Marek (The Knights of Stonebridge Book 1) (17 page)

He kissed her then. A deep kiss that revealed all the desire and sentiment he felt. She returned his kiss with equal emotion, causing his heart to constrict. How could he bind her to him?

It was she who pulled away. “That wench from the pub, the one you’ve now hired to be your new cook…she wants to take my place. And Father Jacob is helping her. You know Katherine had an affair with the priest?”

He swallowed hard and gave her a curt nod.

She nodded. “He stole the medallion, thinks he can follow her and they can be together.”

“Follow her? To hell?”

She shook her head, then pushed him away and jumped down off the wall, pulling the
overslop
tight about her shoulders.

“To the
future
. He believes our souls are switched somehow, mine and Katherine’s, and that she is now occupying my position.” She scrubbed a hand over her face. “Unless he knows something about this Arduinna, surely he is doomed to the same fate. Katherine had all the elements. You know – water, earth, fire, air. I got that much from the villager who died.” She smiled up at him. “Thanks, by the way, for teaching the boy to fight.”

Marek nodded dumbly.

“Gadrin’s father was also from the future.” Kitty paused, scrunched her eyebrows together. “I wonder if there are more? Anyway, Katherine must have gotten the medallion from him.” She paused, lowered her eyes. She didn’t like keeping secrets from him, but she hated to be the bearer of bad news, to reveal  yet another of his wife’s indiscretions.

She drew the attention away from the villager. “The medallion is the key, I’m sure. Something to do with this
Arduinna
. But it’s gone. I suspect Garnetta drugged me, stole it, and gave it to Father Jacob. Katherine told him about it, but he didn’t believe her at first. Now I think he intends to try to follow her.”

Marek said nothing for a time. “My wife was also from the future?” His voice was barely more than a whisper.

Kitty shook her head. “No. Gadrin’s father must have told her his story. She wanted to travel to our time. She tried to use one of those…bladders to contain the air, a bag of earth, some water, but it didn't work for some reason,” she slowed her speech, lowered her voice. “She was killed.” Kitty put one hand on his arm. “I’m sorry,” she said.

Marek brushed her off and began circling the perimeter of the tower. He said nothing. His thoughts swirled like leaves in a whirlpool. Kitty could die? To lose her to the future and her child would be devastating. But to lose her to death – the thought was unbearable.

He had come full circle and once again stood before her. “You cannot go.”

“I have to try.”

He gripped her arms, shook her slightly, fighting to contain his own fear. “Why? To save your daughter? What will happen to her if you are dead? She will go to this hospital you speak of.”

“But she needs me.” Her voice was desperate, as if she tried to convince herself as much as him.

“For what does she need you? To speak again? To forget the atrocities she suffered at the hands of her father? Who can say how her mind has been damaged by all that she has endured. Raped by the one man she should have been able to trust.”

Tears streaked down Kitty’s cheeks, but he could not stop his tirade. He had to make her see.

“The violent, brutal murder of her own father while he slept. Will coddling her for the rest of your life make all that go away?”

She put her hands over her ears, shook her head from side to side. “Stop it!”

Again he pulled her into the protection of his arms. “Would that I could protect you both, but is Vanesa not better served with people who are learned about how best to help her?”

She nodded against his chest. Her sobs dwindled to sniffles. She buried her face in his tunic. “How can I desert her? She’s my child, my daughter. No matter what, she has to know that I love her and will always be there for her.”

“You cannot be there for her if you are dead.” His tone was one of doom. Time-travel or no, death was permanent. “You cannot come back from that, no matter the period in which you dwell.”

Her tears started afresh. “You’re right. I know you are, but how can I live with myself? I miss her.”

Marek lifted her chin until she looked up at him. “You miss the child she was. That child is gone. Mayhap she can recover with the help of these
doctors
.”

A sudden thought lifted his spirits, gave him a ray of hope he chanced to pass on to Kitty. “You can leave things for her.”

Kitty wiped at her tears. “What things?”

“I know not, but we can find a way to leave relics, clues for her to find in your time. When she does recover, surely she will question what became of you – perhaps when she reaches adulthood.”

He could see that she was intrigued by the idea. She nodded slowly. “Like treasure?”

“Verily like treasure.”

“I know you’re right,” she repeated. “It doesn’t make it any easier, though. Could you knowingly desert Bria?”

Could he? How could one answer such a question? He wanted to think he could do whatever necessary, whatever was best for her.

“I know not. But this I do know. Bria loves you, and I sense that you feel the same for her. She has never known such love. One daughter cannot replace another, but Bria’s life will be that much richer with you a part of it.”

Kitty shook her head. “I’m a terrible mother.”

Marek made a grunting noise that left no doubt what he thought of that idea.

“It’s true. What kind of mother does not recognize that her husband is abusing their daughter? Would overlook the signs that were so obvious?”

“What ‘signs’?” More witchery?

“You know. She would always get quiet when he came in the room. She didn’t want to be alone with him. Stuff like that.”

“Did you not question this behavior?”

“I didn’t really think about it until I looked back on it later.”

“This does not make you a bad mother. I see you with Bria. There is no other woman I would want as mother to my child.”

