Keeper of the Stone (15 page)

At the moment though it was one of his wife’s more pressing revelations distracting him from his duties.  He was inexplicably insulted by the fact his wife was removed from her family home without the comfort of a maid or traveling bag to see to her needs on the journey, but he found unforgivable the fact Rhiann was taken from her home before she was able to see to her mother’s burial.

He prayed the duke’s remaining servants had seen to that unwelcome chore, but even if he was unable to take her home, Nathan could give his wife the comfort of knowing her mother was laid to rest in death beside the husband she was so desperate to reunite with she committed a form of suicide.  He wondered if the king knew and thought to confide as much to him before he thought up some unpleasant consequence for the man who brought about the duchess’ death. 

Nathan longed to take the journey himself.  On a fast steed he could make the round trip to London in under a week, but Rhiann would never forgive him for not taking her with him and she was too exhausted to make the trip at such a grueling pace.  So he reluctantly assigned the duty to Archibald and a small contingent of his men. 

He had no intention of telling his wife about their journey until his men returned home with the news her mother was buried exactly where she longed to be, even if his men were forced to dig up her remains from wherever she was laid to rest and move her next to the duke’s resting place.  In that eventuality there was no reason for his wife to ever know her mother began her eternity anywhere else besides at the top of the ridge, beneath the old willow tree, next to the chapel, between her fallen husband and sons.

Ironically it was the queen who first heard Rhiann’s explanation of the traditions surrounding the bells in her hair and the dagger she now wore strapped to her arm.  After a long day spent training his men and several surprisingly not unpleasant conversations with men of now equal rank, Nathan finally made his way back to the keep.  He was looking forward to a hearty meal, a cool glass of ale and a long satisfying evening giving his wife further instruction in regards to her wifely duties.  He hoped William was not inclined to linger late into the night this evening. 

A smile curved his lips at his change in attitude.  Prior to his marriage he took great delight in the king’s company, and was anxious to be of service in even the smallest matters.  He wondered if the king noticed his distraction lately and thought he should make amends for his inattention lest William think having been awarded the lands of Rhiann’s father, Nathan no longer intended to be as diligent a servant as he was in the past.

The opportunity for such a conversation appeared instantly, as if the good lord was indeed privy to his thoughts lately and was following them with great interest.  The king was leaving the new abbey and returning to the keep just as Nathan was passing in the same direction.  William hailed him and Nathan paused to give the king and his guard time to catch up. 

When William approached, Nathan noticed his friend eyeing him curiously and intently.  After a long silent perusal he seemed to find himself satisfied with what he saw, nodded as if confirming to himself a previously held, but undisclosed opinion, then greeted his friend.

“Nathan, I was hoping to run into you.  I’ve missed your company these past few days.”  William’s booming voice was genial and Nathan was grateful he thought he heard amusement, rather than anger underlying it.

“My lord, yes, I wished to speak to you about the very same thing.”  Despite their years as friends and companions, Nathan was always acutely conscious of the wide gulf between them.  William was his king.  Nathan his obedient and loyal servant.

William laughed aside Nathan’s discomfort.  “I was only joking with you, Nathan.  I would be very disappointed in you, my friend, if you found my company more to your liking than your young wife’s.”

Nathan thrust a hand through his long hair, wondering how he was supposed to respond to his liege lord’s teasing comment.

William was apparently not finished with him yet.  “You do find your new wife’s company pleasing, do you not?”

Nathan gave up the battle to maintain an appropriate level of formality between them.  “Yes, my lord.  Though she appears to be in desperate need of a firm hand on the reins, if you take my meaning.”

William laughed delightedly. “Yes, I was quite conscious of her unbroken spirit within minutes of her arrival in my home.  You do remember our initial encounter do you not?”

Nathan grinned at the memory of Rhiann’s barely concealed insolence before the new monarch.

William shared his amusement at the memory.  “I believe you are exactly the man who can supply that firm hand Nathan, without breaking the spirit accompanying it.”

“Two days ago I would have agreed with you, sire.  Now I’m not sure who’s training who in this marriage.”

