Chapter Eighteen

A nnora held her sleeping child in her lap wishing with all her might that she did not have to leave him. She had been lucky she had even been allowed this much time to spend with him but ’twas not fair that she must leave him so soon. She had known ’twould be hard to let go again once she had the boy in her arms. She just had not known that a piece of her heart would be ripped to shreds with their parting. Tears welled in her eyes at the injustice of it all, but she had little choice in the matter. She would need to leave Meregate within the hour.

Edme returned to the room that had once belonged to Annora and Leofric and waited by the door whilst Annora continued to rock her child. As with the rest of the castle, nothing of any value remained from when she had resided here. ’Twas as though Tashe had sold everything he hadn’t destroyed just to put more food in his own belly. Or mayhap he had stored her valuables away until he could fetch a decent price for them to one day line his own coffers. In either case, she cared little. The items lost weren’t important to her—not compared to her people, who were quite clearly starving to death. She would see what she could find in Meregate’s kitchen so she might feed those who were in the most need.

“’Tis time, milady,” Edme whispered stepping into the room.

“Leif, my love,” Annora said softly in the lad’s ear. “Wake up, dear boy.”

Leif lifted his head and rubbed his sleepy eyes. “I was dreaming you could stay…” he said patting her cheek.

“If only I could,” Annora said choking back a sob. “But we will be together again, soon. I promise.”

Leif threw his arms around her neck. “I will miss you. ’Tis not the same here without you, Mama.”

She stroked the boy’s tawny hair that was the same shade as her own. “Promise me you will be good. Stay out of mischief and hide if trouble attempts to find you.”

“I promise,” he vowed with a tiny smile.

She kissed both his cheeks and gave him one last hug. “Off you go with Edme. I love you.”

“Love you, too, Mama.”

Her son waved farewell and Annora stood knowing she would need to hurry if she wanted to see the servants fed before she left. She was certain there must be enough food in her larder, and she would not allow Clifton to fatten his belly even more if she could do something about the situation. Given the banquet that had been laid out for his consumption upon her arrival, the kitchen must have survived in order to feed its current steward.

She reached the turret and was about to descend the curved stairs when she saw Merek coming up them, no doubt in search of her. He wore a frown, and she could only guess as to the reason.

He turned around and joined her, descending the stairs by her side. “What news have you learned?” she asked when she reached the ground floor. He moved toward the exit but stopped in his tracks when she turned right instead, into a passageway that would take her around the great hall to reach the kitchen area.

Merek cursed. “You were right about the remaining knights loyal to Meregate. They are in the dungeon. If you think Edme and the other servants appear in need of food, that is nothing compared to those men below.”

“Damn Tashe to hell,” Annora cursed taking hold of Merek’s arm and leading him into an alcove so they could remain unseen. “We will get whatever we can from the kitchen to see them fed if this is even possible. I will not know the state of the larder until I see what remains for myself. On our return, we’ll scour the cellars for even more if this, too, survived Tashe’s destruction so the household staff and my son will not go to bed hungry tonight.”

“What if we are caught?” Merek asked with a crooked grin that told her his argument was only for form’s sake. He was not truly trying to stop her, merely make her consider the possible consequences.

“What more can they do to me? Besides, I am here by order of King Stephen. I highly doubt they would take us prisoner when ’tis known that we must report back to duty. They could not be that foolish,” she huffed in annoyance.

A snort left the man beside her. “Clifton Tashe is and always will be a brazen arse.”

“You have that aright but for now he is the least of my worries. Let Tashe be hungry for a change but tonight my people will have a feast!”

Feast … hopefully she would not have to retract those words.

As she entered the kitchen, she could see for herself that the evening meal was in the process of being prepared. Annora narrowed her eyes when she saw another banquet that would be served to one man, and perhaps to those most loyal to him. There could not be many who would fit that description, given what she, herself, knew of Tashe’s reputation.

She came into the kitchen with her hands on her hips whilst her eyes roamed the room, spotting various foods she could easily carry down to her men in the dungeons. If possible, she would release them, but first she needed to make sure they had at the very least food and something to drink.

A large unknown man came out of a room that Annora knew served as a pantry. He carried a basket with fruits and vegetables but stopped in his tracks and growled in outrage when he realized that a woman was in his domain.

“Get out!” he ordered with a wave of his free hand. “You do not belong in here.”

Merek took a menacing step forward with his hand on the hilt of his sword. “Watch your tongue. This is Lady Annora de Maris, and this is her household.”

The man hefted a heavy cast iron skillet in the air. “Not anymore. This castle belongs to Lord Tashe.”

Merek pulled out his blade and Annora watched the man gulp when the point was at his throat. “He is but a steward here until the lady’s return. I suggest you give her the respect that is due her.” Merek pulled back his sword once the man gave the briefest of nods, but her captain still held the weapon in the direction of the cook. The man rubbed at his neck.

“Milady,” the cook pronounced begrudgingly, whilst other kitchen staff began to also bow toward Annora.

Annora gave them a brief nod of her head before she began inspecting the various pots that were positioned on a swinging iron rod over the fire. Taking hold of a rag from one of the tables, she lifted the lid to find a sizable stew ready for tasting. She thrust out her hand and a servant ran for a wooden spoon and handed it to her. She took a scoop of stew, sniffed the contents, and then blew air on the food to cool it before she lifted the spoon to her lips. She smiled in pleasure at the taste. This man might have the personality of a foul beast, but he could at least cook!

