The Tarnished Lady

  And Steven of Gravely was absent.

  * * *

  Another sennight passed and Eadyth's nerves were strung so tight she feared she might explode. Seeking the numbness of hard physical labor, she worked industriously from dawn to dusk each day, forcing her disgruntled servants to follow suit.

  Tapestries from Eirik's treasure room now lined the great hall and private chambers. She moved all the fabrics out of the damp lower level and up to a second-floor storage room. Then she oversaw the cutting and sewing of the fine wool into garments for Eirik and Tykir and Wilfrid, not to mention the children.

  Although she usually waited until autumn for her candle-making, she, Bertha, Girta, and a slowly recovering Britta produced six dozen tapers and ten timekeeping candles the day before. Today she planned to set Gilbert to helping her build a still for making mead. Because she had promised Eirik not to venture beyond the kitchen courtyard and the front bailey, she would have to build a temporary facility near the keep.

  She was watching Gilbert lay the stones for the shed's foundation when Emma tugged on her gown. "Godric," Emma said, her wide blue eyes pleading with Eadyth. "Help Godric."

  Eadyth went down to her haunches beside the child. "What is it, sweetling? Do you want me to help you find Godric? Is he hiding from you again?"

  Emma shook her head briskly. "Nay. Godric is gone."

  Alarm swept over Eadyth with sudden foreboding. "Come," she said, taking Emma's hand. She sought out Larise, who was helping Britta shell peas in the kitchen. "Where is Godric?"

  Larise and Britta looked up at her with surprise.

  "I have not seen the boy since yestereve," Britta said. Then her eyes, no longer swollen shut as they had been after her attack, widened with concern. "Now that you mention it, he failed to come to the kitchen this morn to light the fires."

  "He has been sulking ever since John left," Larise added, unconcerned. "No doubt he plays with Prince in one of the empty bedchambers.

  "Stay here, Emma," Eadyth admonished. Then she searched the keep, from scullery to second-floor bedchambers, from bailey to kitchen courtyard. Godric was nowhere to be found.

  Eadyth found Wilfrid in the bailey where he was taking a packet from a messenger who had just arrived. He handed her a sealed parchment, which she immediately opened. Quickly, she scanned Eirik's words.

  Eadyth,

  Glad tidings. John and I leave for Ravenshire on the morrow. I finally had an audience with Edred. Dunstan's power is formidable. Edred agreed to my temporary guardianship of John. He expects much in return, but will discuss all with you. Have not seen Steven, but he is reportedly livid. Take care, heartling.

  Your husband, Eirik

  Heartling! Eadyth smiled joyously and shared her news with Wilfrid. Then she turned their discussion back to the missing Godric.

  "He could have gone into the village," Wilfrid advised and went with several men to search for the lost boy. After he left, Eadyth headed back toward the kitchen. She met Emma in the hall.

  "Apples," Emma said with seeming irrelevance.

  "What? You want an apple? Now?"

  "Nay. Godric likes apples," Emma said hesitantly, then beamed up at Eadyth, proud of her achievement in having made her thoughts clear in spoken words.

  Eadyth suddenly remembered Godric's passion for apples, especially the tart early variety. Eadyth bent down to the tiny girl. Putting both hands on her shoulders, she asked earnestly, "Emma, dearling, are you saying Godric might have gone outside the castle to pick some apples?"

  Emma nodded vigorously.

  Sending Emma back to the kitchen to help Larise with the peas, Eadyth stood, staring off into space pensively, one leather slipper tapping impatiently. Surely, Godric would have been seen if he had left the castle. Guards were posted at all gates and at marked intervals of the castle wall.

  Thinking deeply, she tried to picture every apple tree she had seen near Ravenshire, then shook her head as she eliminated one after the other as his destination. There were guards everywhere along the way.

  Except...

  Eadyth smiled, suddenly enlightened. Except for the tree just outside the exit of the underground tunnel, near the abandoned cotter's hut. And, now she thought on it, those apples were especially sour and to Godric's taste.

