Chapter 20
Satan’s ears folded back. The horse tensed as if in pain. Griffith knew the animal sensed something out of the ordinary. He signaled a halt, and the guard came to a stop. An unearthly howl died down from somewhere ahead.
Quickly, Griffith spurred Satan, his men directly behind him.
He rounded a bend in the road and his heart almost stopped.
Kallen ran toward him, her hair and cloak billowing behind her.
What Griffith figured to be a highwayman chased after her, a knife in his hand, blood pouring down the side of his neck.
Another man followed at a distance. When the second man saw the approaching horsemen, he ducked into the woods.
Griffith pressed Satan harder. He had to reach Kallen before the brigand did. He feared for her life.
Her gaze met his as Satan approached at a gallop. Griffith thrust out a hand and waved Kallen aside.
She somehow understood and veered off the road just as his horse reached her. Now Griffith and Satan came between Kallen and the highwayman. He reined in the horse as the thief ran smack into Satan’s flank.
Obscenities poured from the man’s mouth. He lifted his dagger, read to plunge it into Griffith or his mount. With his hand still in mid-air, John rode by, sword in hand, and sliced off the man’s arm just below his elbow. The thief’s eyes watched in astonishment as his limb fell to the ground.
Griffith cared not a whit for the bleeding stranger. Instead, he wheeled Satan and rode the short distance to Kallen. He leapt from his horse and pulled her into his arms, consequences be damned.
He held her close for a long moment. Her body quivered violently. Griffith stroked the hair that fell down her back, murmuring soothing words. Finally, she calmed.
“Are you all right?” he asked gently, rubbing his hands along her arms as his eyes searched her face. Her cheek was scraped and her face dirty with dust. He hoped that was the only damage she’d suffered while out of his care.
Tears welled in her eyes. She nodded. “A little worse for the wear but all in one piece.”
She shuddered and then heaving sobs came. Griffith wrapped his arms about her again.
Kallen tried to speak in spurts. “I... I... killed him... Sir Rodger. I... He wanted... he tried to force... he wanted... I killed him.” She broke down again.
Suddenly, John spoke. “There, there, my lady. Weep no more. Traitors need killing. I am just sorry you had to do it yourself.”
She raised her head from Griffith’s shoulder and smiled weakly at John.
“I suggest you need some time alone, my lord,” the soldier added. “We will make camp. Lady Kallen needs no more of the road this day.”
Kallen sniffed. “There’s a clearing down the road a ways, on the left. Next to a lovely brook. I left Sir Rodger’s horse tied there.” A look of panic crossed her face. “I don’t want to kill the horse, too! Please find him, John. ‘Tis watering he needs.”
Griffith turned to John. “Have the men make camp. Take Satan with you. We’ll be down there in a little while.”
John nodded. “Very good, my lord.” He strode off, barking orders left and right.
Kallen watched the men ride down the lane before she turned her attention back to Griffith. “Thank you. You saved my life.”
He brought her hands to his lips and tenderly kissed them. “’Tis I who am grateful to see your beautiful face again.” He wrapped an arm about her waist for support. “Come. Let us sit under this tree. You can tell me what happened.”
He guided her to the tree and sat upon the ground, bringing her into his lap. Kallen rested her head against his chest. They sat for some minutes in silence.
It was a glorious day. Cool and sunny. No wind. And the woman he loved in his arms. As Griffith held her, he knew all was right in his world.
Kallen eventually raised her head. “We must talk. I must explain. I killed Sir Rodger. He frightened me badly, Griffith. He said awful things about you. His loyalty lay elsewhere, not with Mangeron and my uncle.”
Griffith stroked her cheek. “He met with the fate he deserved.”
“But I killed a man! ‘Tis a mortal sin, against God’s sacred law. I—”
“You did what had to be done, my love. God would not have you burn forever in Hell for protecting yourself from such a wicked sinner.”
He paused, not knowing how to frame his question. “Did he... did he hurt you?”
She shivered. “Not exactly.” She averted her gaze from his.
Griffith tilted up her chin with a finger. “Where was he when this occurred?”
A lovely blush stained her cheeks. “We were... in the middle of the road.” She dropped her eyes again.
“We found Rodger’s body, Kallen. The wound was in the side of his neck. Rodger was a tall man. You could not have struck such a blow under ordinary circumstances.”
She nodded, her lip quivering. “’Twasn’t normal at all. He... was atop me. Trying to push my skirts up.”
Griffith brushed aside the rush of anger that swept through him and willed his body to relax. Kallen would feel any tension within him. He did not want her to think he judged her poorly because of Rodger’s despicable behavior toward her.
“Then he was not only a traitor to Crispin but to you, as well. Have no shame, Kallen. God will not punish you, for you did nothing wrong. Believe me.”
She pressed her head against his chest again. Griffith gave her time to absorb what he’d said.
“Who’s Nowland?” she blurted out. “Why would he want me?”
Griffith hesitated a moment. He decided it was best to tell her everything, no matter how painful it would be for her to hear.
“I doubted you before. Never again, my love. We’ll keep no secrets in this matter.”
Only one thing would he keep from her. Griffith knew he must change Crispin’s mind when they arrived at Mangeron. Once he did, Kallen need never know.
