The Embers of Daylight, page 6
At the sound of footsteps, she turned and saw her husband coming up the stairs from the hall. Theobald Carpenter, who did most of their building work, followed behind him. Peter was forever finding old parts of the castle to repair. Kaylein looked away quickly and put her hands in her lap, a feeling of shame heating her face. Moreso than with anyone else, she didn't like letting Peter see her burns. It reminded her of their wedding. It had been a cold and miserable autumn day for both of them, and at the time she still hadn't fully accepted the way her body looked and felt. An old maid had dressed her in the way she had since become accustomed to: with as much of her skin covered as possible. The noble guests attending the wedding had complimented her on her beauty, believing that God must truly have protected her to leave behind so few traces of her ordeal.
She and Peter had stood before the bishop and recited their vows without conviction, then returned to the castle to celebrate with a feast. Kaylein's face had grown so stiff from false smiles that she'd wanted to cry by the end of it. No one she knew had been there, only nobles she vaguely remembered from her youth. Even Isaac had been in Cairnford with his father at the time. Afterwards, miserable and exhausted, Peter had taken her upstairs to their marriage bed. It was the part she'd been dreading most, for her only prior experience of sex had been with Sam. She'd hated the thought of going to bed with a man she barely knew. After Peter told her to undress, he'd stared at her scars with revulsion, and she felt so ashamed she began to cry.
He'd gone to sleep without touching her.
Since then, Peter had only had sex with her a handful of times, usually when he was drunk, and usually after his father visited. Duke Larmond, like many fathers his age, was eager to hear news of grandchildren. Kaylein knew that Peter had to force himself to go through with it every time. Elizabeth had been right about him: he had no taste for women, and his wife's scarred body only strengthened the aversion. With Sam, lovemaking had always been joyful. With Peter, it just hurt. Kaylein didn't even think her husband had seen the act through to completion half the times he'd tried.
Thankfully it was not something she had to endure often. Peter was not a beastly man. He knew as well as she did that neither of them enjoyed it, and he took no pleasure in making her unhappy. They spent most of their days pursuing their own separate business, him as lord of the county and her as mistress of his household. By the time Tabitha joined them, Kaylein had gotten to know her servants, and grim, dispassionate days had slowly turned into comfortable ones as she began to think of the people around her as friends. She missed her life as a nun in Kinedwyn, but she wasn't miserable in Tannersfield. Had it not been for the regrets of the past, she might even have been happy here. It made her ache inside when she thought about how she would never see Calia grow up, how Elizabeth and Sam were far away, and how Isaac had lost the things that gave him purpose in life.
It would get better, she knew. She was much happier now than she had been when she first married Peter. In another five years, she might be happier still. The kingdom was at peace, she had her writing, and Tabitha's company was a ray of sunlight that brightened every day.
Peter and Theobald disappeared into one of the chambers that branched off from the solar. Tannersfield Castle had half a dozen such rooms on the upper floor, the largest of which was Peter and Kaylein's. Given that they had no children and most of Peter's relatives lived in his home county of Saintsmarch, the solar was empty most of the time. Tabitha and their resident monk, Brother Richard, were the only servants who were allowed to use the upstairs rooms, for they needed solitude for their meditations. Kaylein knew Tabitha rarely meditated, but she liked having an excuse to keep her friend close by.
She tried to focus on the expenses she'd been calculating on her tablet, but Peter's sudden appearance had displaced her train of thought. She felt like she was hitting her head against a wall.
“Where am I to get the money?” she said wearily.
“Peter has more than enough.”
“Perhaps, but even so, books are very expensive. Paying for two or three dozen copies is nothing to take lightly, even for a count. I shall never convince him.”
“What about your father-in-law?”
“I suppose it would be well within his means.”
“Then ask him.”
