants were watching they drove away from the Hall and Juliana heaved a huge sigh.  At last she was in control of her home again but still
she had a feeling of foreboding, especially as Kyle had still not returned.  She went to get her thickest cloak from the chest in her chamber and also pulled out a thin-linked chain which fitted around her waist and hips.  It had been a present from her father but the main item was the small bejewelled dagger which dangled from the chain.  She was aware that she would need some kind of protection going out late at night and this would be perfect.  The servants had mostly retired for the night and no one noticed her leaving the Hall.

***

Sara’s home was small but comfortable and on a chilly night like this one she was glad to get back to the fireside.  The hut was in darkness but the driftwood she burned was still glowing with a low light.  The hearth was made up of a circle of stones in the middle of the room with a pit dug into the floor which held the wood.  Any smoke would filter out of the thatched roof and she rubbed her hands in front of the embers before adding a few more handfuls of wood which she had stored in one corner.  The new kindling which she had just collected would dry out in a few days and be consumed by the fire within the week.  The slight wind had picked up and sent the fog rolling over the Humber and tumbling it over the banks onto the land like ghostly waves and she shivered hugging herself, pleased that she would not have to go out again that night.  The metal tripod hung over the fire and she filled the pot with water ready to cook her meal.  Using two sticks she expertly lifted rounded cobbles which had been sitting in the fire all day and dropped them into the water causing the heat from the stones to boil the water quicker.  She was just about to throw in some vegetables when she heard a howling outside.  Ignoring the sound for a while she eventually became distracted by it, wondering if it could be wolves.  She ate her meal of vegetables and barley then put aside her dishes to wash later.  Her curiosity got the better of her and she peeked out of her door to see a cloaked figure running down the track towards the water’s edge.