Hearts Across Time (The Knights of Berwyck: A Quest Through Time Novel ~ Books 1 & 2) (28 page)

K
atherine stood firmly
on the ground with her arms folded over her chest. She glared furiously up at her husband. “No way, Riorden! Not again!” she fumed and stomped her foot for good measure.

Aiden’s laughter rang out in the courtyard. “Is it just me, or have we done this afore?”

Katherine glowered at the man, who had been traveling with them for some time. “Shut up Aiden! Don’t make me go find a stick and use it on your head!” she threatened with a shake of her fist.

He only laughed harder, causing Katherine to turn her back to hide her own smirk as she thought on her association with a certain red headed Scotsman, or Englishman she supposed, since Berwyck now fell under English rule.

Aiden had rescued her dear friend Emily from ruffians, bent on doing their worst to her. Although at first it was thought Aiden held a certain attraction for her friend, it was quickly established between the two of them that they were more like irritating brother and sister, who were constantly at each other’s throats more than anything else. Emily’s heart, in the end, had belonged to a certain Irish rebel. Katherine continued to wonder how Emily and Tiernan fared.

Aiden started to squirm in his saddle when Katherine turned again to once more level her steady gaze upon him. She just couldn’t help herself from staring, since the resemblance to his twin sister Amiria was so uncanny. Truth be told, she already missed the friendship that had formed between herself and the lady of Berwyck Castle. Hopefully, they would be able to travel north again soon, since Katherine was sure that in many ways Riorden missed his life as Captain of the guard for his friend Dristan.

She blew a lock of hair that had fallen across her eye, annoying her. Travel...ha! What she wouldn’t give right about now for a good old fashioned car with enough fuel to drive anywhere she wanted to go. She mentally smacked her head, realizing that England was an island, so she really wouldn’t have been able to go far. However, anything was better than the alternative that now stood in her way of getting to their destination.

“Come Katherine,” Riorden urged gently. “The day awaits us.”

“I know it must seem as though I’m whining, Riorden, but can’t we take that lovely carriage we came in?” she pleaded.

Before he could answer, Ulrick, one of Dristan’s guardsmen, who seemed to have adopted them of sorts, urged his horse forward. “I am most sorry, my lady, but we sent the carriage back to Berwyck a se’nnight ago.”

Riorden leaned down from his saddle and held out his hand to her. “’Tis not far, Katherine. If we ride hard, we can be there afore nightfall.”

She looked at his outstretched limb until his massive, pitch-black stallion glared at her with mocking, evil eyes. The steed was built to carry the weight of a knight in his armor and was bigger than any horse she had seen before. “He hates me,” she pouted, trying to think of some excuse to not have to ride atop such dizzying heights.

Riorden laughed at her words. “Beast hates no one and is most obedient. Besides...he is just an animal.”

Beast pawed at the ground and lifted his front hooves in the air, causing Katherine to wisely step back several paces instead of being trampled. The horse continued to snort his displeasure and bare his teeth, as if he understood his master’s words. Riorden calmed the animal and patted him on the neck.

She took a few steps closer to the war horse and gave her husband a sheepish look while he sat high above the ground in the saddle. “It’s as if he remembers, Riorden...”

“Remembers what,
ma petite
?” he interrupted her with a quizzical frown on his features.

Somewhat hesitant, she looked about her to ensure no others overheard their conversation until she continued in a quiet tone. “...that he once saw me as a ghost.”

Her thoughts wandered to that day, not too long ago, when she had first seen Riorden riding up to her on the beach while she sat beneath the shadows of this very castle. From the look he gave her, he too relived the memories. Funny how Time had interlaced their lives, as if eight hundred years never separated them at all, just so they could stand before one another.

“Interesting,” Riorden murmured.

Reaching behind him, he scratched Beast’s rump. The horse’s lips began to quiver in bliss, and, if a horse could smile, Beast was grinning from one ear to the other. Thinking it was safe to approach, Katherine stepped forward, only narrowly missing the bared set of teeth that snapped in her direction. Beast was obviously displeased that his pleasure from his master was being interrupted.

Katherine jumped back and shook her fist at the animal. “Bad horse!” she scolded, as if talking to a dog. And why not? He was behaving like one.

The blasted animal had the nerve to laugh at her, nickering merrily away.

