Knight of Runes (11 page)

She returned to the Manor excited at the prospect of getting back to her jogging routine. With a quick step and bright smile, she entered through the kitchen and grabbed an apple on her way to the library.

“You have some color back in your cheeks,” said Jeannie. “The walk did you good.”

Arik kept a close eye on the king’s scribe. He couldn’t help but notice her. He could feel her presence. Her subtle scent announced her arrival before he even heard her step.

Jeannie and his captains provided daily reports and so far they proved to be nothing out of the ordinary. Her dedication to the project was admirable. She never ventured out of the library. But seeing her with the Manor plans made him uneasy. What was she looking for? There was no information noted on the document that wasn’t common knowledge. He relaxed when he realized nothing was amiss. He hoped it stayed that way.

“What do you think about this woman?” Arik asked Marcus. They stood off to the side of the practice fields, speaking over the grunts of the men and the clash of metal swords against metal shields. Training was going quite well. The smell was all dust and sweat, luckily not blood.

“She is comely,” Marcus teased.

Arik smirked. “Yes she is. What do the villagers say?”

“I’m surprised at how well she’s managed with the villagers. She can’t get through the market without everyone stopping to talk to her, even Margery. I’ve never heard that one say anything nice about anyone but she does like Rebeka. Overall, the villagers think she is pleasant, if a bit strange. They attribute it to her coming from the king’s court. About ten days ago, she started asking them questions. She writes everything down in a strange hand in her journal. She seems to be interested in gossip.”

“Gossip? I found her studying the family documents. Fortunately, she can’t read the runes. I removed the book from the library.”

“What do you think she seeks?”

“I wish I knew.” He stared across the practice field, picturing the sensuous sway of her hips and the hypnotic passion in her violet eyes. He mentally shook his mind to clear it. “I want to know every move she makes.”

“Arik, why so suspicious? It’s not like you.”

He turned to Marcus. “If Jamie has sent her, he’s up to mischief, if he didn’t…all the more reason to stay alert.”

July 11.

I can’t believe I’m still here and no closer to returning. I’m making progress on everything but getting back. I’ve made some headway with Arik’s problem. Jeez, I wish I had my computer. I could research the micro-bursts. There may be an easy answer to this strange weather. Not such an easy solution. How do you counteract a force of nature?

Doward would probably tell me to use magic. And I’ve been interviewing everyone. At least I have some good information for the National Trust project.

“Rebeka! I’ve come to get you. It’s time to prepare for the evening meal.” Skylar marched into the library and stood next to the table with her hands on her hips. She showed no signs of relenting.

“I’m almost done.” Immersed in her journal, Rebeka didn’t pick up her head.

“What are you working on?” Skylar dropped her hands from her hips and bent over Rebeka’s shoulder, curious to see what was so interesting.

“Just writing what I did today. I’ve spoken to the older people in the village and asked if they remember seeing anything like this strange lightning before. They told me ten years ago there were similar lightning storms.” She put her pen down and sat back. “I want to find more about that lightning.”

“Have you spoken to Elfrida?”

“Elfrida?”

“She’s one of the oldest people in the village. She may be able to help you. She’s full of odd information. Aubrey and I use to sit with her in her garden. She would tell us story after story. You must know who she is. Her cottage is the one on the path to the lake.”

“So that’s who lives there. I’ve wanted to meet her. She’s out in her garden every morning, usually fast asleep, and I haven’t the heart to wake her. I’ll make certain I speak to her in the morning.” She closed her journal and got up from the table. “Well, enough for one day.”

“Good. You’ve been in here for weeks.”

Skylar looped her arm in Rebeka’s as they talked like old friends on their way upstairs to their rooms. “You rarely come out. You join us after dinner but leave so soon. You can’t spend all your time with books. Surely, you didn’t hide from everyone at court. Tonight you must stay with us.”

Hide from everyone? Is that what people think?
Rebeka’s hand was on the door knob to her room. She tilted her head sideways and peered at the girl. “I’ll join you after dinner and stay a bit longer.”

“Uncle Logan, play your flute tonight,” said Skylar. “Aubrey will sing.”

“What a wonderful idea. What shall I play?”

“Lord Randal,”
requested Aubrey. “I want to sing
Lord Randal.
”

“Ah, Aubrey, that is such a sad ballad. How about something more lively?” asked Logan.

