Marek (The Knights of Stonebridge Book 1) (12 page)

“Aye. And hungry enough to eat an ox.”

“Is there nothing to eat?” Kitty glanced around, but saw no sign of food. “Where is Bria?”

“She is abed.” Marek shook his head. “The cook was among those lost. Those in the bailey are too afraid to move. And I daresay I even know where the kitchens are.”

The number of injured here in the hall no longer seemed so small. Kitty thought back to the families camped outside. “We’re supposed to feed them all?”

Marek nodded. “Aye. And if not soon, they will blame me for hoarding my stores.”

This was no time to lay the added burden of witchcraft on his shoulders. Besides, she needed to think. She wanted to clean the medallion and inspect it thoroughly. She stood. “I’ll see if I can figure out something.”

Marek grabbed her hand and pressed her open palm to his cheek. A day’s worth of stubble tickled her tender skin. It felt like the most luxurious of furs. Overcome with the urgent desire to kiss him, Kitty thought it best to get out fast. She gave him a weak smile, then turned and walked back the way she’d come.

The rain had stopped by the time Kitty stepped back out into the bailey. Night had fallen bringing a sharp chill. She crossed the yard, lit with huge iron torches, without speaking to anyone and slipped into the shed where she’d shared breakfast with Bria.

“Hello?” Kitty called as she entered the wooden lean-to. No answer came forth. The darkness inside enveloped her as she stepped over the threshold. She had only been in here the one time. She would never be able to find her way around in the dark. She went back out and detained the first man she saw. It was Bryn. To her surprise, he stopped to greet her.

He bowed, grinning down at her as he rose. “You needed something, milady?”

Kitty smiled back. “Can you get me a fire going in here?”

“Art thou cold?”

“I’m going to cook dinner.”

The grin fell from his face like a theater curtain. “Cook?” He seemed momentarily lost at her nod. “What is a ‘dinner’?”

“Can you just build me a fire? Then see if you can find someone to help me.”

Bryn had the huge fireplace in the kitchen filled with roaring flames in no time. Kitty wondered how he could have done it with the rain that had surely soaked all the wood, but she realized there must be a dry place where wood could be stored. She shook her head. So much to think about.

A few moments later, Sarah swept through the door. Each woman was just as surprised by the other’s presence. Kitty was the first to recover.

“Sarah! I thought you were – well, Marek said the cook was –” She couldn’t finish the thought.

“Oh, I ain’t the cook, milady. I can skin a carcass for ye quick as spit. An’ if ye be wantin’ bread –” Sarah just nodded.

“Do we have any – um – carcasses that could be skinned to cook?” Sarah shook her head no. “We have to feed all these people. What do you suggest?”

Sarah’s eyes widened. “Me?” She glanced around to be sure her mistress was indeed talking to her. “I just bake the bread and help with the fire.” Sarah narrowed her eyes at her mistress. “Ye’re doing the cookin’?” She did not try to hide her skepticism.

Kitty nodded.

“If ‘twere me, I think a potage would be best for so many.”

“Is that some kinda soup?”

“Aye.”

“Great! Do we have everything we need for that?”
Or should I zip out to the grocery store?

“Aye, mum. Over in the larder.”

“Then I want you to get busy making bread. Lots of it.” She nudged Sarah back towards the door and followed her out. “You’ll have to show me where the
larder
is and how to use all this stuff,” she added.

Half an hour later, one of the work tables was strewn with remnants of dried peas and barley, onion skins, chopped turnips and stalks and stems left from the leafy green tops. William had brought in wood to dry by the fire. In the midst of that fire, stew bubbled in a three-legged iron cauldron large enough to bathe in.

Sarah handed her, of all things, a spoon. Kitty stared at it so long, Sarah explained. “’Tis a skimming-spoon, mum…fer tastin’?”

Kitty took the spoon from her with a smirk. “Of course, it’s a spoon.” It was the first utensil she’d seen since her arrival. She actually thought they didn’t have such things.

The aroma from the potage had been tickling her senses since it started boiling, but the taste left nothing but disappointment. She looked at Sarah. “It doesn’t have much flavor.”