William’s booming laughter erupted at Nathan’s honest admission.  He clapped him on the back in a show of male commiseration.  “Yes, it seems clear the former lord of Heaven’s Crest allowed himself to become hopelessly entangled in the spell of his beautiful, younger daughter.  It remains to be seen if the current lord of Heaven’s Crest will make any more effort to extricate himself than his predecessor did.”

Nathan sighed ruefully.  “Admittedly sire I am in no hurry to do so.  But I assure you, I have not forgotten my duties or loyalties to my lord and king.”

William patted Nathan’s arm affectionately.  “Of that my friend, I have no doubt.”

When they entered the keep, Nathan assumed his eyes were still adjusting to the dimmer lighting inside, else he would have sworn he saw his bride huddled close to the new queen on a padded bench placed in front of the fire for warmth.  The two women’s heads were bent together and his wife was removing the jeweled dagger she seemed intent on wearing strapped to her arm and handing it to the queen. 

Nathan’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of his wife drawing a weapon in the queen’s presence. William smiled over his friend’s astonishment and patted his arm again in sympathy.  Nathan looked at the queen’s guard, noted William wave them off, and wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or nervous that their anxiety over the situation seemed to match his own. 

His wife’s foolishness left him in an uncomfortable position.  He could hardly interrupt her conversation with the queen without invitation, yet he was somewhat concerned what she might next take into her head that the queen’s guard might object to in a more strenuous manner.  He was as relieved as the guard when the queen handed the dagger back to Rhiann and she fitted it safely back in the leather strap on her upper arm.

Curious, William stepped closer so he could hear the conversation between the two women, who appeared oblivious to their audience.  William motioned silently his permission for Nathan to accompany him.

Nathan couldn’t restrain his start of surprise at the queen’s comment, spoken in a low voice.  “So the dagger serves as a reminder life is a choice you make each day.”

Rhiann turned at Nathan’s outraged gasp.  “Nathan I didn’t see you come in.”  Seeing the king at his side she quickly jumped to her feet then rushed around the bench to kneel before him.

“Rise, my dear, and please take your seat and finish this fascinating conversation.  I believe you were explaining to Matilda the significance of the dagger you wear on your arm.”

Nathan watched his wife’s eyes dart nervously between the king and himself, but she was obviously in no hurry to comply with the king’s request.  Sensing her young friend’s hesitancy before both the king and her new husband, Matilda filled the awkward gap as Rhiann silently took her place again on the bench. 

“Yes, dear, Rhiann was explaining her grandmother sent the dagger to her as a reminder that each of us is given a choice to go on living or not.”

Nathan couldn’t believe what he was hearing.  The church did not give one permission to end his or her life no matter how miserable the life in question was.  What his wife suggested was blasphemy.  Suicide was a mortal sin.  Surely he misunderstood the queen’s explanation and accompanying implication.  “And if the person on the receiving end of the dagger decided continuing to go on living was not her choice?”  His voice was unnaturally quiet.

The queen and king exchanged an amused glance, but Matilda deferred the answer to Nathan’s question to Rhiann, who was silently regarding him with increasing anxiety.  “I do not wish to discuss traditions anymore.  Please forgive me for upsetting you.”

“I don’t give a damn whether or not you wish to discuss traditions anymore; we are not through discussing them.  And I am not upset for God’s sake, I’m furious at the suggestion you might one day decide your life was not worth continuing and you feel you have the right to use that ridiculous dagger to end it.”

He was shouting by the time he finished instructing his wife and expected her to cower before his righteous fury.  Apparently his bride was not yet done surprising him.  Rather than tremble before his just outrage, she jumped up again from her place next to the queen and actually dared to stamp her foot, her eyes blazing with a fury to match his own when she shouted back at him.  “How dare you call my family’s sacred traditions ridiculous?  I would never insult your family in such a manner.  And yes, it is my life, husband, and if I decide to return His gift to our heavenly Father, it is my right to do so.”

Nathan could not credit his wife would actually challenge him so openly before his lord.  If one of his men dared defy him as his wife seemed intent on doing he would be sorely pressed not to kill him for his insolence.  He could hardly kill his wife, he accepted reluctantly, though he was beginning to understand certain men’s inclinations to beat theirs.

