Don't Forget to Dream (27 page)

“
We shall see if there is not something more we can do for them Mistress Belinda,
”
Lady Emelia assured her glancing to
wards
Rhyla.
“
Do we know how it started?
”

Master Stephen frowned deeply and rubbed his hand through his hair,
“
We can
’
t be sure exactly how it started but we do believe it began in
a small
hay shed behind the wheat store. It didn
’
t contain much
of the grain
but what was in there was very dry and old. The blaze spread rapidly from there.
”

“
I see. So there is no question of foul play that we would need to be mindful of?
”

Master Stephen was honestly startled by Lady Emelia
’
s question,
“
No my lady. I can
’
t believe that of my men. I don
’
t know of anyone working around there before the fire took hold.
”

“
I am glad of that. You must understand my need to ask Master Stephen. Please do not take offence,
”
appealed Lady Emelia.

“
None taken
my lady.
”

“
Good, then while there is still adequate light I would like to see the damage,
”
said Lady Emelia pushing up from her chair. Rhyla was quickly by her side to assist her. They made their way down the front stairs and around the dun. They passed by the stables
which looked to have lodgings for
the men above. As they came to the back of the dun the level of damage was clear for them to see. The shed and wheat store were nothing more than a pile of burnt timbers. Not a single beam or support column could be saved from the wreckage. Slowly approaching the long cold remains Rhyla could see metal bands that once had secured barrels full of food
,
lying amongst the charred debris. There was so little that could be recognised from the destruction. The blackened scen
e was suddenly too much for her;
the pain and suffering too real for her
to
linger.

Rhyla turned to her mistress so she would not have to look upon it further.
“
There is nothing to be done but to start again. Every support column will need replacing before we can rebuild.
”

Lady Emelia looked from the devastation to
wards
Rhyla
’
s carefully controlled fe
atures and remembered her story; her own
personal pain
and just what this devastating scene was
reliving for her.
“
You are correct Rhyla,
”
she said laying a gentle hand upon her arm before turning to Master Stephen.
“
Have the men pull down the remaining structures and clear the debris. We will need to see what timbers can be found to start rebuilding.
”

“
Yes my lady, I have already started the search for seasoned timbers so we will not have to wait,
”
replied Master Stephen.
“
The extra labour will be on hand for when we need to start building as well.
”

“
Good, I should have known you were already preparing for what was necessary,
”
Lady Emelia said smiling to her trusted servitor.
“
And what of the families of the men killed in the blaze?
”

“
Tad and his wife Joelle live
d
in one of the cottages with their three children. Tad did all the odd building and repair jobs aro
und the place while Joelle helped
in the kitchen from time to time,
”
Master Stephen said pointing back towards the other side of the dun.
“
Peter had only recently married Adele and
they
were still living in her family
’
s home while they were working on building themselves a place.
”

“
I would like to see them,
”
Lady Emelia said, her tone indicating her pressing wishes.

“
I believe Joelle is at home my lady,
”
Mistress Belinda said before her husband could reply.
“
Adele and her family are in one of the farm houses further out on the estate but I am sure we can arrange a visit.
”
She turned and led the little group around the back of the dun.

Th
ey passed by a chicken house with
its numerous occupants idly scratching about in the dirt, indifferent to the people passing by. Rhyla was surprised to see such a kitchen garden and lines hung with fresh laundry so close to the destruction. The back of the wall that encircled the dun had a second large gate at this point. Through this was a well travelled track with fields beyond.

The six cottages extended along the inside of the northern dun wall, far enough from the dun itself to be free of its shadow in the dept
h of winter. The space in front of the cottages could hardly be called gardens
but they were tidy and well maintained. Mistress Belinda strode up to the second cottage
from the end and knocked gently upon the door. There was little noise coming from inside but soon enough a tall skinny lad of about fifteen opened the door.

“
Jim
is your mother in?
”
asked Mistress Belinda.

“
Yes Mistress, she
’
s out in the kitchen with the little
uns
,
”
the lad replied before looking past her to see his other guests. His eyes opened wide and he stood a little straighter as he recognised Lady Emelia.

“
Could you ask her to step out for just a moment?
”

Jim
’
s gaze flicked back to Mistress Belinda briefly before nodding,
“
Yes Mistress.
”
He quickly turned and strode down the hall calling
to his mother when he was only
half way along. He turned into a room but all they could hear by the front door was muttered voices.

They didn
’
t have to wait long before a woman of average height made her way down the hall, anxiously smoothing her apron and skirts as she approached. It was clear that she had been crying recently and was struggling to maintain her composure as she greeted her guests.