“There be no meat to spare, mayhap a hock bone?”

“Can’t hurt.”

By the time the stew was finished, the rain had stopped and full darkness had fallen. Kitty had more help than she’d started with. Bryn must have been intimately acquainted with most of the young women of the castle. They had started arriving one at the time, eyes lowered, cheeks flushed. The women ladled stew into hollowed out loaves of bread first to the injured, then the remaining castle guests.

Kitty took food to Marek in the solar where he washed the sweat and blood from his gorgeous body. She ached to linger and offer him a hand, but she left the food, with enough for Bria in case she woke up hungry, and went back downstairs.

When she went back outside, she spied Father Jacob talking to one of the villagers. His long robes were easy to make out, even at night. He looked as exhausted as she felt. Still, he kept his attention focused on the woman, seldom speaking but nodding from time to time.

Thinking he’d probably been preaching to these people all day, Kitty guessed he might not have eaten. She fetched more potage from the kitchen, there was enough to feed any neighboring villagers that might come in from the surrounding countryside, and stood waiting for a chance to interrupt.

When he finally noticed her waiting for him, the priest excused himself and walked over. Kitty handed him the bread bowl. Father Jacob took it and began shoveling the stew into his mouth with gusto.

Kitty said nothing while she waited for him to finish. He did not hand her the empty bowl, but ripped it apart and continued eating.

“Thank you for earlier,” he said with his mouth full. “He would surely have killed me if not for you.”

“Why?”

Father Jacob shrugged. “He wanted money.”

“To kill me?” Kitty bristled at the man’s audacity.

He chuckled, nearly choking on his food. “No one will believe you. Everyone knows you for the witch you are. Stone will be forced to give you up, one way or another.”

“And then?”

He laughed softly. “Come now, milady. Let us stop this charade. I know who you are.”

She took a step back. “You do?”

“Anyone can see you are not Katherine Stone. I did not realize it at first, but after that day in the pig shed…" He stuffed more bread in his mouth. "I am surprised that fool you call your husband has not deduced as much,” he said around a mouthful of food.

Kitty bristled at his slander of Marek, but chose to ignore it.

“Perhaps not who you are, but from whence you came,” he continued. “I was there the night the lord’s wife died. Katherine had it in her mind to do this black magic she had heard speak of. Some devilry about traveling to a distant time, a place of unimaginable luxury and freedom. I believed her gibberish to be fantasy. Nothing more. Katherine was an enthusiastic lover. I could ignore her obsession with the black arts.”

“But your friend tried to kill Marek’s wife.”

“‘Twas her own poor judgment that killed her,” he snapped. “She chose to consort with the devil. ‘Twas easy enough to claim her death was God’s punishment and ensconce a more easily controlled whore in the lord’s bed.”

Kitty shook her head. “Why do you care?”

“You see, while Katherine visited my bed, I received certain benefits, luxuries and freedom of my own, things I quickly became accustomed to. When her attentions turned to that boy who died in your pig shed, those entitlements ceased.”

Kitty curled her lip, but said nothing about his lack of morals.

“When you emerged from that pyre, unscathed, I knew Katherine for Satan’s whore. Whether you are truly her or not makes no difference to me. I will be rid of Lady Stone.” He started to turn away.

“So she told you how this works?”

He stopped and glared at her. “Why should I tell you?”

“If I disappeared, it would save you the expense of having me killed or the trouble of condemning me as a witch.”

He regarded her, making Kitty wonder what was going on in that devious mind of his. Whatever it was, she doubted she would get the whole story.

Finally he spoke, his voice lowered. “One must have possession of all four elements, or at least the other three before stepping into the fire. Otherwise – poof.”

“Four elements?”

“Earth, water, those are easy enough to collect. Katherine used a pig’s bladder to contain the air, but something happened. Suddenly she was screaming. There was a loud popping sound as the bladder burst. She spilled the water. It sizzled and spit, steam rose up around her.” He stared off into the distance.

