Telepathy of Hearts (32 page)

The
re
was no one to hear her, apart from a screech owl. That further scattered her nerves as it called as if a banshee to its mate.

Restored to her feet, Eleanor tried to give herself confidence by bringing to mind her mother
's words when she succumbed to the plague and lay on her death bed.

“
There will be days little Eve when you fair feel life is too rough. And save hell, you may fair feel that you can endure no worse. I say you have been brave well these days as any knight. Hold this in your heart and think thee of it when pain doth visit.
”

“I can do this,
” Eleanor muttered to not disturb the
allure
guards.

“Whhooaa wwhhhoaa aw,
” she moaned. Her face filled with glee as the guards spooked, thinking the Grey Lady preyed upon them. Then she heard it. Just what she desi
red so, like song to her ears
—t
he shriek of Mother Bea
r
threat
ening
some poor soul with her birch. Eleanor climbed
steadily down from the allure, t
hen onto the wooden solar roof.

Banging her fists she shouted,
“Mother Bear,
'tis me
… Mother Bear
'tis me, Eleanor.
”

Lady Bruce opened the door just in time to see Eleanor skidding off the low roof. She landed in the snow.

“Oh Mother Bear I need thee so,
” Eleanor animated

“Slow down and tell me.
”

Encouraged inside, Eleanor started to relay her story. That Matheus was back in the castle. Fevered. And that Sir
Pike had taken charge, forbidding her to nurse him.

“Goody, get Godwin. Tell the guards if they ask why you seek him that I have fallen and my ankle is torn. Tell them I am in need of comfrey.
”

Taking Goody to one side she whispered,
“When you are with him tell him to prepare for a fever
…he will know what I require. Oh and tell him ten of his best men, his Master
's life depends on it.
”

As Goody went to leave
,
Lady Bruce said,
“If they find Eleanor is missing, lie and tell them she spills the babe early and rests with me.
” Lady Bruce turned to Eleanor. Facing her, she rested her hands upon her stepdaughter
's shoulders and said,
“I knew your Mother well.
'Tis her who begged me to marry your Father. She would nay let such as
Pike take your place near your husband far as Atticus said,
‘Don
't give up; chances are your best kiss, your hardest laugh, and your greatest day are still to come
.
'
”

Shaking the shoulders she held lightly she continued.
“What pray are thee, Eleanor of Lincoln
—mouse or She-
Wolf? Be strong of voice, and speak with guts. Godwin will help ye
…for if we fair quick rally and dismiss the leach man, we yet may save your man.
”

Goody returned with Godwin and ten of his best men.
“Now you will take your orders from Lady Eleanor. As the Earl
's wife she alone is Mistress of this castle whence the Master is unable,
” Lady Bruce instructed.

The men nodded, swords in hand as they awaited their Mistress
's instruction.

“Lady Bruce there is ice on the way. I have yarrow and silk thread,
” Godwin told Lady Bruce. Turning to Eleanor he bowed and said,
“Your instruction, Master?
” In calling her Master, Godwin was acknowledging that she was now in charge of not only Lincoln
Castle, but as her man of arms, she now controlled Matheus
's men.

Eleanor leading, they set off to Matheus
's chambers. As she came to the central bailey her passage was barred. Godwin came to her side and addressed the guards.
“This is the Master of you, and she asks you stand down or face the consequences.
”

Casting their weapons down, they dropped to one knee, bowing to their female Master as she walked past.
“Open the door Sir
Pike, for ye cannot deny me my rightful seat beside my husband
's bed.
” As she spoke strong and bold, she touched her chest. Resting her hand upon her heart she silently said,
“Hear me Matheus I am here. You say there is telepathy in hearts, so open yours and listen well
… I come; all will be well.

With no reply, she instructed Godwin and he broke the down the door. Inside there was a gathering of medics, priests, the leach man and soldiers.
“Sir
Pike, stand your men down. For I am Lord of this
Castle in my husband
's stead.
” Once more Eleanor
's voice rang out, confident and strong. For once her body did not betray her true nerves.

Swords were drawn. But no blood was shed. Godwin and his men made quick work of the soldiers.
“Master Godwin take that priest and throw him out and come back to remove that blood sucker, the leach man,
” Lady Bruce ordered.

Godwin was delighted to do as he was instructed.
“
'Tis fine to take ye bishop and throw you from this chamber. Old work will aid my Lord, not your prayer nor the blood-
sucking leach man.
” The big
Celt proceeded to do Lady Bruce
's bidding.