Kaylein pursed her lips. She did recall that Larmond had supported her idea of writing scripture when she swore her oath to him, but that had been so long ago that she couldn't remember exactly what had been said. Peter's father had little interest in talking to her these days. Now that she'd legitimised his family's claim to the county, he seemed to have forgotten she existed. What did she have to offer that could possibly persuade him to part with enough gold crowns to finance her work?
“I see you squishing your lips together,” Tabitha said. “What's wrong?”
“I just don't see what I could offer Duke Larmond in exchange for his help. I've not even given his son any heirs.”
“Can it hurt to ask?”
“I suppose not, but I don't know when he'll next visit. It could be a year or more. I'd want to ask in person.”
“Then why not ride to Saintsmarch?” Tabitha got an eager twinkle in her eye. “I could come with you.”
“That's a very long way.”
“But the weather will make it easy at this time of year. I can't remember the last time you left Tannersfield.”
“I don't find travel very agreeable.”
“You're very boring, Countess.”
“Oh, don't be mean, Tabbie.” Kaylein had never been good at taking deprecating humour in her stride, even when she knew it came from a place of affection. She glanced nervously at the room Peter and Theobald had gone into, knowing it would be inappropriate for anyone to overhear the countess and a nun conversing in such a familiar manner.
“You might at least send a letter, then,” Tabitha said. “You've a way of making words sound convincing when you write them down. I'd say you're better at writing than you are talking.”
“But a letter is so much easier to dismiss.”
“You'll never get your work into the hands of the church if you keep sitting on it here at the castle.”
She was right, of course. Tannersfield Castle had become her new convent, the inner wards her cloister, the solar her cell. Besides her trips to the nunnery and church, she barely went out. Perhaps it would do her good to spend a few weeks touring the kingdom.
“I suppose it would give me a chance to look for merchants who can supply me with the scribing materials I need. Prices may be cheaper outside Tannersfield.”
“We could go and see Liz.”
Kaylein's fingers tightened uncomfortably around her tablet as she closed it. “I don't know if she would want to see me.”
And I don't know whether I would be comfortable seeing Calia.
“She might be able to help you. She's doing very well for herself these days. If it's help from a merchant you need, I can't think of anyone better than her. She must know all the trading circuits in the county by now.”
“She would be discreet about it, too,” Kaylein mused. She couldn't deny that it was a sound idea. Had she not just recently told Isaac that she wished Elizabeth was around to advise her? She only worried that her old friend would resent the disturbance. Liz wanted to be left alone, and working in secret for the countess probably wasn't her idea of living a quiet life. “I'll think about it. It would be nice to see her again.”
Tabitha smiled and set down her quill. “Shall I have horses prepared for tomorrow?”
“Goodness, not tomorrow. You're always in such a hurry. I must ask Peter about it first. We'll need an entourage to accompany us on such a long journey. Provisions will have to be made so that the household can continue running in my absence.”
“Of course.” Tabitha looked down at her work as Peter and Theobald came out into the solar again.
Seeing that she looked disappointed, Kaylein reached over and patted Tabitha's hand. “But you have convinced me. As soon as it's convenient, we shall make a journey to see my father-in-law.”
It didn't take as long as Kaylein had feared to organise the trip. Peter made no objection to her request, and the castle was largely capable of running itself without her guidance. Most of the servants had been working there so long they knew their duties by heart. The steward would deal with any problems that arose in her absence, and any crucial decisions could always be put to Peter or delayed until she returned.
Travelling long distances was best done in groups, especially for nobles like Kaylein. They were to be accompanied by a trusted knight and three of his men along with a travelling priest and a small merchant caravan. A few others would likely come and go along the way. Travellers rich and poor were always eager to join a noble's entourage for the prestige and safety such a group afforded.
