Wild Is My Love (11 page)

“I cannot help but worry when he is so ill and our land is so overrun with trouble. It distresses me to do nothing to help.”

“Mother is taking care of everything for Prince Alric until he is well. Has she done something to displease you?”

“What could possibly displease me about her actions?” Alysa asked slyly.

“Sometimes Mother can be too stern and demanding. She forgets others have feelings, and she tramples them. She feels that if she does not gain the people’s loyalty, all could be lost while your father ails. Each day she carries out your father’s commands until the Prince is strong enough to give them himself. Even now, at his request, she rides to study the people’s problems for him. Surely you do not wish to take her place and rule for your father? It is a great responsibility. Why do you not spend time at her side to learn all you can before your day comes to rule? How could she object? You are Alric’s daughter, heir to the Crown. I admit that she does have strange ways at times, but you can learn much from her. Surely you can see how very smart she is.”

“Why do you speak such words this morning?” Alysa
asked. Her senses were on full alert to uncover Kyra’s motive.

“We have fought too long because I was jealous of your rank. I feared you would never accept me as your sister. When we were children, Alysa, it was natural for us to quarrel. I was angry when you played with Thisbe instead of me. You two were always together, laughing and having fun, always leaving me alone. You made it appear as if a vassal’s daughter was more important and better than Lord Caedmon’s daughter. None of the other children would play with me if they could play with you. You do not realize how difficult it has been for me to live in the shadow of one as beautiful and highly prized as you are. Many times I vexed you just for spite or to make you notice me and include me. I realize how badly I behaved over the years because of my hurt feelings and injured pride. Now we are women, and it is wrong to continue our childish rivalry, which makes us appear foolish to others. I have recognized and confessed my guilt and meanness; surely that is enough to earn your forgiveness. Even if we cannot become friends, must we remain enemies? Please do not say yes,” Kyra urged.

Alysa did not believe Kyra was being sincere, but she was intrigued by her words. “I have never wished to be your enemy, Kyra. A woman as beautiful and highborn as you has no reason to be jealous of another. I wanted us to live and behave as sisters, but you refused to allow us to get close. I have, always believed you resented me and did not wish to be my sister or friend. Ever since Father called Sir Piaras here to be his trainer of knights after Mother’s death, Thisbe has been my closest friend. You were away with Father and Isobail, and I was all alone. But even though Thisbe and I got along so well, I never thought she was better than you, or you better than her. Rank should never choose one’s friends or sway one’s feelings toward others. I did not know such
things troubled and confused you.” Alysa hoped she did not look as insincere as she felt by speaking such words. “There is much I did not understand, Kyra,” she continued. “If I did things to hurt you, I did not mean to do so, and I ask your forgiveness. I desire peace as much as you do. Can it be that way for us?”

“If we work hard, it can,” Kyra vowed.

Not taken in by her stepsister’s obvious deceit, Alysa smiled and said, “Yes, we will both work hard on our friendship. I am sure peace between us will make our parents happy.” An idea came to mind, one that might lure Gavin to the castle. “Perhaps when Isobail returns, she will allow us to have a large feast and invite all of our friends. We will show them we are good sisters, and all will be happy for us.”

“It is a wonderful plan, Alysa. I will speak to her the moment she returns. Sir Calum is escorting me for a ride. Do you wish to join me? Mother asked me to check on the villagers once more.”

Another of Isobail’s tricks to ingratiate herself with my people, Alysa thought. There was no guessing what that woman was up to with her unexpected journey, but she would seek the reason. “I will go tomorrow if I am feeling better. I pray I am not coming down with the same gripans as Father, but my stomach rebels against me today.”

“Go to bed and let Thisbe tend you closely, little sister. If you are better by morning, we will ride together then.” Oddly, Kyra smiled brilliantly, embraced her, and left the castle.

Alysa dismissed the two crafty women from mind and headed for the kitchen to locate Leitis, to implore the head servant’s secret help with her father. If there was a devious reason why her father was ill, she must discover it, and she realized that the trusted servant might be the one to help her.

