With Dreams Only of You Read online

  Robbin shrugged, catching the girl when she stumbled over a stone half-buried in the ground. “Everyone knows,” he said. Then, he changed the subject. “Eryx, the lady is without a shoe and the ground is frozen. She cannot walk with only one shoe. Do you see it on the ground where you found her?”

  Eryx turned around, hunting for a missing leather shoe among the debris of stones and frozen puddles. There were rocks on the ground, rocks that had fallen from the old walls when the girl had smacked into them. In fact, a rather large chunk of wall had disintegrated down near the base of the southern wall and as Eryx bent down, pushing aside stones to see if one had fallen upon the girl’s shoe, he noticed that a hole had been exposed by the crumbling stones. He was about to give the gaping hole no regard at all, for old walls often had spaces in them, but something inside the void caught his eye.

  It was a color that was definitively different from the pale gray stone around it, which is why it caught his attention. He could see that there was an object in the cavity, something dark. Kneeling down, he peered into the hole and, when he was sure it wasn’t a trap, he cautiously stuck his gloved hand inside. It was heavy, whatever it was. Eryx got a good grip on it and very carefully pulled it forth.

  A very old sword saw the light of day for the first time in centuries. Awed, Eryx sat back on his heels, holding the blade across both of his palms. The hilt, although yellowed with age, was evidently ivory of some kind, and there were thin, decorative bands of what looked to be iron or bronze at the very tip of the hilt and also close to the junction where it joined the blade.

  There was a blade guard, pitted with age, and the blade itself was some kind of metal with a carbonized factor to it. Eryx knew this because bronze or tin without any carbonization would have crumbled long ago. The blade before him was surprisingly intact although the metal had darkened and oxidized over the years. Still, it was a proud weapon, very fine, and as Eryx peered more closely at it, he could see writing of some kind etched onto the blade.

  “Eryx?” Robbin said, catching his attention. “Did you find the lady’s shoe?”

  Eryx shook his head, tearing his gaze off of the blade long enough to look around him, quickly, to make sure there wasn’t a shoe in plain sight.

  “Nay,” he said. “No shoe. There is no knowing where she lost it.”

  Robbin could tell that Eryx was distracted. In the dim light, even though the man’s back was to him, it was clear that Eryx was looking at something.

  “Then what have you found?” Robbin asked. “What is in your hand?”

  Eryx stood up, still holding the blade across both open palms. He turned towards Robbin. “This,” he said, a measure of awe in his voice. “It was lodged in a pocket back in the wall.”

  Robbin was very interested. “A weapon?” he said, straining to catch a glimpse of it. “A sword of some kind?”

  Eryx nodded, fixated on the weapon. “Roman,” he said. “It must be. Look at the design. This is not anything from our time. Someone buried it behind the wall and a falling stone revealed its safe haven. I wonder if a Roman soldier hid it there, hoping to return for it someday?”

  Robbin wanted to see the blade. He reversed course with the young girl still in his grip, now retracing his steps to where Eryx stood. He pulled the reluctant, frightened, and cold girl along with him, momentarily placing his interest above hers.

  “Look at it,” he breathed, as equally fascinated with it as Eryx was. “A magnificent piece, Eryx. Where is the hole?”

  Eryx briefly turned to point at the gap in the wall. “There.”

  Robbin looked at it eagerly. “Is there anything more to it?”

  Eryx shrugged. “I did not look, to be truthful,” he said. It was then that he tore his gaze away from the antique sword and saw the girl standing in Robbin’s grip, cold and injured. Reality hit him like a slap. “Robbin, get the girl home. We will hunt for relics another time.”

  Robbin tore his gaze off the blade and looked at the girl as if suddenly remembering he was responsible for her. The child was sniffling, wrapped up tightly in Eryx’s tunic, and when the knights looked at her, her expression was pitiful. It spurred Robbin into action.

  “Of course,” he said, once again pulling the girl towards the hall entrance. This time, Eryx was following and once they reached the open air of the courtyard, they could see the four soldiers they’d had with them, poking about. Robbin pointed to the soldiers in general. “Will you have one of them go for the surgeon?”

