Chapter 17

         

“What do you mean, your horse?” Edward demanded, threatening Savannah with Nathaniel’s dagger. “What manner of witchcraft be this?”

          Edward stormed towards Savannah when she refused to reply, but Truen moved into his path and whinnied his protest. When the mighty horse kicked a warning strike near Edward’s head, Edward wisely retreated. The horse would likely kill him at the child’s command. Edward withdrew to gather his senses.

          “Perchance we did not have time to tell you the full story,” Nathaniel offered. “The spirit of Alexander, Prince of Caledonia, lives on in Savannah. This is his horse, stolen on the same night that Prince Hadwyn stole his life. The same blood that flowed in Alexander now flows in us. Tend to your man,” Nathaniel commanded. “And I will have my dagger back.”

          Edward hesitated to return the weapon. A knight never surrenders his weapon willingly, much less to a boy, but the tone of his voice and the size of her horse convinced him to do as he was told. He walked over to the Captain and Nathaniel walked over to greet Truen.

          The Captain had managed to prop himself up on one elbow.

          “Edward, I cannot believe you are alive!”

          “Yes, it was not my time. Your head … I must stop the bleeding.”

          “Oh, it looks worse than it is. It is just a cut, but my leg … I am afraid I am lame.”

          Edward touched the bruised shin and the Captain screamed.

“Indeed, it is broken. I will need to make a splint. Let me look for branches and twine.”

          “Wait! Edward, my injuries can wait. Now is our chance to plot, while those children are stroking my horse. They have the orb, Edward. They have the orb. We must return it to Prince Hadwyn. They will sing our praises when we bring it to Kesserling.”

          “Yes, of course. We must plot. But how is it that you found me? Will others come?”

          “No. Only I was sent. Baldric and the hounds were at StagsEnd. Saphrasus returned to inform him that the children had escaped the river and were far south, on the eastern bank. Baldric sent Saphrasus ahead with the others but held me back.  Then he sent me north, to the castle crossing, to search the western bank. He no longer trusts Saphrasus completely.”

          “He trusts no one.”

          “True, Edward. But he had always trusted his raven. Strange things are afoot. Why would Saphrasus lie? Surely his keen eye spotted the children here. Certainly they do not have twins who are running south. No, the children have the orb, as Saphrasus wants, and the raven is leading Baldric and the knights away, far away from the castle. Yes, the children are heading to the castle!”

          “To rescue their father,” Edward said.

          “What? And you believe them?” the Captain asked.

          “I do now. I see it in your eyes.”

          The Captain laughed. “Yes, it is true. I am sorry we could not tell you but our Prince demanded secrecy. For years he tortured their father but the man would not give up the orb. And now these brave little ones are going to take on Kesselring?” The Captain laughed again, until he moved his leg and cried out in pain. “Edward,” he said, pulling him close, “it is so good to find you alive!”

“Yes,” Edward agreed. “I was certain I was doomed. I even heard my dead mother calling my name, comforting me.”

“Huh! That was not your mother.”
          “No?”

“It was their mother,” the Captain said, nodding towards the children. “She was frantic when the waters took you. She ran along the river, calling your name, tossing small branches towards you.”

“And my prince?”

“Sent us after her.”

“Not after me?” Edward asked.

“No,” the Captain said with a chuckle, “he thought she was trying to escape. She kept calling your name. When we finally caught up to her she was tugging at a huge log. She told us to help her and together we tossed it into the waters. But alas, we were too late. We watched you go under just as the log caught up to you.”

“No, you were not too late. I rode that log for hours.”

“Then we did save you!” the Captain cried.

          “Yes, but not my prince.” He left me for dead, Edward thought. “Agreed then. Now we must plot.”

 

          The Prince was not happy when he found Marie. She was supposed to be tending to Rose, and then getting dressed for dinner, but instead his Watch got word to him that she was seen visiting the stables.

          “You are a constant surprise, I will say that for you,” he said in greeting.

          “Why thank you,” she replied, not bothering to turn around. She continued brushing the horse’s mane.

