Chapter Eleven #3
They reached a crossroads shortly and Cortez turned right.
Immediately before them was a massive cathedral, with soaring walls of sand-colored stone and flying buttresses that looked like the rib bones of a great beast. It was an intimidating structure, one that did not radiate the comfort that a church should.
Diamantha felt coldness from it, perhaps judgment.
She didn’t like it in the least. Her astonished gaze moved over the structure.
“God’s Blood,” she breathed. “That is a very large church.”
Cortez looked it over as well. It was nearing Matins and the pilgrims were beginning to flock into the church.
He acknowledged her comment with a smile but they continued past the enormous structure and onto a street that was rather narrow compared to the others they had been on.
It was also well-worn in the middle and higher on the sides, as a great gutter ran down the center of it.
Just as the party entered the avenue, they came across Drake heading towards them astride his red charger.
Cortez threw up an arm and brought the entire column to halt as he met up with Drake.
“My lord,” Drake greeted. “The Crystal Palace is full but they referred me to lodgings across the street, a place called Lausanne. The rooms are small but clean and I secured four of them. They have a stable out back, a livery shared by some of the other businesses, and I am told we may store our horses in it. Any of our men who wish to sleep in it may do so.”
Cortez was satisfied. “Very well,” he said. “Lead the way, de Winter.”
Drake turned around and took the group down the street, almost to the end where a rather sad-looking, two-storied stone and timber building sat nestled up against other waddle and daub houses.
It was painted white, even the stone was white, and there was a sign hinged to the front of it that was painted with green and red, announcing Lausanne to all who passed.
Cortez reined his charger up to the front door and dismounted, turning his horse over to a soldier as he went to take Sophie from Diamantha.
As he held the little girl, Drake helped Diamantha off her horse.
The street was an odd, up-sloped angle and Diamantha gathered her heavy skirts as she struggled to gain her footing.
Just as they moved for the entry, Sophie pointed back to the wagons.
“I want my kittens,” she said.
Cortez sent a solder back to collect the cage in the wagon, bringing forth the two kittens, rabbit, and fox kit that were becoming rather fat with all of the eating they’d been doing over the past couple of days.
But Sophie was thrilled to see her menagerie and Diamantha took the cage from the soldier.
As Cortez went to enter the structure, he turned to Drake.
“I will settle Lady de Bretagne and her daughter in our rooms,” he said. “Find my brother and send him to me. Meanwhile, you and the other knights settle the men and wagons. Be prepared to leave at dawn on the morrow.”
Drake acknowledged the orders and went about his business.
Meanwhile, Cortez led his new wife and new daughter into the crowded hostel that smelled strongly of rosemary.
The innkeeper had it burning in every room.
Not an unpleasant smell, in fact, but it was rather potent.
The innkeeper was a round woman with missing teeth and a pristine white apron, which Diamantha took to mean the hostel was also clean.
She hoped so, at any rate. The corridor was narrow, with the stairs made for dwarves, but somehow, they managed to make it to the second floor.
The innkeeper showed them their two rooms, adjoining, and although they were indeed clean, Diamantha thought that perhaps the entire hostel was made for dwarves because it was so very tiny.
The beds, rooms, everything was small. Entering their connected rooms, Cortez took Sophie in the smaller of the chambers and set the little girl down on her feet.
Sophie immediately jumped onto the bed and demanded her animals.
The moment Diamantha set the cage of pets down in Sophie’s room, the little girl opened the door to the cage and began taking the creatures out, putting them upon the bed.
She petted them and cuddled them, so happy to be with her friends again.
Diamantha stood in the adjoining doorway and watched her child as soldiers moved in and out of her room, bringing in satchels and other possessions, which quickly filled the small room to bursting.
Cortez’s red-headed squire, Peter, made an appearance with items for his master but quickly disappeared.
When Cortez finally shut the door behind his men and began organizing the bags against the wall, Diamantha turned to him.
“Now what shall we do?” she asked. “Is it too late to shop?”
Cortez shook his head. “It is never too late,” he said. “We will go now.”
“But the merchants will be closed to attend Matins.”
