Chapter 2
The morning came extremely early for Eric. He had fought hard in the battle, prepared the tasks that had needed immediate attention, worked in the hospital, and done what was the most work he had ever tried, tangling with Anese. She seemed to generate this energy that she unwittingly wore as a shield around herself. She and his lives were complex spider webs of knotting strings that somehow may join in the middle, for the coincidence between his two twin boys and that of her own, baffled him. Yet he could never get close enough to Anese to talk with her and ask about how Matthew and Christian came to be in her care. She set off his temper as if she'd lit the fuse and he was the bomb. He pondered his own actions until there came a knock on the door. John entered at the bidding of his Lord, a look of urgency on his face. "Well, what is it man? Spit it out!" Eric hurried to pull the boots he wore over the skintight black breeches. "Audrey came to the gate at sunrise this morning vowing he'd seek his revenge and exact it upon you and all you hold dear. Our archers weren't ready and could not shoot him down, but he has no escort. It looks as if only the injured and dead remain of his men." John huffed a little, out of breath from his hurried climb up the long stone staircase. "Audrey doesn't have the forces he once had, nor the support of either the king of Scotland or Britain." "Sir, he's no fool. If he says he'll exact revenge, then that's exactly what he'll do. And he'll only dally long enough to catch you off guard. Oh, I have no doubt in my mind that he won't come to try and take the fortress, but he'll wait like a snake in the weeds. Audrey will wait for something in your life to change, something to soften you up. I think he knows much more about these people than you do. He knows there's something here you would want," John spoke carefully, as if deep thought had brought him to his conclusions. Eric shook off the prickling on the back of his neck and motioned for John to follow him down to the courtyard. John quickly stripped off his belt and tunic, as they were in for a long hot day of backbreaking repairs, so fallen into disrepair this place had acceded to.
Anese awoke with a jump. All night she had been waking suddenly by something she'd dreamt, but she couldn't figure out what had made her awaken, or what she had been dreaming. Now fully awake, Anese had no choice but to get up and begin her daily chores. Shortly thereafter, the sleepy-eyed but rambunctious boys joined her. "Christian, go collect the eggs from the hen and clean her coup," Anese said to Christian. Then she turned toward Matthew, saying, "Shovel out half the old rushes from the cow's stall and milk her." The boys preoccupied for a little while, Anese turned her attentions to the herbs she had been drying above the doorway. They had been hanging for about a week and were now perfect for grinding and powdering. She took off the small pins that held them on the string she strung across the entryway one by one, setting the stalks and leaves in separate piles on the left of the oven. When all were down, Anese began measuring leaves to be put into a small wooden bowl. She brushed off her hands and set off through the kitchen in search of her grinding stone. She hadn't noticed the man standing behind her until she almost ran into him. "Looking for this," Jack played, holding up the palm-size stone. Anese went along with the game and snatched it away from him, turning her back to him with a swish of skirts and ebony hair. Jack laughed and lifted Anese into the air, turning her in his arms. His hands encircled her waist, although she had not as tiny a waist as many of the woman her own age; this being somewhere between eighteen and twenty, but she had been living on her own for so long that she had lost interest in counting. Jack bent his head low, quickly taking her mouth in his. It was a quick kiss, as Jack knew Anese had work to be done, but passionate. When he released Anese, she smiled brightly and set about finishing her powdering. "What can I do around here?" Jack inquired suddenly. His smile always seemed to cheer Anese up, and she knew she loved him deeply, even hoped to be his wife someday; not today, though...not today. "Um, you can start by seeing that the boys are doing as they should, and if they're done you can set them about doing their other chores. Whatever needs doing would sure be of help to me," then she added on a spur of the moment thought, "and to the boys." Jack laughed silently, shaking his head, as he walked out the cottage door and toward Anese's small stables and gardens. It seemed she had been working for hours when suddenly, the sun was no longer heating her back. She looked up, winced at the crick in her neck, and saw Eric standing in the light. He wore no tunic or shoes or stockings, just breeches that came down to the tops of his feet. They were black, but spotted with dried mud and dust. His chest was covered with a sheen of sweat, and it looked as though he had been obviously working all morning. He moved inside and Anese squinted briefly in the afternoon sun. "May I?" he asked as he stepped in and out of the blazing heat. The temperature was very different inside than out, evidently, for he sighed at the feel of it. A small breeze swept through the house and he prolonged the blink of his eyes. When he again opened them, he seemed a bit relaxed. "You're roof sags terribly, and some of the walls are in dire need of repair. You know this?" "Yes," Anese answered thoughtfully. What was he up to? "My men can begin work, but it will take several months. You would need lodging, but the only place would be in a cot with the serving maids of the kitchens. Would accept these conditions? Be forewarned, though, you will be earning your keep, should you choose to." Eric stared at her, his expression blank and revealing nothing of his thoughts. But his mind seethed with desire. Something about the woman standing before him made him feel again. He was alive and vividly aware of her every move, her every scent, when she was around him. Her black hair and tan skin contrasted with her cobalt eyes in a way that could not be as beautifully tantalizing on another woman as it was on her. She wore the simplest of attire, but was clothed in an intriguing elegance she bore as an invisible shield. No other woman made him feel like she did. Sure he had had other in the years after his wife's death, but they never made him seem to forget her. He didn't like it. Yet aside from the confused feelings he had for Anese and the anger and resentment that seemed to haunt their relationship, he felt some force compelling him to help these people. He'd met several during his brief stay here, and they all seemed to deserve better than what he saw around him. There was love here, even though they were not fortunate enough to have had an able lord in their past. "If my home can be repaired as quickly as possible, I will serve in the castle for a room to keep. When shall I move, and what shall I do with my herbs and medicines?" She seemed so innocent on the surface, but Eric could see she was no happier than he with the arrangement of having to live within the same area as Eric. Yet he knew that there was no other choice, her home need repair badly, and there was no room anywhere for anyone besides Eric's army. Even villagers were volunteering to take in and house as many injured and uninjured men as long as food was provided to them to serve. The over-crowding had not reached so bad that tents needed to be pitched, but Eric was all to watchful so that it may not come to that. He was thoughtful for a moment, and then nodded to himself, considering his idea a good one. "The medicine room has not been used is decades, I expect, neither has the adjoining preparation room. If you tidy the place up in your spare time, you may stay in the cot in the preparatory room when this is done. We will postpone the work on your home until then; to give you time to move your things and them not be damaged. Also be reminded that the furniture only consists of a rotting table and a metal cot with a moldy mattress. I'll give you a month's time to clean and refurnish the adjoining rooms before you will need to move your belongings from the cottage so we may begin work. This would also give us time to make other village repairs and gather supplies for your stone walls, as the stone is rare and fairly expensive." "If it is expensive, than why spend the money on a mere peasant girl?" Anese inquired quickly, chastising herself for her argumentative