Authors: Donna Fletcher
She sketched as he spoke and felt the first faint snowflake touch her face. It brought a smile of happiness to her, for the winter would not be one of struggle to survive. Everyone would be warm, and food would be plentiful. Life would be good again.
Reena hurried her sketching and took in all she could with quick glances and mental notes, while the snowflakes swirled around her.
With a sweeping glance Magnus surveyed his land. He was finally here; he had waited and planned, and he was here. He felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, though there was more yet to be done, and he would not rest until all his plans saw fruition.
The snow had grown heavy, the snowflakes fat and beginning to cover the battlement. It would not be long before the land was covered with the fresh white snow.
“This will have to wait,” Magnus said and joined Reena.
She had thought the same herself and hastily saw to the safety of her drawings by tucking them away in the inside pocket of her cloak.
Magnus took her arm. “The snow will completely cover the land by nightfall.”
“Aye,” she said and smiled. “But look at how the snow touches the land with beauty. Nothing stirs in the woods. The sky is still of birds and no footprints mar the freshly fallen snow. Everything is at peace.”
She looked up at him. “Do you feel the peace?”
A warmth filled him, a gentleness touched him, and contentment filled his soul, though it was not the snow—it was Reena being there beside him. And he did not stop himself from raising his hand to stroke her cheek and run a finger across her lips.
“You shiver.”
“I am cold.” Though a lie, she could not admit that his touch filled her with a strange sense of pleasure.
His hand trailed down her arm to slip over her hand, and he laced his fingers with hers. “Let us go seek the heat of the hearth.”
“Aye.” A single word was all she could manage, the warmth that flooded her having turned to a deeper heat that tingled her senses.
They entered the keep. The stairs being too narrow for two to walk, he released her hand slowly, his fingers whispering across her palm and sending a series of shivers through her that set her legs to trembling.
“Tomorrow we will begin at the top of the keep and work our way down.”
Reena remained silent until they reached her bedchamber, where they stopped outside the door. “I will set to work on mapping the view from the battlements.”
He stood in silent contemplation, and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her.
He appeared as if he was about to speak, then Magnus suddenly shook his head and walked off without a word.
Reena hurried into her room, shut the door behind her, and collapsed against it.
Heaven help her, whatever was she to do?
T
homas entered Magnus’s solar shortly after he did. “Kilkern has men watching.”
Magnus did not seem concerned by the news, though he was concerned that he had hesitated when he had desperately wanteded to kiss Reena. “I expected nothing less of him. He does not like being robbed of what is his, though he thinks nothing of doing the same to another.” He walked to the stone hearth and added another log to the fire, a sudden chill filling the room. Perhaps it was the memories the name Kilkern invoked in him.
“Our response?”
Magnus watched the flames stretch high and the smoke curl up the chimney, and he allowed his troubled memories to drift away with the smoke. “We do nothing more than what we have been doing. We watch and keep alert to Kilkern’s every move. I doubt he plans anything just yet. He probably continues to sulk over being conquered on his own property.”
“A sulking man plots.”
“As does a wise warrior,” Magnus said. “My plans are laid, and he does as I expected. He is predictable.”
“How so?”
“He allows his self-importance to interfere with his own strategy, and that, my friend, allows for me to
make
him all the more predictable.”
“Traps,” Thomas said with glee and rubbed his beefy hands together. “We are setting traps.”
“When a prey is cornered he is the most dangerous, and it is the time a warrior must be the most alert. Make certain the men remain vigilant—have them take nothing for granted, not even this storm. There are enemies who strike when least expected, though I doubt Kilkern presently poses any threat. He is a coward at heart and will probably seek outside assistance in this matter.”
“Do you think he will seek the king’s help even though he knows the king favors you?”
Magnus shrugged. “The king is much like Kil-kern; whoever can provide him with what he wants he favors. I trust the king as much as I trust Kilkern. Tell the guards to keep alert and trust no one, and make certain that I am informed of any strangers who enter the village.”
“The men keep watchful eyes and know of everyone who leaves or enters the area. Kilkern’s men are not discreet and were easily spotted.”
