If Not For The Knight, Debbie Boek [electronic reader TXT] 📗

“I will allow no further violence against my knights. Use whatever force is necessary, but try not to let our men get out of hand.”

“As you wish, Milord,” Garrick said with a slight, satisfied smile.

Calder turned back toward the flames and watched, mesmerized, as they danced in the great fireplace. Staring intently, he tried to determine what his next course of action would be. He had tried to be fair with these people, but they only continued to thwart his every move. The time for leniency was over. Now he would show them who owned these lands, once and for all.

His thoughts were interrupted as Gayle quietly approached.

“Milord,” she said nervously, finding it difficult to meet his angry gaze.

“Yes?”

“I wish only to try and explain my husband’s actions, if you have the time.”

Calder stared askance at her. “Why would you feel the need? Is that not his responsibility?”

“I think, mayhap, he does not even understand his own actions all of the time.”

“What would you have me believe of them, then?”

“Filbert is an old man. He has lived in this village, with these people, his whole life. During that lifetime, he has lived under seven different sovereigns and even more Ealdormen.” She spoke rapidly, trying to keep her courage up. “Each time the power has changed hands our lives have been changed. We have lived at the whim of many different men. Sometimes, it has not been easy.”

Calder watched her closely, admiring her for speaking to him so and helping him gain an inkling of what ran through these Saxons’ hearts and minds.

“During all these times, we have had only each other to count on. It is difficult to choose a new Warlord over one’s own people; friends who have stood beside us and helped us, as we have helped them when needed. Filbert has been the spokesman for the village for many years. In his mind, he is responsible to them and for them, to ensure the treatment that they get is as good as can be obtained. It is difficult for him to change his loyalty after all this time.”

“Thank you for explaining,” Calder replied, without much warmth. “But, even so, I will never be able to understand how he could choose anyone over his own daughter. She has been mistreated for years and he has not made any attempt to correct the situation. With his strong position in the village, he should have taken a stand. Because he would not do so, I will not take pity on him now.”

“It was because of his position that he did nothing,” Gayle answered nervously, her voice shaking as she realized how angry Lord Calder was at her husband. Her own anger at Filbert began to fade as fear for his safety took its place.

“I do not understand.”

“His loyalty is with the people of this village. Regan let you, a Norman, bed her and get her with child. She embarrassed him in the eyes of his own people. He loves her dearly but, I believe that, deep down, he feels she deserved the treatment that she got.”

“And you?” His voice was even colder and harder now and Gayle worried that she was making the situation worse.

“I could do little, Milord. But I always did whatever I could for my daughter and my grandson. And I will continue to do so. I have never been ashamed of Regan, nor of anything that she has done. Having met you, I can understand her attraction to you. I can only hope that you care enough about her in return to put right the situation you created for her, and not hurt her any further by hurting her father. She will see that it is due to her own plight and will blame herself. Please do not cause any more harm to my family.”

Calder graced her with a slight smile. “I can see where Regan gets her courage, and her skill for persuasion.”

His smile faded and his eyes shone with sincerity as he continued. “You may trust me on this, Gayle. I will not harm your husband, unless he does something further that leaves me no choice. And I will make right the situation with Regan and Radolf. You have my word on that.”

“Thank you, Milord,” Gayle said, breathing out a great sigh of relief and, after curtsying to him, quickly left the room.

Calder leaned back in his chair, taking a long swallow of ale and thinking over what she had said to him. He wondered if Filbert had the slightest idea how graced his life was with those two women in it. He thought not.

Regan moaned softly as he brushed the hair from her forehead. Turning to Bernia, he said, “She does not seem to be doing any better.”

“But she is, Milord. She sleeps peacefully most of the time. The fever is gone. It will take some time of rest for her body to fully recover, but she is doing as well as can be expected.”

“I have imposed a curfew on the town and everyone must be in their homes by dark. You should go now. I will have one of my men escort you, so that you will not run into any trouble.”

Bernia heard the sounds outside and knew there had been fighting between the knights and the villagers. She was afraid, not for herself, but for what was still to come. “Thank you, Milord. Gayle will stay the night with Regan. I will return at first light.”

“I appreciate all that you have done for Regan. I will not forget it.” With a blush and a curtsy, Bernia headed for the door.

“Draco is in the Hall. Tell him that I would like him to escort you home. And then send Gayle up and ask her to bring Radolf with her.

“Yes, Milord.”

“But, M’lord,” Holt interrupted, holding a cloth to his bleeding forehead. The cut was due to a piece of ice, thrown from the shadows as he was making his rounds. “The curfew is a start, but these addle-headed simpletons need a show of force. We have been too soft on them and now they think they can dictate to us. It is unthinkable and must be dealt with.”

“I agree, Holt,” Calder replied, much to everyone’s surprise. He had done his best to be lenient and fair with these people, hoping that, over time, a relationship of mutual trust might develop between them. Obviously, that had not worked and now these people’s misconceptions as to their own power must be corrected. “How many are in the cellar?”

“Seven, M’lord,” Graeham replied. “I worry about the servants, though. They are friends to these men and may loosen their ties so that they can escape or cause trouble here in the Manor.”

“Post a guard at the entrance to the room. One will have to be on duty at all times as long as there are prisoners. See that they receive no food or water until tomorrow morning, Graeham.”

“Yes, M’lord,” he said, leaving quickly to do as he was ordered.

Calder had just opened his mouth to continue when the door to the Manor banged open and Davis came in, carrying a limp, lifeless body in his arms. Calder and the others ran to his side.

“Damn these people,” Calder said angrily, when he saw that it was Bernia that Davis carried. “What happened to her?”

“I found her on the ground outside one of the cottages. It looks like they beat her, and then threw her out in the snow.”

“Take her to one of the empty bedchambers, quickly,” he added, as Davis continued to stare at the young girl in his arms. “Draco, get Gayle from Regan’s room and bring her to me.”

Bernia had bruises from one end of her body to the other, but she regained consciousness quickly and it seemed she would suffer no permanent injury.

“Who did this to you, Bernia?” Calder asked softly, after Gayle had tended to her.

The tears slid down her bruised cheeks as she looked at Calder, “I cannot say, Milord.”

“You cannot or you will not?”

“I will not,” she replied bravely.

“Why? Those cowards beat a woman. Where is the honor in that? What is the good in hiding their identities? Tell me who they are and I will show them justice.” His tone was hard and cold as his dark blue eyes bore into hers.

She just shook her head and sobbed into the pillow

Calder forced himself to soften his tone and turned her face back to his. “You did nothing wrong. You gave aid to another human being who needed you. Why do you protect these people after what they have done?”

“Because they are my people,” she answered tearfully. “I will not see them hurt because of me.”

Calder shook his head in disgust. “You will stay in the Manor for now. You will not return to your home without my permission and the escort of my guards. Do you understand?”

She nodded her head hesitantly, frightened at the thought of having to be around these Normans day after day, but even more frightened now of her own friends and family. She understood suddenly how Regan must have felt all these years and a rush of empathy engulfed her. How had the world turned so crazy in such a short time, she wondered dismally.

Once back in the Hall, Calder addressed his men.

“This madness stops now. I will have all of the villagers called to the square first thing in the morning. There will probably be trouble and we will be prepared to crush it as soon as it begins. I will tolerate this sanctimonious treason no longer.”

His men actually look excited at the prospect of an altercation. After spending so many years defending their lives while fighting Saxons, it had been difficult to sit back and watch these peasants treat their