She let him fold her into his arms. Marek held her. She trembled with emotion. Silent sobs racked her as she stood encircled in his embrace.

“Come, the witching hour approaches. Let us to bed.”

Kitty let him lead her back down the stairwell. He lifted her in his arms, carried her to his bed and set her gently upon it. Wetting a cloth from the basin, he wiped her face, washing away all trace of tears. Then he undressed her and tucked her under the covers.

Marek removed every stitch of his own clothing, and crawled in beside her. He pulled her to him, held her against him thinking how much his life had changed since her arrival.

With one finger beneath her chin, he lifted her face to his and kissed her, tenderly, lovingly. He made love to her then, slow and gentle. He wanted her to know he was more than some beast possessed of uncontrolled lust. He wanted to her know him simply as a man, a father.

A husband.

“I told you Bria loves you. ‘Twas only a half-truth.” His voice was barely more than a whisper. “
I
love you.”

“Marek.” Her voice broke. She made no other response, but snuggled more closely against him. No matter. He relaxed, sure she would stay. He would tell her again tomorrow – and each day after that. He held her until she fell asleep. She would mourn the loss of Vanesa. What parent would not? But she would heal, he would see to it.

Her breath caught several times, remnants of the tears she had shed. Carefully, so as not to wake her, he eased his arm from around her shoulders and climbed out of bed.

He sat up, swinging his legs over the side. The cold of the stones beneath the rushes seeped through, numbing his bare feet. Marek ignored the chill. He opened the door to the cupboard next to his bed. The wine jug was empty.

Pity.

He lifted the bottom shelf, a thin piece of wood that served as the base. Blindly, he felt around inside the compartment it concealed, finally closing his fingers over the object he sought. Concealing it in his fist, he stood and crossed to the window. Moonlight streamed in, brighter than any candle.

Slowly, he peeled open his fingers, and stared down at the medallion in his hand. He would throw this in the river. Anything to keep her with him.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The sun had barely begun to brighten the day when Kitty awoke the next morning. Marek had already gone. She stretched languidly, kicking the covers off as she did so.

Her heart broke at the sudden memory of her decision to forgo her efforts to get home. What kind of woman would abandon her child, even at the risk of her own life? She made a feeble attempt to justify her decision one more time. The familiar sting of tears burned behind her eyes.

She squeezed the bridge of her nose. Marek was right, of course. She could not help Vanesa even if she arrived safely back in her own time. She did not know how to help her daughter recover from the tragedy that had befallen her. And she certainly could never do anything for her if she died, which she felt certain she would.

She was a coward
and
a bad mother.

She found her smock wadded up on the foot of the bed and pulled it over her head. She loved the idea of leaving treasure for Vanesa to find when she was older. That treasure would be the knowledge that her mother had not abandoned her, that her mother had loved her.

As if on cue, Bria padded into the room rubbing sleep from one eye with a tiny fist. Seeing Kitty awake, she raced over and sailed onto the bed. Well, half-sailed. Kitty smiled as she dragged the little girl the rest of the way up.

“Good morrow, mother.”

“Just what I needed to hear. Did you sleep well?”

Bria nodded. “Will you tell me another story?”

“Of course. But later. Let’s go get some breakfast.”

They dressed quickly, and went downstairs to the hall. This early in the morning, the room bustled with activity. Kitty and Bria sat at a table and dug into the basket of bread.

Kitty spotted the old man in the corner. Gadrin had joined William and the others. “Who are those boys?” she asked no one in particular.

Bryn answered her from the other end of the long table. “Pages. And that whey-face you allowed in from the village.” He cut Gadrin a hostile look and shoveled more food into his mouth. “They have only just begun their training,” he said around his breakfast.

“Training for what?”

He swallowed, looking dumfounded at her ignorance. “Knighthood.” He went back to his meal, but not before giving her a look that said he thought her completely daft.

“I have a lot to learn,” she mumbled. She looked down at Bria, happily chewing on a piece of bread. “And so do you,” Kitty said to her.

Bria stopped chewing, looked up at her with mouth full. “Hmmm?”

“See those boys over there?” She pointed, Bria nodded. “I think they’re learning how to
read
. Would you like to read?”

Bria’s eyes grew wide. She swallowed the bread and bobbed her head vigorously.

Kitty stood and, taking Bria by the hand, led her to the corner that served as a classroom. The old man looked up at her, frowning at the interruption.

“My…daughter will be joining you.” With one foot, she nudged Gadrin who scooted over a little. “You are in charge of looking after her. Her name is Bria.”

Without hesitation, Bria plopped right down next to him, gave him a big smile.

Gadrin looked to the old man, then to the other boys, but no one offered the assistance he sought. His companions giggled behind their hands. His face turned red. Bria continued to beam up at him.

“Okay, then.” Kitty bent over and kissed Bria on top of her head. “I’ll see you later.”

She turned away from the gaping men, both young and old, to find Garnetta standing in the arched doorway at the other end of the hall. She motioned for Kitty to follow, then disappeared.

By the time Kitty caught up with her, Garnetta was already outside in the bailey. She shielded her eyes, watching for Kitty’s appearance, and tapping one foot as she waited.

