Akira Rises (5 page)

Akira left the manor and trudged through mud towards the river crossing. She realized the futility of searching on her own. She had to create a plausible reason for her mother’s absence until she returned. The baron had forbidden any disturbance of his meeting with, as he called them, his advisers. She could report that her mother had ventured from her sickbed with Matilde to ascertain the storm’s damage. As lady of the manor her mother would have an obligation to shoulder responsibilities when her father was conducting important business and forbade interruptions and disturbances, and threatened dire consequences for not following his instructions to the letter. Akira suspected he would argue that her mother would have summoned him if she was truly worried about the harm the storm was doing.

Akira decided it would be better to say her mother feared the dark forces her father conspired with behind closed doors, and feared the storm was brought by them. Akira would claim her mother was enlisting the help of the church, seeking divine intervention for protection. It was as close to the truth as one could get. Her father would not want it known he had been meeting with mages feared for the strange powers they used. The strange powers her father was fascinated with, and believed in, made her uneasy. Akira hoped she would not have to explain anything.

She went back into the house and dismissed the servants who wanted to leave and check upon how their families and friends had weathered the storm. Already those who had family across the river were wondering if the ferry ropes would stretch far enough to accommodate a swollen river. She hoped her mother would return any minute with the men who would help them flee into the night. That the river could be impassable worried her.

The head cook, Mary, voiced Akira’s fears. “That storm was unnatural I tell you. I feel it in my bones and mark my words it has something to do with your father’s guests. It is like a shadow covers this place as soon as they set foot here. When guests cannot come through front doors—.” The cook gave Akira a meaningful look. “I do hope your mother is feeling better. My chicken soup should help her. Was it a cough you said she had?”

Akira nodded, “A cough, yes. Apparently your soup is a very good cure. Mother felt well enough to go check on the storm damage.”

“Ah bless her heart, always worrying about the welfare of others. I hope she did not go alone. It could be dangerous. The master should excuse those guests he entertains and take care of the affairs at hand.”

“She took Matilde with her.”

“It is too bad your brothers are off gallivanting again. Ah well, they are young, can’t say I blame them for finding excitement away from all this. I’m retiring for the night in my own quarters. Do you need anything, young miss?”

“No Mary. I need nothing other than to hear mother’s footsteps coming through the door.”

“How long has she been gone?”

“Too long, I’m worried.”

“I can see that. Would you like me to wait with you my dear?”

“No, you go to bed Mary, I’m probably just impatient. I will wait here in the kitchen. When they get back, I’m certain they will appreciate some hot grog, and it will give me something to do to keep the grog warm.”

“Goodnight then young miss. You know where to find me.” She patted Akira’s shoulder as she brushed past her. She added, “Do you want me to light the candles and lamps before I go?”

“I will do that, Mary. Being busy will keep my imagination from running away with me.” She smiled reassuringly at Mary.

Akira busied herself. She wrapped a loaf of rye bread, with wedges of cheese into a clean cloth. She changed into a riding skirt. She put out dry clothes for her mother and Matilde. They would most assuredly need them. They were taking nothing else with them other than funds that were hidden in the barn.

Akira’s preparations were for naught. Lady Shy did not return that night, nor did Matilde. Akira reluctantly raised the alarm before her father emerged from his quarters. After personally escorting his three dark robed guests by dimmed oil lamplight out a back entrance through a garden maze to a secret gate, he reappeared inside to find his household preparing a search for Lady Shy and her handmaid.

CHAPTER SIX

A
kira rocked herself in misery for hours, for days. When she did not rock, she paced. Marcus returned home, on leave from the king’s militia, to help search for his mother. The river did not give up easily what it had taken. Akira prayed her mother would be found alive. As long as there was no body found, she could hope. She tortured herself with remorse for not trying harder to stop Matilde and her mother from going out into the storm.