pride. For some extremely odd reason, whenever Eric was talking with her, she felt the temptation to argue with everything he said. She must hold her tongue tighter next time. "I am Lord here, and I like to see that no matter of status, every man, woman, or beast is treated with equal respect and well-being. Peasant women are no exception, especially when they have children." Eric thought he had made himself fairly clear. Then, out of sheer curiosity started to add, "About the boys, how(" But Christian interrupted Eric as he bounded in the house, Matthew at his heels. "I won! I won!" he chanted gaily. "Christian, settle down honey. Lunch will be on the table as soon as I finish talking to Sir Eric. "Matthew," Anese began in a warning tone as he came into the house glaring at Eric, "don't start." She looked at Eric with an apologizing look, and turned to put the boys to work cleaning their room and picking up their toys from the dining room. Jack soon walked into the cottage and said, "All your stables are clean, Anese. I'd best be getting on my way if I'm to get any work done at the shop. Good Afternoon, Sir Eric." He nodded toward Eric when he realized him standing in the shadow of the sun. "Goodbye, Anese." Jack nodded toward Eric once again before exiting the house and striding off toward his home and shop. "Would you like to stay for lunch? I'm sure the boys would love having the company of a man, and you do look famished." Anese turned toward the counter and looked at Eric. "I have cold water fresh from the stream, and milk, too. Matthew got it from Evemai [eeve- may] just this morning." She offered up the small pitcher. "I would enjoy a good meal and a cold drink of water. Thank you." "It's the least I can do to get Matthew to stop hating you, and to repay your kindness for rooms to spare. But I must ask, where will he and Christian stay? They can't possibly stay with Jack for one month more than the months that it will take fore repairs." Hope filled Anese's mind. Maybe he would let Anese take the boys with her. Maybe he wasn't as cold as he seemed, but then again, he might be pondering where to put them. Oh God, she prayed that they would be staying in the castle with her and out of the way of the visiting soldiers. "I've been meaning to ask you about those two. But could we have lunch first, I'm perfectly famished and craving something differing from the fancy meals of the keep's kitchens," Eric said as he moved to help set the table. "Boys, come help Sir...er...Lord Eric set the table for lunch," Anese spoke only loud enough for the boys to be able to hear, but they were immediately at Eric's side and setting the thick wooden table with enough small cups, plates, and wooden silverware for the four of them. When Anese came back from the kitchen, she held a plate for Eric in one hand, and an extra stool in the other. Once lunch was over, Anese sent Christian and Matthew out to play. "You were saying you needed to speak with me about the boys. I fear they may be in trouble," Anese said, speaking curiously. "Where did you find them?" Eric said coldly, leaving Anese wondering about his indifference. "I don't know what you mean, but you can escort yourself right out of here just as soon as you tell me where my boys shall stay while I'm within the keep's walls!" Anese couldn't believe this man! He was so.so. involved with himself that he considered no one else's feelings and fears. He may know what was best for the appearances and well being of a village's structures, but he had lost all compassion for the human part of a keep, if he'd even had that emotion before. He made her so angry with him and with herself for her foolish pride and argumentative nature. "They'll stay in medicine room with you, but until then you can leave them to rot in the dirt for all I care!" Eric immediately regretted his words, for when he turned to storm from the lodge, both Christian and Matthew were standing in his way. As he tried to thunder past them, they began pounding upon him until he had to physically lift them off his back. For Anese had done nothing but glare at him indignantly. "Come on boys, it's time to get the table cleared off and start packing. Go to Jack and help him with whatever he needs you for. I'll get you both later. Run along," Anese said solemnly, trying to sound cheerful in the least for her children's sake. She sent them on their way, and quickly walked in Eric's wake, hoping to hurry and start tidying the herbal room and its preparation domain as well. But when she arrived at the keep, Anese did not find Eric anywhere she looked. It was as if he had vanished, a demon posing as a human and disappearing around a corner. Anese had no trouble believing her fantasy, but didn't know if she fancied a demon Eric, or a barbaric one. She decided to escort herself to her soon to be quarters, but once there, she discovered the thick wooden door remained either securely locked, or unwillingly to give way to an occupant after years of solitude. "Are you looking to get in there, miss?" someone asked from behind. Anese turned to see a young girl, probably about six, staring at her with huge brown eyes. She was very petite and small boned, and her tattered and faded emerald dress seemed about three sizes too big. She had long ebony hair, but it was tangled and pulled back from her face with two braids at her temples. Her eyes suddenly filled with pain and she covered her mouth as she had a short coughing fit, yet when she was fine again, those eyes twinkled. "Yes, but who are you?" Anese inquired, hoping the girl wasn't as shy as she looked. The girl turned out to be very outgoing, initiating conversation with Anese's foreign person without hesitation. "My name is Aharkahnay, it means(" "Beautiful," Anese finished without thinking. Then she looked up, amazed. "It seems you come from the same place as I do, but I doubt you remember the language as you once did," Aharkahnay said, laughing to herself at God's sense of irony. "Here, let me help you with the door. All you do is turn the knob to the right instead of the usual left," the girl said as she demonstrated, "and throw your shoulder into it with a bit of a push. By the way, no one knows my real name; everyone calls me Taint, because I was 'tainted' when I was brought here. They baptized me as a Christian when Bluthe bought me from slavery, but the name stuck." "I'm glad I've met you Taint, and thank you for your help. You're welcome to visit anytime. I have two boys about your age who'll be here within the month. I hope to see you soon." "I've heard you're to be earning your keep working in the kitchens. Cook's me mum, so you'll probably be seeing me more often." "Well, I look forward to that. Oh, and Taint? I wanted to know how you and the other servants speak so well. Old Bluthe took charge of us youngsters down in the courtyard while we played." Taint smiled gingerly. "Me mum! She taught us how to talk to the Lady and Lord and said we must always speak nicely 'cause there could be someone doing reports for the Lord." Taint coughed again, this time worse than either of the two times before, bobbed a small curtsey, then hurried along the long corridor, her small cloth shoes sliding a little as she skidded into one of the many rooms. Anese shook her head with a frown forming on her face and continued on into the room. She thought that maybe Taint had used this as a room to where she could escape the world, and Anese hoped her moving here would not disturb that. The little girl seemed to have already charmed her way into Anese's heart. She thought that Taint might be very sick from the way her coughs seemed to wrack her entire body that seemed too small for such a lively character. Then Anese saw the chamber. She could almost feel the warmth that seemed to have never left the place. She could imagine a roaring fir burning in the hearth that was barely visible through the doorway that led into the next room, could smell the liquids being prepared, and hear the laughter that may have been. She pictured a woman much like herself making small remedies for the town's people, with two boys playing a game of tag through the two rooms and on into the halls, their playful hoots echoing, then being silenced by a scolding elder. She could almost see the grin upon their faces as the old man turned away, and she could hear their snickers as they plotted new ways to antagonize their neighbors. Anese reached into her skirts, hoping to find a clean cloth. But when she could not procure one, she went out of the room in search of a bucket of water and some cleaning rags.