  She looked about the empty hall for someone to send after G6dric. Well, she could wait until Wilfrid returned, but... hmmm. Moving hesitantly toward the door to the lower level, she thought that mayhap she would just go below and see if there was any evidence of Godric's having been there.

  Lighting a torch, she made her way through the damp corridor and grinned with satisfaction when she saw an apple core near the outside entrance. She smiled even wider when she saw that the door was shut. The little imp must have gone outside, and when the door swung shut behind him, he'd had no way to return except around the keep and through the main entrance. He no doubt feared a beating from Wilfrid for having disobeyed his orders.

  Well, she could easily forestall such a severe punishment for the little boy. Easing the door open, she peeked outside and immediately realized her mistake.

  Steven of Gravely stood there in full armor with six fierce-looking men. He was leaning lazily against a tree, chomping on an apple. Godric was nowhere in sight.

  "Well, what a pleasure meeting up with the Silver Whore of Northumbria!" He grabbed her before she could scream and put a blindfold over her eyes and a gag in her mouth, binding her wrists and ankles. Then he threw her over a horse in front of him and galloped off.

  Eadyth's first thought was of Eirik and how angry he would be that she had disobeyed his orders once again. But, immediately, she realized she had more urgent concerns—her safety and that of Godric.

  They rode for what seemed like an hour to Eadyth. When they finally stopped, Steven pulled her roughly off the horse and removed her ankle restraints. She fell to her knees. His fingers bit into her upper arm and he pushed her ahead of him up a set of stone steps and through a long corridor. Only when they were well inside did he remove her blindfold. Then Eadyth saw that they were in a small manor house, one she did not recognize.

  Still pushing her ahead of him, Steven took her to a gallery which overlooked a small room below, well lit with torches. Eadyth jerked back with horror at what she saw and tried to break free from Steven's grip on her forearms, to no avail. She screamed silently behind her gag as tears welled in her eyes and overflowed.

  A whimpering Godric stood in the center of the room, his arms raised above his head and tied to a loop of rope over an exposed beam, his thin body exposed to the coolness of the chamber. A guard sat indolently in a nearby chair, a sword laid over his lap. Eadyth saw no wounds on the precious child, just a few bruises, but his eyes were wide with fright and his body trembled.

  When Steven felt she had seen enough, he turned her with a shove toward another corridor, then led her into a small chamber. Eadyth saw no servants about. The manor appeared to be abandoned. When they were inside, Steven put a torch to several hanging soapstone candles. He motioned for her to sit. Then he removed her gag, but did not release her wrists, which were still tied behind her back. He dropped into a chair opposite her and glared at her malevolently.

  Steven's appearance had deteriorated even more the past few sennights since he had escaped from Ravenshire. Once godly handsome, his leanly muscled body had wasted away to a sickly gauntness. A gray pallor had erased the bronze that had colored his healthy skin. Even his hair, which had been thick and glossy like black silk, hung lankly about his face.

  "You are unwell," she remarked without thinking.

  "Yea, but do not think I will be leaving this life anytime in the near future. I have many years ahead of me, bitch, and once I secure my inheritance, through our son, I will make for the Holy Lands. There is a Saracen doctor who promises a cure for my... ailment."

  Eadyth shrugged. "Steven, release Godric. The boy has done you no harm."

  "Nay, I have plans for the child."
He cackled evilly, then broke into a fit of coughing, finally spitting bloody phlegm into a linen cloth.

  "What kind of plans?" she asked, trying hard to hide her fear from Steven, sensing he would gain pleasure from her pain.

  He leaned forward, and Eadyth almost reeled from the foul breath that swept her way.

  "I told you, Eadyth, to kill your husband and make way for our marriage. Instead, you set your bastard spouse on me. Tsk, tsk! I cannot abide such disobedience of my orders. Really, Eadyth, what shall I do to punish you for your transgressions?" He tapped a forefinger to the side of his head, as if suddenly enlightened. "Ah, the boy!"

  "Nay, you cannot kill Godric to get back at me," she cried, jumping to her feet.

