Knight of Runes (14 page)

“What’s she doing in the old cottage?” Arik asked Logan. The two men, back from Autumn Chase, tramped from the barracks to the Manor.

“It’s all through the village. Katherine banished her to the cottage the day we left. Skylar and Aubrey are going to ask you to do something about it.”

Raking his hand through his hair, Arik let out a pent-up sigh. “It’s probably for the best. They’ve been at odds since she arrived. I hoped the woman would be done by now and on her way back to the king.”

“Aubrey’s miserable. She was hiding from Katherine in the library and thinks Rebeka’s banishment is her fault. Now Rebeka can only use the library at night when no one’s about. It seems Katherine has been very busy while we’ve been away.” Logan stopped abruptly and turned to his brother. “Arik, it’s not my place, but…Katherine takes too much liberty with the managing of the Manor.”

“Katherine was very helpful when Letty died, Logan. She and Jeannie kept things running during those difficult times. She has earned some of the advantages she takes. Besides, it hurts no one.”

“Arik, surely you know how much you attribute to Katherine was all Jeannie’s work. I don’t agree with you, brother. I fear Katherine’s actions will have damaging effects.”

Arik waved the thought aside with a quick sweep of his hand. “I have no time for domestic squabbles.”

Logan clamped his hand on Arik’s shoulder. “Be careful the advantages you let Katherine take. You may find yourself facing something you may not want. I worry about you. There’s more to life than duty.”

The men continued on in silence, Arik deep in thought. Was Katherine manipulating him? The very idea set his teeth to grinding. Logan could be right. He would have to be more aware. He put his arm around Logan’s shoulder and squeezed. “You’ve always been my eyes and ears. Now you’re my conscience too!” Arik joked. Logan laughed, and the seriousness of the moment passed. The brothers entered the hall and took their seats for the evening meal.

“Jeannie, you can start serving,” said Katherine with authority. “Here’s the key to the wine cellar. Get a bottle for Lord Arik.” Katherine took the key off her chatelaine and gave it to Jeannie.

“Where’s—” Before Arik could ask the question, Katherine provided the answer.

“M’lord, Rebeka now takes her meals in the cottage.” She cleared her throat, a pained expression on her face.

“Why, Katherine?”

Katherine shrugged. “I imagine she finds it easier to complete her research without…” her eyes met Arik’s, “…distraction. I’ve not the heart to stop her.”

Dinner was a quiet affair. No laughter, no conversation. The glow of the candles flickered over the table, and as Arik ate he glanced first at Katherine, and then at his nieces.

“Aubrey,” he said, between mouthfuls. “Tell me what has happened while I’ve been gone.”

“Nothing.” She stole a glance at Katherine and returned her gaze quickly back to her plate.

“Ah.” He turned to her sister. “Skylar, what news do you have? I understand Sir Stuart’s nephew, Robert, was here.”

“He was!” She lifted her chin and met Katherine’s icy stare. Her gaze returned to her plate. “I have no news either.” Skylar didn’t look at her uncle. She pushed the food around her plate.

Jeannie brought in the opened bottle of wine, poured Arik a glass and gave the key back to Katherine.

Arik took a long sip. The girls always had something to say, something to tell him. It was what he enjoyed most about dining with them. “Girls, why so quiet? You both are usually chattering away.”

There was silence, broken only by the sound of jangling as Katherine replaced the key on her chatelaine.

Arik couldn’t understand it. The girls were never this quiet. He finished his wine. He searched Skylar’s blank face and observed Aubrey fidgeting in her chair.
No, that’s not true.
It’s only recently that he looked forward to their meals and the lively banter. He filled his glass with wine and almost drained it dry as his thoughts fell into place. If he was honest, he had to admit he missed her at the table too. Perhaps there was some truth to Logan’s concerns.

“Isn’t it almost time for the harvest to begin?” said Arik. Everyone’s head popped up at once. He kept eating.

“Uncle Arik, is it time already?” Aubrey exploded with excitement.

“It’s getting close. We’ll have to start planning in the next few weeks.” He looked surprised to see his wine glass empty.

“Uncle Arik, will you make this a gallant festival? Please?”