Her father was suspicious, demanding to know what his wife was doing out in the storm. What business would take her out in the storm? He questioned the servants, bullied them, threatened them. They were cowering in the study before him.

Akira could take it no longer. She burst into the study. She shouted, “Leave them alone, they know nothing!” She glared at him. Defiance was in her posture, her eyes. She turned and walked out of his study.

His daughter's outburst infuriated him. He shouted at the servants. “Get the hell out, all of you mewling maggots! Make yourselves useful before I rid myself of the lot of you!”

The servants scattered quickly like mice escaping a fox’s snapping jaws.

The baron’s eyes suddenly narrowed as he stared at Akira’s back to him. He bellowed. “You know something, don’t you Akira!” He charged out of his study to follow his daughter.

Hearing his bellowing behind her, Akira hurried to the kitchen to stand beside her brothers. It was instinct that made her go to them, to her brothers, for it was not her habit to seek them out for protection. She liked to fight her own battles, but she was tired. She had had little sleep. Edgar noted his sister’s flushed face, and with his father storming in behind her, he put down his cup of hot broth.

“Your sister knows something of your mother’s disappearance! What subterfuge was going on?” Baron Rolfe pointed his finger at his daughter. “What betrayal was going on that you have offered no explanation as to why your mother chose to go out in the storm.” He looked menacingly at Akira. “What man was you mother sneaking off to be with?”

Akira stood silent. She clenched her fists. Her brothers looked at her and then their father. The young men all stood up at the same time.

“Speak up girl before I lay hands on you!” The baron stepped closer to Akira. “It was an affair wasn’t it?”

Akira shouted back at him. “No! You hypocritical waste of skin and bones! Bedding anything that is not fast enough to get of your way is your sin, not hers!”

“You pious little bitch, how dare you talk to me like that?” The baron clenched and raised his fist.

Akira spat on him. “That is how I dare!” His tawdry question was beneath a dignified answer. Her eyes were glazed with emotion. She was like a hissing cat with claws out, ready to use them.

In the instant, the shocked baron comprehended that spittle was on his cheek he slapped her face, snapping it sideways before Marcus could pull him back. Never had Marcus seen such defiant behavior from Akira. Edgar and Benjamin quickly shielded their sister. Marcus held his hand against his father’s chest. “If you know something, Akira, tell it now.” Marcus searched his sister’s face over his shoulder. He was straining to hold his father back.

“You want a confession? You want the truth?” Akira quickly realized she needed to be very careful with her words. Her mind reeled and she took a deep breath. Akira could not endanger any of her mother’s friends. She would lie in part and tell truth in part. She wiped a trickle of blood from her lip. “On that morning she left in the storm, you were bringing the black mages into the manor!” She pointed her finger at her father. “You were bringing evil here! It is no wonder it was a day of death! If she has perished, it is because of your evil doings!” She looked accusingly at her father.” You brought evil mages under our roof, to our home!”

Akira’s voice was full of righteous rage. “She feared them, feared what evil you were planning and went to seek help from the priests! She was trying to protect us!” Akira was blinded with fury she had bottled. It was as if a rock came loose on a damn and floodwaters were loosened. She lunged at her father with her fists swinging, pushing past Marcus.

Benjamin yanked his sister backwards. Edgar moved in between Akira and their father. Edgar’s angry look warned his father to stand back. Benjamin struggled to hold his sister. Marcus stood shoulder to shoulder with Edgar. “You brought your black souled mages here?” His voice was angry, edged with an accusatory tone.

“It is my roof, and I bring whomever I want under it!” The baron’s voice was unapologetic and arrogant. “She had no need for priests, no need to pray for her safety, or the safety of anyone in this house!” The baron’s voice was angry. It held no remorse. “How dare you blame me!”