She grabbed his arm, drawing him back for his vision. “How do you know where you’re going? What
time
you’ll land in?” Kitty’s heart began to beat faster. Here was someone who knew the secret “You must tell me.” She gripped his arm. “My daughter is in danger. I have to get back!”

Father Jacob grinned and lifted one eyebrow. “A daughter? How delightful.”

Several people near them had started to take notice of the heated conversation. Father Jacob acted on this and pushed her away. “I’ll not succumb to your advances, you wretched woman!” He nearly shouted, ensuring those nearest would hear.

Kitty snatched her hand from his arm. “Please,” she said through clenched teeth.

He grinned at her, his face etched in shadows. Kitty was reminded of her hatred of her husband, hatred now reflected towards the man before her.

“Do not beg, whore. I shall not be tempted.” He dropped the remnants of his bowl at her feet and turned away.

She wanted to chase after him, to make him tell her what he knew, but didn’t want to draw more attention to herself. She sensed someone watching her and turned her gaze towards the towering parapets over the gate. Marek stood there, his stare intense.

Kitty’s knees went weak. Heat suffused her from head to toe. She marveled that a mere look from him could set her insides ablaze. Her belly clenched, aching with need and desire. She yearned for his touch, his rough hands caressing her.

Kitty swallowed, a difficult task against the desert in her mouth. He was like a drug.

A drug she was quickly becoming addicted to.

CHAPTER TEN

Kitty stumbled down to the hall for breakfast. The lord’s table had been removed from the dais the night before to make space for the injured, and now sat among the rushes sporting the remnants of stale bread, smoked meat and soft cheese. Kitty helped herself to a hunk of bread as she passed and approached the great fireplace. The embers had been allowed to die with the morning’s warmth, but she stood with her back to it, and took a long wiff of the bread before bringing it to her lips.

Where is he?
She had tried to wait up for him last night, but sleep had eventually overcome her. The instant she opened her eyes this morning, her first thought had been of him. She’d hurried into his chamber but found his bed empty.

She spotted Bria sitting on the floor next to an old man. Whether the man lay dead or sleeping, Kitty could not tell. Bria chatted happily to him as she weaved a mat from a pile of stalks between her outstretched legs, seemingly oblivious to the infirmary around her.

Kitty crossed to the door and onto the landing, hoping for some warmth from the sun and more eager than she should be to find Marek.

She found the bailey nearly empty. A half-naked man across the yard caught her attention. Her heart skipped but then seemed to shrink a little.
It’s not him
. Thane, bare from the waist up, heaved a barrel onto the back of a wagon, spoke briefly to man sitting on the seat, then stepped back as the man drove off with his family. The gates of Stonebridge Castle stood open at the far end.

Thane caught sight of her and waved as he pulled his shirt over his head.

Heaving a sigh in the face of disappointment, she returned his greeting and trotted down the steps to where he stood wiping sweat from his face. “Where is Marek?” She tried to lace her voice with nonchalance but failed miserably.

If he noticed her vibrancy, he ignored it. “’Twas his intention to go to Ipswich, but he sent Remi instead. Marek escorted some of the villagers to their homes, but I expected him to return afore now.” He looked around the bailey. “There is much work to be done.”

“Ipswich?”

“To purchase supplies, food and ale to replace our depleted stores. Remi has a knack for…
negotiation
.”

“Are we broke?”

His expression clearly reflected his confusion, but he seemed reluctant to admit he did not know what she meant.

“Is…all our food gone?”

There will not be enough to last until the harvest.” He squinted towards the sun. “Unless we are blessed with ample rain this season, the harvest is likened to be meager again this year. We can ill afford that.”

How could Marek buy food for so many? It rankled her that these people did not appreciate him more. She hoped this recent attack made them realize how much he fretted over their welfare.

“I’m going to find him.” She turned and started toward the gate.

Behind her, Thane sputtered. “Wait. You cannot go alone.”

“I doubt it would be the first time,” she mumbled.

“Wait.”

She did. She faced him, taking in his frustrated expression. He looked as though he’d already put in a full day’s work. “I’ll be fine. Really…”

He raised a hand to stop her argument. “Marek has a gift for you. I know he would rather give it to you himself, but if you insist on –” He laughed then. “Do not look at me like that. ‘Tis nothing shiny.”