Later that evening. Eric seethed with anger anew as he fervently chopped wood for one of the serving women's fireplace. It was the same woman to which Anese was supposed to be sharing room with, but the woman had not seen Anese since lunch in the great hall, when she made a brief appearance. She'd stayed only long enough to get a bucket of water and several cleaning cloths. The woman, Frances, was extremely unsettled by the disappearance of Anese, and worried that there was something wrong with the woman's mind. Eric dismissed Frances' superstitions, and set out to find Anese, hoping she was busy in the herbal chamber. While he was searching through the corridors, he came across a small girl in rags. He assumed she was one of the servants rescued from slavery and was fairly new to the keep, but stopped to ask about the whereabouts of Anese anyway. "Girl, have you seen a woman with black hair and dark skin?" Eric asked, but when the little girl nodded, then thought for a moment, he was close to giving up. "There are many here who match the way this lady looks. Old Man Bluthe.er, Bluthe is always buying off slaves and giving them work." The girl nodded repeatedly at her words. "Well, oddly enough, she has bright blue eyes," Eric added hopefully. "Oh! Oh! I saw her over in the abandoned herbal chamber. Uh huh...I did," the small girl said, coughing fiercely, but evidently very proud of herself. Eric tossed a gold coin her way, calling for her to get a new dress, but waited for no response as he darted off in the general direction of Anese. For some reason he needed to speak with her, he needed to set her straight. She would not turn her back on him in such a rude manner again! It was simply unacceptable, especially when she had just been reduced to a kitchen servant. Mercy was a weakness Eric would not fall prey to now or ever, and it was time that Anese learned that no one was treated as if above the rest because of mere circumstantial coincidence. "Anese!" Eric couldn't help but yell. His temper was soaring, even in the short time it had taken to get here, but he had no idea why he should be so angry. The wooden door lay open, but no one could be seen. The cobwebs Eric remembered from the room were gone, even in the highest corner. Somehow Anese had received help in replacing the atrociously heavy and rotted wooden table, and a new one stood in its place. The floor had been scrubbed clean, as well as the walls, and he noticed, the door. The corners housed no more spiders or lifeless insects, and small repairs had been made to the stone of the floor. Spots of mortar could still be seen drying over some of the deeper cracks. But where was Anese? Eric was amazed at how much she had accomplished in just these few hours, yet this changed nothing. Then Anese appeared in the archway to the bedroom. She wiped of her hands of her apron, and pushed her hair out of her face, redoing the knot of thick hair at her nape. "I have no desire to speak to you, and since you have given these chambers to me for my temporary use, you can leave as quickly as you came." Anese raised her chin, not willing to listen to anything Eric might have to say. "You were allowed to use these chambers and sleep here should be able to clean it properly! I am Lord here, and no woman, especially one who wields a saber for a tongue, will speak to me in the boldly rude manner you choose," Eric huffed in pure anger. Every time he spoke with her she held a grudge against him and sparked a fire within him that set his temper off. When she was near he could neither think straight, nor keep his usual rational head. And she always seemed to be near. And as he thought about it, she had always been in some sort of sight of him almost the entire time he had been here. She made the days seem as if they were centuries of eternities all combined into one 'forever.' The depth of his anger toward her baffled him in a way he neither liked, nor disliked. But he knew he didn't favor the fire she burnt within him. Every night for the past four years he had dreamt of his Jennie. She was so sweet and docile, like a beautiful, silvery doe. She'd had long blonde hair that was as silky as a babe's own. Her pale skin of sweet cream and deep set eyes of emerald green had haunted him every night...until the day he had met Anese, until the moment when he had seen her in Jack's arms. His jealousy had overwhelmed him and brought all conscious thought to an end. Eric couldn't explain how Anese could spark such fury in him; yet ignite a fire that may soon turn to fever. And to make things worse, he had only known her less than two days! He didn't like the idea of it. Jennie could not be forgotten...she was his wife...his only love... Forever. "Well, whether you leave or not, I'll be getting back to my work. If you'll excuse me," Anese pushed past the thoughtful Eric, and hurried down the corridor toward the kitchens. She hurried into the steaming room, stumbling past Cook and continuing into the corner where Reva plucked all the fowl. There were bags of saved feathers that Anese had asked Reva to save, because tonight Count Valasky, speaker for Robert the Bruce in all beneficial marriages, would be visiting Arlington Hall on his way to Laray, three days easy journey from Arlington. Anese tried to get Reva's attention, but, being very involved in her work of the everlasting tweaking, Reva didn't notice as Anese called her. So, in a desperate attempt to get her attention, Anese poked Reva, finally being minded. "I'll be right back for the bags. And again, Reva, I thank you for doing this." Reva nodded, being mute but able to hear, Reva mouthed the words of 'no problem' and smiled brightly. Reva never seemed gloomy. She had fiery red hair that was a blood red burgundy, and fair skin that seemed flawless. Reva possessed a gift that made up for her loss of speech, her gift of laughter. It was extremely strange that she could form no words, but her laughter was unending. God seemed to have placed Reva with them for reasons Anese had yet to discover, but she was always thankful for the young girl's solicitude. Anese scurried out of Cook's way as the burly woman began her track toward her for scolding. Cook was Taint's adoptive mother, but she doubted that even though she'd befriended the woman's daughter that she would be befriended herself. The household had a way about them that usually shunned anyone not part of them away, and Anese was careful to abide by their silent and unwritten code.
Another evening, another battle.1311 There was great commotion as Count Valasky and escort neared the gates of Arlington Hall. Men along the parapets talked among themselves at the obvious hell to come as the portcullis was drawn up noisily. Eric did not stand among the men on the ground below the parapet, waiting for the men to come close enough to drop the drawbridge, but had chose to stay in the herbal room and await what came. When the bridge was lowered, the Count's many men thundered over its wooden planks, shaking the chains that drew it up after the men had come into the fortress. Servant women from the windows looked into the courtyard from the keep, whispering amid themselves of the terrible changes that would inevitably take place should Count Valasky dislike anything about Arlington Hall. Eric knew all of the rumors that the Count dragged with him, and many were true. He was a selfish man, an annoying one at that, and was so involved in the material values of the world, that he rarely thought of the consequences should he change things to his liking. Eric leaned farther out the window to see that all the men were safely inside the courtyard and the drawbridge had been drawn up as well. He could even see the tan Anese striding in the direction of the back wall, her black hair flowing behind her in the slight breeze, but then she turned suddenly. She'd seen him, and now knew he disagreed with her being out this late. Anese raised her chin towards him and marched back the way she came, clawing the long hair away from her face. She cursed loudly at the damn wind, giving Eric cause to throw his head back and laugh. Anese could only glare at him, having of course heard him.