“No need to worry about safety?” Marcus scoffed. “The peasants hate you, the king is investigating you for tax evasion, questioning your loyalty, and you conspire with dark forces in our home!” Marcus was shouting. “What have your evil mages done, Father? Clergy are missing and you think there is no need to pray? A storm like no other comes out of nowhere when you bring mages into our lands, our home. The villagers reported seeing an ogre to the north of us. I thought them superstitious fools, but I’m not so certain you haven’t opened the door to all forms of evil into our kingdom. Evil that was forced away from our kingdoms has found its way back. That my mother would find need for divine intervention is not unbelievable. Have you cheated the king’s tax coffers? Is that why the king is cold towards our family name?”

The baron raised his fist at Marcus. “You whelps have what you have because of me. How dare you question me! Be gone from my sight, all of you before, before I disinherit you all.” The baron stomped off to his quarters. His head was beginning to throb and he was not prepared to deal with his son’s questions. He slammed his chamber door, poured himself a large cup of wine. He opened his hinged ring and let the white powder hidden inside fall into the cup. He tossed back the contents and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. He slumped into his sitting chair, rubbed his temples and waited for the calming effects of the powder.

CHAPTER SEVEN

T
he days that passed were tense. Akira avoided everyone. She spent her time in her bedroom sweeping the floor, rearranging garments in trunks, looking out windows, watching for the return of the search parties. Mostly, she watched out the windows, rushing to meet any returning riders, hoping to see her mother ride in with them. The baron seemed preoccupied with calming the peasants worried about the loss of crops, rebuilding washed out roadways and sending search parties out to look for any evidence of stranded survivors of the flood. Akira suspected her father’s sudden concern for the peasants was brought about by the good will of Marcus doing damage control she held it against him that he didn’t lead the search parties even if for appearances sake.

 Her father uncharacteristically offered to lessen the rents he charged and reduce the amount of rye and corn he demanded as his share of the crops for the manor. The gesture seemed to slightly appease the peasants. With worrying how to feed their families after the crop damage from the river flood, Akira suspected they were less inclined to start an uprising anytime soon. Not that she would blame them if they mobbed the manor and ransacked her father’s manor for food and weapons. The peasants had cause.

Akira also suspected her father's’ goodwill towards his tenants would fade as soon as Marcus returned to the king’s militia. Akira watched and waited for news of her mother until she could wait no more. She refused to stay at home. It was easier for her brothers to allow her to join the searches.

The brothers noted how many villagers and commoners approached their sister with kindness, when they themselves were viewed with distrust. It was evident that their mother and sister were viewed in a different light than their father. Akira would get off her horse, Pegasus, and comfort women and children. She called some of them by name. It should have come as no surprise, but it did.

Marcus turned to his brothers as they watched Akira lift a small boy. “When did our little sister grow up and leave us with this young compassionate woman?”

Benjamin looked thoughtful. “I don’t know Marcus. You have been gone too long brother, and I’ve been blind.”

Edgar frowned. “She is no longer a child brothers. I fear if our mother is lost to her we shall have to act on her behalf. Our mother protected her from the harsh hand of our father. He has no patience for her, and her scorn of him is a thorn up his ass. I’m beginning to regret ignoring the warnings from our mother that the old man is under some evil influence.”

Marcus replied. “I feel too that our father is not the same as he was. We all know he is a hard man, was a strong man, and that our parent’s marriage was not one our mother willingly entered into. He never did win any affections from her. When choosing a wife one should not think you can force a woman to love. Do you think the mages had anything to do with the storm?”

“I pray not. For then I’d suspect foul play with our mother’s disappearance. If she was getting help from the church to fight the influence of the mages...”

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking Marcus?”

“And what would you be thinking little brother?”

“That we should arrange a suitable match for Akira and get her out from under our father’s roof.”

“Exactly what I was thinking. Do you have any friends in the militia suitable as husband material for our not so little sister? Someone Akira might find suitable?”

“I’ve someone in mind. We shall have to be careful. The old man will not willingly loosen his control over her future. Akira will not be easy to please. She will want a man she can develop feelings for. We need to help her fall in love.”