“It is the areas I am not fully aware of that concern me,” Magnus said and walked over to the table to fill two goblets with ale, handing one to Thomas. “Reena is mapping the view from the battlements, which will help. When this storm passes I intend to investigate the land further with Reena. I want to know every possible avenue of approach. Now tell me if there is anything else that warrants my attention.”
“All goes well. Most of the cottages have been adequately repaired to survive the winter, though more extensive repairs will be needed in the spring. The winter food preparation goes well, and the surrounding forest is full of game, so we will not starve.”
“How goes Brigid’s cottage? I see that you spend much time there.” Magnus watched his friend blush.
“She has no one to help her and she is a stubborn one in asking for help,” Thomas said and shook his head.
“But you give her no chance to refuse.”
Thomas shrugged. “I do what I can for her. I want to be a helpful friend to her.”
“No more? Just a friend?”
Thomas looked at him oddly. “What more could I be to her? A woman as beautiful as Brigid could never love a man as ugly as me.”
“You love with your heart, not your eyes.”
“Brigid’s heart belongs to her dead husband, she will love no other ever again,” Thomas said with a distinct sadness.
“Her heart needs time to heal.”
Thomas shook his head. “She looks for no other man.”
“It does not matter, when the time is right she will discover love again.”
Reena lost herself in her mapmaking. The evening meal came and went and she gave it no thought. After having gathered her senses, she’d had a logical discussion with herself.
She reminded herself that she was not at all suited for Magnus, and that he did not in the least favor her. His touch had been nothing more than him brushing off the falling snow on her face. And taking her hand? She had laughed at that, realizing the battlement’s walkway was slippery due to the snow, and holding her hand was a precautionary measure; in case she lost her footing, he would already have hold of her.
He was her lord and she his mapmaker. Though she wished to regard him as a friend, she would be wise to realize her place in his service. And she would do well to see that he and Brigid spent more time in each other’s company.
She thought to enlist Thomas’s help. He’d seemed to think her idea of bringing Magnus and Brigid together a good one when she had mentioned Brigid to Magnus on their journey home.
With her thoughts in more sensible order she had set to work on mapping the view from the battlement. Other maps would be necessary to complete the entire view, but for now she concentrated on the area she had hastily outlined before the snow began to fall in earnest.
She knew the land well, having traveled to the area on more than one occasion with her father, but one particular area troubled her. The slope of the land and the density of the trees did not give a true picture of the terrain, and she knew closer inspection was necessary if she was to map the area correctly.
If the snowfall was light she would request permission to investigate the area tomorrow; for now, however, she painstakingly detailed the view as accurately as possible, knowing more detail would follow later.
In between her mapping she had seen to the preparation of her new quills, the ones she had gathered just today. She had placed them near the hearth so that they would dry slowly. She did not want them to become brittle and thus unusable, especially with so much mapping to do. She would need extra quills.
She stretched her arms and drew back her shoulders to ease the ache in her neck and back. She often spent long hours at the table creating her maps or simply drawing, detailing an area, a face, a scene, and she loved every minute she spent with quill in hand.
Time being of no importance to her, she remained lost in her work. The knock at her door did not disturb her, and it was not until a solid fist hit her door twice that she jumped and in haste bid entrance to her visitor.
Magnus entered and walked over to the table where she sat.
He looked annoyed, but very handsome and powerful. Aye, very powerful, dressed all in black and intimidating in his confident gait. He could be feared and he could attract in one sweeping glance.
Attract.
The thought upset her, and she chased it from her tired mind, blaming her inappropriate thoughts on fatigue.
“You missed supper.”
He sounded as if he scolded, and before she could answer a yawn escaped and she covered her mouth to catch it.
“You have spent too many hours working.”
“A bare few,” she argued without much strength.
Magnus reached out and took the quill from her hand and placed it to the side. “Supper has long been finished and most everyone in the keep is asleep.” He pointed to Horace, sound asleep in front of the hearth. “He does not stir.”
There was no stirring the pup once he fell asleep for the night, though he usually crawled in bed with her. He must have given up waiting for her to retire and fallen asleep.
“I paid no heed to time,” she admitted.
“That is obvious. I think it is time for you to retire.”
“I have a line or two yet to draw, then I will retire.”