Mother Bear set about her work.

Goody was a little shocked and crossed herself.
“
'Tis true then, she is a witch,
” she whispered to Eleanor.

“If she saves my husband, I care not if she courts the devil. And as me thinks you are quite sweet on Godwin and he you, then you better get used to the old ways.
”

Goody blushed and blinked a bit at her mistress and said no more.

Lifting Matheus
's fevered body off the bed. Lady Bruce instructed him stripped and laid upon the ice that had been collected from the moat.
“He is fevered. Infection fights a battle in his body. We must keep him cool to stop his brain boiling
…keep him on the ice.
”

Turning to Eleanor she said,
“
Child sing. For all you
're worth, sing. If he walks between worlds he will not know where to go. In the mists, he can follow your voice.
” Grasping Eleanor
's shoulders. Mother Bear
's eyes were wild she looked every inch the witch she was thought.
“Sing child, sing.
”

“I dreamt it, Mother Bear, I know where he is. Orange and red mist, he was on his knees in it. He asked me to sing but could not he
a
r me.
”

Lady Bruce, nodding, replied,
“That is the heat of his fever. He is lost between this one and the next so sing to guide him home.
”

“Yes Matheus, there is telepathy in hearts. He needs me.
” She opened her mouth and her lark-
like voice flew out.

Lady Bruce washed out his wounds and packed them with yarrow and willow. The injuries that were infection-
free were sewn up by Goody with silk thread.

Addressing Eleanor, Godwin spoke.
“Do you remember, Mistress, you said
next you
'll be telling me God
's a woman?
Well this so to me.
'Tis the goddess I worship, and she is at work here.
”

“How so?
” Goody interrupted

“Look about you. No priest, no leach man, for men kill other men but women bring life in their belly or by their hand.
'Tis woman we should yield to.
”

Goody lifted her eyes. It was a long way up to catch his gaze. Eleanor smiled as she watched and jested,
“Happen you may regret your sweet words, for when she agrees to be your spring bride, she will chide you bitter if you doth not yield, Master Godwin.
”

The parts of Godwin
's face not covered in beard blushed. And a lovely grin broke across the big
Celt
's face. Goody looked like a young maid, coy and shy, batting her lashes back at him. The look of love that passed between them warmed Eleanor.

There had been little cheer these past months and it was good to see hope welcome in spring as she hoped they would be soon be saying goodbye to winter.

Lady Bruce gave Eleanor a little wine and encouraged her to continue to sing.
“
'Twill wet your whistle to aid you sing. For not long can you dally as he is fair rallying to your voice.
”

Once Matheus
's fever broke, Godwin lifted his Master back onto his bed. Eleanor held his head in her arms. Stroking his hair and caressing his cheeks with her gentle touch. She had sung until her voice left her, and now she could hardly speak. Gelert snuggled up to his Mistress and there was a still about the room. Godwin and Goody once more snorted in harmony. One breathed out with a snort and the other breathed in with a grunt.

“At least neither will chide the other for snoring,
” Lady Bruce commented.

Eleanor felt her gaze on her.

“And you wondered why I escaped
…I shared a room with that noise until my marriage. Do you want to talk to me, Mother Bear? I feel as if your eyes are requiring of me?
”

“
'Tis your marriage child
…you have never seen your Lord naked. For I saw your reaction to him.
'Twas not the one of a woman bedded, but a bride not coupled.
” Lady Bruce spoke quietly. There was not judgement nor pity in her voice.

Eleanor wondered what to reply.

Should I deny it and say I was taken?

“I fear
…I said a terrible thing Mother Bear
…for when he did court me I told him that I would never think of him when we coupled.
” Biting her lip, she looked down upon the sweet face that slept, wondering why she was so reluctant to let her mind do what her body desired so.
“I told him my heart had drowned, crashed upon the shore like
my boyish love
. He said that we would ever be joined as he would be in my head as I hated him or in my heart as I loved him.
”

Lady Bruce giggled and replied to her stepdaughter.
“
'Tis a good knight you have child, he has whit, not temper.
”

Eleanor smiled. But her face went sullen
“
'Tis not all
…when
…Sline
…
Richard
,
he
…well I do not know
…if I am a maid.
”

“Does Matheus know this
…is this why he blooded the sheets?
” Lady Bruce had risen and now had her hand upon Eleanor
's face, stroking her, catching the tears that now escaped her eyes.