The next morning and afternoon had been full of lectures of how the house was run and when she would have free time, which didn't amount to a lot. Only when all of her duties in the kitchens were finished, and these were many, could Anese have time to herself. But this time only was allowed until one hour before supper would be served. She'd groaned when she'd learned her schedule. Yes, the cleaning in her herbal room was finished, but she had yet to move the herbs and preparation materials, make three mattresses, and make blankets that weren't the nasty things in that chamber. Anese hurried out of the kitchens having seen to Reva's work, and almost ran to her cottage. The sun was low on the horizon, but it somehow still seemed to provide enough light for her to see by once she had gotten to her home. Stored in the corner of the kitchen, Anese had been saving the soft feathers of hen ever since she had known what you could do with them. She also filled another cloth bags with needles, thick thread custom made for the coming task, sheets of cloth, and scissors. When she'd gathered all the supplies she'd need, Anese started returning to the keep. She passed many of the marketers who came and went from the castle gates, and talked with friends about the latest wrongs of Christian and Matthew. Those two appeared to be in constant trouble, always on the bad side of many the old and feeble women who never seemed to remember that boys would be boys. Through the courtyard she toddled, bearing the load of not much weight, but many items. Somehow Anese managed to make it to the keep and up the stairs to the corridor where the solar, many of the keep's guest bedrooms, and her own herbal room were. "Back so soon?" Eric inquired. He was leaning against the newly replaced table with his long legs stretched before him. He was still clad in black breeches, but had graciously clothed himself in a tunic and belt to accompany the lonely pants. "Only to be leaving," Anese said. She moved to the table he was upon, set and arranged the items she had brought, and left the room once again. Eric wondered where she had been, and with whom. No! It was none of his business to know where, or with whom for that matter, she'd been. Nor did he care, he reminded himself. She was not his wife, daughter, or kin of any kind, and he surely would not favor or guard her as a relation would. As soon as Anese returned bearing more bags, Eric wondered what she was carrying in the satchels. He asked, but coldly, and Anese only sniffed at him and went into the adjacent preparation and bed chamber. She came back shortly, tugged the hay stuffed mattress into the main compartment, and threw the rotting thing out the three-dimensionally designed window bit by bit. Then she began cutting the pieces of cloth she had brought to fit the size of the mattress box for the bed. Eric watched avidly as she cut three more pieces, though they were half the size and had thinner outside strips. When everything had been cut and laid out, Anese threaded one of her needles, and began sewing the pieces together. Anese had been working for a good hour, Eric still propped against the table with numb feet and fingers, when the small girl Eric had talked to earlier came into the room. Anese didn't notice her until the girl shuffled her feet and spoke between coughs, "I don't want to disturb you Miss, but supper's ready in the great hall, and you're required to serve for Count Valasky." Anese looked up and said, "Thank you, Taint, I'll be along to the kitchens as soon as I tie this up." Anese made the knot as the serving girl she'd called Taint left, and rose softly. Her hair and gown, thought her hair tangled and her dress ragged, seemed to billow around her like an angel's own would. Her eyes seemed bright, but were cloudy from her close sighted work. "You'd better take your seat among your guests, you wouldn't want to keep them waiting." With that, she walked out of the room, leaving Eric to wonder at her curtness toward him. Eric stood up from his perch and shook out his hands' deadness. He fleetingly stretched, and then strode down the hallway and into the Great Hall to dine with the exasperating Count Valasky. "Whoa, man!" the Count said to Eric as he strode into the feasting hall and took his seat. Count Valasky had taken the seat to his right, and Eric's second in command, Sir John Maverick, had taken the one to his left. "You're going to take someone's head off going that fast through this place." The Count thought for a moment, then shouted to the entire assembly, "I'll have it known that anyone walking about this keep shall not go faster than that of a slow walk." Satisfied, he sat back down on the bench and awaited the food and ale. Anese was the first of the string of women to come from the kitchens bearing ale, and therefore was serving Eric's end of the table. She walked to the end and began filling men's glasses. When she reached Eric, he engaged in a small conversation with her, and she smiled as she moved to refill another man's goblet. "Do you know her man?" The Count asked, obviously having mistaken Anese's public smile of forced affection to be that of true happiness. "You seem to know one another well, what with the way you two exchanged those words of 'la-tee-da' and all that." Eric could only wish. There brief conversation had actually consisted of cold words from two throwing barbs at one another. "You should serve ale to men more often; you're very good at it." "If we hadn't a visitor that could quarter and hang me for it, I'd pour this ale right over your head." "But we do have company, now, don't we?" "Very funny." Anese had faked a laugh and then forced a smile after she'd glanced up to see Cook watching her carefully. He hoped the Count wouldn't criticize him about the way she had "chatted" with him. But while Eric had been thinking, Count Valasky had evidently thought of that as reflection toward the woman, and had continued to say without waiting for answers, "I've been meaning to find you a new wife, what with me being the speaker for marriages and all, and you've hardly giving me any other choice. It's high time you moved on; don't you agree? And friends as you two seem to be are meant to marry, correct? Good, it's settled then. You shall wed this girl within a fortnight. Now, I'm off early to go find that girl's name, and I'll start making the arrangements for the wedding we shall have tomorrow night." Eric hadn't been able to protest, he hadn't even been able to breathe after the Count had finished. For he had near choked on his ale. He fought the urge to take this to Scotland's highest powers, but realized the counsel would eventually side with Valasky, as he was the "perfect man for the match-maker job." He should learn to keep his mouth shut when around Anese and Valasky, because all it did was get him into trouble. First he fights a great battle with amazing strategy but meets Anese, then tries to help her out but gets on her bad side, he asks about her children and his mouth yet again gets him into a mess, and now the Count was taking over his life. He wished that the repairs could be finished quicker so that he may go back home to Carrleigh. Home.it was a distant thought, literally. Carrleigh was almost clear across Scotland, near the coastal areas where it was peaceful. Life was exempt of Anese and all of the problems he had run into here. Especially the coming one. Marriage.
Anese finished filling the man to Eric's left's chalice, then hurried as fast as she could back to the kitchens, claiming her pitcher need refilling. She stormed through the archway and took her time refilling her decanter with the foamy ale. She longed to drink every drop she poured in, as long as there was the promise that it would dull the edges of her mood, but that wasn't possible. "Anese! You may be a first working in here, but these are my kitchens, and when you step into here you're mine. Now get back in there and see to the men's needs!" Cook yelled, pushing a hot poker from the fire toward her. Anese rushed out as fast as she could without spilling the pitcher that seemed brimming with the sweet beer. When she and the others had made sure every man's glass was just as full as Anese's decanter had been, they returned to the kitchens to see that the food be brought. Two women grabbed each end of the platter of buck that the men had caught while hawking earlier that day, Anese helped with the many fowl meat, and the left over women worked to bring all the birds that had been thoroughly plucked and cleaned and cooked to refinement. When everything lay on the table, Anese began her rounds of refilling ale, being careful to stay away from Eric; Count Valasky had seemed to have gotten up and left, and Eric was now engaged in deep conversation with Sir John Maverick. Anese wondered what they were discussing, but she hadn't had time to wonder long before Cook called her back into the kitchens. "Anese, come in here," Cook said quietly, as if not wanting to say whatever she had to say. "You.You're.Go to you medicine room and get some sleep. There'll be someone along to see to you in the morning." Cook sighed regretfully, and dismissed a confused Anese without another word. She walked out of the kitchens and through the dining hall questioning what could be going on right beneath her very nose. She hurried to her chambers, finished her sewing, and hastily stuffed the many feathers into her new mattress, discovering she had just enough for her bed. Anese lifted the fairly weighty load and carried it into the bed and set it upon the wooden supports. She threw the thick linen blanket that had been upon the former mattress onto the newly made bed in a heap of stale wool, and hurried off to collect her children. She knew they would be asleep, but there was no avoiding her 'twin withdrawal,' as she liked to call it. As Anese hurried through the many corridors and stairways leading directly to the courtyard, she met the stares of almost everyone she passed. It seemed as if everyone knew something about her, except she had no idea as to what they could possibly know. She'd always been in touch with herself, and she listened and paid attention to all that went on around her, but this time she had obviously missed something. The breeze from earlier had picked up to a swirling wind, but it was warm. Even though Anese swatted at the thick hair that blew into her face, she delighted in the feel of the shifting air. She walked up to Jack's shop, and entered at free will, hoping to find Jack awake and her boys asleep. There was a solemn candle burning on a small table, and by the light Anese could see Jack laying upon the sofa-like replica with Christian sprawled upon his lap, and Matthew against his chest. She looked at the picture perfect scenery, smiling from ear-to-ear. Jack would be a wonderful father to the two boys, if only he and Anese had enough money to wed. None of this would have happened if she and Jack were living together in holy matrimony, but there was no way to go back in the past, even if the event would've saved her from dealing with Eric. Anese decided to lift the boys from Jack, and slowly wake him up afterward. But her brilliant plan failed, and she ended up wakening all three of the males. Christian and Matthew immediately and literally climbed up and into her welcoming arms, while Jack kissed her goodnight and asked her if he might help. Anese declined and silently left. She clambered up the stairs a few minutes later and then entered her room to find Taint laying on the mattress of the preparation room. She laid her boys down on the makeshift beds of cloth bags waiting to be stuffed, and climbed behind Taint, sharing her thick coverlet. In the morning things would be better.