Magnus placed his hand over hers. “It can wait.”
“In a moment or two,” Reena argued.
“Now,” Magnus said softly.
Reena chose to remain stubborn. “When I am done.”
“What justice can you do your work if you are tired?”
She glanced at the quill, then at him, and her hand stilled. She had expected to see a hardness in his dark eyes and a firmness to his mouth, warning her to obey. Instead his dark eyes held concern.
She nodded and stifled another yawn with her hand. He was right and she was foolish. She needed a clear, crisp mind and a steady hand to map accurately. She stood, about to tell him she agreed, when she lost her balance, her legs more tired than the rest of her.
Magnus was quick to circle the desk and scoop her up in his arms before she fell over. He walked to the bed, though his steps were not taken in haste, and he laid her down gently.
She stared at him for several silent moments, and then her eyes drifted closed; she was fast asleep.
Magnus shook his head. “Stubborn.”
He removed her leather boots and slipped the brown wool blanket down from beneath her with little difficulty, she being so light. He then pulled the blanket over her, tucking it in around her to keep her warm.
A tiny whimper beside him let him know that Horace had heard them and wished to join Reena in bed. With another shake of his head he picked up the pup, who looked half asleep, and as soon as he placed him down on the bed he curled up beside Reena and fell right back to sleep.
“A pint-sized lass who thinks herself indestructible and a cowardly plump pup. What am I to do with the two of you?”
E
arly morning found the ground barely touched by snow and village activity relatively quiet, though Reena was up early. She woke and slowly stretched herself awake before recalling last night, and a heavy blush rushed to stain her cheeks when she remembered that Magnus had tucked her into bed. She rushed out of bed, dressed, and hastily combed her hair and tied it with a leather strip. Then she grabbed the map from the table and her brown cloak from the peg on the wall, and hurried out of the keep with Horace close on her trail.
Several villagers were busy feeding the animals and attending to outside chores, though they took the time to wave a morning greeting to her.
Knowing that the village thrived once more filled Reena with relief. She had feared another winter under Kilkern’s lordship, knowing it would have claimed heavy losses, and any loss would have been one too many. And then there was Brigid. There was no doubt that Peter Kilkern intended Brigid harm, and with no husband to protect her and a village weak in strength and spirit, what hope did her friend have?
Not so now. Brigid was well protected, and she had a chance to love again, which was why Reena was headed to the familiar cottage. It was time they talked.
Horace bounced happily beside her, and once he realized their destination, he took off barking, running straight for Brigid’s cottage.
A shout from Justin caught Reena’s attention, and she turned to catch his wave before he hurried toward the kitchen. She smiled. He was going to see Maura, which meant things had gone well between them.
Happiness was fast returning to the villagers. Even her mother and father appeared healthier and more vibrant when she’d last visited them, and the children laughed and ran in play instead of being forced to work the fields.
Reena thought on how good life was, and when she turned and saw Brigid standing in the doorway waving and smiling, her heart swelled with joy. Her smile had vanished with her husband’s death, but it had surfaced recently and could be spotted every now and again. Soon it would return permanently.
“Hurry out of the cold,” Brigid called. “I have apple biscuits baking.”
Reena picked up her pace, and Horace squeezed past Brigid to hurry in the cottage, making certain he was not left out.
Reena and Brigid hugged, and Brigid took her friend’s cloak and hung it on the peg near the door.
“I had a feeling you would join me for the morning meal.”
Reena walked over to the hearth and sniffed appreciatively. “So you made my favorite, apple biscuits.”
“Aye, I saw you wave to Justin. He certainly had a huge smile on his face for so early in the morning. Do you know where he was off to?”
“He had asked me not to speak of it to anyone, but I have no doubt the keep already gossips.”
“So tell me,” Brigid said eagerly. With a thick folded cloth, she grabbed the pitcher of mulled cider she kept heated near the hearth and poured them each a tankard, leaving the pitcher on the table.
Reena quickly joined Brigid at the table, cupping the full tankard to warm her hands. “Justin favors Maura, the young cook at the keep. He requested my help in meeting her, so yesterday I introduced them.”
“It went well?” Brigid’s excitement grew.