Startled by her request, he took special note of her.
Romantic ideas already? It’s too soon. She’s still a babe.
“Gallant festival, princess, what do you mean?”

“Like in a grand court, Uncle Arik.” She sat at the end of her chair, her eyes shining.

“Ah, you want knights and princesses.” He smiled. It was very easy to please her. He looked at Skylar. “You too, Skylar?”

“Yes, Uncle Arik.” She smiled with enthusiasm.

“Very well, princess, it will be a gallant festival.” He was pleased with himself. Everyone loved the festival except Katherine. Now the conversation would get moving. But the girls returned their stares to their plates, glancing at Katherine from under their lashes. Katherine made it clear what she expected at his table, silence and obedience.

The excitement gone, the meal dragged on.

“Uncle Arik, can I leave the table?”

“Yes, princess.” The request surprised him. The meal wasn’t over.

“And I too, Uncle Arik.” Skylar was next.

“Aubrey, what games should we set out for the festival? You’ll excuse me, Arik.” Logan set down his napkin and left with Aubrey.

“Why of course, you may all go.” If he could have gotten up, he would have left also.

Ah, success. This is the way it should be, quiet contemplation while eating and the brats gone.

In Arik’s absence, Katherine had searched through the papers Rebeka had left on the desk in the library, eager to see what the intruder had found. House accounts and odd scratches, nothing of import. She’d swept her hand across the neat stacks of papers on the table, sending them flying. Katherine wasn’t fooled. Rebeka was here to interfere in some way.
Things have been set in motion she can’t begin to fathom. I will have what’s been promised to me. Let her get in my way.

Katherine refilled Arik’s wine glass. This was the time.

“M’lord, how much longer do we need to put up with Rebeka?” she asked. “I’ve already removed her from our house but isn’t it time we sent her back to London? She hasn’t given you the answers she promised. She’s a burden on our household. Do you not agree?” She fingered the chatelaine, playing with the keys.

Arik, food in midair, stopped and looked at her in disbelief.

“She isn’t a good influence on Skylar and Aubrey, m’lord. I fear if she stays here much longer they’ll take on her nasty ways. If she must stay, I propose we foster the girls, to protect them from her.”

“What!” Arik dropped his fork onto his plate.

The chatelaine fell from her hand. She felt the blood drain from her face. Fear laced through her. Sounding more indignant than she felt, she stuck out her chin and tried not to look him in the eye. His stare always made her uncomfortable.

“L…l…lord Arik,” she stammered. “I only thought to p…p…protect the children from her.” Her mouth went dry, her tongue suddenly swollen. She fought to stay calm. Arik’s stare bore into her, his anger apparent.
This must be another one of Rebeka’s influences. She’s worked her way into everything. What lord cares where children are fostered?

“What do you mean the woman is a burden on the household and you removed her from ‘our’ house? You propose fostering the girls? You overstep your place, Katherine.”

“She stays under our roof, eats our food. What payment does she give us? She disrupts our library. For what? She’s been here for weeks and has found nothing. I’m here for you, Arik.” She reached her hand out and gently touched his arm. “Haven’t I always been here for you?”

She looked at his cold gaze and quickly withdrew her hand as if she had touched a flame.

She straightened and regained her composure. “Lord Arik, she’s a distraction to everyone. You’ve seen the way the men look at her and how she loosely carries herself. You don’t want the girls to think you approve of that type of behavior. It may be acceptable at court but I’m certain you don’t want it in your own house. The girls are so impressionable. Aubrey is the worst. She hides from her chores and dares to answer back. She spends every spare minute she can with the woman. She even sneaks to the cottage at night to be with her. I’ve thought to take a strap to her to rid her of these ways.”

Arik slammed his hand on the table, making Katherine jump, her hand at her throat.

“Surely, m’lord, I bring these issues to your attention to assist you and not to anger you.” She feigned repentance.

He didn’t bother to answer her. He’d heard enough. “Jeannie.”

Katherine cringed at his bellow. She’d never seen him so angry.

“Yes, m’lord?”

“Fix a tray for Lady Katherine and bring it to her room. She has decided to take all her meals there.” He turned to Katherine and dismissed her. “Good eve, Katherine. And, Katherine, you or anyone else who touches Aubrey will answer to me.”

