If only he, Herman, and Edgard had
killed Medra and Mirinda that day they so savagely outraged the latter. Then all
that needed to be done was to hunt down the dragons and slay them. O Great God,
why oh why didn't they do away with those two wenches like Theodoric did with
the girls' parents?
He remembered the day when Ulric and Murie met their end,
locked inside their cottage while Theodoric ordered Edgard to torch it. The
girls were not at home, and the men stood back as the cottage burned to the
ground; they heard the couple's screams of agony. When the daughters returned
home, they found what was left – just smoldering cinders and the charred remains
of their parents. Archel recalled their wails and laments as they tried to
salvage what was left of their home. So be it! They got what they deserved,
these ungrateful peasants who brought forth a witch and temptress for daughters. Ulric had threatened to expose Edgard after
learning of Mirinda's rape, but
Theodoric had other ideas, that is silencing forever anyone who stood in his
way.
******
Archel stood outside Fairfax Manor, a rambling estate with its rich
farmlands, orchards, and hunting grounds. The house itself was a magnificent
building of the finest stone, brick, and timber. There had to be a good forty
rooms or more, and its well-manicured lawns and gardens attested to Theodoric's
great and still-growing wealth. He rang the bell again, waiting for entry.
Within seconds the great hand-carved oak door opened, revealing the imposing
figure of Lord Fairfax's butler. He eyed Archel with a curious mixture of
contempt and respect. In private, Hubert hated his lordship's hired protectors,
but, nevertheless, he, out of allegiance to his master, regarded the soldiers
with respect and courtesy.
"Ah, Hubert, " Archel began, "I am here to see Lord Fairfax. Is he at home?"
Hubert replied, "I'm sorry, sir, but his lordship is presently in the city on
business."
Damn! What rotten luck for Theodoric not to be home. But, at least, I could
tell Lady Fairfax and she could pass along that information to her husband.
"Well, is Lady Fairfax available? This is an urgent matter and I need to speak
with her."
Hubert hesitated but had to inform Archel that her ladyship would receive him.
Any refusal to allow Archel entry would surely come back on him, and Hubert knew
that Archel would tell Lord Fairfax just that. All the more reason he hated the
rowdy, uncouth "knightly" trio. He allowed Archel entry then said, "Wait here
while I announce you to her ladyship."
******
In the glassed-in confines of Fairfax Manor's conservatory, Griselda, Lady Fairfax, presently oversaw the care of her latest acquisition: rare and beautiful pink roses just brought up from France. Griselda loved all plants, especially flowers of most unusual variety. Theodoric, as a special wedding gift, had this room built especially for her. It was filled with plants of all kinds ranging from headily scented French lavender to glossy leaved philodendrons. Theodoric, through his many connections in the global mercantile world, acquired plants from all over Europe, even from Africa and the Near East.
"Now, Berta," she barked at her maid, "take care not to bruise the delicate
petals."
"Yes, m'lady," came the quick and obedient response.
Griselda looked on
with satisfaction as Berta meticulously pruned the prized rosebush then gently
misted the entire plant with an herbal concoction to allay those nasty mites.
Hubert appeared at the door and announced, "Sir Archel is here to see you,
m'lady." Griselda grimaced. Now what, for God's sake, does that disgusting
bastard want to see me? She replied, "Hubert, tell Sir Archel that I am not
receiving visitors."
"Beg pardon, m'lady, the gentleman says it is of utmost
urgency that he speak with you. His lordship is not at home, and–"
She grew impatient with Hubert and snapped, "Oh all right! You may show him
in." She dismissed her maid then ordered Hubert to bring refreshment for her and
Archel. The very idea! If Theodoric hadn't held Hubert accountable for allowing
those ruffians access to our home...
