Don't Forget to Dream (6 page)

“
Aye
and she would be humiliated.
”
Callum looked up at the central tower of the Palace, knowing full well the flow of gossip the crept through every hallway of the enormous building he knew as home.
“
I need another reason to bring her here. I need to know more of her, of her past, of her family.
”

“
I don
’
t think there is much to know. She has no living family.
Her father died some months ago.
She
left her village shortly after.
”

“
Do you know this village?
”
Callum asked.

“
Yes. It
’
s less than half a day
’
s ride to the north,
”
Martin a
nswered. He also reported
that Joe
’
s young cousin had an easy duty roster for the following week, in silent repayment for gathering such thorough information.

“
Then I suggest you have our mounts saddled. There must be a tavern in this village that can provide us with our noon meal.
”

Chapter 3

Shortly after the sun crested its zenith two young men in plain and worn but obviously well made trousers, shirts, short riding jackets and knee high fitted riding boots, pulled up in front of the Plough and Stable Inn in the main square of Bendarin. For a small farming village with only the occasional merchant train passing though, the sight of two armed men sent a ripple of interest around the houses. By the time Jacob settled two pints of modest ale in front of the strangers, several of the young men of the village also called in for their noon refreshment.

“
Here you go young sirs,
”
Jacob said as he took in his new customers.
“
I am Jacob and this is my establishment, and my home. Would you be looking for a meal with your ale? My wife has some freshly baked bread and there is some cheese and ham. The stew is cooking for this evening but I doubt it will be ready for at least another hour or so.
”

“
No need to go to any trouble, thank you.
Bread
, ham and cheese would be fine,
”
Callum answered, doing his best to appear at ease and of no threat to these people. He had only rarely ever left Lestran in such casual attire and without the usual entourage. He wanted to learn all he could of Rhyla, but would rather not have to reveal his nobility in order to gain the information. It would no doubt incur u
nwanted and awkward questioning;
a Prince asking after a tavern girl.

As Jacob stepped through a doorway they could hear a general bustle of activity and chatter from a woman whom Callum assumed was his wife. Jacob returned after Callum and Martin had taken a
few sips of the somewhat coarse,
country ale.
“
Your meal will be along shortly. Is there something else I may be of assistance with?
”
he hesitated a moment, slightly anxious,
“
If I may
say, we are somewhat off the main road and don
’
t ge
t many visitors though here. We may see the
odd merchant but little that I think would interest young men such as you
.
”

Callum had to silently congratulate him on his tack. A little rough for a city Inn Keep but he certainly fulfilled the role of a village Inn Keeper, ensuring he knew all he could of any
one passing through his village;
no doubt
this man was
a leader of the local community. Just the sort of man Callum had hoped he would be.

“
We are just passing through good Inn Keep. An acquaintance in Lestran
informed us of your hospitality.
A
slight detour is little bother when a clean Inn and good food is the result.
”
Callum smiled and raised his mug in a toast before drinking.

“
I thank you for your kind words and I am sure my wife
’
s cooking will not disappoint,
”
Jacob replied, impressed with the manners of this stranger.
“
If you don
’
t mind my asking young sir, who may this acquaintance be, perhaps I should stand him a mug of ale when next he passes by in thanks for his recommendations.
”

“
Oh it is not
a him
, but a young woman.
Rhyla is her name.
”

“
Rhyla,
Rhyla Farminer! You know our Rhyla?
”
Jacob said, quickly pulling up an extra chair and sitting himself down without so much as a by your leave.
“
How is she? It has been several weeks since she left and not a letter from her.
”

The intensity of his interest took Callum by s
urprise, so did his last phrase.
Few
peasants a
nd farmers could read and write. T
hey certainly could not afford a scribe. Looking around he noted that the rest of the Inn
’
s patrons also
appeared eager to hear news of Rhyla.
“
She is well. For more than a month now she has been working at a very respectable Inn.
”

“
Then she is safe and
has decent lodgings?
”
His concern was clearly evident.

Callum hesitated a moment but his court training had him quickly forming a reassuring smile,
“
Y
es, she has lodgings at the Inn where she works
. It is close to the Palace and
serves a
respectable clientele.
”

“
Oh you don
’
t know how that eases my heart,
”
Jacob said as his wife brought the platters of food out. He stood up at the sight of her and quickly brought another chair over for her.
“
Tanya, you wouldn
’
t believe it, these young men know our Rhyla in Lestran. She has a good position and lodgings at an Inn near the Palace.
”

“
Rhyla.
Oh my goodness, oh how I
’
ve worried over that girl,
”
Tanya said as she put the food on the
table and accepted the chair Jacob
had pulled up for her. Callum found that he and Martin had automatically stood for her to be seated, just as if she had been a lady at his father
’
s court. He retook his seat as Tanya continued.
“
We tried to make her see sense.
We
warned her no good would come from her going to the city, but she insisted. What with her father killed and her home destroyed in that horrible fire, she refused to live off the charity of others she said.
”
She shook her head slowly, emphasising her despair.

