Chapter Three: Moon Priestesses and (Green Eyed) Monsters
The breaking of the fast the next morning was even worse for Catraoine than the evening meal was. Morgaine again sat on Richardus' right, closer than was proper, touching him often, her thigh pressed against his. She wore a very smug look on her face. A look as old as humankind. One that a woman showed to her rivals and was recognized even by a virginal Priestess. I just got laid and it was good.
Catraoine knew that she had no claim on Richardus, no right to feel this way, but intellect has very little power in arguing with emotion. She was hurt and she was angry, strike that, she was furious. Jealously was out of her cage and running rampant in Catraoine's chest. She wanted to grab onto Richardus' arm and scream: "Mine you Cymry widdon go home. Claw Morgaine's eyes out or worse. This emotion was new and raw to her. She'd never been jealous before, never had reason to be.
The two women's eyes met and Morgaine smirked. It was as if she could read Catraoine's mind, the smile that followed the smirk was both haughty and cruel. Still holding Catraoine's eyes her tongue came out and licked her lips as she slowly caressed Richardus' bicep. Richardus turned his head to look down at her and Morgaine seized his face, placing a languorous kiss on his mouth. Richardus was caught by surprise. While he didn't hesitate to show affection in private moments with those in his inner circle a public display like this one, bordering on lewd was something he just didn't do.
Morgaine pulled back, privately amused at the look of shock on Richardus face and the hurt, fury in Catraoine's. She played it to the hilt. In her most seductive voice she said; "Forgive me My Lord, I was overcome with emotion." He snapped out of his shock and raised an eyebrow. Richardus was many things, naïve was not one of them.
He whispered; "Overcome, you Morgaine? Don't overplay your hand dear cousin."
Alexis might only be four years old but she knew that whatever Morgaine was doing was hurting Catraoine and she loved her. She started to cry. Catraoine immediately hugged Alexis to her and in a soothing voice said; "Do not cry Alexis all will be well." Then she stood and in a cold, angry tone said; "With your permission My Lord we will withdraw, Alexis is not feeling well." Richardus' attention was immediately switched from Morgaine to his daughter.
"Alexis, what is wrong, are you ill?" Alexis just shook her head and continued crying. No one could mistake the concern in his voice when he said; "Catraoine, take Alexis to her chambers and do what you must for her. Do not fail." The or else was unvoiced but obvious.
In Alexis' chamber Catraoine said; "Hush Sweeting, please stop crying it makes your father unhappy and it makes me unhappy. Why are you crying?" Alexis sniffled.
"Papa is making you unhappy Catraoine so I do not care if Papa is unhappy. He is making Morgaine happy. I do not like Morgaine." Catraoine gently stroked Alexis' hair.
"Sweeting, I do not like Morgaine either but your father must do things we do not like. He is still your father and he loves you that will not ever change. You must not say that you do not care if your father is unhappy." Then Alexis' real fear came out.
"But if Morgaine comes here, Papa will send you away and Morgaine will make Papa spend all his time with her." Neither Catraoine nor Alexis were aware that Marta had entered the room. Marta had come to care a great deal about Catraoine. She saw how much she was like a mother to Alexis and sensed that she would be very good for her son. Much better than the Cymru witch.
Marta didn't actually dislike Morgaine but she didn't trust her. With that in mind she made her presence known. "That will not happen Alexis, I know your Papa, and he is my son. He will not bring Morgaine here, not to live, not to replace Catraoine. She took Catraoine's hands in hers. Do not bother to deny it, you love my son and you love Alexis. Ruiseart may not see your love for him but he sees your love for Alexis. He will not let that go. He is prideful and hard-headed my son, but he will see it in time if you show him. The morning meal is not yet over. Do not give Morgaine an easy victory. Go back out there and fight her. Subtly my dear but fight."
Catraoine's smile was tentative but it was there. "Thank you My Lady I shall do as you say." Marta smiled back. "I am simply Marta. Ruiseart may get a big head over titles but I don't need them."