“Beast, be nice,” Riorden commanded, holding out his hand for her to take once more.

The horse threw her what she deemed as another condescending look before she took Riorden’s hand in her own, knowing she really had no other choice in the matter. She was efficiently lifted and placed in front of her husband where he made her comfortable in his lap. Since she didn’t know how to ride, there really was no other option. She certainly didn’t relish walking all the way to Warkworth.

She held on for dear life when Riorden pulled on the reins to turn the animal beneath them. The rest of their party was already mounted. Ulrick and Nathaniel, another of Dristan of Berwyck’s guards that now seemed destined to follow Riorden, appeared bored and impatient. Aiden and Patrick were having their own heated argument, for Patrick kept telling his brother about the ghosties residing in Bamburgh’s passageways.

Everyone seemed to be waiting for her to get her act together so they could be on their way. Even Brianna was sitting prettily atop a beautiful brown mare, as if it were nothing to be perching on something with four legs instead of wheels made of rubber. Katherine had to admire the animal her friend was to ride, however. The horse’s coat gleamed in the morning sunlight and it was clear the steed had been well cared for.

“Look what Gavin gave me, sissy!” Brianna smiled brightly, patting her horse’s neck. “Isn’t she just beautiful, Katie?”

Katherine choked back an answer when Beast moved suddenly from the slightest pressure of Riorden’s knee. With one last backward glance at the towering height of Bamburgh’s keep, she gave a silent farewell to the place and offered up a small prayer of thanks to the heavens above. She never wanted to get near a time gate again and risk the chance of losing what she had found.

Trying to maintain her precarious balance, Katherine tightened her hold around her husband’s waist. Keeping her focus on the road ahead of her, she felt Riorden place a kiss on top of her head. She was one lucky woman. After all, what more would she ever stand in need of when she had her knight forever at her side?

R
iorden paced with
an impatient stride
, back and forth across the forest floor. The fallen, dying leaves crunched beneath his boots as he trod upon them, disintegrating into unidentifiable specks of dust. That they no longer resembled their original forms was a testament of how long he had been kept waiting. Fall was in the air, and there would be many things to see to at Warkworth afore the snow fell. Truly, how long did it take for two women to complete their private business?

They had not traveled far afore their progress came to an abrupt standstill. Clearly, they were nowhere close to the proximity of his lands. At this slow pace, they would have to camp this night and attempt the distance again come the morrow. Still, Riorden was worried. After his wife’s startled cry to stop what she called
the demon from hell beneath them
, Katherine had jumped from the saddle without any aid afore Beast even came to a halt. She ran towards the trees and away from curious eyes with her hand covering her mouth. Brianna followed closely on her heels. ’Twas abundantly apparent his wife was not well, especially since she had not even given a second thought to the height she had easily dropped down from.

“Perchance, it will ease your mind, Riorden, if you go check on them,” Nathaniel suggested whilst sitting on a log, tossing a dirk end over end in his hand.

“How about a go at it, Nathaniel?” Ulrick asked, taking his sword from its scabbard. “At least we can be of some use and train whilst we await the women.”

“Why not? We are not used to idleness, since Dristan runs a tight garrison...no offense, Riorden.”

Riorden waved the two men off, and they went but a short distance. The distinct sound of clashing swords and taunting curses between the two caused Riorden to smirk. At least the men were being productive. He watched Patrick’s dark head as the lad took a stick and poked its end in the dirt at his feet. There must be something better the boy could be doing during this endless waiting.

“Take your brother, Aiden, and show him that move I but taught you recently,” Riorden ordered, “but go slow. I would not want to be in need of a healer err we get to Warkworth, nor answer to Dristan for an injury done to the lad.”

“Hooray!” Patrick quickly leapt up, dropping the stick, and his eyes sparkled in anticipation of hefting his weapon. “Come on, Aiden!”

Riorden chuckled as he watched his eager squire depart, practically pulling his older brother to hurry so they could be about their swordplay. His gaze went to his own younger sibling and what few memories the two of them had growing up together.

“’Tis been some time since we have talked...just the two of us, and privately, that is,” Riorden began and went to sit on the now vacated fallen log. He made a slight motion, and Gavin joined him. The silence between them was slightly awkward ’til Riorden took note of the look on his brother’s visage. “What bothers you, Gavin?”

