The Court of Love

Chapter One

The Court of Love, a place where anything could happen. Ha! Katerina stifled the scoff that tried to escape from her mouth. Her heart broken into tiny little shards, she didn’t know why she’d let Magdalena talk her into coming. Admittedly, she did love her dress. The clothes were always a bonus, and she felt a soothing balm overtake her as she stroked the rich burgundy velvet fabric.

Magdalena rested a hand against Kat’s arm. “I have something for you. A little gift.”

Kat raised her eyebrow, “A gift? From you? It’s not enchanted is it?”

Magdalena looked at Kat innocently and blinked her overly large eyes. “I would never dream of enchanting a gift meant for you.” A small pout appeared on her lower lip. “You’ve made it perfectly clear how you feel about my craft.”

“More like craftiness.” They both laughed.

Magdalena held out her tiny hand. A velvet box that matched the color of Kat’s dress sat in her palm. “Go on. Take it.”

Kat hesitated for only a moment.

“Come on Kat! We haven’t got all day.” She shoved the box towards Kat.

Reaching out, Kat closed her hand over the case and slowly opened the top.  Her eye caught the glint of sunlight through the heart-shaped  pendant. The rays illuminated small garnet gems that had been inset. Kat’s heart sped up as her fingers brushed over the gold filigree. “It’s lovely.”

“And very old. Trust me on this one, you don’t want to lose it.” Magdalena reached across the seat and lifted the pendant out of the box. “Turn around.”

Kat twisted and lifted the heavy weight of her hair from her neck. Magdalena clasped the necklace chain and smoothed Kat’s hair back into place.

“There, now we are ready.”

The heart-shaped pendant glistened just above the swell of her breasts. Kat waited for a moment, but nothing else seemed to happen. It was just a pretty necklace. Good, Kat thought. She didn’t need her witchy friend trying to fix her. She didn’t need fixing. Things were just fine. She swiped at the water that had gathered on the corner of her eye and pasted on a smile. “Thanks. Let’s go.”

The Court of Love was already in full swing, and Kat’s eyes took in the visual feast before her. She loved indoor events. The weather had cooperated with them, and it appeared that the fencing tournament was well underway. Eight erics had been laid out, fighting arenas, where the fencers were paired off into each one dressed in their Sixteenth Century finery of doublets and poufy shirts which made flashes of blue, red, gold, and green as they parried and thrust their weapons.  The entryway to the building was located next to where they fought, and Kat couldn’t help the real smile that spread across her face.  She loved to watch them. She took Magdalena’s arm in excitement as they approached the pathway next to the erics.

“Where’s the feast?”

“Below.” Magdalena gestured to the path where it veered off down a ramp to the lower section of the building.

Kat had a strange desire to stay and watch the fencers, but Magdalena tugged on her arm and they started to head down the ramp.

“Hold!” The cry went up to all the fighters signaling that something had happened and they were to take a knee until “lay on” was called again signaling all was safe. Kat and Magdalena both glanced up to the fighting erics curious as to what had happened.  Together they watched a lone fencer strode over to the fence line where they stood. He glanced down at them for a moment. His dark green eyes lit with some emotion Kat couldn’t quite identify, his gaze met hers.

With a leap, he cleared the high fence and landed on the path in front of them.  Kat’s hand flew to her chest where the pendant rested and her fingers curled around the gold heart. The man’s full mouth rose in a charming, wolf-like grin. He sank down on one knee in front of her and held up his hand. Kat reached out gingerly and placed her palm in his. The warmth of his bare skin closed around hers. He continued to meet her gaze and Kat felt warmth spread throughout her body.

His hair was black and cut short, as though he might be in the military. Her eyes made a full inventory. Broad shoulders, and great arms - Kat had a thing for strong arms, and emerald-colored eyes that glinted with promise.

He leaned forward and brushed his lips gently over her knuckles. “Milady, if I may be so bold. Your beauty outshines the stars.” He rose in place, and only then slowly relinquished her hand. He turned and leapt back over the barricade. With a quick glance back over his shoulder, he flashed Kat  a grin and called, “Lay on!”

