Authors: Netherworld
The rain from the previous night had let up and, as he emerged into the bailey, the sky above was bright with stars. He headed towards the two-storied gatehouse where there seemed to be some activity going on as the guards walked their posts for the night. He was still holding his hauberk and mail coat when he entered the guard house and managed to locate two young squires who were sleeping on the floor. The boys had come in with Gart and Rhys, but Keller confiscated them to clean his mail while he went about his duties of arranging an escort for the funeral mass. One thing in particular he had to do was seek out George to see if a coffin had been made.
So it was busy work in that brief hour before dawn and, somewhere in that hour, he’d managed to find George, whom he put in charge of loading Trevyn d’Einen into his coffin, and Gart, who was just coming out of the keep as the eastern sky began to turn shades of blue and pink. Keller and Gart had a brief conversation about the agenda for the day and when Keller mentioned heading over to the kitchen to ensure the morning meal was being prepared, Gart informed him about the cook’s death the day before. Gart also mentioned his concern about the death and, together, the two of them headed over to the kitchen where Keller was shown the secret stairs that led down to the concealed entry in the gorge, the very stairs were the cook allegedly met her death.
Keller very quickly decided he didn’t like that entry in the least and left Gart behind in the kitchens to figure out a way to either plug it or protect it. Keller didn’t want to leave the castle, thinking it was well protected when, in fact, it had an Achilles’ heel.
As Keller returned to the bailey in search of his remaining knights, Rhys and William, who’d had the night watch, came off the battlements and swore they would be able to ride escort for the funeral mass in spite of the fact that they hadn’t slept all night, and Keller took them at their word. In the past, he’d known Wellesbourne to be awake for two straight days and perform flawlessly. The man needed little sleep to function. Keller put Rhys and William in charge of forming the party that would escort Trevyn d’Einen’s coffin into Machynlleth.
With the knights in motion and the escort party forming, Keller headed back into the keep to rouse his wife and her sister. As he mounted the stairs to the first floor, he could hear scurrying above him and his wife’s soft voice. Chrystobel was awake and as he neared the top of the stairs, Izlyn raced from the master’s chamber with something in her arms that looked like a dress or coat. Already, the women were awake and organized. He followed the girl into the smaller chamber where she and her sister were evidently very busy.
It was warm and fragrant in the chamber, with a bright fire in the hearth and two fat tapers lit against the early morning dimness. As Keller stood in the doorway, he found he only had eyes for Chrystobel. Like an angel, she looked radiant and beautiful at this early hour and as he gazed at her, thoughts of the previous night came rolling into his mind again. Although Keller was a worldly man who had seen and experienced more than most, he had never experienced a touch like Chrystobel’s. There was something about her that seemed to strengthen him and weaken him all at the same time. He couldn’t explain it any better than that. All he knew was that, somehow, she had gotten under his skin and he wasn’t the least but sorry about it.
As Keller stood there and stared, Chrystobel caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see her husband standing just inside the door. When their eyes met, she smiled sweetly at the man, giddy as she had never been giddy in her life. She had awoken a short time ago, noticing that Keller was gone but taking a few moments to lay in the covers, warm and cozy, recalling the night before when she’d finally become his wife in the literal sense. Keller had touched her body in ways she’d never imagined possible and even as she thought on it, her cheeks grew warm with the recollection of the giddy pleasure he’d given her. It was an entirely new aspect of life she’d never known to exist.
Once averse to the marriage, now she couldn’t remember when she hadn’t been married and loved every moment of it. Her expression must have given away her thoughts because Keller seemed to have the same warm expression on his face, too.
“Greetings, Lady de Poyer,” he said, his voice low and soft. “You are looking lovely this morn.”
Chrystobel looked down at the dark green surcoat she was wearing, the same one she had worn yesterday.
“Thank you,” she said, a faint blush mottling her cheeks. “And... and you? Are you well this day?”
“Most well now that I have seen you.”
Chrystobel grinned shyly, catching a glimpse of Izlyn and noticing the girl was giggling at her rather besotted reaction to Keller’s compliment. Irritated with her sister’s taunts, she turned her back on the girl as she made her way to Keller.