“I like that song. Please play it for me.”

“Okay, m’lady, if you insist. Your wish is my command.” He bowed deeply, winked at Skylar and picked up the flute.

“Aubrey,” barked Katherine, loud enough for everyone to hear except Arik. He sat at the other side of the room intent on setting up the chessboard. “Why do you insist on singing such a horrid song? And that dress. What possessed you to put on that rag?”

“Cousin, you know it’s Aubrey’s favorite dress. The material is from one of Mother’s gowns. Aubrey enjoys wearing it,” said Skylar.

“Hush, Skylar, know your place. Aubrey, I do not want to see you in that dress again, do you hear?” Skylar was already across the room, eager to help Arik prepare the game board.

Aubrey stood at Logan’s side, her hand lightly on his shoulder. She gave him a tentative smile then stared out the window into the evening and sang. Between the sad ballad and the even sadder face on Aubrey, the mood was somber.

Rebeka was irked with Katherine’s manner and her mood deteriorated sharply toward anger. She must speak to Arik. He needed to help the child. She was defenseless against Katherine. Frustrated, she waited for Aubrey to finish her song then got up to leave.

“Rebeka, please stay with us.”

“I was going to go to my room, Aubrey.”

“Please stay and sing. I hear you singing quietly in the library all the time.”

“Yes, Rebeka, please sing us a song.” It was Logan’s turn to cajole her.

She looked at the two conspirators and smiled. “All right, if you insist.” Rebeka picked up the mandolin. It rested propped up on the chest near the table where Skylar and Arik prepared for their game.
What song?
She thought while she tuned the instrument. In keeping with Aubrey’s
Lord Randal
theme of lost love, she decided to sing
Greenfields,
a 1960’s folk song

She sat in the window seat which made a romantic backdrop for her song. She closed her eyes and sang the ballad in her strong alto voice, coloring it with emotion—the haunting sound of the tireless search for a lost love. The song built to a crescendo, pleading for a reason why he’d left her alone, and ended with a soulful promise, to wait for her lover’s return. When she was through, no one made a sound. Her eyes still closed, she held her breath and let her emotions settle down. The hush of the room washed over her. Finally, she opened her eyes and found herself staring into Arik’s. For a moment, she wondered if he had loved and lost. His face was drawn and his eyes were dark with…was that passion? She must have been wrong. At second glance it was a disinterested stare.

He got up and retrieved a tankard of ale from the sideboard.

“Oh, Rebeka, what a beautiful song.” Wonder filled Aubrey’s voice. “Oh sing another.”

“It’s time for you to go upstairs.”

“You have a rich voice.” Logan ignored Katherine, who looked at him with displeasure written all over her face. Arik made no comment.

“Oh, please, Rebeka. You can’t leave us with two sorrowful songs.”

Rebeka laughed. “All right, hmm, let me see.” Her hair fell in front of her eyes and she reached back, flicking it backward over her shoulders to get it out of the way. She strummed the mandolin and picked through camp songs in her mind until she found the right song. “Logan, can you play this on your flute?” She played the simple melody.

“Yes, it doesn’t sound difficult.” He mimicked the tune.

“Good, now follow me. Row, row, row your boat…” She sang the song through once. “Skylar, Aubrey, sing it with me.” Logan and Rebeka played the song and the girls joined in. “Now do you think you can do it without me?”

“Yes, we can.” Aubrey was eager to sing.

The girls started the song. After the second line, Rebeka joined in and they sang it through two more times in a round.

By the end of the song, laughter filled the room—the beginning of a smile even tipped the corners of Arik’s mouth. Katherine, however, was as dour as always.

Rebeka returned the mandolin to its place, and turned her attention to Skylar who was playing chess. A thick nostalgia blanketed her thoughts. She used to play chess with her dad. She sighed heavily, gave herself a mental shake and paid attention to the board as the game progressed.

“There, Uncle Arik, you better take care, only three moves and I will have your queen.”

Rebeka saw Skylar’s error. She left her king exposed, a wide opening for Arik. Her head snapped up as Arik’s eyes bore into her. His hands were clasped, his elbows resting on the arms of the chair.

“Skylar,” said Rebeka, still looking at Arik. Only his eyes shifted when he returned his attention to the game.

“Did you want to say something? I didn’t think you were still here,” Arik said dismissively to Rebeka, his eyes still on the board.