Catraoine got a soft cloth, dipped it in a bowl of water and gently washed away the tear tracks on Alexis' face. "Come Sweeting we shall go back to the table and show that Cymru Widdon that she cannot cast her spells here. By Cerridwen she will not. Smile for me and smile for your father." The three of them walked back out, Alexis' hand firmly clasped in Catraoine's, Marta holding her other hand. They resumed their seats and Alexis smiled widely.
"See Papa I am all better, Catraoine made me better and I am very hungry." Marta had no problem tossing verbal stones. "Yes my son, The Lady Catraoine made her better." Marta's support made Catraoine bold. She looked Morgaine straight in the eyes and issued her challenge.
"Yes I did soothe Alexis and make her better. Could you have done so Morgaine of Cornwall?"
Morgaine sputtered. She was not used to being challenged by someone she considered a servant. There was absolutely nothing servile about the young moon priestess. In her anger at being challenged Morgaine made a mistake fatal to her ambitions.
"It is not my place to care for a fretting child, I…" She stuttered to a stop as she saw Richardus' reaction to her words. His face stilled then he said; "Alexis, Lady Catraoine please come and sit by me. Lady Morgaine please give them room." Morgaine blanched. She realized what a serious mistake she had made. She was neither as petty nor vindictive as many thought her to be. She was supposed to be a diplomat she shouldn't let her feelings interfere with her mission and she had just done that. Arthwyr would not be happy with her if she couldn't fix this. Morgaine stood.
"My sincere apologies Richardus, I was thoughtless and misspoke. With your permission I will withdraw until it is time for negotiations." Richardus merely nodded. Morgaine withdrew. Catraoine couldn't resist returning the smirk Morgaine had given her earlier. Alexis had not been lying when she'd said she was hungry. Happy now she ate a bowl of oat porridge, two slices of roast boar and a bannock.
After the meal, Richardus went to Alexis' chambers. Marta and Catraoine were talking with Alexis. Richardus spoke; "Mother will you please care for Alexis for a few moments, I wish to speak with Catraoine." Marta took Alexis into another room. Richardus smiled at Catraoine.
"Catraoine, I have not properly thanked you for your tender care of Alexis, especially this morning. You have done more for her than her own mother ever did. I have not valued you as I should or shown it. It is my hope that you will allow me to remedy that."
Catraoine placed a small, delicate hand on his massive battle-scarred one and smiled, a sultry look in her eyes. "I have no doubt that ways can be found to do that."
The negotiations began about an hour later. Morgaine opened with an apology.
"Richardus, please forgive me for my statement. It was just that I was so angry with Catraoine I was not thinking. Branwen was ruling my heart. I want more than a political alliance with you."
"Even if this incident had not occurred Morgaine, I could never take you to wife. You are beautiful and passionate. But I must have a wife that I can trust completely. I could never have that with you because I could never be sure whose best interests you had at heart. Mine or Arthwyr's. I have read the missive that Arthwyr sent. Take my missive back to him. We are blood kin and I honor that. Arthwyr wishes to be Ard RI. I have no objection to that in Cymru or Briton but this part of the north is mine. I will be an ally to Arthwyr and aid him against his enemies but I will not be his vassal. I acknowledge no man as my liege lord."
Morgaine smiled sadly. "I had expected as much but I had hoped that my charms might sway you. Arthwyr expected it also but wished to try. Arthwyr has sworn an oath that there will never be war between you. Allies is enough. I will stay the night and leave upon the morrow. Perhaps we can share a bath again tonight, with no promises between us."
Richardus was a good man but not a saint. As he had not yet made any promises to Catraoine he saw no reason not to enjoy Morgaine's body one last time. Fortunately for Catraoine's peace of mind she was too busy with a tired Alexis to notice Richardus' activities after supper.