Kaylein had been so preoccupied with the imminent journey that she was unprepared for the dense crowd she found filling the marketplace when she left the castle. She and Tabitha had not yet joined up with the rest of their travelling party, so there was no one to clear the way for them. She drew up her fur-trimmed hood and tried to edge her horse through the crowd without stepping on anyone. Despite her attempts to remain inconspicuous, there was no mistaking the countess of Tannersfield. Those nearest to her quickly began moving back to make a path, but others pressed forward, hoping to get a closer look at Kaylein. Progress through the crowd was sluggish as a result. It looked like a hanging was taking place that day, and a great many people had gathered in the marketplace to see the criminal swing from the gallows. Judging from the size of the crowd, it was someone well-known. Kaylein tried to close her ears to the roar of the baying spectators. She didn't like the way hangings could turn even decent folk into a bloodthirsty mob. The shifting motion of the crowd took her and Tabitha past the gallows, where she saw a stocky man in an ill-fitting shirt trembling in the wind as his crimes were read out by a herald.
It was Harald Redcloak. He looked thinner and dirtier than she remembered, and without his distinctive feathered cap she almost didn't recognise him. The information Isaac and the sheriff uncovered at the feast must have finally caught up to the unscrupulous merchant.
Kaylein didn't like to see anyone hanged, but it lessened her unease to know that the man facing the noose today was a wicked one. Harald's ruddy cheeks had paled, his bound fists clenching and unclenching anxiously. Kaylein looked away and urged her horse on, but before she could get far someone pushed their way in front of her and grabbed her bridle. She was shocked to see Lord Edward's face staring up at her.
“Countess, you must intervene! That man does not deserve the noose! There is a grave injustice being done here today.”
Kaylein needed a moment to compose herself before answering. “Please unhand my horse, Lord Edward.”
He did so, but he stepped closer at the same time to prevent her from moving past him. “You must intervene,” he repeated. “I implore you.”
“Has Harald Redcloak been tried in a court of law?”
“It was a farce! I wasn't given time to gather witnesses to defend him.”
“If he has been judged guilty then it is not my place to intervene.”
“But you're the countess! You could order the sentence delayed.”
He was probably right. Even though Kaylein had no business interfering with the sheriff's work, a countess nevertheless held a great deal of sway in her domain. It would be very difficult for anyone to go against her if she asked for a stay of execution. If Harald had been found guilty by one of the king's judges, she probably wouldn't be able to do much more than delay the inevitable, but if he'd been tried in the local county court then Peter could order him pardoned.
“Please, Countess.” Edward's face was flushed with the shame of having to beg in front of a crowd, but desperation seemed to have won out over his pride. “What do you want of me? Silver? Land? I still have your family's heirlooms at Rosepath. There are books, clothes, your father's sword–” Edward stopped, realising he'd made a grave mistake when he saw the look on Kaylein's face. She was outraged that he would dare try to bargain with the property Duke Francis had stolen from her murdered family.
“Nothing you are able to give me would be anything I desire, Lord Edward.”
One of the women in the crowd said: “Shameful, trying to bribe our lady.”
Edward grit his teeth in frustration. “You must want something.”
“Please move aside.”
A hand plucked at the back of Edward's cloak. He swatted it away with a snarl. Behind them, Kaylein heard the sound of the cart being rolled away from beneath Harald's feet. The crowd roared. Kaylein didn't look, but the ongoing jeers indicated that his kicking body was providing the spectators with plenty of entertainment while they waited for his face to turn purple.
Edward stared at the gallows with a look of dismay. Kaylein tensed, suddenly fearing that he might do something foolish. But more people were jostling him out of her way now, and he couldn't shake them all off. As the crowd pushed Edward aside, he shot her a hateful look.
“You and Isaac did this.”
And you have done so much more, Kaylein thought.
She urged her horse toward the edge of the marketplace, leaving Edward behind. The encounter had shaken her. Even though she was his superior in the noble hierarchy, it was hard to forget how frightened and vulnerable he'd once made her feel. It was wrong to wish death on others, but if there was one man she hoped would face his judgement sooner than later, it was Edward. Every life a person took unjustly was said to condemn them to a lifetime of suffering in hell. Edward had done enough to earn himself centuries of torment.