Griselda grimaced again. She very well knew
that the servants were bound to show the rude Edgard and his equally vulgar
partners the utmost respect. Any refusal to do so would guarantee immediate
dismissal, or in worse cases, instant death. Griselda recalled a particular
incident years ago, when Lucy, one of her favorite maids, reported how Edgard
tried to force himself on her. After that, Lucy, a thirteen year old virgin,
treated Edgard with an icy demeanor that Theodoric noticed right away. With his
order, he had Edgard and Herman accost the girl, taken to the gardener's shed,
and punished. "Teach this insolent wench to respect those in power," was what
Theodoric ordered.
The poor child was beaten and repeatedly gang-raped so viciously that she was
barely alive when Griselda found Lucy's broken, bleeding, bruised body the next
morning. The maid told what had happened, and that Theodoric himself was present
and joined in the torture and rape! A disgusted Griselda, without Theodoric's
knowledge, had Lucy spirited away to a faraway village where neither Theodoric
nor his hired goons could ever find her.
And to think that I'm still with him, grimaced Griselda. She hated her husband, although she took great care not to let such hatred show. True, her husband had showed her nothing but kindness and honor those first few years of their marriage, but as time wore on, Griselda soon became aware of his abject cruelty and greedy grasping for power no matter how many toes he stepped on. She recalled a recent letter from her brother, detailing his marriage to a handsome, intelligent girl, and how Theodoric usurped a lucrative trade contract. And said brother informed Griselda that he and his wife were coming to Ninegates for the great tournament. How wonderful, thought Griselda, to embrace at last my brother who I haven't seen for so many years, not since my marriage to Theodoric.
In fact, her husband had yet to meet his brother-in-law. Well, it is almost impossible, what with Fabian living in the far-off city. Then again, wasn't Theodoric in that same city on business? And wasn't the purpose of this trip to acquire 'lucrative trade contracts'? Griselda mulled over Fabian's written words and concluded that the villain who absconded with that trade deal was none other than Theodoric. Ugh! How grasping, how utterly contemptuous he is for the feelings of others. It's beat up, torture, kill, then ask questions later. Just as he did to the maid, to those lovely girls' parents. Oh yes, Griselda had her own eyes and ears as to her husband's many misdeeds. The news of Ulric and Murie's tragic deaths reached her ears via an unlikely source – the dragon Samira.
******
"Archel, my husband is not home. So whatever you have to tell him, you can tell me. And be quick about it!" It took much fortitude on Griselda's part not to show too much contempt for the young man standing before her. But the men expected her to act as such. She had a widespread reputation of fussiness, peevishness. She had those traits down pat so that not even a rake as Edgard would dare question her or her rantings. If the servants couldn't be rude to these men, she by virtue of her marriage and social status, could. If she so much as snapped at these men, Theodoric couldn't do one thing about it. Why? Only Griselda could answer that, and she was not about to reveal that reason until the day of the tournament. Oh yes, she had a role in the "Let's bring down Theodoric, Edgard, and their ilk" scheme, and she relished the day when she would at last be free to marry her one true love.
Archel still stood in the foyer, awaiting permission to sit. He saw Hubert and two maids bearing trays of tempting treats breeze past him. "Well, young man," Griselda said, "you may sit and partake of the refreshment I and the servants prepared for you." Archel wholeheartedly sat in the chair opposite Lady Fairfax, freely helping himself to fruits and cheeses. Deep inside Griselda scowled, all the while her face sported the slight smile of courtesy. How disgustingly he eats! All messy hands and mouth with no air of decorum! How my husband stands to keep these oafish, brutish, swinish...
"M'lady," Archel began, still stuffing his face with ripe plums,
the juice running down his chin, "I have important news regarding the witch
Medra and the dragon Samira." Griselda's eyebrows shot up, her eyes brightened.
With perfectly feigned concern, she asked, "What sort of news? Do you know where
the dragon's lair lies? What about Medra? Have you found where she lives?"
Archel, finally swallowing the remains of the plum, wiped his mouth on his
sleeve, then replied, "No, m'lady, it's just that...what I witnessed while in
Foxdale Wood." He went on to recount, in vivid detail, what he witnessed.