Morgaine's caravan was ready to depart right after the morning meal. She had come with only a small escort of ten of Arthwyr's Cymbrogi, the armored horsemen enough to frighten off any brigands. Richardus stood by his horse with twenty of his own Wolfpack ready to escort Morgaine to the border of his lands. Morgaine had rather foolishly expected him to turn out in formal parade armor. Not Richardus. He wore full battle armor. He wore the Lorica Segmentata, vambraces and greaves. His and his men's armor had been oil blackened to a dull sheen. At the moment, he held his helmet under his arm, facing Morgaine. "Go swiftly and in peace Morgaine bear my greetings to Arthwyr. I will ride to his aid if need." Morgaine raised on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. "Be well dear cousin and know that Arthwyr will also ride to your aid, if needed."
Morgaine sighed in disappointment as she watched him mount. By Branwen such a handsome man and so virile I wish that I could resent him but I cannot. Oh well not for now, cousin but who knows what may yet be. Fortunes do often change. Little did she know as she traveled south that more than good wishes traveled with her.
It was approaching dusk as Richardus and his troopers were nearing home. He halted the column as he saw a signal fire flare on a watchtower. He gave the order to move forward at the canter. Although the gallop looks fine, it is hard on horses and armored riders. Thus it is usually reserved for the final leg of a charge or an emergency. A courier was in fact galloping toward them. He pulled up and swung in beside Richardus.
"Saxon ships sighted three leagues off shore." Now a gallop was called for. Richardus was out of the saddle almost before his horse stopped. Fearghal, a Centurion reported; "Three Saxon ships have been sighted three leagues offshore Tribune." Since his war band was organized along Roman military lines and more than half had spent time in the legions or axillaries They continued using Roman ranks.
"The Saxons will not try to land on this rocky coast in the dark, they will wait for first light. Tell the Pilus Primus to have the men fed and ready to march in two hours. We leave fifty men here to hold the walls." In the past six months more than one hundred men had been added to his war band, bringing their families with them. A sizeable village had grown around the hill fort, with herders and farmers in their small holds scattered about. All of the new men were armed and equipped as light infantry. Richardus with his Wolfpack and heavy infantry would march in two hours. The militia as they assembled after the summoning horns and drums sounded.
Richardus headed for the baths, calling for clean clothes. He didn't know why but he'd observed, over the years that men who kept themselves clean seemed to have less trouble with wounds than those who didn't so he tried to bathe before battle. Catraoine had, of course heard the alarms and ran into the courtyard, She heard him giving his orders and call for clean clothes.
This is my chance. There won't be time for love making but I can bathe him and show him what I want, who I want. She quickly called to Marta. "Can you care for Alexis for a little while? I am going to him." Marta smiled. She didn't have to ask who.
"Go to him, make him promise to come home to you, to us." Catraoine ran to the baths. There was a large communal bath and a smaller private bath for the lord's family. She entered the bath and saw the two teen girls from the destroyed village starting to strip. She glared at them.
"Dress and leave." There was such authority in her voice that neither girl even voiced an objection. Catraoine smiled seductively, an expression her mother would have been surprised to see. She dropped her clothing on a bench and entered the warm water. She was a little saddened when she noticed a gleam on a small shelf at the edge of the bath .Even here an unsheathed dagger was not far from Richardus' hand. Ever alert he turned as she neared him, a look of surprise on his face, quickly replaced by an appreciative smile. The soft light of the oil lamps cast a warm light on her skin. He'd seen her nude that first day but hadn't really appreciated her beauty. He breasts were not large but perfectly shaped, the nipples taught, erect. She was slim but womanly nothing boyish about her at all.
She, in turn admired the muscular body displayed for her. She gasped at the ridged flesh of the scars on his chest. How close she came to losing him before she ever knew him. He only spoke one word. Catraoine?
She knew that with this kind of man she had to be bold. It was not only women like Morgaine but the locals as well. Any of them would gladly bed Richardus. She had to be bold but all trace of the haughty moon priestess was gone. "I am here to bathe you Richardus. No more than that tonight, there is no time. But I am also here to beg you to return safely. Return to your hold, to your family and to me." She raised on her toes and kissed him. Soft, sweet and promising.
She could see his eyes darken. He wanted her and that was enough for tonight.