Mercy's Prince (25 page)

Shannon
turned to Merry with tears in her eyes.

“Saying
‘thank you’ does not seem like nearly enough, but I thank you from the bottom
of my heart. His fever seemed dangerously high.”

Merry
nodded. Valerian guessed from her somber look that the babe had been in greater
danger than even Shannon realized. He helped Merry back to her room and would
not leave her until she’d climbed into the bed.

“When
there is daylight enough,” he said quietly, “you’ll have to tell me what really
happened in there.”

Wearily
Merry nodded and tucked her hands under her cheek. When her eyes closed,
Valerian shut the door.

He
wanted to return to the scroll and finish it, but he decided he’d better get
some sleep, too. Even after snuffing the candle and making himself comfortable
in the bed, his thoughts would not let him sleep. He thought about Merry’s
incredible Healing gift. He could envision great trouble for her as more people
discovered it. She would be in such great demand that her life would be at
risk.

If
only he or Eldred could find proof she was a royal cousin, then his father
could make her his ward. She would be protected for the rest of her life both
from unscrupulous people who would see her gift as a means of gaining wealth
and from the press of desperately sick and injured people who would endanger
her health.

But
even if she was not a royal cousin, he had already pledged, as a memorial to
Gabriel, to watch out for her. He would do all in his power to keep that
promise.

***

Caelis
found Hanalah in the castle garden. She left her maid and glided toward him.

“Hello,
Caelis.” The rose colored gown she wore clung to her and outlined her shape.

Caelis’
eyes were drawn to her voluptuous figure.

“Hello,
cousin. Where is my uncle?”

“Father
is hunting with a small party. Did he not ask you to go?”

“Perhaps
he did, but I was occupied.” Caelis sat on a bench in the shade of a large tree.
Hanalah came closer.

“And
what could be more important than hunting with Father?” She sat beside him,
pressing her thigh against his.

“There
is other sport beside hunting deer.” His gaze was drawn to her plunging
neckline. Her perfume wafted toward him, made him heady.

“What
sport is that?” She stared boldly at him.

“Sport
that you will never know with this prince you wish to marry.” He glanced back
to make sure the maid wasn’t watching and leaned closer. She brought her lips
almost to his.

“Why
do you say that?” Her breath was warm and sweet.

“Because
when you want pleasure from him, he will instead read to you from the Holy
Writ.” Caelis growled in his throat. “Didn’t you know Valerian’s only desire is
to be a monk?”

“It
doesn’t matter what he used to want.” She straightened, smiling in that way
that both infuriated and intoxicated Caelis. “He will not be able to resist me.”

Caelis
stood, tightening his fists. Hanalah rose from the bench and slid her hands
around Caelis’ arm.

“Why,
cousin, you are not jealous, are you?” Her eyes sparkled with mirth.

Of
course, he was jealous! It was bad enough the whelp had taken Waryn’s place;
must he take Waryn’s intended bride, too? Not if Caelis could prevent it. And
he
would
prevent it.

Regaining
control of himself, Caelis stepped back, took Hanalah’s hand, and chastely
kissed it.

“I
want only what you deserve, dear cousin, and that is to be queen someday.” Now
he stared boldly at her and was gratified to see her smirk of triumph change to
uncertainty. Then she curtsied, breaking eye contact, and returned to her maid.

Caelis
let her go. He inhaled deeply and squared his shoulders.

“Go,
cousin, dream of ensaring your princeling,” he murmured to the air. “But you
will
never
be queen.” Then Caelis strode from the garden, more
determined than ever to bring his plans to fruition.

After
Healing the babe in the middle of the night, waking early was more difficult
than Merry anticipated. But she was determined to make her special bread for
Shannon and Ruddy, and Valerian and Kieran, too.

Not
until she’d made the dough and covered it to let it rise did she hear stirrings
from the back of the manor house. She walked into the hall just as Shannon
entered from the doorway to the sleeping chambers, carrying Nathan.

“Good
morrow, Merry. Have you been awake long?”

Merry
nodded, smiling. She saw with relief the baby’s healthy color.

“I
can’t thank ye enough for your help with Nathan.” She gazed down at him, her
face full of tenderness.

Merry
wished she could speak to the older woman. She beckoned, leading Shannon to the
kitchen.

“What
have ye been up to in the last hours?” Then Shannon saw the dough and nodded. “Baking
bread, I see. Aren’t you coming with Ruddy and me to the winter festival? There
will be more food than we can possibly eat. Since Nathan is well now, I plan to
leave him here with an old dame from the village who prefers a quiet evening. Elsbeth,
of course, looks forward to the festival.”