“Rebeka, let us in. I’ve brought Skylar and Uncle Logan with me to visit.” Aubrey pounded on the cottage door.

Rebeka greeted her guests with a smile and ushered them in.

“See, Uncle Logan, Rebeka has made herself at home in the cottage.” Aubrey pulled Logan through the door, her bubbly mood in direct contrast to the mood at the dining table.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Aubrey twirled and danced into the room, her arms thrown wide.

“Yes, it is. Rebeka, I hope we’re not intruding.”

“Skylar and I come here after dinner every night. Uncle Logan, the meal is absolutely painful. Cousin Katherine doesn’t want any discussion or talking during the meal. If we do, she heaps on more insults and finds things for us to do. We suffer the meal and come here afterward to talk and sometimes play games.”

“I enjoy the company.” Rebeka took the boiling kettle from the hearth to prepare tea.

“Well then, who am I to argue? What shall we do tonight?” He rubbed his hands together and plopped himself down in one of the chairs around the table.

“We want to hear about your trip,” said Skylar. “Please, Uncle?” Logan caught Rebeka’s eye and she nodded.

“Very well then.” He took the mug of tea and regaled his small audience.

“…and Sir Stuart sends his regards to you both,” he finished. “Now, time for you two young ladies—” he tapped Skylar under the chin with a smile, “—to return to the Manor. Come, now, it’s late. I’ll be along shortly.”

Rebeka wondered why Logan did not go with them. She cleared her throat. “More tea?”

“Yes, if you please.” He sipped for a moment, the only noise the swishing of Rebeka’s skirt as she placed the kettle back in the hearth. “Rebeka, has Katherine banned you from the library?”

“I’m banned from the library only during the day, Logan,” she said, taking a seat at the table. “I bring the books and maps here to read. It’s not too difficult.” She rubbed her neck and cleared her throat.

Logan browsed the books and maps on the table while Rebeka spoke. His hand fell on the journal and Rebeka’s heart thumped as he picked it up and looked at her in surprise. “I see you have the maps of the lightning strikes.”

Logan pointed to the various strike marks. “Arik wanted them documented.”

He waited a heartbeat and let the map fall to the table. “I want to talk to you about these,” he told her. “And Letty’s diaries.” Logan placed his hand tenderly on the book.

Rebeka looked at him closely. With his head bent and his shoulder slumped, he looked like he’d lost his best friend. Perhaps he had.

She took a deep breath. There was a haunted look in his eyes, a seriousness she found surprising. She didn’t remember ever seeing him without a smile even in battle. “What do you want to know?”

“Where did you find them? The books were burned beyond recognition.” His haunted expression was gone. The smile had not returned.

“I found them when I cleaned the cottage.” She let out her breath and relaxed. She didn’t want to tell him about the hiding place, not yet.

“Here in the cottage?” He got up and paced the room. “What exactly are you looking for? No, how can you read them? They’re in a special cipher.”

“The writing’s easy to read. It’s a combination of Pict, Ogham and runes.” She changed the subject. “I’m looking for any references she may have made about the weather. Jeannie told me everyone thought Leticia protected the land. I hoped to find what she did and perhaps if she saw or gathered anything about what destroyed it.”

“Jeannie told you that?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry, am I—”

He interrupted her. “No, no. It’s just that…” He raked his hand through his thick hair, a habit he shared with his brother. “Where did you learn to read the symbols?”

“My father taught me when I was a child. When I attended the university, I learned even more. Leticia’s symbols did surprise me. They’re not the standard runes.

“In Leticia’s journal she documents many things out of the ordinary. Information on the weather must be here too.” Rebeka figured there was a good possibility she would find the way to go back. Leticia filled her journal with…well magic. There was nothing else to call it.

“Logan, if you had information you didn’t want anyone to see, where would you put it?”

“Not in a book for all to see. I understand what you are saying. You’re correct. A personal journal would be the best place, especially if it is written so no one but you could read it.”

“There are sections I find easy to read but there are others where she rambles and it appears to be nonsense.”

“She was lucid and writing in her journal until her death. She wrote in puzzles to protect what she wrote. Rebeka, have you told anyone about finding them?”

“No one knows about them.”

“Good, no one must know. Everyone thinks they were destroyed.”