“He is leaving tonight.”

“What…who?”

“Father Jacob says he has everything he needs. He intends to go from the church at midnight.”

The priest?
“He would risk death?”

“The day he confronted you in the shed, he started to suspect you were not the woman everyone thought you were. After you fought that thug in the chapel, his suspicions were confirmed. You are not the Katherine he knows. The Katherine he
wants
. He has convinced himself your two souls switched places.”

Kitty’s heart stopped. That would mean Marek’s wife had Vanesa. And the priest was going to try to go there, as well. If he succeeded, would Jake take his place here?

She shook her head, scrubbing her fists against her closed eyes. It was all too confusing. She looked back at Garnetta. “Why are you telling me this?”

“I want you
gone
. Once and for all.” The other woman smirked down at her. “I can tell you’ve got the lust for him.” She took on that dreamy expression. “You don’t find men like that every day.”

She is certainly right about that.

Garnetta shrugged. “I just thought you should know that the priest has plans for the little family he will make with Marek’s wife and your daughter. That man has some pretty sick tastes. I don’t think I’d want him around any child of mine.”

Kitty thought she was going to be sick.

She fled from the bailey back up the stairs to the keep. She had to find Marek.

***

A path had been worn in the rushes from one side of the solar to the other.
Where is he?
It seemed hours since the sun had set, but Marek had yet to return home. Kitty feared she’d absolutely die if she did not get to say goodbye to him.

She’d gone looking for him after her conversation with Garnetta. She
had
to leave, had to make every effort to return to her own time. She wouldn’t abandon Vanesa to a fate worse than…well, Kitty didn’t know how much worse it could get, but she knew with all certainty it would.

When she hadn’t found him, she’d spent the afternoon bidding farewell to those she’d grown fond of then passed the rest of the day with Bria. The child had become such a treasure to her.

As simply as possible, she explained about her home and told Bria she would be leaving. Despite the outrageous story, she didn’t want this child to think she’d deserted her. Bria had not cried, not really. Her eyes had welled up, lower lip trembled, but after Kitty had told her about Vanesa and how desperately she needed rescuing, Bria had put on a brave face. She accepted Kitty’s tale without question.

She wanted to give Kitty a present, but Kitty wasn't sure she could take anything with her. Bria would not hear of it. She darted off to her own chamber, returning moments later with a scarf. She tied it around Kitty’s neck, tucking it into her bodice.

Now she lay sleeping in the middle of Marek’s big bed. Every now and then her breath would catch as if she’d been crying. Once again, Kitty berated herself for not having Vanesa sleep with her. Had she done that, would Vanesa have traveled back to this time with her?

The near silent creak of the door drew Kitty from her musings. Marek stood there, framed in the doorway like a medieval painting come to life. He had mud splattered from head to toe.

Kitty threw herself at him.

Marek caught her against him with one arm. With his other hand, he undid his sword belt, letting the weapon slide gently to the floor at his feet. “What is this now?”

She did not release him, but held on as if to save herself from falling. “I have to go,” she said, her voice muffled from where she’d buried her face against his neck.

With hands on her shoulders, Marek pushed her back so he could see her. “What has happened?”

“The priest thinks your wife has replaced me in my time. He is going there to be with her.”

“Father…and Katherine?”

She gripped his arm. “They will have Vanesa.”

“’Tis absurd, this theory of
switching
.”

“Is it? He is the image of my husband, Jake. Everyone will recognize them as Vanesa’s parents.”

“How can that be so if your husband is dead?”

Hysteria threatened to overwhelm her. “I don’t know. But I can’t stay here. He says has everything he needs. He’s leaving at midnight.” She looked frantically out the window. “Is it close to midnight now?”

“But how? You said he must have possession of the medallion.”

“He has it. He must have stolen it from my room.”

“Nay, love.” He reached into the pouch tied at his waist and pulled out the very amulet of which they spoke.

Kitty couldn’t breathe. “You have it? You’ve had it all along?” She gave him an accusatory glare.

Marek shook his head. “I could not risk losing you, not to death.” He handed her the medallion. “I know a druid. He…was able to summon this goddess, Arduinna.”

Kitty felt the room take a dip. “Goddess?”

“She is an ancient Celtic goddess from the Ardennes, Lady Justice she is sometimes called. According to the druid, she remembered this talisman. She had given it to save a man from punishment for a crime he had not committed.” He looked at the medallion as if it were poison. “She blessed it. You can return to your time by using it as you described with the four elements.”

He clasped his hands around her shoulders. “But I beg you not to attempt such a thing. It is too dangerous.”

“I must. I cannot fail to protect Vanesa, not again.” She pressed her palms against his face, looked into his eyes. “I love you,” she said. “I love you with my whole heart, now and for eternity. But I cannot forsake my daughter.” She motioned toward the bed. “Look there at
your
daughter. Wouldn’t you risk your life to save her?”

Marek glanced over at Bria asleep in his bed, then dropped his eyes. He pulled Kitty’s hands from his cheeks, pressed his lips first to one palm then the other. Holding them in his, he nodded. “Let us be gone. I know what to do.”