She found Leitis giving orders to the other maids and
servants. As she waited for the woman to finish so they could speak privately, Alysa noticed how the head servant’s auburn hair was changing gradually to gray. At forty-eight, Leitis was tall and stout, and possessed hazel eyes that sparkled with life. Sparkled more and more each day, Alysa mused, since Leitis and Piaras were drawing closer and closer. She could not help but wonder if those two subjects would marry soon. Both had been widowed for too many years, and both deserved love and happiness.

When the kind-hearted and efficient Leitis completed her task, she smiled at Alysa and approached her. The young princess asked if they could find a place away from others’ ears to speak. Leitis guided Alysa to one of the storage rooms, then waited for the girl to explain what was troubling her.

Alysa paced the dim room before turning to meet Leitis’s eyes. “I do not know where or how to begin, Leitis.”

The older woman placed an arm around Alysa’s shoulder and coaxed, “Tell me what is in your heart, my sweet child. Whatever you reveal, I will hold your words secret, and I will try to help you. Surely you are guilty of no terrible offense.”

“This is no girlish matter. What I need to ask of you is dangerous. Perhaps you will think me daft.”

Bubbly laughter spilled forth as Leitis affectionately embraced the princess. “Never could madness or deceit take root in this lovely head,” she teased. Turning serious at Alysa’s worried expression, Leitis said, “You can trust me with your life, my child. Do not fear to speak, of things which torment you. It cannot be as bad as you think.”

“It concerns my father, Leitis,” Alysa hinted.

“What of Prince Alric, my child? Does he grow worse?”

Alysa spoke slowly. “I believe he may be ill because
… someone desires it to be so. I do not think his sickness is natural. Perhaps someone wishes Father confined to his bed and chambers.”

Leitis looked aghast. “Who would—” Her mouth dropped open and her hazel eyes widened as she grasped Alysa’s implication. “Why would she do such a wicked thing?” the woman asked, as if fearing to speak Isobail’s name aloud. “Would she dare? It is certain death.”

“Not unless she is caught.”

Even though she had promised Giselde not to interfere with the evil plaguing Damnonia, Alysa knew it was her responsibility to set things right in her land once more. Alysa explained her suspicions that harmful herbs were being added to her father’s food and drink, no doubt with the aid of Earnon and Ceit. If, during the ten days while Isobail was away from the castle, they could insure that only wholesome food passed his lips, he might begin to recover. Leitis agreed to oversee all food served to the prince. The two women hugged then parted, Leitis returning to the kitchen and her chores while Alysa headed for the stable.

Guinn, the handsome green-eyed blond, studied one retreating back then the other until both women vanished. He suspected that something was afoot, and the guileful bard wished he had been close enough to hear their words; his fetching mistress would still be intrigued by such a curious meeting.

Since meeting her, Guinn lived only to make Isobail happy. The regent was a demanding lover with many tastes and desires. Some people would call her wanton; to him, she was the most exciting and enslaving woman he had known. She was like a fever that caused him to burn with obsession for her, to burn fiercely and continuously without being consumed. He would die if she ever cast him aside for another lover, or returned to Prince Alric’s bed.

When she was away, he wrote passionate poems and songs for her, then whispered or sung them into her ear during lovemaking. He wanted and needed her desperately; yet he could never have her openly, for he was a simple bard and she was a princess. Perhaps he should go and sing to his gullible ruler, he mused. Who could tell what he might learn from a groggy-headed victim, an unsuspecting fool…

Alysa mounted Calliope and rode toward the forest to see Giselde. Keeping her eyes and ears alert to any danger, she left the animal in his hiding place and hurried to the hut. Once inside, she argued with the old woman, who protested her dangerous return so soon after her last visit.

“Please, hear me first, Granmannie; then I will leave. I know how dangerous our area is these days. I was more than cautious today.”

Quickly Alysa explained her suspicions about the village raid and her father’s condition. She told Giselde what she and Leitis were doing to thwart Isobail and to help her father. “You must give me medicinal herbs, Granmannie,” she concluded, “a potion to make Father strong and well again.”

Giselde considered their predicament, then agreed. “I cannot promise my herbs will heal your father, since we are not certain he is being poisoned. And even so, there are many poisons. Without knowing which one is being used, it is hard to guess the right herb to defeat it. Surely Earnon must have many poisons. But if Leitis keeps the poison food from Alric, and you give him these herbs, perhaps he will get better before Isobail’s return.”