She managed a passable curtsey as she spoke,
“
Lady Emelia, Mistress Belinda. I was not expecting such a visit.
”

“
Lady Emelia has just arrived from Lestran
,
Joelle. She wished to speak with you,
”
Mistress Belinda said by way of introduction.

“
Hello Joelle. I have come to pay my respects on the loss of your husband,
”
Lady Emelia said to the somewhat confused woman.

“
Thank you my lady. That is most kind of you to think of us,
”
she stammered in reply.

“
Not at all my dear.
The grief of
losing
one
’
s husband can be unbearable,
”
consoled Lady Emelia.
“
I also wanted to reassure you that you may remain in this cottage for as long as you wish.
”

Joelle released a huge sigh of relief and
covered her face with her hands. S
he quickly stifled a sob before she could speak again.
“
Thank you my lady. We had
nowhere
to go.
I did fear so for my little uns. I will work for our keep my lady. Jim
be
big en
ough to do more labours as well;
he
’
s a strong lad despite how he looks.
”

Lady Emelia smiled reassuringly,
“
I am sure he is a fine lad and Master Stephen will find the right use for him.
”

“
Oh thank you my lady, thank you,
”
Joelle hastily replied.

“
We will leave you to your family, Joelle,
”
Lady Emelia said turning away from the greatly relieved widow.

Lady Emelia led them past the remaining cottages and into the dun once again. As they entered she turned to Mistress Belinda once again.

“
I would like to see the four injured men before dinner.
”

“
Of course my lady.
They are in the first two rooms on the left at the top of the stairs,
”
said Mistress Belinda indicating the way.
“
It is time I saw to their dressings anyway. I shall fetch the clean dressings, salves and hot water then join you. Stephen can introduce you.
”
She bustled away down the hall towards the kitchens leaving her husband to escort the ladies upstairs.

Rhyla assisted Lady Emelia as Elsie continued to trail silently along behind them. She had said nothing since they had arrived at the dun but Rhyla had noted her reaction to seeing
the so recently widowed
Joelle. The charred
timbers and talk of the damage and loss of lives had not seemed to affect her, but meeting women grieving for her husband and fearing for the future of her children brought the reality of the destruction to her attention. No doub
t she still feared for her Kyle.
At
least she had stopped her whimpering. Rhyla had been forced to bite her tongue sev
eral times on their journey,
as any mention of the guardsmen
brought forth
looks of anguish and
more tears from her friend. Rhyla had very nearly snapped that she too feared for her man
’
s life
.
As
the words had forme
d in her mind the truth struck;
he was not and never would be her man.

Turning down to hallway at the top of the stairs Rhyla was abruptly brought out of her reminiscence as she followed her mistress into the room where two of the injured men lay. Stepping i
nto the room Rhyla was disgusted
by the stench of rotten flesh. She gasped, unconsciously covering her nose and mouth.

“
What is that smell?
”
cried Elsie stepping back into the hallway.

Master Stephen crossed the room to o
pen the curtains and the window.
The
pair of candles on a small
table between the beds was
the source of a pale light. The gentle waft of breeze did little to dispel the nauseating aroma but it would help with time. Rhyla looked carefully around the
room. She could see two pallets with a man lying on
each. The man on the left was barely responsive to their arrival, his skin sallow and beaded with sweat, a heavy dressing upon his right thigh.

“
That
be
Walt
,
Lady Emelia,
”
Master Stephen said indicating the unconscious man.
“
And this is
Lan
;
not sure if you will remember them as lads,
”
he said as the young man named as Lan pushed himself up from where he had been dozing upon their arrival.
“
They are cousin
’
s my lady, caused a fair amount of mischief around here where they were young.
”

Lady Emelia smiled at
Lan
,
“
Yes, I think I do remember you both, but that was a fair few years ago now. How are you getting on Lan?
”
she asked crossing to stand nearer his bed.

The lad started to make his way out of the bed as he answered,
“
I will be fine in a day or so, just breathed in a bit too much of that smoke getting Walt out.
”
His words may have been strong but his body most definitely wasn
’
t. As he attempted to rise
, his face paled. H
e lurched forward and would have landed on the floor if not for Master Stephen and Rhyla
’
s quick reactions. They caught him by both arms and physically guided him back to bed. With his senses fully returned and Rhyla sitting by his side supporting him the young man blushed deeply.
“
Guess it will be a few more days my lady,
”
he said looking at her rather than
at
Lady Emelia.