Noticing Griselda's look of increasing disgust, he apologized for telling her
all the sordid mess. "I beg your pardon, m'lady. It's not the thing for a lady
like yourself to hear."
Lady Fairfax smiled and said, "Not at all, Archel. When his lordship returns home, I shall pass on to him what you just told me." Yes, I'll tell him, but not what this ruffian claimed to have witnessed. Never before have I wanted to see my husband get his comeuppance.
"Er, m'lady?"
"Yes, Archel."
"Where is Sir Edgard? I haven't seen him for many days."
Griselda sighed and replied, "Sir Edgard is presently courting Lady Pavia,
one of Theodoric's cousins." She paused then asked, "Did you know of Edgard's
upcoming nuptials?" To this Archel said, "No, he hasn't said much about it. I
suppose this is recent news."
"Oh yes, in fact, Theodoric told Edgard of Lady Pavia, and his intentions of
giving the girl's hand in marriage. Sort of a gratitude gift for the many years
of faithful service." She waited for the words to sink in for Archel. Oh
yes, the brows knit, the eyes darken with a silent rage. He feels beaten,
betrayed. For all he and Herman have done out of loyalty to Theodoric, it is
Edgard who gets the glory. Lady Pavia is a prized catch, adored by many eligible
young men, only she is to be paired with the totally unsuitable Blue Knight.
Poor girl, I hate to think how she will suffer under his vulgarity, his total
lack of propriety.
Archel, silently seething that it is Edgard gets the spoils
while he and Herman still do the Blue Knight's bidding, only said, "Well, it is
indeed good news, m'lady. When is the wedding?"
"They will be married the evening following the tournament. That way, Edgard
will extend his good fortune – winning both the tournament and Lady Pavia's
hand."
Griselda studied Archel again, thoroughly convinced that at least one of her
husband's hired goons may abandon the Blue Knight. Ah, for the way he looks now
– dejected, disappointed that Edgard gets the girl and the glory – can only sow
those seeds of discord. Perhaps by the time of the great tournament, Archel may
turn on his master and his man. And my vengeance, and that of my brother's,
shall at last be in sight.
As Archel rose to leave, Griselda wondered about the stranger who recently
breezed into Ninegates. Oh yes, she being privy to many villagers' gossip, was
quite curious about the man who called himself Fergus. Now, while her husband
was still away, Griselda made up her mind to call on this Fergus herself. There
were answers she needed, but first she needed information from Archel.
"Sir Archel," she asked before he departed, "where is the one called Fergus lodging? I believe, from villagers' descriptions, that he may be an old childhood acquaintance." Archel was rather taken aback by this question. Surely her ladyship had heard of Fergus' challenge to the Blue Knight and his knowledge of the dragons' whereabouts. But given the latest news of Edgard's impending marriage – and into the nobility of all things! – and his now-letdown mood, Archel was all too happy to pass along the requested information.
"M'lady, he is lodging at Madame Marceage's inn, not far from the Nine
Raven."
"Good!," she replied, tugging the bell pull for Hubert. "I just want to see him,
perhaps catch up on old times."
When Hubert appeared at the door with the customary, "You rang, m'lady?,"
Griselda smiled and gave her butler these orders: "Hubert, Sir Archel is
leaving. And have Berta ready my carriage."
"Very good, m'lady." Once Archel said his farewells and left, Griselda
immediately went to her study, sat at the desk, and hastily penned a letter.
My dearest Lucy,
Please come to Ninegates at once. Do not fear as Theodoric or Edgard will not be a problem. And do bring that precious cargo with you. I feel it is time to expose my husband and his hired knights for the monsters and charlatans they are. I am, dear friend...
Griselda, Countess of Fairfax
TO BE CONTINUED...Go to Chapter 6
Copyright©2003, 2004 by Pepper Shriver*. All Rights
Reserved.
*My pen name :-)