Kaylein and Tabitha rode to the western side of town where they met up with the rest of their travelling party near the gate. By then Kaylein had recovered her composure and she was eager to get going. The knight leading their escort was a man named Sir Marion, whose rugged appearance belied his feminine name. He had served Count Leo loyally for years, and while he was no great admirer of Peter and Larmond, Kaylein knew he fostered protective feelings toward her as the daughter of his former lord. She would feel safe travelling the kingdom in his company.
Once the group had been gathered up, they set out down the king's road to the west. The bright weather soon had everyone in good spirits, and they struck a leisurely pace that first day. Kaylein discussed theology with the priest who was accompanying them. She was curious to see how other theologians would respond to the ideas she'd elaborated on in her book. The priest seemed interested when she brought up the subject of separating church from crown. His own parish had suffered under Larmond's law, and from the way he spoke about the bishop and cardinals, he seemed to have lost faith in their ability to help him. When he asked where Kaylein's ideas came from, she answered vaguely that she'd read them in a book of scripture borrowed from a travelling friar. She made a mental note to try and offer a copy of her work to the priest if she ever got the chance. Men like him, who were suffering the effects of Larmond's law first-hand, were the ones who would be most open to reform.
That night they stayed at a church. Kaylein had brought a bag of silver pennies with her for the explicit purpose of donating a handful to every priory that took them in along the way. To her surprise, the village priest dropped to his knees and kissed her feet when she gave him the money.
“I knew you were a saint, my lady. God's light shines in your footsteps wherever you walk.”
Kaylein found that others had similar reactions in the days to follow. The tale of her life had been told and retold across Tannersfield many times since she became countess, and its romantic tragedy appeared to have resonated with the people. It was a story of loss, flight, poverty, and finding new purpose under God, all culminating in a great miracle and the restoration of her birthright. It was the kind of story she herself would have found enchanting had she not been the one living it. She wondered whether Saint Caridwen, whom she so admired, would have felt the same way about the legends people told about her.
The fine weather did not last long past the first day. A strong wind picked up, blowing in dark clouds that first drizzled, then rained, then poured. Everyone agreed that the kingdom had never before seen such weather at this time of year. The deluge was brutal, blowing in beneath their hoods and ripping at their cloaks like a devil's hungry claws. Leaves were snatched from branches, footprints became puddles, and puddles became swamps. Before they stopped that evening, Kaylein saw a drainage ditch beside the road almost full to the brim with muddy water. She prayed the downpour would lighten soon. Everyone suffered when freak shifts in the weather disrupted routines and unsettled the natural growth of crops.
The wind wasn't as harsh when they set out the next morning, but the rain still poured down without abatement. Sir Marion suggested they stop until the worst of it passed. After some debate, they decided to press on, with the merchants arguing that the roads would be even worse in a few days if the rain continued. They wanted to get to Rambirch before that happened. They were less than a day's travel from the town by now, but that estimate assumed good weather, and their pace had already slowed to a crawl. As they went on, it became harder and harder for the merchants to get their carts through the quagmire that had once been the king's road. At this rate, they might not reach Rambirch at all.
Those fears were confirmed when they came upon a great crowd of people gathered on the road ahead of them. It looked like a whole village's worth of travellers had stopped in the same spot. When they got closer, Kaylein saw why. A huge section of the road had flooded, so vast that it resembled a small lake. At least a hundred yards of muddy water rippled between them and the far side, where a second similarly large crowd had gotten stuck coming the other way. A few brave souls were trying to cross the flood, but they were struggling. Kaylein saw a pair of people with water up to their waists trying to pull a third companion out of the mud, while half a dozen others waded past them trying to rescue belongings that were floating away from their cart. The crossing would be arduous at best, dangerous at worst.