Rebeka fought back a rebuff. She chose her next words carefully. “I only wanted to tell Skylar she might want to look at the board from every angle.”

All was silent. A few moments passed. “The next move is mine. What should it be?” Arik raised his eyes, trapping her in his gaze. It was a direct challenge.

She understood the test. Does she make him take a move to set up Skylar for a false victory or does he play through to win? She looked at Arik but he once again studied the board. She would get no help from him.

After a few minutes of deliberating, she moved Arik’s rook and toppled Skylar’s king. “Checkmate,” she quietly declared.

“Rebeka, how did you see that move?” Skylar moved to the edge of her seat to get a closer look at the board.

“You only saw the board from your perspective. You must evaluate all angles and all challenges, no matter the degree of obvious threat, to ensure your success. You must always be alert and prepared.”

Well done, woman.
He would not give her the satisfaction of a compliment but he watched her. He always watched her. He told himself he watched to be ready in case she proved false but even he knew it was a poor excuse. He watched her fluid movements, the confident regal way she walked, the set of her eyes when she concentrated deeply, the tilt of her head when she spoke to Katherine and her affection for the girls, especially Aubrey.

“I shall not forget the lesson, Rebeka. It’s a good lesson, isn’t it, Uncle Arik?”

Arik simply smiled and nodded. When Rebeka first joined them after the meal, he had been ready for a confrontation. The pleasant evening surprised him. Her interaction with Logan and his nieces was enjoyable.

Katherine, on the other hand…He should find time to speak to her about Aubrey. The woman took all her frustration out on the child. He watched her punish the embroidery, stabbing the needle mercilessly into the fine linen until the room grew too dark for her to see the stitches.

“Now that you’re finished with your little concert, girls, it’s time to take to your bed,” said Katherine.

Reluctantly Skylar and Aubrey said their good-nights and followed Katherine up the stairs.

“I must retire, too.” Logan yawned. “Good night, Arik. Good night, Rebeka.”

Without a word, Arik also got up to leave. “Arik, I would like to talk to you about Aubrey. She’s being bullied.”

He didn’t stop. He heard the swish of her skirt as she tramped after him. He increased his strides.

“Arik, I—”

“Woman, not now,” he commanded.

“But it’s—” She continued following him.

“Do you run after me?”

“If you haven’t got the courtesy to stop and listen then I am forced to go after you. It’s about Aubrey.”

He stopped by the grand staircase and turned so abruptly she slammed into him.

“Your concern is the library, not Aubrey. Do not interfere.”

She took a small step backward. “I need to bring this to your attent—”

Grabbing her by her shoulders, he pulled her toward him and easily lifted her off the ground.

The feel of her arms beneath his hands sent small ripples of excitement scurrying to every nerve in his body. He brought her face close enough to feel the rush of her breath against his cheek and a sudden warmth radiated through him. He pulled her close. Her violet eyes darkened to deep purple and the silver specks in them sparkled as her passion grew. Her heat overpowered him and all he wanted was to capture her lips and cover them with his own. He watched her eyelids flutter and close. She raised her chin and, without a word, offered him her mouth. A low growl rumbled in his throat and he brushed her lips with his, setting off a raging storm that swept across his body. Lazily, her eyes opened. Her lips parted as if to speak but she said nothing.

When he first grabbed her, he only wanted to intimidate her. Now all he wanted was her. He should put her down. But he held on. How did she have this power over him? He didn’t want to discuss Aubrey or Katherine with her. His fingers burned where he touched her. His eyes held hers and saw smoldering passion mixed with a tinge of apprehension. She was driving him mad.

“Didn’t you understand what I said? Aubrey is not your concern. Do not interfere,” he demanded through clenched teeth, straining to regain some control.

“Put me down, Arik.” She looked calm, but he could tell by her rapid breathing she was anything but. She drove him to this but not even he could understand his reaction. “Please, Lord Arik. Please put me down. I didn’t want—”

“I will not tolerate your interfering.” He shouldn’t have grabbed her and brought her so close. Touching her brought on a rage.

“Please let me go, Lord Arik.”

He opened his hands and let her go. She dropped like a stone and landed on her backside. He stared at her on the ground, giving her, he hoped, his best scathing look. He turned and left, the clatter of his boots sounding a quick retreat.