Velvet Song

  The room was about six feet square with stone walls and a dirt floor, and the only furniture was the short bench. There was no window in the door and no light came in around the corners. The low ceiling allowed her to explore every inch of the room. There were no windows, no gratings, no weak places anywhere. When she finished, the upper half of her body was covered with spiderwebs, and there were tears on her face. Angrily, she tried to brush the sticky things from her face and clothes, all the while crying and cursing Pagnell and men of his kind.

  After several hours she sat down on the bench, knees drawn up, and put her head down. Absently, she pushed the baby’s foot down from where it was kicking her in the ribs, and as her child became more active, restless, she started to sing to him. Gradually, he quietened and so did Alyx.

  Overhead, she heard people walking and knew the ceiling was the castle floor. Somewhere up there Jocelin was trying to find her. She began to imagine ways to escape and wished she could start a fire, thinking that perhaps she could burn her way out. But, of course, the smoke would probably kill her before the fire burned the door.

  When the door opened, the sound, so loud in the quiet room, startled her so badly she nearly fell off the bench. Candlelight flooded the room and nearly blinded her.

  “There you are,” came a voice she knew was Elizabeth Chatworth’s.

  Alyx gave no thought to her class as she threw her arms about Elizabeth. “I am so very, very glad to see you. How did you find me?”

  Elizabeth gave Alyx a one-arm hug. “Jocelin came to me. It’s that idiot Pagnell, isn’t it? That man is as vicious as any man created. Now, come on before the dunce returns.”

  “Too late,” came a drawling, half-amused, half-angry voice from the doorway. “You haven’t changed much, Elizabeth, you’re still giving orders to everyone.”

  “And you, Pagnell, are still tearing wings off butterflies. What has this one done to you? Refused your advances as any woman with any sense would do?”

  “Your tongue is too sharp, Elizabeth. If I had time I’d teach you softer ways.”

  “You and how many other men?” Elizabeth spat. “You’re scared to death of me because what I say is true. Now get out of the way and let us pass. We’ve had enough of your nasty little games. Go find someone else to play with. This child is under my protection.”

  He planted himself in front of Elizabeth and Alyx, not letting them out of the little cell.

  “You go too far!” Elizabeth hissed. “You’re no longer threatening a helpless servant. My brother will have your head if you harm me.”

  “Roger is too busy plotting against the Montgomerys to give a thought to anyone else. I hear he stays drunk all the time now that dear, sweet, crippled Brian has gone off sulking somewhere.”

  Alyx didn’t see the little eating dagger Elizabeth pulled from the sheath at her side, but Pagnell did. With a sidestep he dodged her, caught her arm and, twisting it, pulled her to him. “I’d like to feel you under me, Elizabeth. Do you bring as much fire to your bed as you do to everything else?”

  Alyx saw that now was her chance. On the wall outside the cell, to her left, was a heavy ring of keys. In one swift motion she flung them at Pagnell’s head, catching him on the temple.

  He released Elizabeth, staggered back one step and put his hand to his head, stared at the blood on his hand. By the time he regained his senses, Elizabeth and Alyx were halfway up the stairs.

  Pagnell caught Elizabeth’s skirt and jerked so hard she came tumbling backward, slamming into his chest. “Ah, my dear Elizabeth,” he drawled into her ear, his arm about her waist, the other hand going to her ample breast. “I’ve dreamed of this moment for a long time.”

  Alyx knew Pagnell’s attention was on Elizabeth and she could have escaped, but she couldn’t leave Elizabeth alone because it was obvious what he planned for the young noblewoman. She could think of nothing else but to throw her body weight onto both of them.

  Pagnell stumbled backward, still clutching Elizabeth, while Alyx rolled away, her hands protecting her stomach. Elizabeth saw her opportunity and slammed her elbow into Pagnell’s ribs, making him grunt in pain. With one swift motion she grabbed a small oaken cask and brought it down with considerable force on Pagnell’s head.

  Oak staves broke away and dark red wine ran down his face, over his clothes as, after one startled look, he lapsed into unconsciousness.

