The Lady of Fairhaven (30 page)

The thought of falling asleep again terrified her. Mayhap she was going mad. Fears of every sort permeated her reflections. Never had she experienced the horror of being alone with something that could spell her end.

Gillian fought the urge to sleep and nodded away the drowsiness that pulled at her eyelids. Determined to stay awake, she dedicated herself to fight off the rats at all costs. They could have her corpse when she died and not a minute sooner.

After the screams had faded to cries and then to sob’s, they diminished finally to hiccups of control. Gillian was weak and the emotional outbursts drained what little strength she clung to. Surely someone would come by with an offering of food soon. She was hungry: so much so that her stomach grumbled in protest at the lack of anything else to work upon.

How many days had she been held in this horrid place? How long ago had Alyssa been taken away? Was it a day, maybe two? If asking her stomach, she might have said three.

As her misery wound up to new heights, a light from the far end of the tunnel grabbed her attention. Steadily the light grew in intensity and a new fear filled her. Would she be beaten by Katherine? She trembled at the thought. Now outside her door, the lantern light pained her eyes, and she closed them against its intrusion. The rats scratching toenails scraped noisily against the stone as they scampered away from the bright light.

“
My lady,” spoke the unknown visitor. “Are you well? Can you answer me?”

Gillian sat still looking at the young man standing before her through nearly closed eyes. The voice sounded familiar to her and yet, who would dare cross Katherine’s wishes to ease her pain.

“
Please! Lady Gillian,” the voice entreated again. “If you can hear me, please answer. I have brought you some food. I do not wish to leave it to the rats that infest this pit.”

The young man seemed familiar some how. “I know you,” she said. “You are the blacksmith’s apprentice. How is your arm?”

“
Fine, of course, my lady. You tended my injury well. I will always be grateful for your kindness to me,” he said. He held out the food through the bars and waited for Gillian to take it from him.

“
Thank you,” she said. “I fear I do not know your name. ”

Smiling, the young man said, “Cedrick, my lady. My name is Cedrick.”

“
Thank you Cedrick. Tell me if you please, what news have you from the castle?” As she spoke, Gillian’s fingers shook with the effort of putting the bread to her mouth.

“
Well, your man, Sir Giles returned from his hunting trip. He brought back many fine animals for our pots. He was gone overlong and has but just arrived. His anger heated when he saw so many of your faithful men gone.”

“
Gone, but why would that be?” Gillian asked out loud.

“
He has argued with the Lady Katherine about the change of men loyal to Longmore and to you.” He watched Gillian’s trembling hand falter. “Do not be alarmed, my lady. Giles will bring the matter to right. You need not worry on that account. He is loyal to you, as he was to your father.”

“
Thank you for your news, Cedrick. Do you think Sir Giles has strength on his side?” Gillian asked

“
Mayhap not at this moment, my lady. But his men who were sent away will join his cause. Combined they may yet tip the balance.”

“
Then I wish them success,” Gillian whispered back. “I pray they fight well with few injuries. I am so sorry to be the cause for any mishaps.”

“
But it is not only you for whom they fight. The blame, if there be any at all, should rest with the men at fault for taking you and Fairhaven. They wish to have their rightful places restored. Katherine has set each man out to make his own way. Her spirit has been mean and each man to the last wishes to strike against her cruelty. I must admit, they find some measure of gratification in taking up your cause as well.”

“
Where do they fight, Cedrick?” she begged.

“
In the manor, my lady. The noise, of course, would not reach this place as it is far removed and buried, but they fight with swords for your honor as well as theirs. Your men were displeased to find Lady Katherine sitting in your place when they returned from their hunt. You had made your wishes well known on that matter before you left. Everyone knows sending Sir Giles on a hunting trip would take him out of the way while Katherine’s evil spread throughout the villein, and of course, yourself, my lady.”

Gillian sat stiffly, unable to comprehend the import of his words. If what he said was indeed truth, she could be set free soon. If not, it could signal her quick demise as well as all those who stood against Katherine.

After some degree of silence, Cedrick said, “My Lady, I am sorry, but I must be leaving. If I am caught, it may mean the end for us both.”

“
Thank you Cedrick, for both the food and the hope. I will be eager to hear from you soon. Do you think you could manage that?”

“
I will do whatever I can.” Cedrick then bowed and left. Within moments Gillian again sat in total darkness.

How had the marriage her father had always hoped to make lead to the desperate situation at present? It would sicken him to know how poorly she had managed his legacy. In truth, even she had to admit that under her management the manor had thrived. In part of its problem, Gillian had relied too readily on the protection of Sir Giles. She had little knowledge of the art of warring. Giles had always held the trust of her father and he always seemed to have the best interest of the castle and its people in mind.

It was only under Oliver’s care that matters had taken a turn for the worst. In any case, the people of Fairhaven were waging a fight for their very existence, without her counsel. She would be at the mercy of the victor.

Not having any sense of time in a sunless soundless world, Gillian’s concern soon turned to worry and then despair. Her ears strained to hear of Cedric’s return. Her mind imagined subtle changes in the total black eclipsed by her earthen enclosure. But Cedric didn’t reappear and her hope began to fail.

Only a few days after Gillian and Alyssa arrived at Fairhaven, Giles had returned from hunting. He was furious at the departure of so many good men, but what had worried him most was the hiring of such an unworthy lot to replace them. It was obvious to him that it had all been planned months before. Otherwise, this quick action would never have been possible.

