Susan Paul - The Bride's Portion

“Did—did you see the way the people looked at us when we rode through the village?” Edyth asked in a quavering voice. They’d not yet spoken of what had happened to them that day, other than to comment on the unbelievable behavior of the two boys.

“Yes. It was most odd. It was as if they hated us, though God above knows there is no cause.” She paused, then continued thoughtfully, “If only we knew where we were. What kind of place is this that they allow their children to roam free and bring home stray prisoners to lock in filthy rooms?”

Edyth turned to look up at her mistress. “It is strange, is it not? And yet the castle seemed well kept. Everything was so clean and fine.”

Lillis nodded. “Yes, I saw that, too, though we hardly got a chance to notice much the way those two rushed us up here. But it would seem that the castle is well managed. I cannot, for the life of me, imagine why any kind of responsible people would allow something like this to happen. It is really quite...abnormal.”

She could feel Edyth’s shoulders stiffen beneath her hands. “Oh, Lillis! We never should have left the convent! We never should have gone traveling with only two men to guard us! What will happen to us now?”

Edyth broke into fresh wails and Lillis did what she could to calm her. She barely had time to quiet her companion before they heard footsteps approaching and saw a light shine beneath the door. Edyth’s crying ceased only because she was too frightened to make any sound, and Lillis struggled to keep her own fears under control. She tightened her grip encouragingly on Edyth’s shoulders and stood as tall and straight as she could.

“Courage, Edyth,” she admonished as a key rattled and the door’s lock turned. “Courage.”

A demon walked through the door to greet them, or so it seemed. It was a large, dark man, girded about in armor, his face hidden in the shadows, who made the first steps into the room. He dripped with wetness, and the light coming in behind him caused him to look more unearthly. Lillis, already trembling with abject fear, watched him enter the room with real terror. He looked like a specter, and after the day she’d already spent she wouldn’t have been surprised if he had announced that he was such.

Edyth wilted beneath her hands and Lillis shook her imperceptibly while the ghostly figure approached. She was thankful that it spoke first, since she had lost her own voice.

“Who are you, lady?”

Lillis trembled at the harshness of his words.

“Who are you, sir?” she asked shakily.

“I am the lord of this castle,” the ghost responded, his image now fading into that of a man.

“Oh” was all Lillis could say for a moment. So! This was the man she had been waiting for. What a frightening phantom he made! “Sir,” she said more steadily, “I am Lillis Ryon of Wellewyn, and this is my companion, Edyth Lielyn. I fear your brothers have made a serious mistake.”

For the first time she saw that others had entered the room behind him. The man alone came closer, becoming more and more human in the light of the candle.

“Your father is Jaward, Lord of Wellewyn?” he asked, looking at her intently.

At this closer distance Lillis could see the haggard expression on the man’s face, though she could not tell whether he was young or old.

“He is,” she said, and lifted her chin.

It was difficult to tell what his reaction to this was. He stared at her quietly, looking directly into her eyes, and Lillis returned his stare and wished she could think of something to say. This wasn’t how he was supposed to behave. He was supposed to be groveling at her feet and begging her forgiveness for the treatment she and Edyth had received in his home. He wasn’t supposed to be standing there and staring at her as though trying to decide what kind of animal she was.

Those who had also entered the room gathered behind him, their faces eerily illuminated by the glow of torchlight. Lillis was surprised to see a matronly woman among them.

“My lord—” Lillis began, then stopped abruptly when she noticed that the twins were there, standing to the side of their brother, their arms folded across their chests, smiling at her with smug satisfaction.

“You two!” Lillis snapped, pointing at them. “You wretched, miserable fiends!” She looked back to the lord of the castle, who had ceased his thoughtful staring and now looked at her with some amazement. “My lord,” Lillis spoke curtly, “these two misbegotten devils waylaid my companions and myself on the open road this morn and brought us to your castle by force. They have locked my maid and me in this filthy chamber all day and have not even had the human kindness to bring us food or water. I cannot begin to imagine what they’ve done with my two guards.”

“They’re all right,” one of the boys answered sourly. “Sir Alan has them under guard in the men’s quarters.”

“Then they’ve probably received better care than you have spared us,” Lillis informed him hotly. “Did you not think at all about the two women whom you’d locked up all day? Did you not consider that we might be cold and hungry in this miserable place?” She indicated the room with a sweep of one hand.

The twins made no reply, but the lord of the castle said quietly, “You speak truly, my lady. Your treatment at the hands of my brothers has been unforgivable. I promise you they shall be punished.”

“But...Alex!” one of the twins protested.

“Quiet!” the lord commanded, his steely voice bringing utter silence to the chamber. He returned his attention to Lillis and spoke more evenly. “I beg your pardon, my lady, as well as the pardon of your maid.” He nodded in Edyth’s direction. “I have only just returned to the castle, else you would have been released sooner. My aunt—” he indicated the plump figure behind him “—had no knowledge that you were here, and learned of it only now, just as I, and the rest of my castlefolk, did. Had she known, my lady, you would have been well cared for, and never subjected to such as this. I pray you will believe me.”

“We had wondered, my lord.”

He inclined his head. “That is understandable, but all will be made well, I vow. You shall be taken to a suitable chamber to spend the night and all of your needs will be tended to immediately. In the morn we will see what is to be done.”

“I thank you, my lord,” Lillis replied, “but that is not necessary. If you will return my guards and our horses, we will leave this place at once.”

He gazed at her unwaveringly.

“I am sorry,” he said, “you cannot leave tonight. But do not fear for your guards. I will make certain that their comfort, as well as yours, is provided for.”

“No,” Lillis returned firmly. “That will not suffice. We will leave tonight. Please have our mounts made ready and our belongings returned to us.”

The breath that came from him sounded like a sigh, and a weary one at that. “You cannot leave tonight, my lady,” he repeated. “The wind howls outside like the Fiend himself, and the rain pours in rivers. I would be less than human were I to send any lady into such weather, especially in the darkness.” His tone changed slightly, growing more persuasive. “Come, accept my hospitality and we will speak with one another in the morn.”

Lillis tried to control her voice, to force it to speak with an obedient calm. “My lord, I am grateful for your consideration, but pray do not concern yourself with our welfare. The weather will indeed be an inconvenience, but I promise you that we would far rather face it than spend a night enjoying your kind hospitality. We have enjoyed enough of it already this day.”

There was a gasp, followed by shrill words. “Alexander! Will you let her speak to you in such a manner? She is churlish and rude!”