The morning came extremely early for Eric. He had fought hard in the battle, prepared the tasks that had needed immediate attention, worked in the hospital, and done what was the most work he had ever tried, tangling with Anese. She seemed to generate this energy that she unwittingly wore as a shield around herself. She and his lives were complex spider webs of knotting strings that somehow may join in the middle, for the coincidence between his two twin boys and that of her own, baffled him. Yet he could never get close enough to Anese to talk with her and ask about how Matthew and Christian came to be in her care. She set off his temper as if she'd lit the fuse and he was the bomb. He pondered his own actions until there came a knock on the door. John entered at the bidding of his Lord, a look of urgency on his face. "Well, what is it man? Spit it out!" Eric hurried to pull the boots he wore over the skintight black breeches. "Audrey came to the gate at sunrise this morning vowing he'd seek his revenge and exact it upon you and all you hold dear. Our archers weren't ready and could not shoot him down, but he has no escort. It looks as if only the injured and dead remain of his men." John huffed a little, out of breath from his hurried climb up the long stone staircase. "Audrey doesn't have the forces he once had, nor the support of either the king of Scotland or Britain." "Sir, he's no fool. If he says he'll exact revenge, then that's exactly what he'll do. And he'll only dally long enough to catch you off guard. Oh, I have no doubt in my mind that he won't come to try and take the fortress, but he'll wait like a snake in the weeds. Audrey will wait for something in your life to change, something to soften you up. I think he knows much more about these people than you do. He knows there's something here you would want," John spoke carefully, as if deep thought had brought him to his conclusions. Eric shook off the prickling on the back of his neck and motioned for John to follow him down to the courtyard. John quickly stripped off his belt and tunic, as they were in for a long hot day of backbreaking repairs, so fallen into disrepair this place had acceded to.
Anese awoke with a jump. All night she had been waking suddenly by something she'd dreamt, but she couldn't figure out what had made her awaken, or what she had been dreaming. Now fully awake, Anese had no choice but to get up and begin her daily chores. Shortly thereafter, the sleepy-eyed but rambunctious boys joined her. "Christian, go collect the eggs from the hen and clean her coup," Anese said to Christian. Then she turned toward Matthew, saying, "Shovel out half the old rushes from the cow's stall and milk her." The boys preoccupied for a little while, Anese turned her attentions to the herbs she had been drying above the doorway. They had been hanging for about a week and were now perfect for grinding and powdering. She took off the small pins that held them on the string she strung across the entryway one by one, setting the stalks and leaves in separate piles on the left of the oven. When all were down, Anese began measuring leaves to be put into a small wooden bowl. She brushed off her hands and set off through the kitchen in search of her grinding stone. She hadn't noticed the man standing behind her until she almost ran into him. "Looking for this," Jack played, holding up the palm-size stone. Anese went along with the game and snatched it away from him, turning her back to him with a swish of skirts and ebony hair. Jack laughed and lifted Anese into the air, turning her in his arms. His hands encircled her waist, although she had not as tiny a waist as many of the woman her own age; this being somewhere between eighteen and twenty, but she had been living on her own for so long that she had lost interest in counting. Jack bent his head low, quickly taking her mouth in his. It was a quick kiss, as Jack knew Anese had work to be done, but passionate. When he released Anese, she smiled brightly and set about finishing her powdering. "What can I do around here?" Jack inquired suddenly. His smile always seemed to cheer Anese up, and she knew she loved him deeply, even hoped to be his wife someday; not today, though...not today. "Um, you can start by seeing that the boys are doing as they should, and if they're done you can set them about doing their other chores. Whatever needs doing would sure be of help to me," then she added on a spur of the moment thought, "and to the boys." Jack laughed silently, shaking his head, as he walked out the cottage door and toward Anese's small stables and gardens. It seemed she had been working for hours when suddenly, the sun was no longer heating her back. She looked up, winced at the crick in her neck, and saw Eric standing in the light. He wore no tunic or shoes or stockings, just breeches that came down to the tops of his feet. They were black, but spotted with dried mud and dust. His chest was covered with a sheen of sweat, and it looked as though he had been obviously working all morning. He moved inside and Anese squinted briefly in the afternoon sun. "May I?" he asked as he stepped in and out of the blazing heat. The temperature was very different inside than out, evidently, for he sighed at the feel of it. A small breeze swept through the house and he prolonged the blink of his eyes. When he again opened them, he seemed a bit relaxed. "You're roof sags terribly, and some of the walls are in dire need of repair. You know this?" "Yes," Anese answered thoughtfully. What was he up to? "My men can begin work, but it will take several months. You would need lodging, but the only place would be in a cot with the serving maids of the kitchens. Would accept these conditions? Be forewarned, though, you will be earning your keep, should you choose to." Eric stared at her, his expression blank and revealing nothing of his thoughts. But his mind seethed with desire. Something about the woman standing before him made him feel again. He was alive and vividly aware of her every move, her every scent, when she was around him. Her black hair and tan skin contrasted with her cobalt eyes in a way that could not be as beautifully tantalizing on another woman as it was on her. She wore the simplest of attire, but was clothed in an intriguing elegance she bore as an invisible shield. No other woman made him feel like she did. Sure he had had other in the years after his wife's death, but they never made him seem to forget her. He didn't like it. Yet aside from the confused feelings he had for Anese and the anger and resentment that seemed to haunt their relationship, he felt some force compelling him to help these people. He'd met several during his brief stay here, and they all seemed to deserve better than what he saw around him. There was love here, even though they were not fortunate enough to have had an able lord in their past. "If my home can be repaired as quickly as possible, I will serve in the castle for a room to keep. When shall I move, and what shall I do with my herbs and medicines?" She seemed so innocent on the surface, but Eric could see she was no happier than he with the arrangement of having to live within the same area as Eric. Yet he knew that there was no other choice, her home need repair badly, and there was no room anywhere for anyone besides Eric's army. Even villagers were volunteering to take in and house as many injured and uninjured men as long as food was provided to them to serve. The over-crowding had not reached so bad that tents needed to be pitched, but Eric was all to watchful so that it may not come to that. He was thoughtful for a moment, and then nodded to himself, considering his idea a good one. "The medicine room has not been used is decades, I expect, neither has the adjoining preparation room. If you tidy the place up in your spare time, you may stay in the cot in the preparatory room when this is done. We will postpone the work on your home until then; to give you time to move your things and them not be damaged. Also be reminded that the furniture only consists of a rotting table and a metal cot with a moldy mattress. I'll give you a month's time to clean and refurnish the adjoining rooms before you will need to move your belongings from the cottage so we may begin work. This would also give us time to make other village repairs and gather supplies for your stone walls, as the stone is rare and fairly expensive." "If it is expensive, than why spend the money on a mere peasant girl?" Anese inquired quickly, chastising herself for her argumentative pride. For