  Steven leaned forward and shoved her back into her chair. "I said naught of killing," he said calmly, his cold blue eyes knifing her contemptuously. "Leastways, not yet."

  Eadyth shifted uneasily in her chair under Steven's mirthless smile. Finally, he said in a deadly cold voice, "This is how it will be, my future wife. I will give you another vial of the poison, like the one you failed to use afore. You will give it to your husband. This particular poison leaves no trace, and you will be pleased to know that the passing is painless, almost like a deep sleep. Then, when a suitable time passes... say, four sennights, we will be wed. And live happily ever after." He grinned with evil satisfaction.

  "Whyever would I do that?"

  "Because, you troublesome bitch, you have no choice. If you dare to tell anyone of our plans, especially your husband, the boy will suffer unthinkable pain, tortures you could never imagine."

  She gasped and shook her head.

  "If Eirik is not dead within three days, I intend to deliver a special package to you at Ravenshire.You do like surprises, like most women, do you not?" he asked. He waited several long moments before informing her, "His head will be delivered to your door."

  Tears were streaming down Eadyth's face as she stared at Steven in horror. She had never believed in demonic possession; she did now.

  Steven stood and pointed to a small pallet in the corner. "You may sleep here tonight, or for as many nights as it takes to make up your mind. In the end, I am sure you will agree there is no other way."

  He locked the door after himself, but she could hear his evil laugh as he walked away.

  For the rest of that day and then the sleepless night, Eadyth considered all the alternatives, and tossed most away as unworkable.

  She wanted desperately to tell Eirik, but decided she could not. How could she risk Godric's life, not knowing if Steven still had a spy in Ravenshire? Eirik's rage would be evident to all in the keep.

  But, of course, she would not kill Eirik. She would kill no man, but certainly not the husband she had grown to love. However, Steven did not know that. As far as he could see, theirs was a marriage of convenience, arranged to suit her need for husbandly protection and Eirik's need for lands and wealth.

  She thought about going away herself, perhaps even seeking the asylum of the Church. But that would mean leaving John with Eirik. Even that painful separation she could bear if it would ensure John's safety. But it would not. Steven would merely intensify his efforts to kill Eirik to reach his son.

  If she could kill Steven herself, she would. But not once in her contacts with him could she think of any time he had left himself open to attack. If Eirik had been unsuccessful thus far in killing the demon, how could she hope to succeed?

  Back and forth, Eadyth debated the dilemma in her head. Over and over, she recalled her words to Eirik that she would never, ever deliver herself and her sons into Steven's filthy hands. She had sworn she would die first.

  In the end, that was precisely what Eadyth decided that she and John would do—die.

  * * *

  The next morning when Steven returned to unlock her chamber, Eadyth had her emotions under control. She had become quite the actress while fooling Eirik over her appearance. She drew on that expertise now.

  "I agree," she told Steven woodenly.

  "I knew you would," he said with a self-satisfied smirk. He drew the vial of poison from his tunic and handed it to her. Eadyth noticed that he had bathed and shaved. He almost looked like his old self. And Eadyth knew that if he chose to wield his old charm he could probably still lure some trusting women into his seductive traps. Or fool the nobles of Edred's Witan.

  " 'Tis best if you return to Ravenshire as soon as possible," he advised. "Eirik has not yet returned with John, my informants tell me. I suggest you do not tell him you have been here with me. Say you were lost in the forest, or some such thing. You will think of something. Women are good at lying."

  And men, too. You deceitful wretch. "You must release Godric to come back with me."

  He shook his head emphatically. "He will stay 'til I have proof of Eirik's death."

  Eadyth's heart sank with dismay, "But I cannot leave the poor child here to be tortured."

  "He has not been tortured, nor will he be, unless you fail in your mission."

  "Why should I believe you?" she cried out impulsively.

  A muscle twitched near Steven's thinned lips, but he did not strike her, as Eadyth would have expected. "I was tor... treated badly when I was of the same age," Steven revealed, to her surprise. "You may find this hard to believe, but I have no taste for inflicting the same... pain on another child. Yea, I know Eirik has told, you how I beat him as a child, but I knew even then that I got no joy from torturing children. An adult... now that is a different matter."

