The Sword and the Sylph (Elemental Series) (8 page)

“Well, let me see the depth of his wound
, and I would know more.” Juturna pulled back the coverlet and looked at the man’s bare chest. She ran her hand over it, puzzlement showing in her eyes. “I thought the stablemaster said he took a flaming arrow to the chest.”

“He did.”

She raised her eyebrows and looked at her. “There is no mark of an arrow, nor any injury at all. I think my services are not needed after all, my lady.”

“That is not true. I do need you.”

“To do what? It seems you’ve already managed to heal him. The last time I’ve seen something like this was when you placed your healing kiss on Sir Braden’s wound within the stone circle.”

There was that story again. An incident she could not remember.

“Juturna, it is true I healed my father with a kiss, but he has not opened his eyes and I don’t know what to do. And as for Sir Braden, as I’ve already told him, I did naught to heal his wound.”

“Oh, so you remember him, do you?”
The old woman spoke to her yet continued to look for wounds upon her father.

“I remember no incident of healing him with a kiss, but I do know him as he was here recently,
spying on my father’s castle at the orders of Lord Solomon from Banesmoor.”

“Spying?” she asked,
looking back over her shoulder, “that doesn’t sound like Sir Braden at all. And if you don’t remember healing him, ’tis only because at the time you were in your etheric form.”

She closed up her ointments and instead pulled fresh herbs from a pouch at her side.

“He is betrothed to Lord Solomon’s daughter, the Lady Christabel,” Portia told her. “And aye, I assure you he is a traitor.”

“That surprises me
, my lady, as Sir Braden has been smitten with you since that day you healed him in the stone circle. I am sure he would do naught to harm you. And I cannot believe he is going to marry someone else when he had his heart set on marrying you.”

“What?” Her heart raced at this announcement. “Why would you say such a thing, when you’ve just met me?”

“I don’t need my crystal to see that his betrothal to Lady Christabel has upset you, my dear.”

“I am not upset.” She was very upset but was trying not to show it.

“And I also have a feeling that while you call
him
the traitor and the spy, you have secrets regarding the same issue of your own.”

Juturna broke up fresh herbs and using a pestle from her pouch, ground them into an earthenware cup. She then poured water from the basin into it and placed it in the hearth to warm.

“I have only followed the orders of the countess,” she told her. “And regarding Sir Braden - he isn’t all that bad, I suppose.”

“He is a man who woul
d lay down his life for those he loves without hesitating,” Juturna told her. “He is also one of the most loyal, chivalrous, kind, courageous men I have ever met.”

“Why does it sound to me as if you want me to fancy him?” she asked.

“Why does it sound to me as if you are trying to deny the fact you do fancy him already, mayhap even more than his attraction to you?”

“He may have been smitten with me
at first,” relayed Portia, “but I assure you he does not care for me anymore.”

“And would you like to change that, my dear?”

“Well . . . I don’t know. Perhaps, but I am not sure.”

“It sounds to me as if you two need to talk.”

“That is impossible. He has gone back to Banesmoor and wants naught to do with me. I assure you there would be no talking between us.”

“Then it’s up to you to change his mind,” she said with a smile. “I would stay here and tend to your father until he recovers, though there is not much my healing herbs can do that your kiss hasn’t already healed. He just needs time to rest
, and also nourishment, which I would give him. In the meantime, mayhap you need to go to Sir Braden.”

“But he is back at Banesmoor, and after this battle, they are now our sworn enemies.”

“Mayhap you can change that somehow too. Now, is there a way you can get into Banesmoor without anyone seeing you? If so, you may be able to contact Sir Braden and change his mind before he marries the wrong girl.”

“You sound as if you are assuming I want to be with the man.”

“Well, don’t you?”

Portia felt a fluttering in her chest at just the mention of the idea. She knew the old woman was right in her assumption, and that she had only been guarding herself by denying her attraction to the man as well.

“I suppose I do fancy him . . . just a little,” she admitted.

“Quit standing here wasting time, my dear. If you are to change his mind, ’twill not be easy if what you say is true.
Most knights are blinded by a wealthy dowry, a title and a beautiful lady. It sounds as if Sir Braden is about to have all three. So you would need to think of something you can give him that he would want more than what he’s already been offered.”

“Juturna, I am afraid Sir Braden no longer wants anything I could possibly offer. I basically announced that he was a traitor and now my father has put out the order to have him captured and killed.”

“And is that what you want as well?” she asked. “To have him punished or his life taken because of you?”

“Nay, of course not. If I could take it all back, I would. I mean him no harm, I swear it.”

“Tell him, child, not me. Now, I ask you again. Do you have a way you can sneak into the castle to speak with him without anyone seeing you?”

“I do,” she said with a slight nod of the head. But unfortunately, she knew she’d have to f
ollow her stepmother’s orders and go as a spy to Banesmoor in order to do it.

Chapter 9

Braden woke this morning, feeling like a new man. He’d been in the lord’s good graces since last night, and as he’d sat by the fire drinking with the knights, he felt like they’d accepted him now. Aye, he was making himself a new home and a new life after all. He headed to the great hall, nodding to the lords and ladies as he headed down the corridor.

While he missed Manterra and Lord Wolfe as well as the Lady Rae, he truly like
d Lord Solomon and the people of the castle too. He also felt he had much in common with Sir Samuel since they’d both held the position of captain of the guard, though he’d given up that title when he decided to come to Banesmoor. Now if only he could bring himself to like his betrothed, and get her to like him as well.

“Sir Braden, please
join us at the dais to break the fast,” said Sir Samuel, coming to his side.