The hall had grown unnaturally quiet while everyone in it awaited his reaction to the obvious challenge Rhiann just issued.  His reputation did not favor his wife.  He dropped his voice so only Rhiann and the king and queen could hear his response.  “I beg to differ, wife.  You are my property.  Your life belongs to me.  You have no rights in the matter.”

Rhiann’s face leeched of all color.  Where a fine blush rested on it moments ago, her skin paled until it was now a deathly white.  The green fire in her eyes was mercilessly quenched.  Her hushed voice, devoid of all emotion, matched his own. 

“Thank you for your instruction in regards to my worth to you, husband.”  Each stilted word acted as a lash against his conscious.  Was he so concerned about his status before his king and his fellow noblemen he could not make allowances for his wife’s extreme youth and very near grief?  Rhiann apparently wasn’t through chastising him yet.  She reached over and drew the dagger out of its strap and presented it to him hilt first.  “As I am now your property I must assume this ‘ridiculous’ dagger also belongs to you.”  She reached around her neck and removed the chain holding the unusual stone her mother left her and handed it to him as well.  “This at least I am happy to pass to a new keeper.  May you find joy in it.  I cannot.  The stone is stained with my mother’s blood.”

The bells in her hair sounded in mournful communion and then fell quiet as she dropped her arms back to her side.  Her eyes glistened with tears now, her fury spent as quickly as it arose.  She even dropped her head in what another might interpret as respect for his just position as her lord.  He read only defeat in her subdued manner. “I won’t trouble you further with my ridiculous presence.” 

She turned to William, her head still bent.  “With your permission, sire.”  She didn’t lift her glance to see if the king granted her request or not, but turned quickly away and hurried towards the stairs, no doubt her intent to escape her husband’s obnoxious presence as swiftly as possible.

Nathan looked down at the dagger and the odd stone resting in his still outstretched hand.  “What the hell am I supposed to do with these?”  He muttered, and then swiftly apologized to his lord’s wife for voicing the profanity in her presence.

Matilda regarded him sympathetically and waved off his apology before excusing herself and leaving the two men alone.  “Perhaps sire you wish to re-evaluate your conclusion I am the right man to instill some discipline into my wife’s life without breaking her spirit.”

“No, Nathan.  I have no doubts in that regard, but she is fragile, son.  Be gentle with her tender heart.”

How was he supposed to do that? Nathan asked himself silently.  By returning the damned, ridiculous dagger to her so she could end her life with it whenever she objected to one of his dictates?  He eyed the stone curiously. In the few moments it was removed from its place nestled between the warmth of his wife’s breasts, the stone lost all color and warmth.  It now felt like ice in his hand.  He picked up the chain with his other hand and examined the now dark stone in the light of the fire.  There was no sign left of the emerald color it took on against his wife’s skin. Instead, it appeared as cold and lifeless as it felt.  Like death against the warmth of his hand.  “Have you ever seen anything like this stone?”

“No.” William replied, eyeing it just as curiously.  “Though I believe my wife spoke the truth when she suggested such things are better left in the hands of their rightful owners.”

Nathan nodded.  “I can assure, sire, I plan to see it is returned to its rightful keeper at the earliest opportunity.”              When he parted from William, Nathan considered following Rhiann to his rooms, and then decided he needed a little time to calm down and clear his head before confronting his wife.  He needed to figure out how to convince her they must find some form of common ground between them that did not involve potential suicide on her part whenever she decided her new life with him was unbearable.

Through the window overlooking the courtyard, Rhiann watched Nathan leave the keep and stride off in the direction of his men’s tents.  She supposed he was anxious to get away from her.  Across the courtyard she saw Father Bernard in the courtyard of the small church dwarfed by the new abbey.

Tears stung her eyes at the fresh memory of the awful scene with her husband. For a moment she was afraid Nathan might strike her when she challenged him so forcefully in front of the new king and queen.  She knew there were not many who would contest his right to do so.  Some of them would be cheering him on at the prospect of witnessing her humiliation at her husband’s hands.  She was appalled at her behavior and was grateful neither of her parents was alive to see her act with such ill grace.  They would have been gravely embarrassed by their daughter shrieking at her husband like a common fish-wife.