Authors: Kathryn Loch
“
I do,” she replied and placed a cool metal object
in his hands.
Garin felt for the bottom and set the chalice on the table.
“
Father Thomas is staring at it in shock,” Alyna whispered.
A smile tugged at Garin’s lips as he remembered Alyna telling him how she or Cecily acted as Roger’s eyes. Alyna autom
atically did it with him.
“
Aye,” Roger said. “It was not easy to learn how to work without my eyes but I did master it. I learned to live again. So can you Lord Garin.”
“
Don’t you understand, Father Thomas?” Alyna said. “Garin can still be baron.”
Tho
mas fell silent for a long time. “This is most unusual.”
That it was. Garin’s mind scrambled to keep up with it all. Why was Alyna doing this? She should have run from him screaming. Instead, she stood toe to toe with a priest, fighting a battle she c
ould not win. He marveled at her courage. Give the woman a sword and she would be truly dangerous.
“
Sir Salkeld,” Thomas said, his tone pleading. “Perhaps you can talk some sense into your daughter.”
Geoff chuckled, standing behind Garin’s shoulder. Ab
ruptly Garin realized Geoff had been the second knight who helped carry him.
“
I’m afraid not since I agree with her wholeheartedly.”
Was the entire family daft? Garin cursed the darkness before him. He wanted to see their faces, to know their expressions
. Perhaps this was all some insane joke. A cruel one, but it made more sense than Alyna wanting to marry a blind man.
“
But,
S
ir, you as a knight should understand Garin would not be able to fulfill the knightly levy to the king.”
“
His barony is require
d to provide two and one half knights in service. I will gladly stand for him. Or, if need be, Garin can send stipendiary knights for which our king-regent is demonstrating a preference.”
“
And I will also stand for my baron,” Simon said from Garin’s righ
t. “The rest of the levy can be filled normally, with serjants.”
Again a long silence. A chair squeaked. “I see,” the priest said slowly.
“
Father Thomas,” Alyna said patiently. “Realize I do not make this request in haste or without thought. Because
of my uncle I fully understand what to expect. I know Garin can manage this barony as well as his father did.”
“
This is ludicrous,” his sister said. “Father Thomas, you cannot seriously consider this foolishness.”
“
Lady, right now I am, they provide a c
onvincing argument.”
Juliana remained silent for a long time. “But can’t you see what they are trying to do to him? Garin will become a laughing stock. He needs proper care and should enter the church hospices.”
“
Juliana,” his mother began.
“
Mother, can
’t you see this...woman...is just trying to get her hands on
Kirkoswald? She will run the barony, and Garin will be locked in a tower like a raving madman.”
“
He most certainly will not,” Alyna snapped. “Garin will be more than capable of acting as baron.
His steward, constable, or even I can read missives to him or act as his eyes should he need us on occasion. He will still be able to govern, hand down judgments in baronial court and in the assize. He will be able to manage the baronial tithes and tax
es.”
“
How?” Juliana asked. “He won’t be able to see to write the ledger tallies.”
Alyna sighed as if dealing with a petulant child. “My uncle understands every financial aspect of his trade. Cecily or I will write the ledger for him, but Roger remembers
the numbers and many times catches our mistakes. He can add the numbers in his head faster than I can on parchment.”
“
Garin cannot be expected to do that,” Juliana said as if horrified Alyna would dare think of it. “He does not have that capability now.
”
Alyna literally growled, a small sound, low in her throat. “Already, you act as if Garin has lost his wits as well as his sight. I assure you, Juliana, intelligence and wisdom has nothing to do with vision.” She paused and Garin knew his little
wildef
yr
was in full force. “Garin,” she said softly. “During the war, how many times were you forced to tally the number of dead and wounded in battle before you could decide to organize a counter or retreat?”
Garin groaned. “Too many times, Alyna. Some skir
mishes involved hundreds of men and stretched great distances over the front lines.”
“
I understand. Now tell me how many times you had the luxury of parchment on the battlefield and the time to carefully add everything.”
For some unknown reason, a chuckl
e bubbled up within him. “Never. War can move rapidly at times. I had to understand the losses or gains reported to me, develop a strategy and implement it, sometimes within moments.”
Alyna’s hand tightened on his. “Thank you, Garin, you just made my p
oint for me.”
Garin’s brow furrowed and the true realization of her meaning grew. Was it possible? Was there hope for him?
“
I have been remiss in one thing,” Alyna said. “I have not asked what you want.”
He still struggled to keep up with this unexpecte
d turn of events. His head ached terribly and dizziness clouded h
is thinking. “I...praying the f
ather’s pardon, I do not wish to be locked away in the church.” Garin, shook his head, grief battering him. “Honestly, Alyna, I looked forward to our marria
ge and my future at Kirkoswald. But why would you want to marry a blind man?”
Again her fingers stroked through his hair. Suddenly Garin wanted to haul her into his arms and hold her as tightly as he dared, never to let her go.
“
Garin, I too looked forwa
rd to our marriage. I came to know a good man, especially through his letters.”
Something within Garin twisted. So, she appreciated his letters as much as he did hers. “But now I am not that same man.”
“
My uncle is not the same man he was before his acc
ident - yet I love him no less.”
