The Knight and The Healer: A Medieval Romance (5 page)

BOOK: The Knight and The Healer: A Medieval Romance
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Chapter 14

Tobias bid farewell and headed for the nearby monastery. Mal helped Beth dismount and tied both horses to the rail in front of the handsome, two-storied stone house. The brick walkway to the front door was enhanced by beautiful plantings on both sides. Two chairs shared the front doorway. An elderly woman stood by the open front door to greet them.

"Hello, Elspeth, meet my friend and patient, Sir Malcolm McIvor. Elspeth is my uncle's housekeeper. How are you this fine Saturday?"

"I'm good. I am pleased to meet you, Sir Malcolm. Come on in and I'll get lunch on the table. Your Uncle is upstairs resting, but he'll be right down," Elspeth replied. Just as she said that, Uncle Alfred appeared at the top of the stairs.

He was wearing loose garments, a blue smock covered by a light robe. "Welcome to you both. Did you have a pleasant ride here? Beth, your guest seems familiar to me. Are you, perchance sir, the famed Lion of the North?"

"Yes, sir." Mal glanced toward Meg, "I am but I really would prefer you call me Mal or Malcolm".

"Do you two know each other?" Beth sounded confused.

"No, I don't yet know him, but he was pointed out to me at King Alexander and Queen Joan's wedding festivities a couple of years ago. He's quite famous, you know. That wedding was really quite the spectacular event. It went on for three days! We did not have the opportunity to talk there. In any event, let me welcome you, sir, to my home. Beth could hardly have had a more noble patient."

His hair was a short fringe above the ears and quite bald on top. It was nearly white. It looked like he had just arisen from bed. He moved slowly and seemed in obvious pain. Still, he had a broad smile and his eyes twinkled as he welcomed the two.

Elspeth turned from the kitchen area and said, "Lunch is ready, kindly come to the table."

At the table, Mal and Alfred engaged in an extended conversation of who knows whom. The found they knew a large number of people, mainly nobility, in common.

Beth could hardly get a word in edgewise.

Alfred was saying "you provided me with many hours of work patching up victims of your battles." He laughed.

Beth said, "After lunch, I would like you to examine his wound. He seems to be mending well, but with deep wounds, you don't really know. I hope his ride here didn't unsettle anything, but he insisted he come."

"I did. Beth and I have gotten to know each other and I thought it was time to meet her family. I'm afraid my plans for her could go no further without your approval."

With the candor of old age, Alfred said "There are some things that I need to know more about. I want to pursue them in Beth's absence."

"Certainly, sir," Mal responded.

"Perhaps, Beth, we could leave the men alone," Elspeth said, as she was clearing the table, "Let's go see the garden, we have some new plants I want to show you."

Beth felt this was all pre-arranged, but she was always interested in her uncle's collection of herbs he used in his practice so she readily agreed. She left the table and joined Elspeth as they left for the garden wondering what her uncle had in mind.

"Mal, Beth is very dear to me. I think of her as the daughter I never had. Her pursuit of the healing arts has made her even closer if that were possible. "I was opposed to her marrying Sir David Duncan, but her father was adamant. It is unkind for me to say, but I was relieved when he was killed in battle.

"He left her certain properties and several dwellings which she rents out for a nice income. She is not dependent on a man to provide for her and, I think, she enjoys that independence.

"Emotionally, the marriage was a wreck. Duncan was a womanizer and a drunk. I don't think he beat her, but he did ignore her for prolonged periods while he was pursuing his other interests.

"When she married, she was as pure a soul you could imagine. She was quite naive, but she was totally committed to being a good wife and to making a happy marriage. Frankly, it tore me up inside to watch what was happening. I even explored the idea of an annulment, but Beth wouldn't hear of it. She said she had given her word to be a good wife and that would be tantamount to breaking her oath.”

"God's bones, man, I wish he was still alive so I could confront the bastard. On the other hand, of course, I am glad she is a widow in charge of her own life." Mal was clearly exasperated at hearing Arthur's report confirming what he had already suspected.

Beth was pleased her uncle, Sir Alfred, and Mal had almost immediately bonded as if they were old friends. They knew so many people in common. They had shared anecdotes and remembrances all afternoon long. Beth was mildly envious of how well Mal and her uncle could laugh together over shared confidences. It was as if a certain male bonding had occurred. She was reminded men lived in a different world, really.