Merry
shrugged. She would rather stay here and tend the babe herself, but there was
no way to tell Shannon until Valerian had awakened.

“Something
else that happens during winter festival is the competition. There are several
categories to enter, and judges award first, second, and third place in each
category. This year I’m entering a needlepoint that Ruddy made a frame for.” Shannon
went back into the hall and opened a large carry sack. She lifted out a framed
picture.

Merry
gasped. It was smaller than Eldred’s tapestry, but there was a similar
fire-breathing dragon confronted by a lone soldier on horseback. The details
were painstakingly rendered with shimmering colored threads. It was beautiful,
and Merry had no way to tell Shannon how much she admired it.

“I
started on this before Nathan was born, even before Ruddy was injured. At first
I was afraid it would hurt him more to look at a reminder of what he’d been,
but I think in time he will be glad to remember. After all, no one can take
away the memories of his service to the king and all the great deeds he
performed as a knight.” Shannon grew quiet, and Merry saw tears in her eyes.

She
laid a hand on the woman’s arm, frustrated that she could not offer words of
comfort.

“Thank
you, Merry.” Shannon wiped her eyes. “Has your dough risen enough, do you
think?” Merry nodded. “And you’ve fired the oven? Then why don’t you finish
your bread and I’ll drag Elsbeth out of bed to make some porridge.”

Merry
returned to the kitchen and found the large oven paddle. She punched down the
dough and divided it into twelve small sections. She rolled out three of the
pieces into long thin ropes and braided them together, placing the loaf on the
paddle. When she finished she grabbed the handle and pushed the paddle with the
four braided loaves into the hot oven.

She
was cleaning the work table when Shannon and Elsbeth entered the kitchen. Merry
held out her hands to Shannon, and the woman gave her Nathan so she could help
with breakfast.

“The
men are stirring, so we need to get food on the table. Your bread smells good,
Merry.” Shannon pulled out the paddle to check. “What beautiful loaves!  They’re
nearly done.” She pushed them back into the oven and turned to Merry.

“One
category in the festival’s competition is baking. Why don’t you enter your
bread? If they taste as good as they look, you’re sure to win a prize.”

Merry
shook her head. She had meant for the bread to be eaten here. But Shannon
persisted.

“You
don’t have to enter all four. We can eat two and you can take the rest to the
festival.”

Valerian
appeared in the doorway.

“Good
morrow, ladies. What smells so delicious in here?”

Merry
rushed over to him, wringing her hands.

I
made some bread, and now Shannon wants me to enter it in a competition at the
festival. But I can’t go to a festival dressed like this.

He
spoke to Shannon.

“Lady
MacNeil, where in the village might we find some clothes for Merry?”

“That’s
easy, Your Highness,” Shannon said. “Right here.”

“What
do you mean?”

“I
mean that I was a wealthy merchant’s only daughter and he spoiled me with more
clothes than I could ever wear. I used to have a young girl’s figure, and some
of those clothes are sure to fit Merry. We have a few minutes before the
porridge is ready. Come, let’s find something pretty for you to wear to the
festival tonight.”

Merry’s
eyes widened. She met Valerian’s gaze.

I
have never worn anything fine in my life. It’s a little frightening.

He
leaned closer to her and spoke in a calming tone he’d used with her before.

“I
don’t think you have to worry about fine clothes changing who you are inside.”

I
hope you’re right about that.
Though she was still apprehensive, she
appreciated his encouragement nonetheless.

“Come,
Merry.” Shannon beckoned from the doorway while speaking to her maid. “Take
that bread out of the oven now, Elsbeth, and don’t forget to stir the porridge.”

***

While
the ladies were occupied, Ruddy and Kieran joined Valerian in the hall. Elsbeth
made a lot of noise setting the table. Finally, Shannon appeared with a
satisfied smile, cradling her sleeping infant.

“Are
you gentlemen ready to meet our new lady?”

Valerian
shared a glance with Kieran, who grinned. Ruddy gestured impatiently.

“Well,
bring her in, woman.”

Shannon
turned back and beckoned.

“Come,
Merry, don’t be shy.”

But
she hesitated on the threshold, her head down. When she stepped into the room Merry
lifted her head as she came forward, slowly.

Valerian
could only stare at her, stunned. She wore a pale green overdress with cut
sleeves that revealed a new white chemise underneath. Instead of her stained
scarf, a white cap with embroidered trim was tied under her chin. On her feet,
she wore green slippers.

He
had never before realized what a transformation a change of clothing could
affect. The uncertain village maid was no more. Merry had become a poised and
lovely noblewoman. But now that he thought about it, her grace, her innate
nobility had always been present. He’d just never noticed as he did now.