“Aye,” Reena said with a huge smile. “Very well, I would guess, since he was on his way to the kitchen.”
“Good, it is about time he found someone to love. And what of you? When do you plan to find a love?”
“We are not discussing me. I am too busy mapping.” Reena sounded much too defensive to her own ears. “I have no time for love.”
Brigid laid a gentle hand on Reena’s arm. “Love finds everyone.”
Her response was curt and defensive. “That is nonsense, and I do not wish to discuss me. I want to know what you think of Magnus.” She had not intended to be blunt, but now that the words were out, she was relieved.
Brigid took no offense; she knew Reena too well. “What about Magnus?”
“Do you find him appealing?”
Brigid stood and went to the hearth to check the biscuits. “What woman would not? He is a handsome one.” With a thick cloth in her hand, she moved the pan of biscuits from the hearth to a wooden board on the table.
“He needs to love—”
Brigid interrupted with a sense of excitement. “Aye, he needs a special woman.”
“I thought the same myself.” Reena was pleased her friend agreed. “A woman that will understand him—”
“And who he is, for he is no ordinary man himself—he is the Legend.”
“Aye, and much is expected of him.”
Brigid separated the biscuits with a knife and moved them to a wooden platter. “She would need to have patience and strength.”
“Two good traits not every woman possesses, though you do.”
Brigid was quick to disagree. “Nonsense, it is you who has the strength, and patience when necessary.”
Reena laughed and reached for a biscuit. “Patience is a skill I must learn.”
“You have patience. How can you possibly map without patience? The work is tedious at times, and yet I see you sit hour after hour hunched over, quill in hand, finely detailing land, buildings, faces.”
“That is different. I love my work and therefore—”
“You are patient and you take your time, no matter how tedious, and it is all because you
love
your work,” Brigid finished.
“Of course.”
“Then if you love someone, will you not be patient with him?”
“You understand love because you loved,” Reena said.
Brigid sighed, and the hint of a smile she wore faded. “Aye, I loved strongly and doubt I will ever find such a love again.”
“Do you not want to?”
Tears glistened in Brigid’s eyes.
Reena grabbed her friend’s hand and gave a comforting squeeze. “I am foolish for asking such a question.”
“Nay,” Brigid said, letting a tear fall. “You are a good friend, and I cry, for I miss John very much, and I cry because I miss loving him and being loved. And I cry because part of me wishes to love again and part of me is fearful of loving again.” She shook her head. “I make no sense.”
Reena squeezed her hand again. “You make good sense, and I am glad to hear that you want to love again. You will meet someone special. John would want you to.”
“Aye, he was a good man and so unselfish,” Brigid said. “I will never find another man like him.”
“Nay, you will not, but you will find a good man, and that is what matters.” Reena had felt her friend’s pain when she had lost her husband, and she felt it now, and it saddened her to know that Brigid continued to hurt. She needed to fill her life with love again; it was the only cure for her empty heart.
“We both need to find good men,” Brigid said, wiping away the stubborn tears that continued to fall. “It is time we both love.”
Reena swiped at the last of her own tears.
A knock sounded at the door followed by, “It is me, Thomas.”
Brigid called out, “Come in.”
The large man had to bow his head and shift his body to fit through the door. His face took on a look of alarm when he glanced at Brigid, and he hurried to her side.
“You shed tears, why?”
“It is nothing. Sit and have apple biscuits with us.” She filled a tankard with cider for him.
Thomas turned to Reena, hoping she would offer an explanation. “You shed tears too. What is wrong?”
“Foolishness,” Reena said on a laugh.
Brigid laughed as well. “Sit, Thomas, everything is fine, we promise. It is woman nonsense.”
Reena saw to changing the subject. “The snowfall was not heavy.”
Thomas shook his head. “Your tears made me forget the reason I am here.” He turned to Reena. “Magnus looks for you; he waits in the great hall.”
Reena grabbed the last of her apple biscuit and stood. “Thank you for this.” She held up the half-eaten biscuit. “And for the discussion we both needed. I will see you later.”
She walked to the door, leaving the sleeping Horace by the hearth.
Thomas turned to Brigid. “Will you tell me now why you shed tears?”
