Viking Fire (12 page)

“Wha—why?” Kaireen stuttered. Her face flushed red.

“Oak galls dull the color. No one will want to wear this bright uneven color when this dries.” She held the soaking fabric of a splotching purplish blue and the others laughed. “Looks like dumb peasant work. Now, Rachel will give you directions. Try to follow them correctly this time.” Rhiannon snickered as she sauntered away.

Laughter echoed as she climbed the stairs with the others following after her.

Kaireen grasped the drenched fabric and tried to hurl it across the room. She was aiming at the far wall, but it was too heavy and sloshed on the stone floor instead.

“That will leave a stain.” Rachel twisted one of her blond braids. She bit her lip as if concerned she would take the punishment for it.

“I will tell Rhiannon the truth. The spot was from my hand.” Her fingertip of her clean hand touched the girl’s freckled nose.

Sunset on Kaireen’s last day with Rhiannon and nothing the woman said or did could affect her mood. Her punishment was nearly done.

The stench did not smell as strong as her first day. However, she begged Elva for herbs to take away the smell upon her skin and hair. It was as if Rhiannon haunted her with the stench of her work sticking to her skin like the vats of dye.

Supper with guests gagging around her proved embarrassing. Kaireen protested she had taken two baths, but nevertheless, was ordered to her quarters to eat her meal.

Rachel, though a young girl, taught Kaireen enough of the important rules to avoid any further major mistakes. The oak galls worked on the first garments she had dyed. Now the color was no longer patchy or blinding. After she wrung out a swath of linen, she hung it across one of the lines for drying. Since the garment was still ill suited for a noble, Kaireen had asked to keep it. Elva could sew the material into something useful and it would be a reminder to Kaireen how hard she had worked.

Rhiannon left for the moment to tend to her mistress’ call.

Everyone relaxed after she had gone. Laughter echoed among the women working with the woad dye.

Kaireen hummed a tune. The song she and Bram had first danced to. When she realized which song it was, she switched to another. With the back of her hand she wiped sweat off her brow. Thankfully Bram would not want to hold her close since she smelled like rotten fruit.

Rachel sat half-way up the stairs, twirling one of her blond braids. She was the lookout for everyone. If Rhiannon opened the creaking wood door, everyone would grow silent, working.

Rachel gasped jumping from the stone steps. “She comes.”

A woman in the middle of a song about a man with rubies on his fingers snapped her mouth shut. Ladies who danced now rushed back to their vats to check the consistency or soak their bolts of fabric in their mordant.

The footsteps on the stairs clanged through the chambers like distant church bells warned of impending disaster.

Across from her, a woman managed a weak smile. Her long face stretched forward as if her ears burned to hear.

On the stairs a man coughed and the women screamed.

“Rachel, see who comes.” Kaireen shifted her weight. Why did a man coming frighten the others?

Whispers rose as Rachel scampered to the stairs. Moments later she came running back. “’Tis Bram. He has come looking for you.”

Women crowded around her.

“You must stop him.” The woman with the elongated face squeezed her arm. “Take him back upstairs.”

Kaireen pried her fingers off and then smoothed her grey skirts.

“Why should I? The stench alone would keep anyone at bay not forced to endure this.”

Rachel spoke wringing her hands. “If a man comes anywhere around the dyes, it ruins them.” Her eyes watered. “Rhiannon will punish all of us for this.”

“Ruin the dyes?” Kaireen glanced around her and the others nodded their heads. “Nonsense.” But she saw fear in their eyes.

They stepped away from her, mumbling.

Kaireen waited with her hands on her hips. The footsteps on the stairs sounded louder.

The throng of women rushed her at once. They whirled her around and then pushed her to the stairs.

“Let me be.” Kaireen struggled against them, but there were too many.

Round the bend, she saw Bram’s shadow. Despite the obscurity of their fears, she would not allow them to humiliate her in front of him. The thought of debasement sent knots into her stomach.

“All right. I will go and make him leave. Let go of me.”

The women obeyed. Some descended back down, but a few remained with their arms crossed.

Kaireen raced the stairs. Finding Bram, she clutched his hand and tugged.