“Is all this for Tashe?” Annora asked before she held out her hand for the basket the cook held. She dumped out the vegetables and fruit onto the wooden table before she leveled her gaze on the man who had yet to answer. “Merek… your blade. I believe Cook will cooperate now that he knows I am the lady of the keep.”

Merek at last lowered his sword and put the blade back in his scabbard. Cook let out a sigh of relief.

“Aye. ’Tis all for him, milady. He expects the best and we wish only to please him. The last of the kitchen staff did not fare well after they were found feeding themselves and others who were hungry.” The man seemed sincere. She could not claim to be impressed with his callousness, caring only for his own safety when others were starving, but at least he was honest about it.

“I see. Well, I am here to make a few changes until my return. I expect my people to be fed including my son and those who answer to me. I will not have any of my people starve because of one man’s greed and gluttony. Is this understood?” Annora asked leveling her eyes on the kitchen staff.

“Aye, milady. But what happens after you are gone?” Cook asked with a worried expression.

“Leave that to me. I will deal with Tashe before I leave and ensure that everyone will be safe. No harm will come to you from following my orders,” Annora declared hoping she would be able to keep such a promise. She could only do her best to ensure that the threat she planned to leave with Tashe would hold him in check until her return.

She began issuing orders for food to be served to her people. The amount that was to be reserved to feed Tashe and his followers were cut more than in half. Her gaze traveled to the far corner of the room and the doorway that led down into the bowels of the castle. Her loyal men were down there being held prisoner and she was now more than ever determined to see that they were set at liberty.

“Merek,” she called out, “let us see about freeing our comrades in arms.”

Merek nodded and pulled his sword from his scabbard as he began leading the way down the stairs to the dungeon. The farther down into the depths they went, the cooler the air became and Annora could only wonder the fate of the men who had been held here for months. They had been faithful servants to her household and she swore she would see them free from their prison.

A guard that must be a follower to Tashe sat on a small stool at a wooden table. He quickly came to attention upon their arrival. He attempted at first to pull his sword from his scabbard, but he froze when he found Merek’s blade at his throat.

“I would think very carefully before you make any further attempts to draw your blade, my friend,” Merek warned pressing the tip of his blade against his skin. Close… but not enough to spill blood.

Annora stepped forward. “Give me the keys to the cells,” she ordered holding out her hand.

The guard pointed behind her. “They are hanging on the wall, my lady,” he declared whilst attempting not to gulp.

“Watch him carefully, Merek,” she said reaching for the ring hanging on a peg.

“I do not think he is going anywhere, Lady de Maris,” Merek replied with a smirk.

“De Maris?” the man questioned.

“Aye. The lady of the keep,” Merek replied, “and she is here to free her men.”

The men who had been locked up for months gradually seemed to realize that something was going on, stirring themselves from the stupor they had fallen into. Annora went to the first cell and began fumbling with the keys to see which one would unlock her knights. She barely recognized one who had been her husband’s captain. He was filthy now, with a long beard that hid most of his face. His fingers went around the bars whilst his eyes—the only part of him that she recognized—went wide.

“Am I imagining you are here, my lady?” Sir Wolfe Haywoode asked in apparent disbelief.

“I am here, Wolfe, to free you and the rest of the men,” Annora answered when the right key finally clicked into place, and she was able to swing the door open.

Wolfe immediately fell to his knees before her. “My lady.”

“Please rise, Wolfe, if you are able, and help those who are in worse condition. You shall all eat well this day and return above to your quarters,” Annora announced whilst the men gave a small cheer of gratitude. She went to the next several cells and performed the same service, freeing over two dozen of her men. She looked around, knowing several were still missing.

“Where are the rest?” she asked with a frown of displeasure.

Wolfe stepped forward. “The rest either did not make it through the initial conflict or succumbed to their injuries in the days that followed. One man was thrown into the pit but we have not heard him call out for some time.”

“I swear I will fill that damn thing in upon my return,” Annora swore as she went to the bars covering the hole in the floor. “Someone hand me a torch.”

She again fumbled with the keys to see which one would open the lock, knowing the iron rods prevented anyone from falling down to the pit’s depths. The pit was deep and there was no way for anyone to climb up the slippery walls to their freedom from such a prison. With the lock opened and torch in hand, she peered down into the pit. The stench made her want to retch but she held it together hoping against hope that her knight might have survived, despite all the odds against him. She called down to what appeared to be the form of a man hunched in a fetal position but there was no answer. She could only assume the worst. She was about to declare him dead, when a slight motion made her look down again. The man barely had enough energy to raise his hand but ’twas enough to know he yet lived.

“Merek, bring our newfound friend over. Since he was so instrumental in keeping an eye on our men, he can be the lucky one to retrieve the one he left in this God forsaken pit,” Annora said as she located a length of rope that was kept nearby for just such an occasion.

Once the knight had been brought topside, Annora and her men all began to help each other up the long set of stairs. Most of them were as weak as newborn kittens and the effort to climb took what remained of their energy. As they reached the kitchen, she came to the conclusion that she would need to leave Merek behind in order to see that her knights were not returned to the dungeons. Knowing her friend and captain, he would not be pleased to be parted from her, but she could only hope he would obey her command, for the sake of keeping his comrades alive.