Chapter Seventeen #2
In the accommodations assigned to Mathias and his party, the otter was a festive creature who had no idea that knocking things over, spilling water, slithering into the fireplace and then emerging with soot all over his body which, in turn, got all over people and objects, was a bad thing.
He was just curious and happy, as he usually was, until he got black soot all over Justus’ lap when the old man was sleeping in a chair.
Justus woke up and yelled at the otter, which promptly stood on its hind legs to beg food from the irritated old man.
Cathlina had quickly distracted the animal with toys.
They were lodged in one of the small huts that lined the Den’s outer wall, built from river rock with a heavy thatched roof.
There was one big room and one smaller adjoining room, and a fireplace that was open on both ends and servicing both rooms. Midgy was having a great time with the pass-through hearth.
“Justus?” she asked as Midgy tried to burrow his way into Mathias’ saddle bags. “Do you suppose you can find a pot or a tub for him to play in? It would keep him out of the hearth.”
Justus eyed the otter, who was grunting happily. “Aye,” he said, rising wearily from his chair and upset that his nap had been interrupted. “I will see what I can find.”
He opened the door to the bailey of the Devil’s Den with the intention of hunting down the stables when he caught sight of his sons returning from the keep.
Pembury was walking beside them, his hulking presence unmistakable.
Cathlina came to the door to watch the approach of the knights, their enormous forms shadowed by the setting sun.
When Midgy tried to squeeze by and make a break for it, she caught the otter and held him fast.
Mathias smiled wearily as he came close, his gaze locking with Cathlina’s. She smiled in return and he took both her and the otter in his arms to kiss her. Midgy squirmed and tried to break free.
“Are you hungry?” he asked her. “Henry has invited us to sup with him in the great hall, so put on your best gown, my lady. Let these fools see what a true beauty looks like.”
Cathlina scooted back into the chamber excitedly as the knights filed in and shut the door behind them. Her possessions, as well as Mathias’ bags, were in the smaller of the rooms so she disappeared into the smaller chamber with Midgy. They could hear her rummaging around.
“Mathias!” she called. “I need your assistance!”
Mathias had just removed his broadsword, the prized possession that Pembury had returned to him.
Setting it down on the table, he disappeared into the smaller chamber and they could hear his deep, steady voice and her excited one.
When it became clear he was helping his wife with her dressing, Justus turned to Sebastian and Stephen.
“Well?” he asked. “Is Henry agreeable to our service?”
Stephen planted his bulk on a small chair.
“He is,” he said. “In fact, he is very happy to have us. It would seem he has an important outpost he wants us to man, one in Fife near Kinghorn. He has a small contingent there now but it has taken a beating. He is hoping by putting more seasoned men there, the area might know some peace. More than that, he would like us to work on an alliance with the neighboring laird. He wants the man’s support. ”
Justus lifted his bushy eyebrows, thinking that Henry was about to throw them all into the fire at a border outpost.
“That is no place for a woman,” he hissed.
Stephen shrugged as if he had no say in the matter. “What else is he going to do? Leave her here? You know he will not.”
Justus fussed, knowing it was a moot point. Instead of complaining, he went to sit down and wait for Lady de Reyne and her husband to make an appearance.
Inside the smaller chamber, Mathias had helped his wife from her plain yellow surcoat and helped her don a deep, rich scarlet brocade.
It was the nicest surcoat she had brought with her from Kirklinton.
The bodice laced up the front, emphasizing her slender torso, and she tied and re-tied it until she had it correct.
By that time, Mathias had wandered back out into the other room to await her and she could hear soft conversation between the men.
She was very excited to be supping in another castle because other than Lincoln Castle, Carlisle Castle, and two or three others she had visited while fostering at Lincoln, she had rarely supped away from familiar venues.
With her clean surcoat secured and Midgy rolling around on the small bed behind her, Cathlina pulled forth her comb and small polished bronze mirror.
She missed Abechail and her talented fingers, for she was not nearly as clever as her little sister, so she ended up braiding her hair and wrapping it around her head like a halo.
Big iron pins held her hair in place and in truth she looked quite lovely.
Collecting her dark blue cloak, she emerged into the room where the men were.