some extremely odd reason, whenever Eric was talking with her, she felt the temptation to argue with everything he said. She must hold her tongue tighter next time. "I am Lord here, and I like to see that no matter of status, every man, woman, or beast is treated with equal respect and well-being. Peasant women are no exception, especially when they have children." Eric thought he had made himself fairly clear. Then, out of sheer curiosity started to add, "About the boys, how(" But Christian interrupted Eric as he bounded in the house, Matthew at his heels. "I won! I won!" he chanted gaily. "Christian, settle down honey. Lunch will be on the table as soon as I finish talking to Sir Eric. "Matthew," Anese began in a warning tone as he came into the house glaring at Eric, "don't start." She looked at Eric with an apologizing look, and turned to put the boys to work cleaning their room and picking up their toys from the dining room. Jack soon walked into the cottage and said, "All your stables are clean, Anese. I'd best be getting on my way if I'm to get any work done at the shop. Good Afternoon, Sir Eric." He nodded toward Eric when he realized him standing in the shadow of the sun. "Goodbye, Anese." Jack nodded toward Eric once again before exiting the house and striding off toward his home and shop. "Would you like to stay for lunch? I'm sure the boys would love having the company of a man, and you do look famished." Anese turned toward the counter and looked at Eric. "I have cold water fresh from the stream, and milk, too. Matthew got it from Evemai [eeve- may] just this morning." She offered up the small pitcher. "I would enjoy a good meal and a cold drink of water. Thank you." "It's the least I can do to get Matthew to stop hating you, and to repay your kindness for rooms to spare. But I must ask, where will he and Christian stay? They can't possibly stay with Jack for one month more than the months that it will take fore repairs." Hope filled Anese's mind. Maybe he would let Anese take the boys with her. Maybe he wasn't as cold as he seemed, but then again, he might be pondering where to put them. Oh God, she prayed that they would be staying in the castle with her and out of the way of the visiting soldiers. "I've been meaning to ask you about those two. But could we have lunch first, I'm perfectly famished and craving something differing from the fancy meals of the keep's kitchens," Eric said as he moved to help set the table. "Boys, come help Sir...er...Lord Eric set the table for lunch," Anese spoke only loud enough for the boys to be able to hear, but they were immediately at Eric's side and setting the thick wooden table with enough small cups, plates, and wooden silverware for the four of them. When Anese came back from the kitchen, she held a plate for Eric in one hand, and an extra stool in the other. Once lunch was over, Anese sent Christian and Matthew out to play. "You were saying you needed to speak with me about the boys. I fear they may be in trouble," Anese said, speaking curiously. "Where did you find them?" Eric said coldly, leaving Anese wondering about his indifference. "I don't know what you mean, but you can escort yourself right out of here just as soon as you tell me where my boys shall stay while I'm within the keep's walls!" Anese couldn't believe this man! He was so.so. involved with himself that he considered no one else's feelings and fears. He may know what was best for the appearances and well being of a village's structures, but he had lost all compassion for the human part of a keep, if he'd even had that emotion before. He made her so angry with him and with herself for her foolish pride and argumentative nature. "They'll stay in medicine room with you, but until then you can leave them to rot in the dirt for all I care!" Eric immediately regretted his words, for when he turned to storm from the lodge, both Christian and Matthew were standing in his way. As he tried to thunder past them, they began pounding upon him until he had to physically lift them off his back. For Anese had done nothing but glare at him indignantly. "Come on boys, it's time to get the table cleared off and start packing. Go to Jack and help him with whatever he needs you for. I'll get you both later. Run along," Anese said solemnly, trying to sound cheerful in the least for her children's sake. She sent them on their way, and quickly walked in Eric's wake, hoping to hurry and start tidying the herbal room and its preparation domain as well. But when she arrived at the keep, Anese did not find Eric anywhere she looked. It was as if he had vanished, a demon posing as a human and disappearing around a corner. Anese had no trouble believing her fantasy, but didn't know if she fancied a demon Eric, or a barbaric one. She decided to escort herself to her soon to be quarters, but once there, she discovered the thick wooden door remained either securely locked, or unwillingly to give way to an occupant after years of solitude. "Are you looking to get in there, miss?" someone asked from behind. Anese turned to see a young girl, probably about six, staring at her with huge brown eyes. She was very petite and small boned, and her tattered and faded emerald dress seemed about three sizes too big. She had long ebony hair, but it was tangled and pulled back from her face with two braids at her temples. Her eyes suddenly filled with pain and she covered her mouth as she had a short coughing fit, yet when she was fine again, those eyes twinkled. "Yes, but who are you?" Anese inquired, hoping the girl wasn't as shy as she looked. The girl turned out to be very outgoing, initiating conversation with Anese's foreign person without hesitation. "My name is Aharkahnay, it means(" "Beautiful," Anese finished without thinking. Then she looked up, amazed. "It seems you come from the same place as I do, but I doubt you remember the language as you once did," Aharkahnay said, laughing to herself at God's sense of irony. "Here, let me help you with the door. All you do is turn the knob to the right instead of the usual left," the girl said as she demonstrated, "and throw your shoulder into it with a bit of a push. By the way, no one knows my real name; everyone calls me Taint, because I was 'tainted' when I was brought here. They baptized me as a Christian when Bluthe bought me from slavery, but the name stuck." "I'm glad I've met you Taint, and thank you for your help. You're welcome to visit anytime. I have two boys about your age who'll be here within the month. I hope to see you soon." "I've heard you're to be earning your keep working in the kitchens. Cook's me mum, so you'll probably be seeing me more often." "Well, I look forward to that. Oh, and Taint? I wanted to know how you and the other servants speak so well. Old Bluthe took charge of us youngsters down in the courtyard while we played." Taint smiled gingerly. "Me mum! She taught us how to talk to the Lady and Lord and said we must always speak nicely 'cause there could be someone doing reports for the Lord." Taint coughed again, this time worse than either of the two times before, bobbed a small curtsey, then hurried along the long corridor, her small cloth shoes sliding a little as she skidded into one of the many rooms. Anese shook her head with a frown forming on her face and continued on into the room. She thought that maybe Taint had used this as a room to where she could escape the world, and Anese hoped her moving here would not disturb that. The little girl seemed to have already charmed her way into Anese's heart. She thought that Taint might be very sick from the way her coughs seemed to wrack her entire body that seemed too small for such a lively character. Then Anese saw the chamber. She could almost feel the warmth that seemed to have never left the place. She could imagine a roaring fir burning in the hearth that was barely visible through the doorway that led into the next room, could smell the liquids being prepared, and hear the laughter that may have been. She pictured a woman much like herself making small remedies for the town's people, with two boys playing a game of tag through the two rooms and on into the halls, their playful hoots echoing, then being silenced by a scolding elder. She could almost see the grin upon their faces as the old man turned away, and she could hear their snickers as they plotted new ways to antagonize their neighbors. Anese reached into her skirts, hoping to find a clean cloth. But when she could not procure one, she went out of the room in search of a bucket of water and some cleaning rags.