Alysa hugged the woman tightly and laughed with joy Giselde warned, “Do not smile yet, little one. I will give you the herbs only if you promise to do nothing more
than help your father. Swear you will not provoke Isobail by spying on her.”

“How can I spy on her when she will be gone from the castle? No doubt she is away duping the peasants and charming the lords. I swear, Leitis and I will be careful.”

Giselde glared sternly at the young girl, then snorted. She went to her work bench and fetched herbs, tying them inside a clean cloth. Alysa knew she should tell Giselde about Gavin, but she did not want to upset the old woman further, and surely it would distress Granmannie to hear that she was chasing a strange man, and that she had been at the plundered village. To her, Giselde looked older and weaker each time she visited.

Giselde did not meet Alysa’s gaze as she handed the neatly bound cloth to her and explained how to use the herbs. “One more promise, little one,” Giselde pleaded. “No matter how much I love you and shall miss you, promise you will not risk coming here again soon.”

“But, Granmannie, how can I tell you what I hear at-”

“There is no need, for others will watch and reveal all things to me. If Isobail and her men are not watching you now, they will be soon. By coming here, you will lead them to me. Need I tell you what Isobail would do to me, child?” she asked, using the only excuse she felt Alysa would accept.

“I would never do anything to hurt or endanger you, Granmannie,” Alysa declared.

Giselde caressed the young woman’s warm cheek. “If I need you or there is danger, I will send someone to you with this object.” She opened her fist and revealed a ring with a dazzling light purple stone. “Whoever places this ring in your palm, come swiftly and without question with that person, be it woman or man. If anything happens to me, my precious child, the person
who gives you this ring can be trusted as you would trust your mother or Granmannie, or the gods.”

Alysa took the ring to study it closely and memorize its lines and features. “See the letters inside,” the old woman pointed out to her. “Even if someone tries to fool you with a matching ring, no one knows of the message inside the band.”

“What do the letters say, Granmannie? I do not recognize them.”

“It says, ‘I command Thor to protect my love forever.’ They are Viking words. The ring was given to your grandmother by Rurik. It is to become yours on the day you marry.”

Alysa held the precious ring tightly as she struggled not to weep from the intense emotions tugging fiercely at her heart and mind. The ring was very old and exquisite, and priceless to her. It was a tangible link to her past, a bond to her deceased grandparents. In a strained voice, she said, “I am glad you took this treasure with you when you left the castle. No doubt Isobail would have found it and taken it. When all is settled, you must come to live with me again at the castle, and you must tell me all there is to know about my grandmother and grandfather.”

“Yea, when all is settled, I will live with you again, and I will leave nothing untold about your family and its history. We shall find such happiness and victory one day,” Giselde murmured, then wiped at her damp eyes as if annoyed by the moisture that had gathered there unbidden. “Go now, little one, and keep your promises. Do not lose hope if the herbs fail to heal Alric. Perhaps his illness is true, or it requires more time for the poisons to leave his body.”

Alysa handed the old woman the amethyst ring and embraced her. After kissing Giselde’s cheek and hugging her once more, Alysa left.

Giselde slipped the ring on her finger and pressed.
it to her dry lips. Tears rolled down her cheeks and dropped to her soil-stained kirtle. “Oh, Rurik, my Rurik, my only love, I would give my soul to the Evil One if he could steal you from Valhalla and return you to me. Hear me, my love, and speak to my heart. Tell me what I must do to win this battle. I can no longer decide what is right and what is wrong, for my love for Alysa and my need for vengeance sway me.”

After watching the girl until her eyes could follow her no farther, Giselde went to her work area and covered the clay jar from which she had taken the herbal mixture. “Forgive me, my precious granddaughter, but I cannot allow Prince Alric to heal. I know my deceit will cause you to doubt Isobail’s guilt, but it must be so. My herbs will thwart the poison that eats slowly at his body, but they will not rejuvenate him. As much as I hate Alric, I am sorry he must die at Isobail’s hand, for his blood runs within you, and my daughter loved him. But if I helped him to get well during her absence, Isobail might be provoked to worse evil. I must protect Alysa and Prince Gavin. I cannot allow our discovery. Revenge must be mine for my murdered child.” She removed the ring and locked it in the chest with her other possessions, knowing no thief would risk being cursed for robbing a witch.