Kitty composed herself. Her shock must have shown on her face, for a gift from Marek Stone, shiny or not, was completely unexpected.

She followed Thane to the stable. Inside he stopped before a small, black horse. Not so small as to be called a pony, but just the right size for a woman of her stature.

“That’s for me?”

Thane nodded. “He was too small to be used for fighting or breeding, so we gelded him. But he is calm of temperament, well trained. He will make a suitable mount.”

“Why would he give me a horse? I mean, don’t I have one already?” She would have expected the lady of the castle to have some petite palomino mare to ride about side-saddle.

“He found the story of your foray into the village alone quite amusing. Ever before you have preferred to be…” He cut himself off abruptly, cleared his throat before continuing. “You have ever preferred to remain within the castle walls. He thought you might now enjoy a horse of your own.”

“He was right.” Kitty beamed at him, wishing it were indeed Marek standing next to her and presenting her such a wonderful gift. Thinking about the gratitude she would show him brought a twinge to her core that forced her to press her thighs together.

Once composed, she walked over to stroke the horse’s head. The animal looked at her as she petted his neck and crooned softly to him. He arched his neck as she slid her hand beneath his long mane and scratched along the top of his neck. She grinned over her shoulder at Thane. “He likes that.”

“I would say he knows his mistress’ touch. I will fetch my own horse while the stable boy saddles yours, then we ride.

Half an hour later, they rode through the gates of the village. Kitty loved her new horse. He seemed to anticipate what she wanted to do and followed her instructions despite her lack of experience. Thane had given her many tips, deducing right away that she’d spent little time on a horse.

Not for the first time, Kitty was struck by the poverty of the village. She turned in her saddle and spoke to Thane. “The other night, before he passed out, Marek was complaining that the people here blame him for how poor they all are. Is this true?”

“Aye. If the rains fail, ‘tis surely his fault. Raiders pilfer their stores, ‘tis because he did not do enough to protect them.”

“Maybe it’s because his wife consorts with the devil?” He made no response. She smirked at him. “I don’t suppose they thank him when things are going well.”

Thane barked a laugh. “Hardly.”

“Doesn’t seem fair.”

“For certes, it is not. But Marek is lord here. ‘Tis his place to take the blame.”

“And what is your place?”

“Mine?” He paused to consider her question. “None. I act merely as my brother’s emissary.”

“That’s it? Doesn’t seem very…lucrative.”

He smiled in that devilish way he had. “I have my plans for the future.” They rode in silence for several minutes, surveying the quiet streets. Doors remained closed, shutters pulled together. A village that should have been bustling with activity hid within its walls after the previous day’s raid.

Finally, Thane spoke again. “When you give my brother a son, ‘twill be time for me to leave.”

Kitty nearly fell from her horse. “A son?” She straightened in the saddle. “Little chance of that. We don’t even sleep in the same bed.” She thought she stated the obvious. Surely every living soul at Stonebridge Castle knew of the rift between the lord and his wife.

“Mayhap he sleeps separately from you now, but ‘twill not last.”

Kitty’s horse started when a door to their right opened abruptly and a bucketful of water flew out at its feet. He reared up slightly, forcing Kitty to grab the front of her saddle to keep from sliding off into the dirt.

A shabbily dressed woman practically fell to her knees, her hands clasped before her. “My lord, ‘tis truly sorry I am. Please forgive my stupidity. Me ‘usband’ll be a-beatin’ me for it, ye can be sure.” The woman trembled, obviously terrified of her impending punishment.

“Your husband beats you?”

The woman looked at her. Kitty thought she saw a flash of resentment, but it passed so quickly, she couldn’t be sure. “Only when I need it, milady.”

Gingerly, Kitty dismounted, followed closely by her protector. “I demand to see him right now.”

The woman’s expression changed instantly to one of defiance – and fear. “I canna let ye do that.” The woman glanced nervously inside before closing the door behind her. “He is still abed, mum.”