Her uncle had taken Beth aside just before they left to return to Klayloch. He wanted to tell her, in private, how much he liked Mal. He had actually said, "There’s a man you could really trust."

Beth thought that might very well be true, but she would be foolish to become too involved with a man in such a dangerous profession. Hearing Mal talk about his battles with Alfred was disconcerting at best.

In their personal conversations, Mal always steered away from any explicit description of his many battles. He was always changing the subject to more congenial topics.

To be frank, Beth really enjoyed the sensual aspect of their relationship. She looked forward to each encounter, but, in her mind, there was a difference between lust and love. She had heard of certain royal women who had relationships with men outside of their marriages just for the lust. Now she could understand how that might be.

Would it be possible for Mal to be just a friend, albeit a very close and intimate friend? How could she ever broach the subject?

Of course, Mal was the very essence of maleness, so she doubted he would be satisfied with a single woman, and Beth certainly couldn't accept the notion that he would enjoy other women in that way while seeing her. It seemed like a problem without solution.

Even without love, she knew first-hand the depth of grief of widowhood. She couldn't imagine risking that again.

She did miss Sir David's nicer qualities. His death, without regard for their intimate situation, had deprived her of his companionship. He enjoyed showing her off to visiting dignitaries and, particularly liked balls and dancing. He was proud of her and she found she missed the attention.

Learning more of the craft of healing had gone a long way to filling the void. Her work as a healer involved traveling to various villages beholden to Castle Klayloch and meeting many new people. She loved her work, and she and Leah had seen a tremendous increase in demand. Her work with Mal had reached almost legendary status as to her abilities as a healer.

But, she knew, in her heart of hearts, she had been lucky Mal had escaped infection. He could have just as easily died and what would that have done for her reputation?

 

 

 

Chapter 15

A week later, a directive from the King ordering Sir Paul to report immediately arrived at Klayloch.

"Sounds like His Highness is not very happy with you, brother," Morgan observed. "Now, what do you suppose this is about?"

"Well, I'm taking you with me. Our little excursion was half your idea. I should have known better, I'm guessing de Burgh breached his vow that everything between us was all right. Grab your gear, Morgan, we had best be going."

The palace was a three-day ride from Klayloch at a leisurely pace. Since Sir Paul wasn't eager to face the expected wrath of the king, they didn't push the horses too much on the trip.

A light drizzle began on their second day of travel and had begun again in the morning as they approached the King's Castle. The rain was very welcome. The recent lack of rain had been devastating. Many tenants might lose their farms if they could not grow sufficient seed corn or other grains to plant for the next year's crops. That, of course, adversely affected the Clan's income. So Sir Paul learned to welcome whatever rain came their way.

The guards at the gate recognized the brothers and waved them through the barbican. A lad from the stable approached them, taking control of the horses. "Be sure to brush them well. They've been under saddle for quite a while."

The inevitable could only be delayed so long, so reluctantly the two entered the keep. They were greeted by one of the King's senior squires and escorted to a small room off to the left of the main hall. He directed them to sit on the stools in front of the King's massive desk. The King, himself, was standing in the corner glaring at the men. They were alone with him.

"You took your own sweet time in getting here," snarled the angry king. "It didn't take Sir Victor nearly so long to report your outrageous behavior. What do you have to say for yourself? You do know de Burgh is a sworn ally of mine? Hubert de Burgh. His cousin is married to my sister. I can't have these skirmishes between my Lairds."

"I'm very sorry my Liege. I mistakenly thought you would prefer us to handle these minor issues ourselves and not bother your highness."

"I hardly think burning out twenty farms and their stored feed supplies a minor issue. You also made off with many head of sheep."

"I'm sorry, sire, you are dealing with facts that just aren't true. We visited no more than ten farms. We did not burn a single building aside from some hay shelters. We took particular pains to make sure no one's living quarters were damaged. Did Sir Victor happen to mention the sheep all bore our brands? I'd wager not."

'Most annoying to me, your Highness, is clearly his raiders had his permission to enter our lands and help themselves to both our sheep and cattle. The cattle were gone when we arrived, no doubt converted to coin."