But Giles was still surprised when he confronted Katherine with how he felt. She insisted his loyalties to the manor were now in question and informed him that his small holdings were going to be given to another, “more loyal” knight. Although angered by the insult, at first Gile’s had been happy to leave the manor to seek his fortune and happiness elsewhere. There was no way he would be able to live his remaining years with this woman as his overseer. It had taken him only one day to put together his meager belongings and leave the area. It was when he met a farmer on the road that had once leased some of his land that he found out about Gillian and Alyssa.

It had taken three more days to gather other knights together who had once worked for Gillian and her father. They had attacked at once, fearing more time would only provide those guarding the manor with the ability to store food and call in more men. He was right. Catching the men on the walls by surprise had almost worked. In the bailey, Gile’s men had fought valiantly, but with low numbers they were forced outside the portcullis. And during the battle several of his men had been cut down, leaving only a dozen men remaining to carry on for the cause. But their willingness to continue had never waned. Having fond feelings for Lady Gillian and her father, each man was outraged by the cruel treatment afforded her.

His men nearly exhausted, they pulled back from the manor to regroup and rest. But the men had barely pulled back when sentries stationed along the road signaled the oncoming band of warriors traveling at a swift speed along the road just north of the village. Sir Giles positioned men in the woods to fight again if necessary.

Sir Giles sat upon his steed waiting for the band to round the bend, waiting to see the colors. His palms were wet with nervous sweat. His men were tired from the fight earlier that day and desperately in need of rest and nourishment. It would not bode well to once again engage in a fight. But battle was never convenient and nearly always costly to both sides.

Swiftly, the sound of horses’ hooves filled the air. A cloud of dust kicked up as the horses trotted around the bend and into Gile’s view. It was Luke Thornburgh and he was riding in the company of Oliver Blakely. Giles thighs tightened around his destrier’s flanks and the horse, sensing the tension and anticipating the other horses, once again danced in place. His nostrils flared and his head bobbed against the reigns. Large hoofs beat dust clouds as his body turned in circles. His knees and hands controlled the beast. The animal’s nervous energy matched his rider’s.

Luke slowed. Seeing Giles, he raised his hand in greeting.

“
Greetings, Sir. Giles. I trust everything is well at Longmore,” Luke said. His voice was welcoming but his face held no emotion.

“
I wish I could say it was so,” Giles replied. His expression hid nothing. Anger and frustration etched deeply into his forehead and the straight grim line of his mouth.

“
What is amiss? Do you have news of my sister, Lady Alyssa and the Lady Gillian?”

“
Much has happened since last you left. The Lady Katherine has taken over the role of chatelaine of Fairhaven. We found the deed properly done while we were away hunting. Lady Alyssa is held in the tower. We have yet to find out where Lady Gillian is being held. The servants have been promised a beating if they speak.”

“
Good God!” Luke said. “We must make haste. The women must be rescued from the influence of Katherine.”

“
I agree, Sir Luke, but my men have just waged a battle against Katherine’s men. We were outnumbered and although we inflicted injury to her defenders, my men need rest before we wage another battle.”

Luke grimaced at the implications of waiting. Gillian and Alyssa could be put to death by a fearful Katherine. But only with combined forces did they have a chance to overpower the warriors guarding the castle. There was little choice. The group would rest until morning.

A squire assisted Luke with his destrier, Storm. In an agitated state, Luke stalked off through the woods to calm the blood lust that was surging though his veins. So deep was the desire to kill the bastards that had abducted his family and left his father mortally wounded, his hands itched with the anticipation of striking the responsible men down. His mood was so black he dared not speak with his men.

But his walk provided no ease to his distress. Indeed, the solitude merely whipped his mind into a frenzy. If Gillian and his sister were not well, or not handed over to him in a timely manner, he would forget all knightly oaths and let his fury loose on those responsible.

After some time, Luke returned to the encampment. The men were speaking of fortifications and entrances. Familiar with the castle, Giles offered sound suggestions and his creative approach seemed to please Oliver and Luke. A plan was developed and each man was given his task for the next day.

The morning came soon enough. Although somewhere in his fitful thoughts he finally found sleep, the promise of battle roused him as soon as the dawn tinged the night with a pale light. The lack of sleep held no tangible influence upon his body. Alert and ready to begin, Luke gathered his belongings and readied for battle.

Horses, sensing the tension of nervous warriors, beat the earth with their hooves. As if begging to start out, they whinnied and snorted. Within moments, each man had abandoned any drowsiness and was ready to engage the enemy.

Within two hours Sir Luke and Sir Oliver sat astride their steeds at the portcullis of Fairhaven. They sent greetings and requested entrance. Unless expecting trouble, the portcullis would be held open for the free travel of the villeins.

A message denying their request was delivered to them at the entrance. No explanation was forthcoming. The denial had no effect on Luke and his men. Fairhaven’s defenses were outnumbered and once Giles had secured their entrance there would be little question as to which side would take control.

Luke sat apprehensively near the entrance of the castle. Turning to Oliver and
Giles, he said, “Mayhap the abductors will anticipate the castle breach through the passageway leading to the master’s chambers. After all, it was how Longmore was penetrated.” No one said anything. It was clear from his tone that Luke did not fully trust Oliver. However, he did believe the man’s presence during the abduction could have been a ploy to bewilder the warriors within.

After some time another messenger stood at the castle gate. He warned the knights off. Expecting this, Luke and Oliver stood their ground. After a few moments Luke called out, “I am the emissary of Sir Phillip Thornburgh, the Lord of this castle. Open the gate or expect to be held siege until you do so.”

“
I am obliged to inform you that you shall not gain entrance to this place,” the man said. The man’s voice was nervous. He clearly had not expected the representative of the Lord of the castle to be asking admittance.

“
I wish to know about the condition of my sister, the Lady Alyssa and my father’s wife, Lady Gillian,” Luke said hoarsely.