“Quentin, Earl of Nowland, is your father. He forced himself on your mother when she was but a young girl, much as Rodger tried to do the same to you.”
Griffith saw the look of horror on her face.
“I... I am a child of rape?” Tears welled in her eyes.
“I remember Savina skimmed over the truth as she told me of my family. My surprise and delight in discovering I had relatives who wanted me overshadowed the rest of her story.” She sighed.
“Only now do I understand what happened to Bevia since it almost happened to me.”
He took her chin in his hand. “Listen to me, Kallen. I know this upsets you, but you should feel no guilt, no shame, simply because of the circumstances of your birth. You are not your father. You have nothing of him in you. I have never met one with as much goodness in her as you.”
She nodded, her eyes closing for a long moment. “Tell me the rest. Hold nothing back.”
Griffith drew a deep breath. “Your grandfather abandoned your mother to the care of the convent when it was found she was with child. Your family at Mangeron never knew of your existence. Renton, your grandfather, was a hard man, Kallen. But remember, you go to family now, to your grandmother and uncle and my Deva. They all want you very, very much.”
Kallen frowned. “But why me? This earl never knew of my existence in all these years. How did he learn of me now? What good would I be to him?”
He ran his fingers through her silken locks. “Nowland has spies everywhere, Kallen. I’m sure he learned through them of your imminent arrival at Mangeron.”
She grew impatient and pushed aside his hand. “This doesn’t explain why he would want me now after all these years. What can I offer him? I am but a simple girl, and his bastard, at that. Of what value am I to a landed earl?”
Griffith explained, “Your hair is a most unusual color, Kallen. It runs in the earl’s family, though. What I tell you now is pure speculation, but it may be the twisted reason he seeks you.”
He raked a hand through his own hair and closed his eyes a moment, trying to find the right words. “’Tis rumored Nowland’s sister killed herself. ‘Tis also reputed his mother had some kind of power to see into the future.
“Nowland is said to be near financial ruin. He’s a half-brother to our king, a bastard of the first Edward.
‘Tis no secret Nowland would love to rule in his brother’s place.
There’s been talk of uprising before, especially because this Edward isn’t as strong a ruler as his father before him.
I think the earl wants you because he thinks you possess sorcery that would help him accomplish his aim. ”
Griffith stared at Kallen. Part of him regretted telling her such half-truths, especially since they were mostly spun from lies.
But were they? As he looked deeply into Kallen’s eyes, he saw her reaction.
It was true. She did possess some kind of power.
Kallen began to breathe rapidly, panic setting in. Remembered words flooded her mind. She was different. She was odd. Something was wrong with her.
Bevia never understood. She was too simple. Savina called it a gift, though as Kallen grew older it seemed more a curse to her.
She saw the questions in Griffith’s eyes. She hated to lose him, but he had been totally honest with her about her father. Her grandfather. Why this wicked earl wanted her.
She must be truthful in return.
“I am different from others,” she said quietly.
Griffith’s quick intake of breath stung her. Immediately, he apologized. “I assure you, I don’t judge you, Kallen. If anything, I want to protect you.”
He took her hands in his. “I pledged to do so. Not just for the debt I owe Crispin, but for me—and you.”
Kallen took strength in his words, in the warmth of his hands cradling hers. It gave her the courage to go on.
“I see auras. I’m not sure quite how to explain it to you. But around every person I meet, I see a band of color surrounding his or her body. Sometimes two colors. Each color can mean many things.”
“What do you mean?”
Kallen saw curiosity and not condemnation. She smiled. “For example, it helps me read into the character of others. I cannot see the future, but the insight into personalities could be quite helpful to someone with political aspirations. It could be used for gain.”
“Tell me about these colors.”
She sighed. “There are a variety of colors and different shades of them. Blue can mean many things. That a person is sad and wistful and lives in the past. Or that he’s peaceful and calm.
It could mean someone who is a good listener or one who is patient or honest. The longer I am around a person and the better I get to know this individual, the more I can grasp about him or her and the aura that surrounds them. ”
Griffith nodded as he listened. It was as if he understood her. It encouraged her to continue.
“Red can indicate anger or rage. Yellow shows good health and happiness. Silver might show grace or goodness.”
She paused. “Savina always called this second sight my gift from God, but I have learned to hide it from all others.”
He frowned. “So was it an aura you saw about Rodger that caused you to warn me about him?”
“Yes. What I saw told me he wasn’t to be trusted, but you came to his defense so strongly. Then his aura changed totally. I’d never experienced that before. ‘Twas something so unusual. ‘Tis as if Rodger were two men, one good and kind, one filled with hate and regret."
Kallen shuddered. “’Twas only as the attack occurred and Rodger wanted me to flee with him that his original aura reappeared. I did my best to try and remain, but he insisted I was to go with him.”
Griffith grimaced. “’Twas my orders to you both, and I shall regret the words until my dying day.”
He placed a hand against her cheek. “I’m sorry I did not trust you when you first spoke, Kallen.”
“I was but a stranger to you, Griffith. You knew Rodger to be a good and loyal man for years. I would not expect you to believe me—even if I had told you then about seeing auras.”
“I will never doubt you again, Kallen. I promise you that.”
With those words, Griffith’s lips met hers.