  Eryx was being very careful with the sword, his attention mostly on it, but he glanced up when Robbin asked the question.

  “Aye,” he replied. “You go on to the village and I will send a man to Prudhoe.”

  Robbin was now over by his horse, preparing to lift the girl onto the saddle. “What will you do?” Robbin asked. “Will you stay here to see if you can locate any more victims?”

  Eryx nodded, but his attention was back on the sword. “Mayhap,” he said. “But it seems to me that if there were any more women, we would have found them.”

  The girl went up onto the saddle and Robbin mounted behind her. He shifted the child around so he could get comfortable and gathered his reins.

  “One more look about would not hurt,” Robbin said, looking up to the big gatehouse as he turned his horse around. “They may be scattered.”

  Eryx was peering intently at the etched blade of the sword, hardly paying attention to what Robbin was saying. “It is possible.”

  Robbin pulled his steed to a halt when he saw Eryx’s distraction. “What is so interesting about that old weapon?” he asked. “What do you see?”

  Eryx shook his head faintly although his focus never left the oxidized metal. “There is writing on it,” he said. “It looks to possibly be Latin, but I cannot tell for sure. I am thinking of taking it to someone who would know and mayhap be able to read what it says. Mayhap it is a clue to who it belonged to.”

  Robbin spurred his horse to get it moving again. “Any priest will be able to tell you.”

  Eryx nodded, but he wasn’t thinking on a priest. He was thinking on a certain young lady’s uncle, a man who was renowned in the north for his scholarly abilities. Eryx was thinking quite seriously on taking it to Sir Broderick de Velt of Pelinom Castle, a man who would be quite interested in the find. Then, when they were finished examining it, perhaps Eryx would give it to a certain young lady as a token of his esteem. The blade would make a beautiful and unique gift. Aye, he thought it a rather excellent plan. A rare gift for a rare lady.

  “That is true,” he said, trying to be evasive enough that Robbin wouldn’t catch on to his thoughts. The last thing he wanted was the man following him. “There is a church in Corbridge. Mayhap I shall take it there. I can even take it to Prudhoe. Lord d’Umfraville will be quite thrilled to see it.”

  Robbin simply nodded, heading out of the crumbling enclosure while Eryx pulled a cloak from his saddlebag. He carefully wrapped the blade and then put the bundle back into the saddlebag. He then mounted his horse, spurring the beast into a loping canter out of the enclosure as the soldiers mounted up behind him and followed.

  As Robbin headed east, back towards Corbridge with the young girl, Eryx sent the soldiers with him. He pretended to be circling the Roman castle in search of other victims as the party of five thundered off, but the truth was that he was waiting for them to get far enough away so he could take off to the northeast in the direction of Pelinom Castle. If Robbin saw his path of travel, then he would know where he was going and Eryx wanted no suspicions. He wanted to do this alone.

  Robbin had no such suspicions until he was about a half a mile away from the Roman castle and happened to notice that Eryx wasn’t with them. He was about to stop and wait for the man when one of the soldier’s mentioned that Sir Eryx had ridden hard in a easterly direction, no doubt in pursuit of more Scots with more victims.

  He must have picked up a trail, the soldier said. But Robbin knew that Eryx had picked up n
o trail. He knew exactly where the man was heading, for the Scots would not have traveled in that direction and the only thing between the Roman castle and the border of Scotland, dozens of miles in that direction, was Pelinom Castle. Aye, Robbin knew very well where Eryx had gone and the knowledge infuriated him. He’s going to see her, he thought. He’s going to show her the sword! Such a fantastic find could even be considered a gift. He knew that because it was something he would have done. He would have given the sword to Lady Frederica as a show of his esteem. A gift!

  But Robbin had no gift. He couldn’t even think of where to get one or even what it should be. Surely nothing could compare to an ancient sword. But he would have to think of something because he couldn’t show up at Pelinom without something for Frederica. Turning the injured girl over to one of the soldiers to return her home, Robbin followed Eryx’s path, cutting through a half-frozen copse of trees as he did so. Thundering through the undergrowth, he happened to catch sight of something marginally green. Pulling his horse up, he could see that a few sprigs of thistles were trying to make their way into the light.