Later that evening. Eric seethed with anger anew as he fervently chopped wood for one of the serving women's fireplace. It was the same woman to which Anese was supposed to be sharing room with, but the woman had not seen Anese since lunch in the great hall, when she made a brief appearance. She'd stayed only long enough to get a bucket of water and several cleaning cloths. The woman, Frances, was extremely unsettled by the disappearance of Anese, and worried that there was something wrong with the woman's mind. Eric dismissed Frances' superstitions, and set out to find Anese, hoping she was busy in the herbal chamber. While he was searching through the corridors, he came across a small girl in rags. He assumed she was one of the servants rescued from slavery and was fairly new to the keep, but stopped to ask about the whereabouts of Anese anyway. "Girl, have you seen a woman with black hair and dark skin?" Eric asked, but when the little girl nodded, then thought for a moment, he was close to giving up. "There are many here who match the way this lady looks. Old Man Bluthe.er, Bluthe is always buying off slaves and giving them work." The girl nodded repeatedly at her words. "Well, oddly enough, she has bright blue eyes," Eric added hopefully. "Oh! Oh! I saw her over in the abandoned herbal chamber. Uh huh...I did," the small girl said, coughing fiercely, but evidently very proud of herself. Eric tossed a gold coin her way, calling for her to get a new dress, but waited for no response as he darted off in the general direction of Anese. For some reason he needed to speak with her, he needed to set her straight. She would not turn her back on him in such a rude manner again! It was simply unacceptable, especially when she had just been reduced to a kitchen servant. Mercy was a weakness Eric would not fall prey to now or ever, and it was time that Anese learned that no one was treated as if above the rest because of mere circumstantial coincidence. "Anese!" Eric couldn't help but yell. His temper was soaring, even in the short time it had taken to get here, but he had no idea why he should be so angry. The wooden door lay open, but no one could be seen. The cobwebs Eric remembered from the room were gone, even in the highest corner. Somehow Anese had received help in replacing the atrociously heavy and rotted wooden table, and a new one stood in its place. The floor had been scrubbed clean, as well as the walls, and he noticed, the door. The corners housed no more spiders or lifeless insects, and small repairs had been made to the stone of the floor. Spots of mortar could still be seen drying over some of the deeper cracks. But where was Anese? Eric was amazed at how much she had accomplished in just these few hours, yet this changed nothing. Then Anese appeared in the archway to the bedroom. She wiped of her hands of her apron, and pushed her hair out of her face, redoing the knot of thick hair at her nape. "I have no desire to speak to you, and since you have given these chambers to me for my temporary use, you can leave as quickly as you came." Anese raised her chin, not willing to listen to anything Eric might have to say. "You were allowed to use these chambers and sleep here should be able to clean it properly! I am Lord here, and no woman, especially one who wields a saber for a tongue, will speak to me in the boldly rude manner you choose," Eric huffed in pure anger. Every time he spoke with her she held a grudge against him and sparked a fire within him that set his temper off. When she was near he could neither think straight, nor keep his usual rational head. And she always seemed to be near. And as he thought about it, she had always been in some sort of sight of him almost the entire time he had been here. She made the days seem as if they were centuries of eternities all combined into one 'forever.' The depth of his anger toward her baffled him in a way he neither liked, nor disliked. But he knew he didn't favor the fire she burnt within him. Every night for the past four years he had dreamt of his Jennie. She was so sweet and docile, like a beautiful, silvery doe. She'd had long blonde hair that was as silky as a babe's own. Her pale skin of sweet cream and deep set eyes of emerald green had haunted him every night...until the day he had met Anese, until the moment when he had seen her in Jack's arms. His jealousy had overwhelmed him and brought all conscious thought to an end. Eric couldn't explain how Anese could spark such fury in him; yet ignite a fire that may soon turn to fever. And to make things worse, he had only known her less than two days! He didn't like the idea of it. Jennie could not be forgotten...she was his wife...his only love... Forever. "Well, whether you leave or not, I'll be getting back to my work. If you'll excuse me," Anese pushed past the thoughtful Eric, and hurried down the corridor toward the kitchens. She hurried into the steaming room, stumbling past Cook and continuing into the corner where Reva plucked all the fowl. There were bags of saved feathers that Anese had asked Reva to save, because tonight Count Valasky, speaker for Robert the Bruce in all beneficial marriages, would be visiting Arlington Hall on his way to Laray, three days easy journey from Arlington. Anese tried to get Reva's attention, but, being very involved in her work of the everlasting tweaking, Reva didn't notice as Anese called her. So, in a desperate attempt to get her attention, Anese poked Reva, finally being minded. "I'll be right back for the bags. And again, Reva, I thank you for doing this." Reva nodded, being mute but able to hear, Reva mouthed the words of 'no problem' and smiled brightly. Reva never seemed gloomy. She had fiery red hair that was a blood red burgundy, and fair skin that seemed flawless. Reva possessed a gift that made up for her loss of speech, her gift of laughter. It was extremely strange that she could form no words, but her laughter was unending. God seemed to have placed Reva with them for reasons Anese had yet to discover, but she was always thankful for the young girl's solicitude. Anese scurried out of Cook's way as the burly woman began her track toward her for scolding. Cook was Taint's adoptive mother, but she doubted that even though she'd befriended the woman's daughter that she would be befriended herself. The household had a way about them that usually shunned anyone not part of them away, and Anese was careful to abide by their silent and unwritten code.
Another evening, another battle.1311 There was great commotion as Count Valasky and escort neared the gates of Arlington Hall. Men along the parapets talked among themselves at the obvious hell to come as the portcullis was drawn up noisily. Eric did not stand among the men on the ground below the parapet, waiting for the men to come close enough to drop the drawbridge, but had chose to stay in the herbal room and await what came. When the bridge was lowered, the Count's many men thundered over its wooden planks, shaking the chains that drew it up after the men had come into the fortress. Servant women from the windows looked into the courtyard from the keep, whispering amid themselves of the terrible changes that would inevitably take place should Count Valasky dislike anything about Arlington Hall. Eric knew all of the rumors that the Count dragged with him, and many were true. He was a selfish man, an annoying one at that, and was so involved in the material values of the world, that he rarely thought of the consequences should he change things to his liking. Eric leaned farther out the window to see that all the men were safely inside the courtyard and the drawbridge had been drawn up as well. He could even see the tan Anese striding in the direction of the back wall, her black hair flowing behind her in the slight breeze, but then she turned suddenly. She'd seen him, and now knew he disagreed with her being out this late. Anese raised her chin towards him and marched back the way she came, clawing the long hair away from her face. She cursed loudly at the damn wind, giving Eric cause to throw his head back and laugh. Anese could only glare at him, having of course heard him.