“I am ready,” she declared to the host of expectant and appreciative eyes that turned in her direction. “But what shall we do with Midgy while we are gone?”
Mathias could hear the otter grunting and playing in the other room. He looked around the chamber and spied a big bucket near the hearth, used to clean out the ashes. He picked it up and tossed it at his brother.
“Go and get some water,” he said. “Hurry. We will wait for you.”
Sebastian was outraged. “I do not even like that hairy rat,” he declared. “Why must I go?”
Mathias simply pointed at the door. Sebastian made faces, mostly at Cathlina, who bit her lip to keep from laughing as he stomped from the hut.
Midgy came out of the chamber at that point, skittering around on the floor looking for something to find mischief with.
He ended up jumping onto Stephen’s lap and the knight shoved him back onto the floor.
Cathlina came to the rescue with his favorite smooth rocks, distracting him, and in a short time, Sebastian returned with the bucket of water.
Cathlina had him set it down near the hearth, whereupon Midgy jumped into it and, being too big for it, splashed most of the water out onto the floor. But he was happy and it was time to leave.
“Off we go,” Mathias said, ushering everyone from the hut. He eyed the otter as he closed the door. “Behave yourself, beast.”
Big brown otter eyes blinked back.
*
The great hall of the Devil’s Den was filled with smoke and loud men.
From the moment Mathias escorted his wife inside, he was coming to think it was a very bad idea to have her here because the only other women were serving wenches and the moment they walked into the hall, they passed a pair having sex behind a pillar.
Cathlina looked away quickly and pretended not to notice while Mathias didn’t acknowledge it.
He knew fighting men and he knew how they were.
Sex in a hall, in a stable, or in any other convenient place wasn’t unheard of in the least. They took it where they could get it but Mathias didn’t want his wife exposed to that kind of debauchery.
Mathias directed Cathlina over to the great feasting table that was crowded with men.
All of them were drinking heavily. De Beaumont and Balliol sat at the far end of the table and, seeing Mathias and the other knights, waved them over.
They had to walk the entire length of the hall to get there and there was increasing attention on Cathlina as they went.
One drunk man even went so far as to reach out and grab a fistful of skirt, prompting Mathias to land a blow so heavily into the man’s face that blood gushed from every facial orifice.
Like a dog guarding his bone, the territory of Cathlina was readily established.
Cathlina was rightfully terrified by the time she reached the end of the table and Henry introduced himself and Balliol.
She was polite but stiff, taking a seat on the bench between Mathias and Justus as servants swarmed around them to bring them food and drink.
It was so loud in the hall that it was seriously difficult to hear any conversation they might attempt.
“I was unaware that Mathias had brought his wife,” Henry said with a hint of disapproval. “Where were you born, Lady de Reyne?”
“Near Brampton, my lord,” she replied, startled when two men down the table started a fight. She tried not to watch it as she focused on Henry. “My father is a cousin of the Earl of Carlisle and commands the garrison of Kirklinton for him.”
Henry’s eyebrows lifted. “You are the earl’s cousin?” he repeated. “How interesting. Now de Reyne is related to de Lara by marriage. An arranged one, I am sure. What is your father’s name?”
Cathlina already didn’t like the man. He spoke quite condescendingly, as if she was no more than an ant beneath his feet. He seemed quite aloof to her.
“Saer de Lara, my lord,” she replied.
Henry cocked his head. “Saer de Lara,” he repeated as if attempting to remember something buried deep in his memory. “Saer… Saer… why does that sound familiar to me?”
“More than likely because her father served the earl in the wars against Mortimer,” Mathias replied, claiming a metal cup full of rich red wine. “They called him The Axe because that was his weapon of choice.”
Henry’s brow furrowed. “The Axe,” he hissed.
Then, his face washed with recognition. “I seem to remember a Saer de Lara on campaign for young Edward’s father.
The Axe, did you say? I do recall him, I believe, but this man traveled with a whore wherever he went.
I remember this because when he was done with her, he would hire her out to other knights.
I think her name was Abbey. Could it be the same man? ”
Cathlina’s mouth flew open in outrage. Mathias could see the storm coming and he clamped his hand over hers, silently begging her to be still. He could feel her trembling with rage and shock.