Cortez gave her a wink. “Then I shall storm their citadels and demand entry,” he said, glancing to the door when Andres finally made an appearance. He motioned his brother in. “Ah, Andres. I have a very important task for you.”
Andres stepped into the room, his gaze mostly on Diamantha. “I can hardly wait to hear it,” he said, his eyes lingering on his brother’s lovely wife. “Pray, brother, what would you have of me?”
Cortez’s good humor fled as he watched his brother mentally undress Diamantha. His quick temper flared.
“If you do not take your eyes off my wife, you will not live long enough to find out,” he said, moving to put himself between his brother and Diamantha as the mood of the room suddenly grew dark.
“I have spent the past two days watching you flirt with my wife and I will tell you now that it will stop. The disrespect you show for me with your roguish behavior is shocking, even for you. Do you truly think so little of me so that you would try to engage in some manner of inappropriate conduct with my wife?”
Andres was taken aback at the accusations, true though they might be. He was incensed. “I have done no such thing,” he said hotly. “What gives you the right to accuse me of such things?”
Cortez sighed heavily. “Did you not just walk in here and size my wife up as if she was another one of your conquests?”
Andres blinked, unable to think of a swift reply. “I did not….”
“And have you not been constantly and lewdly winking at the woman every chance you get?”
Andres took a step back from his brother, fearful of what was going to happen. He knew the accusations were true and was wary of his brother’s legendary temper. He had no desire to come face to face with the physical repercussions.
“I mean no harm, brother, truly,” he insisted.
Cortez put up a hand to wave off Andres’ usual volume of excuses.
“I grow weary of your denials,” he snapped.
“One more wink, one more lascivious comment, and I will make it so that no woman finds you attractive ever again. Do I make myself clear? Lady Diamantha is my wife, Andres, and you will show her all due respect. She is not a trollop for you to toy with.”
Humiliated, and angry, Andres nodded his head once, sharply.
He wouldn’t look at his brother. Cortez’s gaze lingered on him a moment, hoping he wouldn’t have to make good on his threat to maim him.
Not that he would, but he would certainly give him a beating he would not soon forget.
Wanting off the uncomfortable subject, Cortez turned in the direction of the adjoining room where Sophie was playing with her pets. He pointed at the little girl.
“You will remain with Lady Sophie while her mother and I go into town to purchase a few items,” he said. “Order a meal and feed her sup. We will return shortly.”
Andres was stricken. “Watch the little girl?” he repeated. “I know nothing of little girls!”
Diamantha wasn’t so sure she wanted to leave her daughter with Andres given the conversation Cortez had just had with the man. She put her hand on Cortez’s arm.
“We do not have to shop, truly,” she assured him. “I will be just as happy remaining here, eating sup, and going to bed early. I am quite weary.”
Cortez looked at her, appearing a bit crestfallen. “Are you certain?” he sounded as if he was pleading. “We will not be too long. Andres is perfectly trustworthy to watch over the child.”
Diamantha simply shook her head and went back into the room where her daughter was.
Disappointed, Cortez’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, quite certain her response was because of Andres’ behavior.
She didn’t trust the man and he didn’t blame her, not in the least. Knowing that there was probably no way to convince her otherwise, he snapped his finger at his brother and pointed to the chamber door.
Andres gladly took the hint and quit the room.
As the man fled down the narrow hall, Cortez turned to Diamantha.
“I will have food sent up to you,” he said. “I will post a guard outside should you need anything.”
Diamantha, sitting on the bed beside her daughter, looked up at him. “Where are you going?”
Cortez jerked his head in the direction of the street outside. “To hell, more than likely, but that is a discussion for another time,” he quipped, watching her smirk. “I will return, Lady de Bretagne.”
Before Diamantha could press him, he fled, leaving her in the two tiny rooms with her daughter’s pets running wild around the floor.
When the meal was brought up a short while later, it was a feast of shredded pork, brown rye bread, beans and mushrooms stewed together, small green apples, pears, and figs with honey.
Diamantha and the kittens ate the pork, the rabbit had a pear, the fox kit enjoyed both the pork and the apples, while Sophie exclusively ate the figs and honey until she was close to bursting.