Kitty and Thane shared a glance. It was Thane who addressed the woman. “In bed? At this late hour?”

She wrung her hands, obviously distressed by the unwanted attention of a knight of the castle and the lord’s own wife.

Kitty had had enough of abusive men. She was not about to ignore this woman's distress when she had the power, and the backing thanks to her
brother-in-law
, to make a stand. “Take me to him,” Kitty demanded again. She did not wait for the woman’s response, but pushed past her, shoved the door open and stepped into the darkened house.

The rancid smell of sickness struck her upon entering. She glanced around the one-room dwelling. The small house sported little in the way of furniture. In the dim light, she spotted the man lying face up on a cot barely large enough for one man, much less a couple.

She stepped closer to him, noting Thane’s presence directly behind her. “What’s the matter with him?”

“Beg pardon, mum?”

“What ails him?” Thane translated.

“He was injured yester morn at the church.”

Kitty crouched over the man and knew right away he was a goner. The wretch would never again beat his wife, or anyone else. He opened his eyes, straining to focus on her face. His eyes grew wide in recognition. He dragged his gaze to his wife, standing just behind her, then back to Kitty. “What are you - doing here?”

Kitty ignored his question. “Where are you injured?” she asked in a quiet voice.

The man’s wife tried to push her way between them. “Ye canna be lookin’ at him. ‘Tis no fit way for a lady to behave.” She pleaded with Thane to agree. “Tell her, milord.”

“Mayhap it best for you to come away. He reeks of sickness.”

“This kind of infection is not contagious.” Kitty gently lifted the blood-stained cloth covering the man. He lay naked beneath, a mortal wound oozing pus and blood from his abdomen.

Kitty caught her breath. Down the center of his chest, a neatly sewn scar.

***

“Leave us,” she said as she replaced the cloth.

“No.”

“No.”

Thane and the man’s wife spoke at the same time.

“It’ll be all right.” She turned, placed a hand on Thane’s arm. “I promise,” she added when he hesitated.

Despite his obvious misgivings, Thane led the other woman from the house.

Kitty turned her attention back to the doomed man. “Where did you get that scar?” It was just over his breast bone and far too neat. She would have expected a suture job of the middle ages to be more rudimentary.

“Katherine.” He inhaled with great difficulty. “How did you...get back?” He seemed to struggle with each breath.

This...peasant...knows Marek’s wife well enough to call her by her first name? She waited for him to speak further.

“They said you died.” He swallowed hard. He reached from beneath the bed cover and entangled his fingers with hers.

Kitty snatched her hand away, frowning down at him, realizing there had been a more intimate relationship between the lady of Stonebridge and this man.

“Rumors of witchcraft at the burning.”

“Where did you get that scar,” she asked again.

He grimaced, an expression that immediately proved to be too strenuous in his weakened condition. “I told you.”

“You’re not from here, are you? From this time, I mean.”

His eyes widened. “Why –?” He was overcome by a cough that left blood on his lips.

“I am not Katherine. I’m from the future myself.”

“You look just like her.” He stared at her, his eyes slightly out of focus. “Did you follow me here? Are - are you a detective?” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When  he let it out, it wheezed and whistled, leaving him barely able to speak. “It was an accident. I didn’t mean to kill him.”

“Kill who?”

“They were going to execute me, but it was an accident.” His labored breaths came more rapidly now. “I thought I could go back earlier, before the accident, stop it from happening.”

Kitty fell to her knees next to his cot. “You know how to go back.”

He nodded.

“Tell me.”

“The elements –”

“Yes, yes, I know that.”

“You need all four.”

“Okay. And?”

“Earth. Water.”

She scrubbed the back of her neck, swallowing her frustration and trying to keep her voice calm. “I know what the elements are. Isn’t there some kind of secret, though?”

“Fire. Air.”

“I got that part,” she said through clenched teeth. She wanted to strangle him, force him to tell her everything she needed to know and tell her right now!

“You need the -”

Another coughing fit took him. Kitty feared he would not come back from this one.

“- the medallion.”

I knew it!
She shook him gently. “What? What does it do?”

“You  must find...the...goddess.”