“
He raised her stubborn and independent did our Donal. I tried to tell her th
at it would only be for a while.
She
would find the means to rebuild the farmhouse, and the forge could be salvaged with a little effort and time. Several of the young lads were interested in taking it over. Guess it reminded
her too much of her father, but she should at least sell the land if she wishes to move on. And you can
’
t deny old Lydia
’
s influence on the girl either,
”
Tanya said only pausing to draw breath
and look sternly at her husband.
Before
he could respond she ploughed on.
“
If she hadn
’
t
filled the girl
’
s head with so many words and fancy tales, she would have been content to accept Jonas
’
lad and settle down as a decent farmer
’
s wife.
”
Pausing again she looked pointedly at Callum, silently questioning his intentions, as she looked him over.

“
Forgive me Mistress but I fear Rhyla has said little of why she left Bendarin. But your words answer a great many questions,
”
he carefully deflected.

“
Oh, how
’
s that?
”
Tanya asked as he had hoped.

“
Rhyla works very hard but says little of her family and life before coming to Lestran. You said her father was killed?
”

“
Murdered.
”
Jacob said grimly.

“
Murdered?
By who?
Has he been caught and brought to justice?
”
Callum asked as his training
,
more than just his curiosity took over.

“
Caught? You must be joking. Bandits came down from the hills, smashed up his home and forge before killing him and setting it all alight. Only saving grace was that Rhyla was tending old Lydia or the gods only know what may have befallen her.
”
Jacob said with a deeply bitter anger twisting his face.
“
Rhyla left days after we buried him.
Wouldn
’
t even wait for the spring rains to pass.
None of us could talk her out of it. I reckon the pain was easier to deal with by leaving.
”

“
She
’
s a strong young woman. I had no idea of what she had suffered, she hides it well.
”
Callum knew more than ever that he would not stand by and see her suffer further. He could not tell these folk the truth of her situation for it was painfully clear that they loved her and there was no need to cause them further heartache and anxiety.

“
She may be strong but she is al
so a simple country girl.
She
is far too trusting if you ask me. I only pray that she stays safe until she realises that this is w
here she belongs and comes home.
We
will always have room for her.
”
Tanya said, sounding more of a mother than just a concerned friend.

“
You said she lived on a farm but there was also a forge?
”
Callum pressed further while they seemed so willing to talk.

“
Oh yes. Donal grew crops, as do most around here, but he also had a small forge. Not that he was a true blacksmith, he would always say, but he did well enough for our
horses. He mended
our scythes as if they were one of those fancy knights
’
blades of his.
”
Jacob recalled with a sad smile for his old friend.

“
Knights blades?
”
Callum asked more surprised by the minute.
“
He was a swordsman?
”

“
Oh, it was before he came to Bendarin, before Rhyla was born. But he knew a thing or two and helped to keep the peace around here. It
’
s been harder with him gone, most likely why he was attacked and murdered; he would have fought back, outnumbered.
”
Jacob looked down sadly at the table, clearly struggling with his grief and inability to avenge his friend.

“
You mentioned a woman, Lydia?
”
Martin asked, as Callum
’
s thoughts remained distracted.
“
Was she Rhyla
’
s mother?
”

“
Lydia.
No
,
Rhyla
’
s mother died 2 winters ago.
”
Tanya said, obviously another wound.
“
Lydia tried but not even she could convince Rhyla to stay. She too
offered her a room in her home
in exchange for the care that Rhyla had shown her over the years. But Rhyla said that all the teaching she had received was more than enough for the little bit of cooking and cleaning she had done.
”
Tanya replied.

“
Teaching,
”
Callum asked.
This
may be what he was looking for.

“
Oh yes. Rhyla was a great one for her lessons. Old Lydia had been married to a scholar and scribe down in Lestran. S
he had learnt to read and write.
In
her younger days she could paint and do the most beautiful embroidery. After her husband died she moved out here with the coin he left her. She taught most of the children in the village their letters and numbers in exchange for foo
d and any work around her house.
Not
many farmers can claim the education we have around here. But Rhyla was different; she had a flare for the learning, a thirst for knowledge that went way beyond that of the other children. Soon she learnt more th
an just the letters and numbers. S
he would spend hours reading and discussing the books that Lydia
has.
Five leather
bound volumes,
full of history, geogra
phy and science Lydia tells us. They
could be nothing more than myths and legends but Rhyla loved them.
”
For a moment Tanya
’
s motherly joy turned to sadness and the tone of her voice dropped.
“
You should have seen the shirt we buried Donal in. The embroidery was fine enough for a lord to be wed in.
”