He seemed unsure where to start. “’Tis just that you have not been home for many years now, and ’tis not been the same since you left. There is much going on at Warkworth, or so I have heard.”

“I am sure, you, of all people, know the reason I stayed away.”

“Aye, of course I do, nor do I blame you. I would most assuredly have done the same, given the circumstances.”

“I am glad to hear you understood my reasoning.”

“I comprehended your action, Riordan, although it did not make the situation any easier to bear, knowing you would not return to claim your birthright,” Gavin said with a brush of his hand through his hair.

“Since I wanted no part of it, the title and lands could have easily been passed on to you.”

“You know I could never take your place, brother, especially in the eyes of our sire. Father had often inquired after you and any news I could offer him,” Gavin rushed on, “not that I had much to tell him, since I was on my own travels with Danior on the king’s business.”

“He made his choice,” Riorden replied gruffly.

Gavin ran a hand through his hair yet again. “Aye, he made his choice, and ’twas a bad one at that. He regretted it every day ’til he drew his last breath.”

Riorden stood abruptly and clasped his hands behind his back to stop himself from any attempt to throttle his brother. “Are you trying to make me feel guilty I did not rush to his death bed to hear his confession? ’Tis what a priest is for.”

“Nay, brother. I would not endeavor to make you feel as such. However, Marguerite has been most unpleasant since his passing.”

Riorden’s brow rose with skepticism. “Really? More so than her usual rantings of not getting all she desires?”

“Harrumph! She has not changed much over the years, but ’tis more to it than that.”

“She has no one else to blame but herself for her fate, since she chose wealth over marriage to me,” Riorden said, pacing again. “I suppose, now that I have Katherine as my wife, I can say that she did me a favor. Though at the time, I did not think of it as such.”

“Well, you may wish to know, ’tis said he still walks the passageways in search of you,” Gavin uttered as he came to stand with feet apart and hands folded upon his chest.

“Who does?”

“Why father, of course,” Gavin replied in confidence.

“You speak as if you have seen him yourself,” Riorden declared, staring at his sibling, who only gave him a smirk of satisfaction.

“I am not the only one who has been graced with his presence. Marguerite has claimed he haunts her at all hours of the day and night. I fear she is going quite mad, and the situation may be more dire than you realize.”

Riorden only gazed on his brother, as if he was not right in his head. “Such drivel you spout. Ghosts...and at Warkworth, no less? ’Tis most unbelievable.”

Gavin chuckled with a hearty slap to Riorden’s back. “Given where your wife and Brianna hail from, I should think that you more than anyone else, dear brother, would believe in ghosts!”

“Aye...well...how often can what happened between Katherine and I truly occur?”

Gavin took out his sword and headed towards the knights who were training. “I might as well join them. Who knows how long the ladies may be.”

Riorden watched after his brother, only to realize he had never answered him, but, mayhap, time would answer it for him.

He turned his attention to the more pressing matter of continuing their journey and began making his way to find his wife. The bushes rustled as he brushed past them ’til he came to a sudden stop to listen to the unmistakable sound of someone retching. Given how she had been feeling of late, he did not have to guess who was not well. After several minutes, he snuck closer in the direction to eavesdrop on the women’s conversation. What he heard was so unexpected, it caused him to break into a muffled, but merry, laugh of delight.

“
K
atie
, you’re gonna have a baby!” Brianna exclaimed in excitement.

“Shh...not so loud, Brie. You’ll give me a headache.”

“I would think a headache would be the least of your worries. I can’t imagine you have anything left in your stomach, you’ve hurled so much,” Brianna said, giving her a small pat on the back. “Here...try to eat this apple.”

Katherine looked at the fruit as if it were poison. “I just couldn’t.”

“How far along do you think you are?”

Katherine raised her watery eyes and placed a hand on her abdomen. “I can’t be that far along. We haven’t been married much longer than a month and a half.”

“Have you told him?”

It seemed as if the forest became eerily silent of a sudden. Katherine rolled her eyes. “How could I when I barely guessed myself?”

“Katie, are you nuts? Why wouldn’t you tell him you think you may be pregnant, you ninny? He loves you for heaven’s sake!”