  They were hearty plants, very common in the spring. Somehow, this sweet little plant was confused and struggling to bloom in the cold. Robbin leapt off his horse and pulled all of the flowers there were, four purple springs. Now, at least he had something for the lady when he arrived at Pelinom. It wasn’t to compare with the ancient sword, but it was something.

  Thistles in hand, he charged on to Pelinom.

  Chapter Three

  The Gift

  Pelinom Castle

  Pelinom Castle was a smaller castle constructed of the gray stones that were so prevalent to the northern reaches of England. It sat in a clearing of green, rolling fields, surrounded by great copses of trees and an entire forest to the north. There were groves of trees to the northwest of the castle that provided fruit and herds of wooly sheep surrounded the place, tended by villagers from the nearby berg and guarded by soldiers. It was a bucolic place, one of prosperity and peace, but it wasn’t always so.

  Pelinom had been captured nearly one hundred years before by the most fearsome warlord in the north. Even mentioning the name of Jax de Velt was enough to send villagers and nobles alike into a frenzy of panic. De Velt had been a particularly brutal and nasty warlord and when he has set his sights on Pelinom those years ago, he had not only conquered the castle but he had also killed nearly all of her inhabitants. Only his marriage to the daughter of the lord of Pelinom had seen him ease back on his vicious conquest. Eventually, the man raised a family there and descendants still lived at Pelinom. Once again, it was a peaceful and prosperous place in the hands of de Velt’s heirs.

  Eryx caught sight of the tall, gray-stoned structure in the distance. He had been on the move for almost four hours, riding hard from Corbridge across the frozen ground of the north. At this time of year, nothing was living, not a tree nor grass. Animals were hunkered down in their burrows or nests. He saw no living creature as he traveled south along the rough, rocky road and on more than one occasion, the sky had decided to spit snow flurries in his direction. But still, he continued to ride, mostly because he knew, at that point, he was being followed.

  He had paused once to let the horse rest and he had caught sight of a rider in the distance, following his path. Although he could only see a speck of a man, he had little doubt that it was Robbin. He didn’t know why he was so certain, considering he’d sent Robbin off to return the injured girl they’d found at the Roman castle to her home, but some innate sense that knew Robbin almost as well as he knew himself told him that it was Robbin in pursuit. There was a woman at stake, something they were both unwilling to concede. Therefore, he knew for a fact that it was Robbin.

  So he climbed back onto his horse and pushed the animal all the way to Pelinom. When he finally arrived at the soaring walls and announced himself, it was with some relief. The great iron and oak gates cranked open with the rattle of chains reverberating off the stone and once he entered the small bailey, he was met by a de Velt sentry.

  Eryx dismounted his steed, passing the frothing beast off to the nearest stable boy. He eyed the sentry as he pulled the sword, wrapped in a cloak, from his saddlebag.

  “I am being followed,” he told the sentry. “Close the gates and make sure not to admit him.”

  The sentry was an older soldier who had served the House of de Velt for many years. “We did not see anyone in pursuit, my lord.”

  Wrapped sword in-hand, Eryx cocked an eyebrow. “He is there, trust me,” he said. “He has been following me since I left Corbridge. There was a Scots raid there earlier and women were taken. In fact, it may be a Scots assassin. You should make sure to do all you can to prevent him from entering the castle.”

  The sentry stiffened. “Shall we train archers on him, my lord?”

  That would certainly solve the problem, Eryx thought. For a split second, he actually considered it. But he couldn’t outright condone the murder of his former friend, not even if they were in pursuit of the same woman. Such a thing would be rather unethical and even though he wanted Lady Frederica for his own, he wouldn’t do it at the cost of Robbin’s life. Still, he had to laugh at himself, thinking the prospect most attractive.

  “Nay,” he finally said. “It may not be an assassin at all. Simply be prudent. Even if it is someone you recognize, make sure you confirm with Lord de Velt or myself to allow him access. After what I’ve seen this morning, I am not apt to trust anyone anytime soon.”

