Chapter Twenty

A nnora sat in her husband’s chair in the great hall waiting for Clifton Tashe to answer her summons. The man had taken an afternoon nap. Most likely, he had need of it to nurse an aching head after too much drink. Her cellars would need to be replenished by the time she was able to return.

She did not have long to wait since she began to hear the scoundrel before she ever saw him. His angry voice echoed in the turret as he issued orders for wine to be brought to him. When he gained the entrance to the hall, his boots came to a skidding halt when he saw her sitting in her rightful place. Annora had the satisfaction of watching his mouth open and close several times before he snapped his lips shut and proceeded to come before her.

“You have no right—”

“I have every right,” Annora hissed leaning forward in her chair. “You are but a temporary replacement here in my absence. You are not lord of Meregate nor will you ever be.”

“King Stephen will learn of your insolence,” Clifton warned pointing a finger at her. “He will receive a full account.”

“Aye! He will get a fine accounting indeed, wherein he will learn of the gluttony of the fool he left here in my place! Have no doubt I will report to him everything that I have witnessed here. I have the notion that once my report is delivered, you will not be left as steward afterward for much longer,” Annora declared with a satisfied smirk.

A sarcastic laugh left his lips. “The King is too busy trying to claim other estates than to bother with the way that this one is managed. I will return to doing what I please the moment you leave these gates,” he said with a sly smile.

“We shall see about that, Tashe. In the meantime, if you have not already learned of the changes I have made, let me inform you of them. Personally, I am surprised you are even awake since you seem to spend many an hour drinking my wine cellars dry. But I have righted the wrong you have done here, Tashe. I have rescued my men from the dungeons and have seen that my people will no longer starve. Change any of that in my absence, and I will see that King Stephen deals with you accordingly,” she warned.

“You do not have the King’s confidence,” he attempted whilst his smile faded from his lips.

“That I am here should have told you much. Now I must needs return to His Majesty so I can inform him that the steward he left until my return is not only a wastrel but is incompetent when it comes to watching over anything of import.”

Annora rose from her chair and went to stand in front of the man whom she swore would one day pay for all he had done. “Do not attempt to starve my people again nor return my knights to the dungeons. If I hear you have done so, you will not only answer to me but also the King.”

She swept past him in the hopes some of her words would penetrate his thick skull. She could only pray that her people would be safe from further harm. In truth her threats were only as good as the fear she instilled in Tashe.

As she left the keep and entered the courtyard, she saw that her son was waiting for her. Annora went to him and gave him a fierce hug, holding Leif to her as if this would be the last time she would see her son. A sob escaped her knowing her fears could come true. She could not foresee her future or what might come to pass other than she knew her life would be in danger with each battle she was forced to participate in.

The boy began to squirm in her arms and she had the notion that such coddling and shows of affection would not be tolerated in the future. Her son was growing up too fast and their relationship would take on another form as he grew to manhood.

“Mama… God speed to you,” he whispered before he pulled himself out of her arms and stood there with arms crossed over his chest. He appeared so much like his father ’twas as though Leofric was reincarnated into their son.

She looked up at Leif and rose from the ground. “Behave and listen to Merek. He will keep you safe.”

A sound much like snort left the boy. “I do not need anyone to keep me safe,” he declared pulling out a small blade hidden in his boot. “I can do so myself and have learned these many months how to hide when trouble comes my way.”

Annora was unsure whether to feel amusement at his bravado or horror that her own flesh and blood had to conceal a weapon on his young form in order to feel safe. He was becoming a man right before her very eyes and only God above knew when she would see him again.

“Humor me, Leif,” she began and ruffled his hair only to hear the lad gasp in dismay when the sound of youthful laughter erupted by a group of boys nearby.

“Do not embarrass me, Mama,” he interjected.

“Very well but please do as I say and listen to Merek. Think of him as an uncle,” Annora said whilst her gaze traveled to the man holding the reins of Shadow.

“I will. Fare thee well, Mama,” Leif said and began to leave her side. Looking over his shoulder, Annora’s breath hitched when he ran back to hug her about her waist.

Annora smoothed back his hair and when he raised his face to stare upon her, she saw the glimmer of tears in his eyes. She wiped them away when they fell to his cheeks. “I love you, son.”

“I love you, too, Mama.”

She watched him finally run off to join the other boys. Whatever her son’s future may hold, at least he had boys his own age who appeared to accept him as one of their own. But children belonging to her servants could in no way teach Leif all he must needs know as a son of nobility. She gave a heavy sigh knowing there was nothing more she could do for the lad for now. But soon… soon she would return and reclaim all that had been taken from her!

The sound of horses caused Annora to turn her attention toward her gate. She should not have been surprised when she saw Percival and Manfred—the guards that Stephen had assigned to her—come into the bailey leading a small group of knights. She supposed they had come at the suggestion of Stephen to lead her back to his army and wherever her life may now take her. Her time here at Meregate was at an end.

She made her way to her horse, preparing herself to hear whatever Merek was holding back. From his frown, she knew he would voice his objections to being left behind. He did not prove her wrong once he spoke.

“I do not like this,” he grumbled whilst Annora stroked Shadow’s neck.

“Who else can I trust if not you to look after the men until they are back on their feet? Their health could take months to recover, and I would not see them suffer any longer in the dungeon,” Annora replied. She went to check the cinches but everything was in order.

“I am only one man, Annora. If Tashe orders our return to the depths of Meregate, we will easily be outnumbered. Some of us may even find our way into that damn pit. No one here will be able to come to our defense and you know it,” Merek answered as he continued to frown.

As though Tashe knew he was the topic of their conversation, the man himself came from the keep and strode in her direction. Clearly, he had not taken her warning to heart and wished to further assert his claim to Meregate before she departed.

He took hold of her arm in a firm grip and pulled her close to him. “You presume much, woman. Do you think you can just return here and issue orders to me? Me! The man who was appointed steward?” Clifton hissed.

She reached behind her to pull out a dirk and pressed the blade against his fleshy belly. “Give me a reason not to plunge this into your side, you worthless cur,” Annora warned pressing the tip so he could in no way doubt she would not hesitate. “Release my arm.”

He pushed her away and rubbed at his side. “The King will hear of this offense to me. Mark my words.”

Annora held the blade and pointed the weapon toward Tashe. “I am just as certain he will hear far more from me first.” She put the blade away and then looked around the bailey. “This man is nothing but a steward here. I will return one day to reclaim my land. Until then, I have given orders to ensure my people remain safe and fed.”

As cheer rose up whilst Tashe left angrily cursing her name until the keep door slammed shut behind him. Annora turned back to Merek.

“Keep them safe to the best of your ability, my friend, until I can return.”

“I will do all in my power, Annora, but you know that such a request will most likely be easier said than it can be done,” Merek replied with a fierce scowl set upon his brow.

“I know,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I can only pray that some of my threats may give warning to Tashe to at the very least keep you and my knights out of the dungeon.”

“I highly doubt such will be the case,” he grumbled.

“Do your best and hopefully I will be back to set my home aright,” Annora said whilst Merek helped her into the saddle.

“God speed, my lady,” Merek said giving her a bow.

“May God watch over you,” Annora said before she pulled on the reins and began to lead the men who came to escort her back into the service of Stephen.

It took everything in her power not to look back. Instead, she focused her eyes in a steady gaze upon the road ahead. The one person who had been with her for as long as she could remember no longer was at her side and the thought of not having her captain with her dampened her spirits. She tried to rally them with the reminder that he would look after Leif and Meregate in her absence. With that last thought, Annora knew that she had done all she could for those she had left behind, and so she looked ahead to what might await her in her future.