“Memories,” Brigid said on a whisper, and tears rushed once again to fill her eyes. She did not want to cry, least of all in front of Thomas, but the memories had lingered in her thoughts, and she suddenly ached to have her husband’s arms around her once again.
The tears ran down her cheeks, and she wiped them away, though they persistently continued to fall. “Please excuse my foolishness.”
“You are not foolish,” Thomas said softly.
“Aye, I am.” A sob rose in her throat, and she fought it back.
Thomas watched her struggle, and it hurt him to see her suffer. He waited and watched and did not know what to do. Finally he could not take any more, and without thought to his actions he scooped her out of her chair and into his beefy arms, where he held her tightly.
Brigid surrendered to her pain, burying her face in Thomas’s hard chest, and sobbed.
Reena dusted the biscuit crumbs from her hands before she entered the keep.
Magnus stood near the dais, speaking with two of his men. When he caught sight of her he dismissed them and walked to where she waited by the hearth.
“I want to continue our mapping today.”
“That is fine, but there is an area on the map I am working on that puzzles me, and I thought perhaps we could have a look at it today, especially before the snow falls again.”
“It is not far?”
“Nay,” she said with a shake of her head. She hurried over to grab the map she had tucked in the corner by the hearth before going to visit Brigid. She spread it open on the table. “This is the map I began last night, and that is the area in question.”
Magnus looked to where she pointed. “Why do you question it?”
“The hill dips and the trees are dense; unless I can see the terrain up close, I cannot map an accurate lay of the land. And I think this would also prove an advantage point to an approaching enemy.”
Magnus studied her work and had to agree. “You have done a fine job, and I can understand your concern.”
“Thank you, my father taught me well,” she said with pride. “When I was young he would take me with him on his mapping quests and teach me what to pay attention to. It is because of him I am a skillful mapmaker.”
“But have no doubt you possess your own unique ability. Now let us go investigate this area of land that intrigues you.”
Reena smiled and rolled up the map. “I was hoping you would agree. I much prefer to have a clear outline of a map before I begin another one.” She tucked the map away in the corner and waited as a black fur cloak was brought to Magnus.
He resembled a large beast of prey as he descended the keep steps, and those who caught sight of him hurried off, many blessing themselves as they went.
Old Margaret was not one who feared him, but then she had lived long and seen much. Many villagers wondered over her age, for though her face was worn with wrinkles, there was a youthfulness to her that was remarkable. Short and slim, she moved with a graceful slowness that was either forced by age or due to the fact that she was in no hurry. No one knew for sure, but all respected her.
She walked up to Magnus and Reena. “The woods are quiet today; you will learn much.” She lowered her voice. “And be careful, someone watches.”
“I appreciate your warning,” Magnus said. “Do you have all you need?”
“I have all that is necessary,” she said with a smile. “Need brings trouble. Go now, for the snow will fall soon enough and this time it will be heavy.”
Reena gave her a quick hug and promised to visit with her soon.
Four of Magnus’s men joined them as they reached the edge of the woods, two dispersing in opposite directions and the other two, James and Philip, remaining near Magnus and Reena.
The fresh dust of snow made the woods appear magical. Everything in sight sparkled with a white freshness that startled the eyes. With no clear path to follow, they made their own, Magnus’s men taking the lead and proceeding with caution.
Reena studied the area well and corrected James when he faltered in direction.
James looked to Magnus. “Reena knows the way, do as she directs,” Magnus responded.
Reena was pleased with his confidence in her, but then she knew well of what she spoke. They arrived at the designated spot within no time.
It was a section of land that ran like ripples of small hills and was sheltered by dense trees, a perfect place for launching an unsuspected attack, or shelter from prying eyes.
With a nod from Magnus, his men separated and disappeared over hills and around trees to see if anyone lurked in the shadows.
Reena stood silent and searched the area with thorough eyes, taking into memory all she could. Magnus remained near when she followed a barely visible path, and the only sound in the crisp air was the crunch of snow-covered leaves beneath their feet.
Magnus did not care for what he saw. This land would need careful watch. In the spring he would order trees cut down, opening the area to a clearer view from the battlements. He had an uneasy feeling about the area, and he heard Old Margaret’s words whisper in his head.