“The dais?” he asked. “Are you sure I am to be seated with the nobles when I am still a newcomer to Banesmoor?”

“You are more than a newcomer, you are Lady Christabel’s betrothed,” the man reminded him. “The wedding banns have been posted this morning, making it official. Let me show you,” he said, guiding him to the door to the great hall and pointing out a scroll nailed to the wood. “There are more like this throughout the castle as well as in the village and on the door of the church. Your wedding would take place in three weeks, being announced every Sunday at mass until then, as is proper.”

“Three weeks
? So quickly?” he asked, suddenly becoming very nervous. He looked to the post on the door and read the words aloud announcing his marriage. “Here ye, here ye, Lord Solomon, ruler of all Banesmoor has announced the marriage of his daughter, the Lady Christabel to Sir Braden of Manterra. The wedding would be held in the church of Saint Agnes, in three week’s time . . .” Braden couldn’t bring himself to finish reading the announcement. Suddenly it all seemed so real. While he should be elated, he felt a sadness deep inside instead.

“Lord Solomon has taken a strong liking to you, Sir Braden. And he fears his daughter is becoming unruly since the death of his own wife last winter when she passed from ill health. Lady Christabel is past marrying age
, as she is already just over two decades. He wants grandchildren desperately. He’s already instructed his daughter that he desires many, many grandsons to make his bloodline as well as his defenses even stronger.

“Many, many?” asked Bra
den, looking at the wedding bann, thinking that his life was about to change drastically. “I feel as if I don’t yet know Lady Christabel as we have not spent any time together.”

“Exactly why Lord Solomon suggested you take his daughter on an outing this afternoon. Right after you take her riding, as she always loved to ride when our old stablemaster was here.”

“Do you mean Vance, the traitor?”

“Aye, that is the man of which I speak. Lord Solomon
is counting on you to bring the traitor back from Calila as well, so he can make an example of what he does to spies.”

Suddenly, the whole idea of marriage and what he’d gain didn’t seem quite as inviting. And when he sat
down at the dais and saw the look his betrothed gave him, he knew he had his work cut out for him. And though he fancied the wealth and title and all that went with the dowry of the marriage, he sincerely doubted that he could ever get this ice princess to smile. Oh, what, he wondered had he gotten himself into?

* * *

Portia-Maer stood cloaked in invisibility just behind Braden’s chair at the dais. She’d been watching him make a fool of himself, trying desperately to court the Lady Christabel all through the meal. He obviously felt uncomfortable, as she noticed that he kept looking over his shoulder and frowning. He’d tried more than once to talk to the lady, but she seemed to be shunning him.

“Lady Christabel, you are looking beautiful on this fine day,” he said, taking a sip of wine from his goblet and then handing it to her
to drink as well. They shared a trencher of food between the two of them, and for some reason this bothered Portia.

“Thank you, Sir Braden, your courtesy is appreciated.” She drank from the cup and handed it back.

“Your eyes are like stars and your hair like sunshine from the heavens,” he spouted out foolishly. Even Portia could tell he wasn’t sincere. There was no way Lady Christabel was going to believe that!

“Sir Braden, you can save your words for someone who cares. My marriage to you is at my father’s
command, so don’t waste your breath. I would do what is required of me, but I have no desire to be courted.”

Portia
giggled, happy to see the woman rejecting him. Braden turned sharply and she clasped her hand over her mouth quickly to hush herself.

“Did you hear something?” he asked.

“This hall is noisy and in the middle of a meal with minstrels strumming their lutes,” Lady Christabel answered. “Whatever do you mean?”

“I . . . I guess
’tis nothing,” he said, picking up a piece of fruit and popping it into his mouth. “Your father has suggested I take you riding this afternoon, and after that we would go on an outing. I would ask the cook to pack up a meal we can share upon a blanket placed on the grass.”

“I
see,” she said, without any enthusiasm at all.

Portia couldn’t help herself, the playful fae blood in her veins needed to cause mischief. She leaned over and gently blew in
to Sir Braden’s ear.

“He sat up straight, wiping at his ear
, once again glancing over his shoulder, right at her. Portia was only too glad she was cloaked in her invisible form right now.

“Did you hear something again?” the lady asked from his side. “Or are you just twitching in anticipation to get me alone later?”

“Nay, I thought I felt something – a breeze,” he said.

“I assure you Lord Braden
, that his hall is very drafty. Any breeze is not out of the ordinary.”

“Of course, you are correct.” He settled back down and continued eating.

Portia felt certain she was going to enjoy their little outing this afternoon much more than Lady Christabel ever would.

* * *

Braden finished eating, sure he’d smelled lilacs in the room. And this bothered him because he knew it wasn’t his betrothed, as she smelled like rose water. Plus, he swore he heard a giggle and felt a breeze brush past his ear. He had no doubt in his mind that Portia-Maer was up to her little spy-antics again and he didn’t like it one bit.

When
the meal was finished, he helped his betrothed get to her feet and escorted her to the floor for a dance. The minstrels struck up a lively tune and though he didn’t want to dance he knew ’twas expected of him, so he continued. He bowed toward his betrothed, smiling, but her face was like a block of stone. Then he started the dance steps, stiff and proper, only wishing this would be over soon.

And when he twirled her around, the oddest thing happened. His foot seemed to hit something on the floor and he stumbled forward. He’d knocked into her, almost causing her to fall, and the look she gave him could have taken down the strongest of warriors easily.

“I apologize my lady. Something on the floor tripped me.” He looked down to the ground sure he was going to see a dog or possibly a small child underfoot, but none was there.