“I assumed you would want to leave early for Machynlleth,” she said. “Izlyn and I shall be ready to travel shortly.”
Keller held up a hand to ease her. “Take your time,” he said. “I am still preparing the escort and seeing to the security of the castle for the duration of our absence.”
Chrystobel nodded. “Then we shall be ready when you are,” she said. “I was about to go and see to the morning meal.”
“I already have.”
Her brow furrowed. “But that is a woman’s task,” she said, confused. “Why would you do that?”
“So you would not have to,” he said, his dusky eyes glittering. “I wanted you to remain warm and cozy in your chamber, and dress at your leisure. I did not want you to bother with mundane things.”
Chrystobel’s heart was swelling with adoration at his thoughtfulness. In fact, it was swelling with adoration for
him
. “You are very kind to do that,” she said, but she soon sobered as thoughts of the kitchen came to mind. “Were you told that the cook was killed yesterday? She took a tumble down a flight of stairs.”
Keller nodded. “I was told,” he said. “I saw the stairs, too. No one ever mentioned there was a concealed passage that led from the kitchen to the gorge.”
Chrystobel nodded. “Indeed there is,” she said. “It is meant to be used if the castle is ever compromised. I am sorry I neglected to tell you about it. It simply never crossed my mind.”
He understood. “Are there any other passages I should know about?”
She shook her head. “Nay,” she replied. “The only points of entry or exit at Nether are the gatehouse, the postern gate, and the passageway. There is nothing else.”
He believed her and, not wanting to linger on the negative note of the cook’s death, he simply smiled at her and began to remove his gloves.
“That is a good thing,” he said. “A castle with too many holes in it is no castle at all. We may as well not have walls if that is the case.”
Chrystobel was back to smiling again, giving him a flirtatious little expression as she turned away and headed back over to the bed where she had been mending a rip on the hood of a cloak. Keller grinned at the come-hither countenance on her face then scowled dramatically when he glanced at Izlyn and the girl made a silly face at him. He could hardly believe these were the same two women he had met only three days ago. When fear and terror were removed, it was remarkable how quickly the human soul healed. As he set his gloves aside, his gaze fell on his saddlebags, still where he left them on the big wooden trunk. Next to the bags was the pile of scarves and perfume he’d neglected to give his wife. They were still as he had left them.
“Before I forget,” he said, moving over to the pile, “there were more gifts I brought back from town yesterday, but I don’t suppose you’d care to see them.”
Chrystobel came running, needle and thread still in hand from where she had been mending the cloak. “Of course I want to see them!” she begged. “May I? Please?”
Keller eyed her hopeful face as it was joined by a second hopeful face. Izlyn didn’t know about the gifts, or the necklaces, but because her sister was excited, she was excited, too. Keller found himself looking at two very eager ladies. He couldn’t help but laugh.
“Very well,” he said, reaching down to the pile and drawing forth a beautiful pale-blue scarf made of the light
albatross
material. He extended it to Izlyn. “For you, my lady. I hope you like it.”
Izlyn took the scarf that was so delicate it was as if it were made from angel’s wings. Glee didn’t quite cover her expression. She was positively overjoyed as she fondled it happily, rubbing the soft fabric against her cheek before wrapping it around her neck. As she played with it, Keller handed the remaining two scarves to Chrystobel.
“And these are for you,” he said softly. “Wear them in good health.”
One scarf was egg-shell colored while the other was a pale green, both of them soft and airy. Chrystobel was thrilled.
“These are beautiful, Keller, truly,” she said sincerely. “You are too kind.”
Keller merely smiled. “With your new pearl and emerald necklace and that green scarf, you shall look like a queen,” he murmured, turning back to the jewelry he’d left on the chest the night before and drawing forth the garnet and pearl necklace. “Izzie, come here. I have something more for you.”
Izlyn was dancing around with her beautiful new scarf, waving it in the air, but swiftly ran over to Keller when he called her. It didn’t even occur to her that he’d used her nickname, but it certainly occurred to Chrystobel. In fact, she was very touched that he would use the nickname, a family name that intimated affection as if he belonged to them already, and they belonged to him. This man, this enemy, who had been kinder to them than any of their kin had ever been.