Love,
Garin’s thoughts screamed. Could Alyna truly love him without his sight? Could he love her? Yet Roger was an intriguing anomaly. His family could have turned their back on him, they could have rejected him and se
nt him to the church or cast him into the street. But they had not. Instead they opened their home and hearts. Roger had risen above his fate, proving to all his affliction could be conquered.
Garin’s fingers reached out and touched the chalice, feeli
ng the intricate work. In his mind’s eye, he clearly saw the craftsmanship which had amazed him that first night.
“
Lady Alyna,” Thomas said. “What if God wishes Garin to devote himself to the church?”
“
What if God’s desire is for Garin prove himself capab
le despite blindness?” she asked evenly.
“
What if indeed?” Garin whispered.
“
All I ask,” Alyna said. “Is that we give Garin a chance. Don’t take his future just because you think he cannot govern. My uncle has proven blindness can be conquered.”
Father
Thomas was silent for a long time. “Lady Eleanor, I have not heard from you on this matter.”
His mother fidgeted, her chair creaking. “Lord knows I never wanted to choose between my own children. But I must agree with Alyna. Garin deserves a chance.”
“
Mother,” Juliana whined.
“
Silence. That is my decision. Let them marry and let Garin inherit.”
“
Lord Garin?” the priest asked softly.
Garin scrambled after his thoughts. His sister, although he didn’t trust her, did have a good point. What if Alyna was
only after his inheritance? Many would kill to be baroness. If the priest allowed the marriage Alyna could rule in any manner she chose and Garin would be none the wiser. Still, Alyna had spoken forcefully, as if she truly believed he could overcome hi
s blindness.
Perhaps, Alyna was right, or perhaps she was motivated solely by greed. Garin had to admit his prospects were limited. Considering the alternative
, Garin had little choice
.
“
I agree with Lady Alyna,” he
said softly. “The betrothal shall not be broken.”
“
Garin!” Juliana shouted. “Don’t you see what she wants to do to you?”
“
Sister, it is no worse than what you have planned for me.”
She strangled a cry and a moment later the door slammed closed. Garin w
inced as fiery pain shot through his head with the loud noise. He rubbed his temples.
“
Oh dear,” Alyna said softly, her hand touching his shoulder. “I think we should bring this to a close.”
She was kind now but what would happen after they were married?
Damnation, his head hurt. It made it impossible to think.
“
Alyna, Garin,” the priest said. “Despite what I’ve seen with Master Salkeld I must admit my doubts as to Garin’s ability to govern. I do not know what God’s plans are for this young man yet yo
u make a convincing argument. Therefore, I will allow the marriage with the understanding that I will make a final judgment in six months. If Garin has proven himself and both of you are happy, the marriage will be allowed to continue
and Garin can rule
as baron. If I see this barony mismanaged in any way or Garin cannot defeat his blindness as your uncle has done, the marriage will be annulled immediately. Do you understand?”
“
I do,” Alyna said.
“
Aye,” Garin replied although his pounding head made it d
ifficult to comprehend anything.
“
Very well,” Thomas said. “In three days we shall have a wedding. I shall post the banns.”
Alyna breathed a sigh of relief. “Father, Simon, please help Garin.”
Garin discovered that right now he did not care if he marrie
d the devil’s sister as long as he could get his infernal head to stop hurting.
****
After settling Garin, Simon watched Juliana wander the great hall in agitation for a few minutes before she stormed off to her room. He sighed, raking a hand through hi
s hair. What had happened to that girl? Simon remembered the days when Juliana would have supported her brother wholeheartedly in any gambit.
Simon had grown up with Garin and Juliana, and even then, he knew his duty was to be constable and to protect th
em. He was two years Garin’s senior and four years Juliana’s. Even in their playful childhood, Simon had protected them.
And Juliana had definitely needed guarding. As a child, she had sought to best her brother at every game and challenge, despite her
parents pleadings and furious
rantings
to the contrary. Unfortunately, her competitive nature managed to get her into trouble more often than not.
Simon firmly believed it wasn’t the fact she was a girl, although that didn’t help, but the younger sibling.
While Simon had no brothers or sisters who had survived through their first year, he had seen it all too often. Struggling to keep up with the elder, the younger failed.
Juliana had been no different. He remembered pulling her out of a huge oak tree wh
en she had been only eight and had gotten herself stuck. He clearly remembered rescuing her from a flooded river she had tried to swim and the current caught her. Simon shuddered, she had almost drowned. But the sharpest memory was of saving her from th
e boar when he was naught but four and ten....
...Simon shook his head at Garin and smiled. “You know I cannot tell you which direction she went. You will have to find her hiding spot yourself.”
Garin rolled his eyes. “I always find her, Simon.
Why waste our time when we could be at the lists?” He paused and gestured to the sword Simon wore. “Methinks my father wants to see how well you have learned to use his gift to you.”
“
Juliana hates watching us in the lists. Let us give her this bit of f
un and then we will go.”
“
Aye,” Garin muttered. “I’ve never seen a lass get physically ill just from watching.” He looked around and strode off in the opposite direction Juliana had traveled.
Simon fought to hide a smile lest he give Garin a clue.