His opponent didn’t waste any time, and the bout continued. Kat sucked in a deep breath.

“That gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, ‘a heaving bosom,’” Magdalena giggled beside her with a glance toward Kat’s chest.

A laugh escaped her lips. “I suppose you’re right.”

Magdalena tugged on her arm. “Come on. It’s freezing out here.”

The bite of February licked at their exposed skin above the squared necklines of their gowns. Snow had fallen earlier that day, and Kat had the strange thought that nature was covering old wounds. Perhaps in a way, she was right. Mother Nature had a way of taking care of its own. The ground was covered in a blanket of white pure and unblemished.  It would be nice to go back to a time when
she
was unblemished.  Kat sucked in another deep breath and started down the ramp. As her foot came down, her shoe slipped and she felt herself fall.

Chapter Two

“Do you think she’s okay?” A concerned voice that Kat didn’t recognize whispered above her.

“I don’t know. Let’s take her inside, and the physician can look her over.” The voice above her was deep and laced with curiosity.  She felt herself lifted in strong arms. Kat tried to lift her eyelids, but they were heavy and she couldn’t seem to pry them open. 

“Where did she come from?” The other person asked, as they walked beside them.

“Don’t know. It is strange.”

“I’ll get the physician.” She heard footsteps running away.

They must be inside. Kat felt the stillness of the air around them. The man lowered her onto a soft surface, and her eyelids fluttered open as he ran a finger down her cheek.

“Well, hello.” A grin lifted the corner of his mouth and a dimple appeared. She knew this man, but she couldn’t remember why. Her head ached when she tried to sit up. “Don’t try to move. You’ve had a nasty fall.”

Kat closed her eyes and lifted her hand to her head. She winced as her fingers brushed over a large goose-egg on the back of her scalp. A large hand enclosed hers and her eyes opened to meet his. She felt her heart speed up as he leaned close.

“Where did you come from?” His thumb rubbed circles on her palm, and she felt dizzy.

She must still be at the event. Where was Magdalena? “Seattle.”

His hand tightened on hers for the briefest of moments and her eyes snapped open to meet his skeptical gaze. He’d sat back and looked her over. “I have never heard of such a place.”

Great, the man was in character. She must have hit her head harder than she thought. “Look, do you know where my friend is? I think I should go.”

As she tried to rise, his other hand pressed her back onto the settee where she lay. The movement put him leaning over her. She felt the attraction between them as a tangible string that was about to snap. The feeling rubbed against her and she felt defiant and restless. She didn’t want to spend the whole event laying down. His gaze drifted to her lips and then back to her eyes.

“You’re injured, and obviously confused. You will stay here.” He was obviously used to being obeyed. “Who is this friend you speak of?”

“Magdalena. She should be here somewhere.” Kat’s eyes searched the room. It appeared to be an anti-chamber, or a private meeting room. She didn’t recall seeing any side rooms like this one on the building where they were. Confusion started to set in.

“You mean the witch? You’re friends with the witch?” He dropped her hand as though it burned him and stood up.

“She’s not a witch, she’s my friend. What are you talking about?”

His gaze had turned assessing as he watched her, and Kat felt cold inside as though she had lost something important before she knew what it was.

“The only Magdalena around here is the witch, Magdalena Valagytha.”

Kat’s mind spun. She tried to think. The last thing she remembered was her foot slipping on the ice. “What day is it?”

One of his dark eyebrows rose slashing across his forehead. “St. Valentine’s Day. February 14
th
.”

She waived a dismissive hand. “Yes, I know that part. I meant what year?”

“It is the year of our lord, fifteen hundred forty-seven.”

Kat wiped a hand across her face. Time-travel, just great. She was going to kill Magdalena. Again, she tried to rise. Her head ached, but she made it into a sitting position. “I have to see her.”

“You can’t.”

“Why not?” Kat met his gaze defiantly. Her head might be spinning, but she needed to have words with her old friend.

“Because she is imprisoned below stairs.”

“What do you mean imprisoned?”

“Just that. She is a heretic, and unless she renounces her claims to the dark arts, she will burn. I hope you are not in league with her.”