          “I hate surprises. You were supposed to be tending to Rose, not tending to my horse.” Prince Hadwyn grabbed the brush from her hand. “Now you will have to wash up again and delay our dinner.”

          “Oh, I am terribly sorry, but Rose found the tea soothing and I have been wanting to thank Charlemagne for yesterday’s ride. I was too tired, and too distraught, to walk the many miles. But he was strong enough to carry us both.”

          Marie’s soft eyes and shy smile broke down the prince’s defences as no one else could. He found her both attractive and repulsive. This feeling of attraction was new for him. He had never felt it for anyone, much less a common woman. It also repelled him, for his senses told him he must never let down his defences. But he did. He even began combing Charlemagne with the brush.

          “Hmm. I am glad that it was Rose who was feeling ill and not you.” The Prince smiled at Marie, who turned away, most likely blushing. “Charlemagne is truly a fine specimen. He is of northern stock, did you know?”

          “I did not,” Marie lied.

          “Yes, very deserving of the name Charlemagne, who was unconquered in battle and a unifying force in the world. I only hope that history finds such favour with me as well.”

          “Oh I am certain, milord,” Marie replied, happy for the opportunity to fan his ego and take his mind away from her surprising nature.

          “But now it is time for us to prepare for dinner. Come.”

          Marie allowed the prince to take her arm and the two strolled out of the stable. She noticed that the prince was still holding the grooming brush.

          “Let me return that,” she said, not waiting for a reply.

She grabbed the brush from him and raced back into the stable. Charlemagne whinnied. Marie walked towards him and stroked his head.

“Soon, Ruairidh, soon.”

 

“It is broken,” Edward said, quick and clean, as quick and clean as the break had been. “My Captain cannot walk. Our surgeon may be able to heal it, I cannot tell, but he cannot walk back to Kesselring.”

“Then leave him! Leave him to die and rot in these woods as he once did to me.”

“Savannah! I mean, Alexander, we are not him. We cannot just leave someone to die,” Nathaniel retorted.

“You are right. I am sorry,” Alexander replied. “That night is still too fresh. It is as if it just happened. And all the fear, and pain, and regret, and anger is bubbling inside me. I can feel the cold, hard ground turning warm and muddy with my lifeblood. All my strength left me and I was drowning in a pool of my own making. I called out for Bounty-Claire with my last breath. And she came. She closed my eyelids and she whispered in my ear, ‘I love you, Alexander, and I will find you … again.’ And then she was no more. And I was no more.”

“I am truly sorry,” Edward replied. “That is no way for a prince to die.”

“No one should have died. The orb should never have been found. And it never should have been found again,” Nathaniel declared, angry with his father for sending a raven to them to start this nightmare once more. “Now what to do with your man?”

“I will fashion a splint, to lessen the movement,” Edward offered.

“But he cannot walk, you said?”

“Yes, mistress Savannah, he will have to ride. That is, if you will permit it,” Edward said with a bow that was directed more towards Truen than to Savannah.

“And then what?” Savannah asked. “We will simply ride to the gates of the castle where Prince Hadwyn will arrest us? I think not.”

“No, not to the castle. I know a farmer, some three miles from the castle, who could tend to the Captain in secrecy until you make good your father’s escape.” Edward looked at the children’s faces as they pondered this. “You do have a plan to make good your father’s escape?”

“Of course!” Nathaniel replied, “not well formulated, but it will come.”
          “Then let me assist you,” Edward offered.

“You? You would betray your prince?” Alexander scoffed before Savannah could control her tongue.

“He is no prince of mine!” Edward hissed, hoping that the Captain could not hear. “He left me to drown, in the same waters that nearly took you. It was your mother who saved me. I have a debt to pay, but it is not to Prince Hadwyn. I have no prince. My prince betrayed me. He is dead to me. My allegiance must now be to Princess …”

“Marie,” Nathaniel finished. “Edward, I take you for an honest man. We accept your offer.”

“Nathaniel!”