Katherine ignored the name she had been called and wondered if her stomach had at last settled down. “I didn’t want to say anything until I was positive. Besides, with our knowledge from the future, you know how easy it is to lose a baby in the first trimester.”

Brianna looked at her with a sad look in her eyes. “I would think you’d be happy and want to share the news with him.”

“Well, as astute as Riorden is, I’m sure he’ll figure it out, especially if I have to stop every five minutes so I can puke my guts out.”

“Ewww...that sounds so nasty when you say it like that,” Brianna complained, holding her hand to her mouth.

“Sorry Brie, but don’t worry. I’ll be sure to tell him once we get to Warkworth and we have a private moment to ourselves.”

“Be sure that you do,” Brianna declared and began fumbling in a small pack she had brought with her. “Here...I don’t have much left, but it will surely taste better than anything else that’s still lingering in your mouth at the moment.”

Katherine looked at the tube Brie was holding out to her and held out her finger. Brie squeezed out a smidgen of toothpaste, and Katherine gave a contented sigh at the sight of the luxury that would soon be gone. “You’re an angel Brie. I’m so thankful that you’re here with me.”

They linked arms, as friends are wont to do, while Katherine put her finger in her mouth and brushed her teeth with the minty paste. She was going to miss this, among other things.

“It’s too bad Juliana didn’t stay,” offered Brianna. “Her nursing skills sure would have come in handy come your delivery time.”

“Ugh! Don’t get me thinking about that as yet, Brie, or I’ll never make it through the pregnancy. I keep having visions of some quack wanting to bleed me, as if that will actually make things better.”

“Did they do that in this time period, or sometime later?”

Katherine shook her head. “I have no idea. Where is Emily when we need her and her love of history?”

“I’m sure she would have been useful, as well. I could call you a pansy if it will make you feel any better.”

Katherine gave a lighthearted laugh. “No thanks.”

Brianna giggled. “In any case, there’s nothing for you to worry about, sissy. We’ll make it through this together.”

With misty eyes, Katherine turned to her friend. “I know I’ve said this a hundred times, but I really am so very thankful you’re here with me Brie. I just don’t want anything to happen to this baby.”

Katherine felt her sister’s arms enfold around her. She gave another laugh, hugging Brianna right back until the sounds of the rustling bushes drew her attention. At first she was on edge, not knowing who was approaching, but sighed in relief when she saw it was Riorden. From the look on his face and his silent stare, she knew he had overheard their conversation.

Brianna must have guessed their need for privacy, since she quickly rose. As she passed by Riorden, she gave his arm a small squeeze before she happily left them alone. Katherine observed him standing there, saying absolutely nothing, with only the sound of the birds chirping away in the treetops high above their heads.

She could stand the silence no longer. “You heard.”

“Aye.”

“And...”

“And what?” he asked with a strange look of puzzlement plastered on his smirking face.

Her disapproving look that for once he could not figure out her thoughts must have amused him further, since he began to laugh.

“You clod, Riorden! Have you no care for my tenderhearted feelings, especially given my delicate condition?” She tried to keep the laughter from her lips, but, when his smile only broadened, it bubbled forth like a lovely melody to show the joy she felt, knowing she carried his child.

“Come here, my lovely wife.” He opened his arms to her, and she ran willingly into them.

He held her for several minutes, just the two of them standing there with him lightly caressing her back. The only sound between them was that of the peaceful tranquility of nature’s song.

“Katherine?”

Her name coming from his lips held an almost reverent quality to it, and she took a step back so she could fully see the expression on his face.

“Yes, Riorden?” There was so much love shining in his brilliant blue eyes that she was humbled by the appearance of so much devotion. His hand lowered and he placed it gently on her stomach.

His voice caught when he spoke, and she could have sworn she saw tears of happiness hovering in his eyes. “I am most pleased about the babe,” he said with a hushed tone, as if to not break the spell that surrounded them.

Before she could reply, her strong warrior knight and husband went down on his knees, placing his head lightly against her stomach as if to listen to his unborn child. He embraced her around her waist. She grasped his head and stroked his hair, giving a deep sigh. Her own tears fell freely down her cheeks at his gesture that was one of the most romantic moments in her entire life. They said not a word, for what was there really to say? Katherine gave a contented sigh and raised her eyes to the heavens in thanks. They were indeed so very blessed.