  “Such a waste of good wine,” Elizabeth said, looking across the inert man to Alyx. “You haven’t harmed your baby, have you?”

  “No, he’s secure enough.”

  “Thank you,” Elizabeth said. “You could have run away, but you stayed to help me. How can I reward you?”

  “Excuse me,” came a voice from the doorway.

  They turned to see a tall dark man, sword drawn.

  “I hate to interrupt this little meeting, but unless you revive my friend and quickly, I shall take pleasure in killing the both of you.”

  Elizabeth made the first move, jumping away from Pagnell’s body to the dark man’s right side. “Go to his other side, Alyx,” she directed. “He cannot take both of us at once.”

  Immediately, Alyx obeyed, and the man moved his head back and forth like a baited bull, watching the two women. A groan from Pagnell made the man look at his friend. As he did, Alyx made a quick move toward him. He backed into the opening of the stairway, guarding the entrance.

  “God’s teeth!” Pagnell cursed, trying to clear his vision. “You’ll be sorry for this, Elizabeth,” he groaned. “Hold them there, John. Don’t let them get nearer. Neither of them is human. Pity to man the day woman was created.”

  “You wouldn’t know what a woman was,” Elizabeth hissed. “No female worth her salt would let you near her.”

  Shakily, Pagnell stood, looking in disgust at his wine-stained doublet. Suddenly, his head came up and he began to smile at Elizabeth in a nasty way. “Last night when I rode in I saw the camp of Miles Montgomery.” He grinned broader at the way Elizabeth stiffened at the name. “I wonder if Miles would like a guest? I heard he was so angry at the death of his sister that his brother sent him to the Isle of Wight to keep him from declaring open war on the Chatworth family.”

  “My brother would annihilate him,” Elizabeth said. “No Montgomery—”

  “Spare me, Elizabeth, especially since from the story I heard, Roger attacked Stephen Montgomery’s back.”

  Elizabeth leaped for him, hands made into claws, and Pagnell caught her to him.

  “I hear Miles is a great lover of women and has many bastards. Would you like to add yours to his stable, my virginal little princess?”

  “I would die first,” she said with feeling.

  “Perhaps. I’ll leave that up to Miles. I would take care of you myself, but first I have a debt owed me by that one.” He motioned his head toward Alyx, who stood quietly, John’s sword in her back.

  “And how do you get me out of here?” Elizabeth asked, smiling. “Do you think there won’t be a protest if you carry me through the hall?”

  Pagnell seemed to consider this for a moment as he looked about the dark cellar. With a smile, he looked back at her. “How do you think Miles will like playing Caesar?”

  Puzzled, Elizabeth had no reply.

  Pagnell grabbed her arm behind her. “John, watch that one carefully while I take care of Elizabeth. My head hurts too much to tussle with both of them again.”

  “More than your head will hurt if you harm me,” Elizabeth warned.

  “I’ll leave that worry to Miles. The Montgomerys are altogether too high above themselves. I’d like to see all of them brought down, their land dispersed.”

  “Never!” Alyx shouted. “No slime-infested carrion such as you will ever destroy a Montgomery.”

  The full power of Alyx’s voice made all of them stop and stare at her. Elizabeth stopped struggling against Pagnell and her gaze on Alyx turned speculative. Pagnell’s look was calculating.

  John gave Alyx a nudg
e with his sword tip. “Raine Montgomery is said to be hiding in the forests somewhere, king of a band of criminals.”

  “This bears investigation,” Pagnell said, giving Elizabeth’s arm a twist. “But first we must deal with this one.” Pulling her with him, he grabbed a length of hemp rope from atop a pile of wine barrels and began to tie Elizabeth’s hands behind her back.

  “Think what you’re doing,” Elizabeth said. “I’m not some—”

  “Shut up!” Pagnell commanded, clipping her on the shoulder with his fist. When her hands were bound, he pushed her onto grain sacks and bound her ankles. With his knife he cut a piece of red silk from her dress. “A kiss, Elizabeth?” he teased, holding the gag close to her lips. “Just one before Miles Montgomery takes them all?”

  “I’ll see you in hell first.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be there with me if some man doesn’t dull the edges of that tongue of yours.”

