willna bring her back. I care not anymore.” With that, she spat at Sinnath before the guard could grab her.
The crowd seemed to hold its breath as Sinnath wiped off the spittle. He eyed the woman. After careful consideration he turned to the man who had suffered the lash. “Kars. You have been unjustly accused and punished. It is now your right to take from this woman what she took from you. The decision is yours. What is your wish?”
The woman continued to glare at Kars as he considered his decision.
Finally, Kars spoke. “Missus, I am truly sorry for the loss of your daughter.” He turned to Sinnath. “Sir, I will not die of my injuries. This woman has suffered more than I. I give up my right to restitution.” Then he squared his shoulders, failing to hide a wince, and once more faced the woman, who stood gaping in astonishment.
Sinnath smiled to himself. This ordinary soldier had done much to repair trust among the Catanians. He turned to the woman. “You may go. But if I hear you speak ill of my men I will mete out the punishment myself.”
The woman’s head bobbed convulsively in agreement as she hurried away into the crowd.
Sinnath turned back to the soldier. “You will receive an extra eightday’s pay and may rest two days to heal your back. You have acted with wisdom and compassion. I will commend you to your captain.”
~ 11 ~
MY LADY LIVES!
Marja had been escorted to the castle in darkness. Despite this, a few saw and recognized her. News that she lived spread like floodwaters and, as rumours will, grew to ridiculous proportions. Some had her in heavy chains, some near death from injuries. Others thought she was being tortured to get information and wanted to rescue her. A few even accused her of having plotted with Bargia to set up the invasion. When she did not reappear it was said she had been secretly killed. The tales grew with each span.
Brensa heard some of these rumours almost as soon as she and Nellis arrived at the castle. She was elated. It appeared their lady and friend lived! When Brensa had settled Nellis on her cot and could leave her for a few moments, she determined to find out what she could. Familiar with the layout of the castle, it did not take long to figure out that someone important was being held in Marja’s old chamber. Two formidable looking soldiers guarded the door. They refused to answer any questions. So Brensa explained her relationship to Marja and begged the guards to tell Lord Gaelen. Just as she started to turn away in frustration at their stubborn silence, she spied Gaelen striding toward the room with three other men. Brensa gathered all her courage and fell to her knees in front of him. The guards immediately grabbed her from behind and pulled her roughly away.
Brensa cried out in panic. “My lord. Does my lady live? Please, I must know. I was her lady’s maid. If she lives she needs me. Please, my lord, I beg you.”
Gaelen held up a hand to forestall the guards. “What is your name, miss?”
“ It is Brensa, my lord … and her other maid, Nellis, is also here.” She blurted as an afterthought.
“ Brensa, your loyalty and courage do you credit.” Nodding to the guards, he said, “Let her go. She will not harm me.” He turned back to Brensa and studied her silently for a moment as if to make up his mind. “Brensa, your lady does indeed live and is unharmed. You have my leave to share that news.”
As Brensa watched him turn to the door she curtsied deeply, relief almost buckling her knees. “Thank you, my lord. Will you tell my lady that Nellis and her husband also live?”
But Gaelen had already entered the room. The guards once more took up their positions. The three who had accompanied Gaelen waited outside the door.
Brensa turned and hurried to share the wonderful news with Nellis. Then, as Nellis urged her to do, she went back and waited in the hall several paces away for Gaelen to re-emerge. Frightened though she was,
The crowd seemed to hold its breath as Sinnath wiped off the spittle. He eyed the woman. After careful consideration he turned to the man who had suffered the lash. “Kars. You have been unjustly accused and punished. It is now your right to take from this woman what she took from you. The decision is yours. What is your wish?”
The woman continued to glare at Kars as he considered his decision.
Finally, Kars spoke. “Missus, I am truly sorry for the loss of your daughter.” He turned to Sinnath. “Sir, I will not die of my injuries. This woman has suffered more than I. I give up my right to restitution.” Then he squared his shoulders, failing to hide a wince, and once more faced the woman, who stood gaping in astonishment.
Sinnath smiled to himself. This ordinary soldier had done much to repair trust among the Catanians. He turned to the woman. “You may go. But if I hear you speak ill of my men I will mete out the punishment myself.”
The woman’s head bobbed convulsively in agreement as she hurried away into the crowd.
Sinnath turned back to the soldier. “You will receive an extra eightday’s pay and may rest two days to heal your back. You have acted with wisdom and compassion. I will commend you to your captain.”
~ 11 ~
MY LADY LIVES!
Marja had been escorted to the castle in darkness. Despite this, a few saw and recognized her. News that she lived spread like floodwaters and, as rumours will, grew to ridiculous proportions. Some had her in heavy chains, some near death from injuries. Others thought she was being tortured to get information and wanted to rescue her. A few even accused her of having plotted with Bargia to set up the invasion. When she did not reappear it was said she had been secretly killed. The tales grew with each span.
Brensa heard some of these rumours almost as soon as she and Nellis arrived at the castle. She was elated. It appeared their lady and friend lived! When Brensa had settled Nellis on her cot and could leave her for a few moments, she determined to find out what she could. Familiar with the layout of the castle, it did not take long to figure out that someone important was being held in Marja’s old chamber. Two formidable looking soldiers guarded the door. They refused to answer any questions. So Brensa explained her relationship to Marja and begged the guards to tell Lord Gaelen. Just as she started to turn away in frustration at their stubborn silence, she spied Gaelen striding toward the room with three other men. Brensa gathered all her courage and fell to her knees in front of him. The guards immediately grabbed her from behind and pulled her roughly away.
Brensa cried out in panic. “My lord. Does my lady live? Please, I must know. I was her lady’s maid. If she lives she needs me. Please, my lord, I beg you.”
Gaelen held up a hand to forestall the guards. “What is your name, miss?”
“ It is Brensa, my lord … and her other maid, Nellis, is also here.” She blurted as an afterthought.
“ Brensa, your loyalty and courage do you credit.” Nodding to the guards, he said, “Let her go. She will not harm me.” He turned back to Brensa and studied her silently for a moment as if to make up his mind. “Brensa, your lady does indeed live and is unharmed. You have my leave to share that news.”
As Brensa watched him turn to the door she curtsied deeply, relief almost buckling her knees. “Thank you, my lord. Will you tell my lady that Nellis and her husband also live?”
But Gaelen had already entered the room. The guards once more took up their positions. The three who had accompanied Gaelen waited outside the door.
Brensa turned and hurried to share the wonderful news with Nellis. Then, as Nellis urged her to do, she went back and waited in the hall several paces away for Gaelen to re-emerge. Frightened though she was,
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