“Alexander, please! Savannah and I cannot do this alone, even with your memories. Edward can get us into Castle Kesselring, posing as his prisoners. He will have the trust and admiration of Prince Hadwyn. And the opportunity to make good his debt, if he be an honest man.”

“Yes! If he be an honest man. This man attacked you but an hour ago. You think he turned so soon to Caledonia?”

“Yes. As soon as he learned the truth, he turned. Mother saved him. He will do us no harm. Savannah, we need to trust someone. We cannot do this alone.” 
          “Perhaps you are right Nathaniel. No, Alexander, I have made up mind. Leave me be with my own thoughts for a time.”

Edward backed away from this strange girl, possessed of knowledge and memories more powerful than his own.

“I will tend to my Captain.”

Nathaniel walked over and hugged his sister. Edward walked to the woods and found his Captain grimacing, but anxious for news.

“Did they agree?”

“Yes,” Edward replied.

“Excellent! The orb will once again be Kesselring’s and we will be honoured.”

 

“That was a playful trick you pulled on that chambermaid. I must remember to never turn my back on you.”

“My prince,” Marie replied, holding out her glass to accept more wine, “Rose is but a simple heart, of simple mind, and so easily beguiled. You could not be fooled so easily, and no one would be foolhardy enough to try.”

“Your lips say all the right words, but your eyes tell me otherwise.”

“Milord?”

“Eyes are the window to the soul, the poets claim, and if so then yours is a passionate, turbulent one. I have only ever caught glimpses, but then the blinds are drawn shut.”

“Milord, I assure you are, I am quite transparent. I say this in all honesty that all I care about is my family.”

“Yes of course, the children. I do believe we shall have news shortly. But although your eyes are open, they are guarded with a protective curtain that keeps me out, almost like a snake.”

“Excuse me?” Marie blurted, thankful that she did not spew red wine over the prince.

“Do not take offence. It was not meant as a comparison; rather as a scientific oddity. I have always been fascinated with snakes. How can creatures go through life with their eyes wide open and not be blinded at times? Snakes cannot close their eyes. They have no eyelids.”

“So how do snakes do it?”

“Hmm. I asked Baldric to investigate. He takes pleasure in those sorts of things,” Prince Hadwyn commented between sips of wine. “He sent Saphrasus to collect grass snakes for him to study. It turns out that while their eyes appear to be clear, snakes actually have a transparent protective layer to guard against all of the dirt they would encounter when they are forced to see the world clearly. That is all I meant by my bumbling comparison; that your eyes are not clear to me. You can see out but I cannot see in.”

Marie did not like the direction of this conversation. She felt much safer when flirting, as that she could easily control by enflaming or cooling as the mood required. But being accused of deceptive behaviour struck too close to home. She sat, deflated, not knowing what to say. A knock, followed by a servant’s hesitant voice, interrupted the awkward silence.

“I beg your pardon for the interruption, milord, but master Baldric says it is most important.”

“Send him in,” Prince Hadwyn commanded, also happy for the distraction.

“Has the Captain returned?” Baldric began before noticing Marie. Clearly, the prince usually dined alone in the Great Hall. “Excuse me, milord.”

“Yes, I am truly sorry to cut our evening short. Would you excuse us? There are urgent matters. I will give you news in the morning, my dear.”

And with that Marie was dismissed. There would be no debate tonight about whether she should plunge a knife into his heart to protect her virtue while avenging Alexander’s death and John’s imprisonment. There would be no battle of wits to lure him closer but not too close. No, tonight the prince had dismissed Marie as but a simple distraction. And she was furious. She did not even complain when she heard Rose lock her into her room and pocket the key. She raced to the window, threw open the shutters and shone her candle.

Oh hurry Duff. I must have news.

Within a minute Marie was rewarded with the rush of wings and sudden appearance of the raven. But Duff did not look well. He was clearly exhausted from the ordeal and his head drooped. Marie felt sorry for him but she needed to know what happened.

“Oh I do not have time for all of the yes or no questioning. I wish you could just tell me what you know.”

Then let me.