When
she came close enough, she met Valerian’s stare.

I
have never worn shoes before. They are so soft, it’s like walking on a cloud.

He
smiled at her child-like delight. It was one of the qualities he liked most
about her.  

Kieran
overflowed with admiration.

“Ye
look absolutely beautiful, Merry.”

She
blushed, which only increased the effect of her new appearance.

“Yes,”
Valerian conceded, glad Merry could not read his thoughts, for he couldn’t say
what he really felt, that he would never look at her the same way again. “You wash
up rather nicely.”

Merry
cocked her head, perplexed.

Are
you teasing me?

“Of
course I am.”

Kieran
pulled out the bench for Merry, but she made as if to go to the kitchen.

“Sit
down, Merry,” said Shannon. “Elsbeth will bring your bread.”

“Ye
made bread, did you, Merry?” Kieran grinned.

She
nodded and sat on the bench. Kieran sat beside her and Valerian on her other
side. Elsbeth brought in a platter with two of Merry’s braided loaves. They
were golden brown.

“What
unusual bread,” said Ruddy. “I wonder how ye did that, lass.” He poured water
into a cup for Valerian and handed it to him.

Valerian
glanced down at Merry, and she met his eyes.

I
braided the dough the same way I braid my hair, with three strands.

“It
puts me in mind of the Trinity,” Valerian said. “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”

She
nodded, and he
Saw
her surprise that he knew about the Trinity.

That’s
why our braid has three strands.

Shannon
held a long knife with a serrated blade poised over one of the loaves.

“Oh,
Merry, I cannot bear to cut into such a work of art. You may have to slice it.”

Merry
stood and held out her hand for the knife. Valerian watched her deftly cut one
loaf into five equal sections, then the other. She set the knife on the table
and sat down again.

Valerian
picked up a piece of bread. It was still warm, and the most delicious aroma
wafted from the soft center. He took a bite, and it almost melted in his mouth
with a faintly sweet taste. He chewed slowly, savoring the texture, as well as
the flavor. Kieran sighed happily.

“This
is delicious, Merry,” said the squire. “I can die a happy man.”

Merry
ducked her head, but Valerian saw her pleased smile.

“Yes,”
said Shannon thoughtfully, “you must enter this bread in the competition. But
tell me, how did you manage that hint of sweetness?”

Valerian
waited until Merry met his gaze.

Please
tell Shannon it’s a bit of honey.

Ruddy
didn’t say a word. He just started on his second thick piece. Shannon got his
attention.

“What
do you think of the bread, Ruddy?”

He
didn’t answer until he finished chewing the bite in his mouth.

“What
do you think I’m thinking, woman? I’m thinking you should learn how to make
this bread!”

***

Caelis
entered the barracks in Lord Reed’s castle and saw his men lounging around,
some drinking ale, others playing games of chance. In one corner, Drew sat with
the boy from the Brethren village. Caelis started toward them when one of the
others caught his attention.

“Sir,
there’s someone to see you. He says you were looking for him.” The man
indicated an alcove to the side of the larger room.

Caelis
frowned until he realized who it had to be. He stepped into the alcove and saw
a man sitting on a stool with his back against the wall. He stood, and Caelis
had to look up to meet the man’s gaze.

He
had a weathered face, worn leathers, and riding boots that had seen much use. His
thin hair didn’t completely cover the thick scar where his right ear had once
been.

“Are
you Sir Caelis?” His voice was raspy.

“Yes.
Are you from Orin Swift?”

The
man nodded once. He stared boldly at Caelis.

“He
said you’d pay well.”

“Twenty
gold pieces,” said Caelis.

“Who’s
the mark?”

“Prince
Valerian.” Caelis studied his face.

“Swift
didn’t say it was a royal,” the man said with a frown.

Caelis
lowered his voice.

“Swift
did say he would find someone who sympathized with our aims. Are you with us,
or no?” For a moment, Caelis thought the man would refuse. But at last he
nodded.

“I
don’t know him by sight.”

Caelis
made sure no one was listening.

“He
is your height but slender, long dark hair, beardless. By now he’s probably in
the village of Forestglade with his squire, Kieran MacLachlan, who is shorter
but also has long hair. Take care of them both.”

“What
method? And what proof do you require?”

“MacLachlan,
doesn’t matter. But the other, bring me his head. You may cut up his body into
small pieces and feed them to the crows.” He smiled. “When you bring me his
head, I will give you the twenty gold pieces.”

They
struck hands, and the one-eared man left without a word.