As Izlyn ran up to him to see what he had for her, she didn’t expect the exquisite necklace that he held up in the light. In fact, it rather confused her until he motioned for her to turn around so he could put the necklace on her. Chrystobel went to retrieve her polished bronze mirror and she held it up for her sister as Keller placed the necklace on her slender collarbone.
Izlyn’s eyes widened at the beautiful necklace. To her, pearls and garnets looked like the greatest treasure of the most favored queen. She felt beautiful and regal in a way she’d never felt before and she fingered the necklace, awestruck, before looking to Keller in shock. He smiled at the girl, nodding his head.
“It is for you,” he said. “Do you like it?”
Izlyn was overwhelmed with the gift. She threw her arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly before swiftly releasing him and darting off. Her right hand remained on the necklace while the left hand held the marvelous scarf. They were gifts beyond compare to a girl who had known so little generosity. As Keller and Chrystobel watched, Izlyn snatched the mirror from her sister and stood close to one of the lancet windows, inspecting her necklace in the weak morning light. The look on her face was all of the thanks Keller needed.
“She is madly in love with the necklace,” Chrystobel said softly, turning to her husband. Her expression was deeply sincere. “Thank you for making her so happy. If I was not already married to you, I would marry you now just to show my gratitude.”
He gave her a lazy smile. “And I would let you,” he said, giving her a saucy wink that made her giggle. Then he turned back around to the remaining items on the wooden chest and pulled forth a corked gourd and an alabaster phial. He extended them both to her. “The small phial is perfume and the larger container is something called ‘waters’. It is used for washing hands or cleansing. It even has some medicinal purposes. I thought you might like it.”
Curious, Chrystobel took both items, inspecting the containers before setting the gourd down on the nearest table so she could smell the perfume. The scent made her gasp aloud with joy and she immediately put it on her arms and neck, just so she could smell it every time she moved. Setting the perfume down, she then popped the cork on the gourd and smelled the fragrant waters inside.
It was a pungent smell, strong and earthy. She looked at Keller curiously. “And I am supposed to wash my hands with this?”
He nodded. “That is what the merchant said,” he replied. “You may wash your hands and face with it, he said. It is also good to drink for medicinal purposes.”
“What
kind
of medicinal purposes?”
He shrugged. “Of that, I did not ask,” he said. “But there is wine in it, so mayhap it is used to settle nerves or for general malaise.”
She grinned as she sniffed the gourd again but decided against tasting it. As she sniffed it again, she caught a whiff of Keller’s slightly rotted scent as the result of his clothes being unable to properly dry after being caught in the rain yesterday. He smelled most foul and a thought occurred to her. She went in search of a bowl.
“Mayhap you should be the first person to try this,” she said. “Mayhap you would like to wash before we leave?”
He frowned. “I bought that water for you.”
She smiled brightly. “And I am sharing it with you,” she said, not wanting to offend him but thinking that at least a quick washing and a change of clothes was in order. “Would you not allow me the privilege of helping you to wash?”
He just looked at her, a vaguely wry expression on his face. “I am sure it is not necessary.”
Chrystobel wrinkled her nose, trying desperately to couch what she was trying to say. Unfortunately, she couldn’t quite come up with a tactful approach.
“I realize that you were caught in the rain yesterday and your clothes have not been properly dried,” she said, “but you smell a bit...”
She trailed off and he lifted his eyebrows to encourage her. “Wet?”
“Rotted.”
He cocked his head but there was a smile on his lips. “Rotted, am I?” he said. Then he shrugged his big shoulders again. “Then mayhap I had better wash so I do not shame my well-dressed wife. But my clothes are upstairs where Rhys and Gart are sleeping, I believe. On the day I arrived, I took most of my possessions up there. I shall retrieve clean clothing and return.”
He quit the room and they could hear his big boot falls heading up to the second floor above them. Chrystobel, wanting to be alone with her husband in order to help him bathe, sent Izlyn off on an errand to the kitchens to pack some food for their journey, simply to get the girl out of the room. Izlyn went happily with her lovely necklace and beautiful scarf. By the time Keller returned, Chrystobel had poured the “waters” into a big bowl and was awaiting him. He closed the door behind him, tossing the clean tunic onto the bed.