But he stood there with a grin on his face. The dimple in his cheek was so strong she wanted to kiss it. Blast it, she needed more time away from him to rid herself of thoughts of kissing him.

Instead, she brushed a strand of her auburn hair from her face. “Why are you standing there?”

“I missed you.” His blue eyes shimmered.

“Miss someone else. You need to get away from here.” She jerked on his hand, but he would not budge. Then he grasped her around the waist, hauling her to him.

She bit her lip knowing what she must smell like and yet he was still undeterred. One hand held her to him, the other stroked her hair. She felt the heat of him throughout her body.

“Has your wound festered?” she asked, attempting to distract him. “I will tell Elva you need more salve.”

He brushed his lips across hers, making every vat and mordant vanish leaving only his smell of leather, sea and the hint of mead on his breath filling her senses. His tongue wet her lips, sending shivers down through her fingertips.

His kiss became hungrier, more intense as she opened for him. Their tongues stroked each other’s. Kaireen’s hands grasped his hair.

Bram smiled against her lips. Then he pulled away from her. Their gasping breaths appeared like wisps of white smoke between them.

Pretending as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened, she brushed her grey skirts. She hoped her shaking legs would not give away how he made her want to rip his clothes and feel his skin beneath her fingers.

She felt Bram’s stare. He leaned against the wall, the grin bigger than before.

“What?” She placed her hands on her hips.

“Your kiss speaks more to me than your words.” He winked at her gasp.

“Sir, you take far too many liberties.” Rebellious to her mind, her heart thumped inside her chest, echoing through her body.

He tilted his head to the side. Oh lord, did he hear it too?

“Mmm.” The deep vibration of his voice sent wetness to her loins. “I have taken too many liberties with you.”

She stared at him opened mouthed.

He chuckled, “I do not know what possessed me to think I could wait a fortnight to be with you.”

“I think it’s best that we cease kissing or anything else. I am not a wanton and since I will not be married to you, I won’t be seduced by your lips or body any longer.” Wanting to kiss him had lodged deep inside her and was spreading like a sickness. Time she lanced it out. She climbed the stairs. It would be agonizing, but it was better now than later.

She did not hear Bram’s footsteps behind her.

“Well?” She spun around and saw Bram was where she had left him.

“Here I stand, waiting for you to admit the truth as your heart feels it.” He looked at her.

“Admit what? That you are an arrogant fool?”

“Tell me you have missed me too.” His tone grew serious. “Say the words, or we will stay here all night.”

“Did you not hear what I said?”

“I heard a lie that you want to be truth.” He leaned against the wall studying her. “Why is it so hard for you just to admit you have a fondness for me, no matter how small?”

She wiped her hands on her wool dress. Sweat trickled down her back. Normally, she would let him stay there all night. However, the likelihood of Rhiannon returning increased with each moment.

She could not risk further punishment for herself or the other servants. Already she fantasized about holding Rhiannon’s head in a vat of woad until her eyelashes and teeth turned blue. If Rhiannon found him here and vented her anger on them all, Kaireen may not be able to smother her own fiery temper any longer.

No doubt she would have to give her penance for those thoughts with Friar Connell. She clenched her fist and straightened her back. “I may have missed you like a cat misses a flea.” She snapped. The admittance of her heart loving him angered her. Why should she be the one to fall in love? Why could she not stop before she fell too far?

The muscle in his square jaw twitched.

She caught his intent as it crossed his face and she backed away. “No, nothing more.”

In two strides he barreled down on her. His arms locked her in place. “Admit you long for me as I do for you.” His breath nuzzled her neck.

She lost her balance, but clutched his arms. “I told you, we will have no wedding.” She lifted her chin.

“At least admit you long for me.” He kissed her neck, then the line of her jaw. “We will not leave until you do.” As if he noticed her hesitation. “I think Rhiannon is nearly done with your mother’s dressing.”

She looked over her shoulder, half expecting the wooden door at the top to creak open at his words.

“Fine.” She glanced back into his blue eyes smoldering with the hint of more than kisses. “I long for you to be gone.”