  Eadyth saw a searing pain in Steven's bloodshot eyes as he momentarily forgot himself and stared off in space, remembering some events in his far distant past. What could have happened to him as a child to have twisted his mind so?

  "You have an odd sense of morality, Steven. You do horrid, horrid things to people. And yet you claim you would not harm Godric just because—"

  He shook his head sharply, as if to clear his distasteful past, and snapped, "Enough! I do not need to explain myself to you. Come. A farmer's cart awaits below. You travel back to Ravenshire in high style, my lady."

  All of Eadyth's bindings were put back on, including the blindfold and gag, and she was forced into what must be the bed of a wagon, then covered with straw. Before they left, Steven told her, "Three days, Eadyth. Or you will receive my 'gift' to you."

  Several hides away from Ravenshire, the farmer stopped his wagon and released her. He pointed her toward the road, refusing stonily to answer her questions, then turned and went in the opposite direction. Eadyth began the long walk home and entered the keep through the hidden tunnel. She barred it from the inside to preclude any further unannounced visits from Steven.

  Luckily, Eirik and John had not yet returned from Wessex. She had time to compose herself and make her plans. And, although skeptical, a frantic Wilfrid and the Ravenshire staff accepted her explanation that she had become lost when searching in the forest for Godric.

  That evening, Eadyth sought out Britta to aid her in her plan. The maid, having suffered personally at Steven's hands, would understand Eadyth's need to take such drastic action. Leastways, she hoped Britta would understand.

  "Are you daft?" Britta exclaimed after hearing Eadyth's story. "You want me to help you plan for your death, and John's?"

  "Not our real deaths, just our false deaths. You, more than any other, know he means what he says. He will behead Godric if I do not do as he orders."

  "And he orders that you kill the Lord of Ravenshire?"

  "Yea, and then wed with him."

  Britta shivered with distaste at the prospect. "But there must be another way. If you discuss it with the master—"

  "Nay, I cannot. Steven would know and he would enact his revenge on me by hurting Godric. Furthermore, Eirik would go after Steven with even more furor, and I fear for his life, as well." Her last words were spoken in a bare whisper, and tears welled in her eyes.

  "You love the Lord of Ravenshire, then?" Britta asked, laying
a hand compassionately over Eadyth's.

  Eadyth nodded, unable to speak.

  "It would break the master's heart to learn of your death. He loves you so."

  "Do you think so?" Eadyth asked hopefully.

  "Anyone with eyes can see that he cares. How can you hurt him so, if you love him?"

  "How can I not do this, if I love him? 'Tis best for everyone. 'Tis the only way." She swallowed the bitter taste of despair in her throat and took both of Britta's hands in hers. "I know that you love Wilfrid and that he wants to wed with you. Nay, do not protest. I know your concerns about your differing backgrounds... we will discuss that later. But consider if it were you in this position and you feared for Wilfrid's life, what would you do?"

  "Oh, mistress!" she said softly, understanding completely that Eadyth had no choice. "How long would you have to stay in hiding?"

  Eadyth shrugged. " 'Til Steven is finally dead."

  "But that could be years and years."

  She nodded dismally.

  "And what if Eirik should decide to remarry?"

  Eadyth gasped. She had not thought of that possibility. She pictured the years ahead... alone, bereft and desolate. She girded herself to be strong. "Then I would have to stay 'dead' forever, although John could return when he reaches his majority to take over Hawks' Lair."

  "And how would he explain away his 'death,' and yours, then, when he returns from the dead?"

  "Oh, I do not know. All these questions! I will worry about that when the time comes. Will you help me, Britta? You are my only hope."

  Britta agreed reluctantly.

  "It must be done soon. Mayhap on the morrow. The next day, at the latest. Steven only gave me three days."

  "And what about Godric?"

  "I think Steven will release him when he learns that John and I have died. Something he said makes me think he will not torture the boy needlessly. I believe Steven was abused badly as a child."