The next morning and afternoon had been full of lectures of how the house was run and when she would have free time, which didn't amount to a lot. Only when all of her duties in the kitchens were finished, and these were many, could Anese have time to herself. But this time only was allowed until one hour before supper would be served. She'd groaned when she'd learned her schedule. Yes, the cleaning in her herbal room was finished, but she had yet to move the herbs and preparation materials, make three mattresses, and make blankets that weren't the nasty things in that chamber. Anese hurried out of the kitchens having seen to Reva's work, and almost ran to her cottage. The sun was low on the horizon, but it somehow still seemed to provide enough light for her to see by once she had gotten to her home. Stored in the corner of the kitchen, Anese had been saving the soft feathers of hen ever since she had known what you could do with them. She also filled another cloth bags with needles, thick thread custom made for the coming task, sheets of cloth, and scissors. When she'd gathered all the supplies she'd need, Anese started returning to the keep. She passed many of the marketers who came and went from the castle gates, and talked with friends about the latest wrongs of Christian and Matthew. Those two appeared to be in constant trouble, always on the bad side of many the old and feeble women who never seemed to remember that boys would be boys. Through the courtyard she toddled, bearing the load of not much weight, but many items. Somehow Anese managed to make it to the keep and up the stairs to the corridor where the solar, many of the keep's guest bedrooms, and her own herbal room were. "Back so soon?" Eric inquired. He was leaning against the newly replaced table with his long legs stretched before him. He was still clad in black breeches, but had graciously clothed himself in a tunic and belt to accompany the lonely pants. "Only to be leaving," Anese said. She moved to the table he was upon, set and arranged the items she had brought, and left the room once again. Eric wondered where she had been, and with whom. No! It was none of his business to know where, or with whom for that matter, she'd been. Nor did he care, he reminded himself. She was not his wife, daughter, or kin of any kind, and he surely would not favor or guard her as a relation would. As soon as Anese returned bearing more bags, Eric wondered what she was carrying in the satchels. He asked, but coldly, and Anese only sniffed at him and went into the adjacent preparation and bed chamber. She came back shortly, tugged the hay stuffed mattress into the main compartment, and threw the rotting thing out the three-dimensionally designed window bit by bit. Then she began cutting the pieces of cloth she had brought to fit the size of the mattress box for the bed. Eric watched avidly as she cut three more pieces, though they were half the size and had thinner outside strips. When everything had been cut and laid out, Anese threaded one of her needles, and began sewing the pieces together. Anese had been working for a good hour, Eric still propped against the table with numb feet and fingers, when the small girl Eric had talked to earlier came into the room. Anese didn't notice her until the girl shuffled her feet and spoke between coughs, "I don't want to disturb you Miss, but supper's ready in the great hall, and you're required to serve for Count Valasky." Anese looked up and said, "Thank you, Taint, I'll be along to the kitchens as soon as I tie this up." Anese made the knot as the serving girl she'd called Taint left, and rose softly. Her hair and gown, thought her hair tangled and her dress ragged, seemed to billow around her like an angel's own would. Her eyes seemed bright, but were cloudy from her close sighted work. "You'd better take your seat among your guests, you wouldn't want to keep them waiting." With that, she walked out of the room, leaving Eric to wonder at her curtness toward him. Eric stood up from his perch and shook out his hands' deadness. He fleetingly stretched, and then strode down the hallway and into the Great Hall to dine with the exasperating Count Valasky. "Whoa, man!" the Count said to Eric as he strode into the feasting hall and took his seat. Count Valasky had taken the seat to his right, and Eric's second in command, Sir John Maverick, had taken the one to his left. "You're going to take someone's head off going that fast through this place." The Count thought for a moment, then shouted to the entire assembly, "I'll have it known that anyone walking about this keep shall not go faster than that of a slow walk." Satisfied, he sat back down on the bench and awaited the food and ale. Anese was the first of the string of women to come from the kitchens bearing ale, and therefore was serving Eric's end of the table. She walked to the end and began filling men's glasses. When she reached Eric, he engaged in a small conversation with her, and she smiled as she moved to refill another man's goblet. "Do you know her man?" The Count asked, obviously having mistaken Anese's public smile of forced affection to be that of true happiness. "You seem to know one another well, what with the way you two exchanged those words of 'la-tee-da' and all that." Eric could only wish. There brief conversation had actually consisted of cold words from two throwing barbs at one another. "You should serve ale to men more often; you're very good at it." "If we hadn't a visitor that could quarter and hang me for it, I'd pour this ale right over your head." "But we do have company, now, don't we?" "Very funny." Anese had faked a laugh and then forced a smile after she'd glanced up to see Cook watching her carefully. He hoped the Count wouldn't criticize him about the way she had "chatted" with him. But while Eric had been thinking, Count Valasky had evidently thought of that as reflection toward the woman, and had continued to say without waiting for answers, "I've been meaning to find you a new wife, what with me being the speaker for marriages and all, and you've hardly giving me any other choice. It's high time you moved on; don't you agree? And friends as you two seem to be are meant to marry, correct? Good, it's settled then. You shall wed this girl within a fortnight. Now, I'm off early to go find that girl's name, and I'll start making the arrangements for the wedding we shall have tomorrow night." Eric hadn't been able to protest, he hadn't even been able to breathe after the Count had finished. For he had near choked on his ale. He fought the urge to take this to Scotland's highest powers, but realized the counsel would eventually side with Valasky, as he was the "perfect man for the match-maker job." He should learn to keep his mouth shut when around Anese and Valasky, because all it did was get him into trouble. First he fights a great battle with amazing strategy but meets Anese, then tries to help her out but gets on her bad side, he asks about her children and his mouth yet again gets him into a mess, and now the Count was taking over his life. He wished that the repairs could be finished quicker so that he may go back home to Carrleigh. Home.it was a distant thought, literally. Carrleigh was almost clear across Scotland, near the coastal areas where it was peaceful. Life was exempt of Anese and all of the problems he had run into here. Especially the coming one. Marriage.
Anese finished filling the man to Eric's left's chalice, then hurried as fast as she could back to the kitchens, claiming her pitcher need refilling. She stormed through the archway and took her time refilling her decanter with the foamy ale. She longed to drink every drop she poured in, as long as there was the promise that it would dull the edges of her mood, but that wasn't possible. "Anese! You may be a first working in here, but these are my kitchens, and when you step into here you're mine. Now get back in there and see to the men's needs!" Cook yelled, pushing a hot poker from the fire toward her. Anese rushed out as fast as she could without spilling the pitcher that seemed brimming with the sweet beer. When she and the others had made sure every man's glass was just as full as Anese's decanter had been, they returned to the kitchens to see that the food be brought. Two women grabbed each end of the platter of buck that the men had caught while hawking earlier that day, Anese helped with the many fowl meat, and the left over women worked to bring all the birds that had been thoroughly plucked and cleaned and cooked to refinement. When everything lay on the table, Anese began her rounds of refilling ale, being careful to stay away from Eric; Count Valasky had seemed to have gotten up and left, and Eric was now engaged in deep conversation with Sir John Maverick. Anese wondered what they were discussing, but she hadn't had time to wonder long before Cook called her back into the kitchens. "Anese, come in here," Cook said quietly, as if not wanting to say whatever she had to say. "You.You're.Go to you medicine room and get some sleep. There'll be someone along to see to you in the morning." Cook sighed regretfully, and dismissed a confused Anese without another word. She walked out of the kitchens and through the dining hall questioning what could be going on right beneath her very nose. She hurried to her chambers, finished her sewing, and hastily stuffed the many feathers into her new mattress, discovering she had just enough for her bed. Anese lifted the fairly weighty load and carried it into the bed and set it upon the wooden supports. She threw the thick linen blanket that had been upon the former mattress onto the newly made bed in a heap of stale wool, and hurried off to collect her children. She knew they would be asleep, but there was no avoiding her 'twin withdrawal,' as she liked to call it. As Anese hurried through the many corridors and stairways leading directly to the courtyard, she met the stares of almost everyone she passed. It seemed as if everyone knew something about her, except she had no idea as to what they could possibly know. She'd always been in touch with herself, and she listened and paid attention to all that went on around her, but this time she had obviously missed something. The breeze from earlier had picked up to a swirling wind, but it was warm. Even though Anese swatted at the thick hair that blew into her face, she delighted in the feel of the shifting air. She walked up to Jack's shop, and entered at free will, hoping to find Jack awake and her boys asleep. There was a solemn candle burning on a small table, and by the light Anese could see Jack laying upon the sofa-like replica with Christian sprawled upon his lap, and Matthew against his chest. She looked at the picture perfect scenery, smiling from ear-to-ear. Jack would be a wonderful father to the two boys, if only he and Anese had enough money to wed. None of this would have happened if she and Jack were living together in holy matrimony, but there was no way to go back in the past, even if the event would've saved her from dealing with Eric. Anese decided to lift the boys from Jack, and slowly wake him up afterward. But her brilliant plan failed, and she ended up wakening all three of the males. Christian and Matthew immediately and literally climbed up and into her welcoming arms, while Jack kissed her goodnight and asked her if he might help. Anese declined and silently left. She clambered up the stairs a few minutes later and then entered her room to find Taint laying on the mattress of the preparation room. She laid her boys down on the makeshift beds of cloth bags waiting to be stuffed, and climbed behind Taint, sharing her thick coverlet. In the morning things would be better.