"Further, the son of a bitch met me on the scene. We agreed the raiders had been sufficiently punished and I would withdraw. He proposed a truce and we shook hands on our agreement. We were prepared to physically resolve the issue with force and he was accompanied by a column of his own troops. Frankly, I think the thought of having to do battle with me and mine frightened the shit out him. Why he now is complaining to you is beyond my understanding."

The King replied, "de Burgh has agreed to make his villeins whole, including buying a winter's supply of feed. He expects you to pay 1000 gold coins for the hay and "other grievances."

"Well, that takes gall! I have balanced the power scales in the region and I doubt his people will touch my livestock again. I don't owe him anything. I need to compensate my own farmers for their losses, after all." Paul replied.

"I take your point, Paul. Were our positions reversed, I may have done the same. Still, our positions are not reversed and I am Laird to both of you. I am going to fine you 5 gold coins. Sir Victor will understand that message."

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 16

Celia was in the music room playing the psaltery. She was holding the harp-like instrument against her chest so she could easily pluck the strings. She'd learned to play as a young girl. She was playing an ancient song, softly singing the words of the love ballad.

The door opened and Thea entered.

"Here you are, I've been looking for you. I have news. Is there a place where we can talk in private?"

"Let's go to my room. No one will disturb us there." Celia's room was a short walk down the hall from the music room. Her room was very attractively furnished. Exquisite tapestries beautified the stone walls. The room was dominated by a large, luxurious bed. Two chairs were placed by the firepit.

"We can sit in the chairs. The fire will take away the chill. These stone rooms are always on the cold side."

Thea said. "I had forgotten how nice your quarters are."

"Well, there are certain benefits to being Lady Margaret's primary lady-in-waiting. So what is your news?"

"I talked to my brother and he is quite intrigued with the idea. He has never cared for the Laird and his kin anyway. He thinks he knows just the man to carry off the job.

"There is a fellow he knows, a Tomas Hawtrey, who, after a few drinks, complains Lady Beth might just be a witch, the way she brought Sir Mal back from the edge of death. He's made that charge several times."

"When can we meet this Tomas Hawtrey?"

"Well, he lives with two other beggars in a hut just south of the Castle."

"Ask your brother to have him meet us alone in the stables, in that empty stall we used, an hour or so after dinner."

* * *

"Helloo" Tomas whispered from the front of the stable.

"Are you alone?" a voice replied

"I am" he responded

"Just wait" Celia went to the entrance to collect him. He was short for a man but burly. He had not used a razor in several weeks. His face was distinguished by a very large nose that appeared to have been broken on more than one occasion. His hands were large for his body and not very clean. Tomas was dressed like the peasant he was.

She gestured for him to follow her to the nearby empty stall. The air was thick with the smell of horse, manure, and hay. The air was still and dusty. "Thea, will you make sure we are not disturbed."

Thea left the stall, sliding the door shut behind her. "Why don't we make ourselves comfortable on these two bales," Celia said in a warm and inviting way. "I understand you have thoughts about Lady Beth being a witch. You are not alone in thinking that. Some of us in the castle worry about her being so close to the Laird and his Lady. Who knows what devilish schemes she may have in mind? But, what can we do about it? She is honored and revered at Castle Klayloch. I think we may have to take things into our own hands. Particularly, if we can do so without anybody knowing who did it. Whoever did rid the castle of her evil presence would certainly earn a great credit with God Himself!"

"How would we get at her?" Celia noticed the "we" and smiled.

"Beth visits her uncle just about every Saturday in Mossley. She is escorted by one of the squires. He is too young to be much of a threat. There are several ambush sites just off the trail. My thinking is a strong man, on God's mission, would have no difficulty grabbing her."

"I know our tradition is to burn witches at the stake. But, I fear she is too dangerous for that. I think it would be more prudent to slit her throat like you would a hog's. When someone discovers the bodies, they would think they had been set upon by robbers. I've been thinking about your getaway. What if you wore some sort of disguise? I can provide you with a troubadour's outfit for you to wear. It might help you get close to the squire."

"I'm your man," Tomas answered.

BOOK: The Knight and The Healer: A Medieval Romance
4.34Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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