He frowned, but then stroked the golden stubble on his chin. “I’ll take the first of your words as a beginning.” He let her lead him to the stairs.

At the top, she opened the door a crack to see. No sign of Rhiannon. Shoving him past the door, she then pulled the door closed behind them. It was like trying to move a boulder that even the wildest storm could not budge.

Kaireen leaned against the door. Bram kissed the tip of her nose.

“I know how you feel.” The dimple appeared in his cheek again. “I am as breathless as you.” his dimple twitched, “because I cannot wait for the day of our wedding dance either.”

He strutted away chuckling. Chasing after him, she hiked her skirts out of her way.

It was past dark when Kaireen and Rachel nearly finished their chores. She worried the girl would not be able to stay standing for much longer.

“To bed with you.” She shooed her up the stairs. “Thank you for your help. But I can sweep the floors alone.”

Rachel answered her in a yawn and then climbed the stairs.

With a huff, Kaireen grabbed the broom. She had been here too long. The stench she smelled upon first arriving did not seem so strong. Still it was as if Rhiannon’s presence stalked her everywhere.

She was in middle of sweeping when the door at the top of the stairs banged open.

The sound made her jump.

Did Rachel stumble through the door?

“Kaireen.” It was Bram. Just her luck, Rhiannon may come back and have her work all night because of his intrusion.

What now? Did he not have enough time earlier to baffle her? She threw the broom down determined not to let him embrace her. She would be resilient.

They met on the stairs. When he did not make a move for her, she bit down the disappointment that he did not take her into his arms. Hadn’t she said she wanted him to stop? Why did she feel distraught that he might obey?

“Have you seen Elva?”

Is this what he bothered her for, her handmaid’s whereabouts? “No, have not seen her for some time. She and Rhiannon dislike one another, so Elva doesn’t come to the dye chambers if she can avoid it. Not to mention the stench.”

His eyes grew dark, and Kaireen wished to take the bite out of her words. “’Tis your sister, Shay. The babe comes too early.”

No longer caring about Rhiannon and the punishment she would receive for leaving her chores unfinished, Kaireen pushed past him to the stairs.

• • •

Inside the bedchamber, her sister lay pale and dripping with sweat. Pain radiated through her face as Kaireen rushed to her side. The midwife shook her head when Kaireen glanced at her.

Her mother wiped Shay’s brow.

“Douglas always wanted a son,” she grunted.

“Aye, but he would want you both healthy,” her mother added.

Muscles in her face cramped and she screamed. The sound grated across Kaireen’s bones. Never did she want to have a child now.

Still the babe would not be born, nor did Shay’s pains ease.

“’Tis too much for her. I fear she and the babe will pass,” the midwife whispered.

“No!” Shay screamed as another spasm tore through her body. “My son is strong and ready.”

“When did you feel the babe kick last?” the midwife asked.

Shay did not answer, but tears streamed down her face.

Silence choked the air. None spoke, but continued to help Shay push the child from her womb. An hour passed before each stared at Shay’s son.

The cord was wrapped around his neck. His blue skin showed he did not breathe. The midwife eased the cord from his neck.

“Let me hold my son.”

The midwife did not answer her, but rubbed the babe’s arms and legs as if to wake him.

“Give me my son.”

With a sob, the midwife placed the lifeless child in Shay’s arms. “Sorry milady, but he did not make the journey.”

Shay cooed to the child as if he were alive. “See, he has his father’s chin.”

Kaireen cried. It was unfair the suffering her sister had to endure. She wished to take the burden of her pain away.

“Let us clean him for the burial,” her mother soothed.

“He is all I have left of my Douglas. You will not take him.”

“What of Megan?” Kaireen asked, but she was answered with a scowl.

They let her cuddle and speak to her son while the midwife urged the afterbirth out, and then cleaned the birthing.

“Shay.” Her mother brushed back her daughter’s blond hair. “Let him go. Douglas waits to greet his son, too.”

With words of encouragement, Shay let the midwife take her son. She sat watching them leave.

Then she rocked back and forth in the bed, singing a child’s song of mourning.