  The sentry saluted sharply and fled to the gatehouse to warn the others on guard. Smirking, and hoping that planting a seed of doubt with the soldiers would prevent Robbin easy access to Pelinom, he proceeded into the keep.

  Pelinom’s keep was enormous and took up nearly half of the entire bulk of the fortress. Square in shape, it had five floors to it, including a sub-floor where the well and stores were kept. The entry level was on the second floor, reached by retractable wooden stairs, and this level contained a large solar as well as a large hall. Eryx had just entered the door when he was met by the Lord of the Castle.

  Broderick de Velt was a big man with dark hair and oddly colored eyes. The left one was entirely brown but the right one, although mostly brown, had a splash of bright green around the iris. He was wrapped in heavy woolen clothing and a great fur cloak against the winter temperatures, hardly able to move agilely for all of the bulk he was wearing. Nevertheless, he held out a meaty hand, grasping Eryx by the arm in greeting.

  “Eryx, my lad,” he said pleasantly. “What brings you to Pelinom on this winter’s day?”

  Eryx smiled at Broderick, a man he very much wanted to impress. He was a key to winning Lady Frederica’s heart. Surely, it never hurt to be in her uncle’s good graces.

  “I have come on an important mission, my lord,” Eryx said. “It will be of great interest to you.”

  Broderick was already interested. “Is that so?” he said, clapping the knight on the shoulder. “Then I am intrigued. Come into the solar where it is warm and we will speak.”

  Eryx obediently followed Broderick into the solar. The room was lavishly appointed with heavy oil cloths covering the lancet windows, imported furs upon the wooden floor, and a lively fire in the hearth. Smoke was spitting out from it, creating a gray haze against the ceiling, and sparks leapt forth now and again, hitting the dogs that were clustered around the blaze. There was a little dog sleeping in a chair that Broderick shoved aside, indicating for Eryx to sit.

  “Please,” Broderick said, “sit and make yourself comfortable. Surely it must have been a difficult ride.”

  Eryx grinned as he began to remove his outer clothing, beginning with his heavy gloves. “I will admit that I have been warmer,” he said. “But I have an important reason to visit Pelinom. It was worth braving the cold.”

  Broderick watched as the knight pulled off both gloves. “Stand by the fire, boy,” he said. “Remove your mail coat. That is like wearing a block of ice in this we
ather.”

  Eryx didn’t need to be told twice to stand next to the blazing source of heat in the room. Immediately, he moved to the fire, feeling the licks of warmth heat his frozen flesh. He bent over to shirk the mail coat.

  “Thank you, my lord,” he said as he began to shake it off with some difficulty. “I think I have become sensitive to the cold. It bothers me more than it used to.”

  Broderick could see he was having trouble with the mail coat and he went to him, helping him remove it.

  “Wait until you become my age,” he grunted as he pulled at the mail. “You will know the meaning of true cold, all the way to your bones. Now, tell me why you have come out in this weather. What is so important?”

  Eryx managed to shake off the coat with Broderick’s help and he cozied up to the hearth as a hovering servant took the mail from Broderick.

  “Something very intriguing, my lord,” he said, nodding his head in the direction of the wrapped blade, which he had set upon the chair vacated by the dog. “Corbridge village was raided this morning by a rather large band of Scots. I was able to engage some of them but by the time reinforcements from Prudhoe and Questing arrived, several villagers were dead and many homes were burned. Livestock had been stolen as well as stores of food, anything the Scots could carry. We chased them across the river but lost them in the woods.”

  Broderick sat back in his chair, listening intently. “You did not follow them, did you?” he asked. “You know the Scots will use the trees to their advantage.”

  Eryx nodded. “I know,” he replied. “We stayed well clear of the trees and headed back to the old Roman castle near Corbridge. We were told that some of the Scots had taken a few village women with them to the place, no doubt to abuse them.”

  “Did you find any victims?’

  “One,” Eryx replied. “I sent her back to her home in the village. But while I was at the Roman castle, I found something.”

  Broderick lifted his eyebrows eagerly. “What did you find?”