  Before she could speak again, he tied the cloth tightly over her mouth. “Now you look almost appealing.”

  “What do you do with her now?” John asked. “We can’t very well carry her out like that.”

  From a far corner of the cellar Pagnell picked up a dirty, moth-eaten piece of canvas and, after a couple of shakes which sent dust flying, he spread it at Elizabeth’s feet. “We shall roll her in this and carry her out sight unseen.”

  Alyx watched Elizabeth, her eyes widening with fear now, but all Alyx could think of was that Elizabeth would be much better off with Miles than anyone else. “You’ll be safe with Miles,” she said, trying to reassure Elizabeth.

  Again, they all stared at Alyx, but she ignored them. Elizabeth needed her help now.

  Not at all gently, Pagnell pushed Elizabeth onto the filthy canvas and rolled her in it, hiding her completely.

  “Can she breathe?” Alyx asked.

  “Who cares? If she dies she can tell no tales. As it is, after Miles finishes with her she won’t even remember me.”

  “Miles won’t harm her,” Alyx said passionately. “He’s good and kind like his brother.”

  Pagnell laughed at that. “No one has ever had a temper to match Miles’s. As soon as he finds she’s a Chatworth . . . oh, I almost envy him, but I’m not a fool like Miles. He won’t care about Roger Chatworth, and when Roger hears what Miles has done to his beloved baby sister—The King will have all the Montgomery lands to award to him who does favors for the King. And I shall be there to collect.”

  “You are a vile pig of a creature.”

  The back of Pagnell’s hand slammed into Alyx’s jaw, sending her reeling. “I’ll ask for the advice of an underling like you when I want it. Is it Raine Montgomery who’s put ideas into your head? The man thinks he can reform all of England. He hides in the forest and sneers at anything material, spouting about the old ways of honor and nobility while the people of your class grow fat and rich.”

  Alyx wiped blood from the corner of her mouth. “Raine is worth a hundred of you,” she said.

  “Raine is it? No ‘Lord Raine’? Do you carry his brat? Is that what makes you think you’re so high and mighty? When the flames lick up your legs we shall see if the name of Montgomery is so gentle on your lips. John!” he said sharply. “Take Elizabeth away. Give her to Miles Montgomery and see what he wants to do with her. And John,” he warned, “Elizabeth’s virginity is a known fact, and I want her to arrive at Miles’s feet intact. Let all of Roger Chatworth’s wrath come onto the Montgomery heads and not mine. Do I make myself clear?”

  John gave him an insolent look as he tossed the bundle containing Elizabeth across his shoulder. “Montgomery will receive her in the best possible condition.”

  “But make sure he is inclined to forget she is a high-born lady. See if you can rearrange her clothing to stir his blood.”

  With a parting grin, John left the cellar.

  “What do you want from me?” Alyx asked, backing away from Pagnell as he came closer to her. “I have done you no wrong.”

  He glared at her big belly. “You have given to another man what should have been mine.” He grabbed her arm and pushed a small, sharp dagger to her ribs. “Now, go up the stairs and out the door and then to the stables. If you make a single sound it will be your last.”

  Her breath held, Alyx had no choice but to obey him. Once in the great hall there were guests milling about, but no one paid the least attention to Pagnell and the cheaply clad girl. They were nursing swollen heads and bruised bodies from where they’d slept across stools and tables.

  Alyx searched for Jocelin, but she saw no sign of him. Every time she attempted to move her head, Pagnell’s knife pushed harder against her until she kept her head straight. Perhaps Jocelin didn’t know she was in trouble. Perhaps he was with a woman and hadn’t yet discovered she was missing from the hall. For all their closeness, they respected each other’s privacy. There were whole days when they didn’t see each other and no questions were asked later.

  Outside, Pagnell pushed her toward the stables, where he bellowed to a servant to saddle his horse. Before Alyx could think, she was slammed into the saddle, Pagnell behind her, and they set off at a pace that made Alyx’s teeth jar.

  It was nightfall when they finally stopped before a tall stone house at the edge of a small village. Pagnell pulled her from the horse, grabbed her arm and dragged her to the door.

  A short, fat, balding man greeted them. “You took longer than I thought. Now what is so important I must wait for you this late at night?”

  “This,” Pagnell said, pushing Alyx into the room before him. It was a large, dark room, a few candles on a table at one end.

  “What do I care for a dirty, pregnant lowling like that? Surely you could have found a tastier bit than that for your sport.”

  “Get over there,” Pagnell commanded, pushing her toward the table. “If you say one word I’ll slit your throat.”

  Too tired to reply, Alyx moved, sank down to the floor before an empty fireplace in a shapeless heap.

  “Explain,” the fat man said to Pagnell.

  “What, uncle, no welcome, no wine?”

  “If your news is good enough, I will feed you.”

  Pagnell sat down in a chair before the table, studying the sputtering candles. It wasn’t that his uncle was so poor that made him use such cheap tallow but that for the last three years the man had done little except wait for his own death.

  “What are your feelings toward Raine Montgomery?” Pagnell asked softly, watching with interest as his uncle’s face turned from white to red to purple.

  “How can you say that man’s name to me in my own house?” he gasped. Three years before, in a tournament, Raine had killed Robert Digges’s only child. No matter that the son had been trying to kill Raine rather than just unhorse him or that his son had already killed one man and severely wounded another that day. It had been Raine’s lance that had taken Robert’s son’s life.

  “I thought you felt the same way,” Pagnell smiled. “Now I have a way to repay the man.”

  “How can you? The man hides in the forest and not even the King can find him.”

  “But our good king doesn’t have the bait that I do.”

  “No!” Alyx shouted, getting to her feet with what strength she had left.

  “See,” Pagnell said, amused, “with every breath she takes she defends the man. Whose child do you carry?”

  Alyx gave him a stubborn look. If she hadn’t tried to reassure Elizabeth about the Montgomery men, Pagnell wouldn’t know about her relationship with Raine, but Elizabeth had helped her.

  “Pagnell,” Robert commanded, “tell me all of your story.”

  Briefly, Pagnell told his version of the story, that Alyx had used her voice to entice him. Then, when he’d gotten close, she’d disappeared into thin air. Later, he’d gone looking for her and she’d leapt on him with the force of demons. He showed his uncle the scar on his head. “Could a little thing like that have left such a scar unless she were helped
by the Devil?”

  Robert gave a weak laugh, a snort of derision. “It sounds to me like she outsmarted you.”

  “She’s a witch, I tell you.”

  Robert waved his hand in dismissal. “All women are witches to some extent. What does the girl have to do with Raine Montgomery?”

  “I believe she’s spent the last few months in his camp and it’s his child she carries. If we were to let it be known that we mean to burn her as a witch, he’d come after her. And when he does, we’d be ready for him. You could have him, and we could share the King’s reward.”

  “Wait a minute, boy,” Robert interrupted. “Look at her! You mean to use that as bait? Raine Montgomery can have his pick of women. No doubt there are lean pickings in the forest and she probably does carry his child, but why would he risk his life to come after that? And why would you spend so much time searching for a flat-chested, hipless, plain-faced child such as her?”

  Pagnell gave his uncle a look of contempt before turning to Alyx. “Sing!” he commanded.

  “I will not,” she said firmly. “You plan to murder me anyway, so why should I obey you?”

  “You will die,” he said evenly, “but the question is whether you will burn before or after the child’s birth. If you disobey me I will see that the child dies with you. Now sing for your child’s life.”

  Alyx obeyed him instantly, her hands on her stomach as she lifted her voice in a plea to God for her child’s life.

  There was a long silence when she finished, both men watching her intently.

  Robert, rubbing away the chills on his forearms, spoke first. “Montgomery will come after her,” he said with conviction.

  Pagnell smiled in satisfaction, glad his uncle could see why he’d spent so many months searching for the girl. “In the morning we begin the trial, and when she’s found guilty we will tie her to a stake. Montgomery’ll come for her and we’ll be ready for him.”

  “How can you be sure he’ll hear of this in time? And if he does come, are you sure you can take him?”