Mercy's Prince (28 page)

“Thank
you, my lords.” The man came forward and bowed, first to Valerian and then to
Ruddy.

His
wife fell to her knees and covered her face, moaning. The same two who had
taken the merchant to the pillory lifted the woman and placed her on the other
side of him.

While
Valerian cast his gaze across the sea of people, watching individual reactions
from the villagers, he glimpsed the one-eared man again before he withdrew into
the crowd. Valerian promptly forgot the tall man when he overheard two older
men talking nearby.

“I
never figured a northerner to care about what goes on here in the south, ’specially
not in our small village.”

“Those
young rowdies who’re stirring up trouble ought to hear about this prince and
the new magistrate. Maybe they’ll bring law and order to the south again.”

While
the two men walked away, Valerian thought about the conversations he’d
overheard at the Keep regarding the south’s attitude toward the north. He hadn’t
realized then how large Levathia was, and that the southerners might have a
reason to be disgruntled, believing the king’s seat of government in the north
was too far away to be effective in maintaining order.

When
he returned to the Keep, Valerian would report what he’d seen and heard to his
father. There had to be a way to more equally and fairly govern the south.

After
Valerian and Ruddy left for the village, Shannon took Merry to her bedchamber. She
laid the baby on the canopied bed and turned to one of the trunks lining the
wall.

“Ruddy
doesn’t understand why I have kept all these clothes I can no longer wear.” She
opened the lid of the trunk and sighed. “I thought I would have several
children by this time, and at least one of them a daughter. But ’tis not the
will of the Most High that I should bear many children. I must be grateful for
the one I have, and that Ruddy’s life has been spared.”

She
lifted a bundle of neatly folded russet fabric.

“Ah,
I had forgotten about this. I never had the chance to wear it, Merry, but I
always loved the soft material.” She opened the fabric and held up a tunic and
split riding skirt. “With your reddish hair, this color will be especially
attractive on you. See if it fits.”

Merry
removed her homespun dress and pulled the soft tunic over her chemise. She
studied the riding skirt and figured out how to step into it and tuck in the
bottom of the chemise. The outfit felt as if it had been made especially for
her. Then she realized that while wearing a split skirt she would not have to
ride sideways behind Kieran. She could properly and modestly straddle the
horse.

Merry
hugged Shannon, wishing again that she could thank her. Shannon returned the
hug and then held Merry at arm’s length.

“I
want to say this to you, and I don’t want you to refuse.”

Dread
rose in Merry’s throat. What if it was something she
had
to refuse? But
Shannon continued before she could answer.

“I
will never be able to wear these clothes again. I may never have a daughter
with whom to share them. So I want to give you these riding clothes, and the
green dress, and the chemise, and the cap, and anything else we might find
today.”

Merry’s
eyes filled with tears. No one had ever been so generous to her, and Shannon
could not have known that Merry had always dreamed of wearing pretty things. She
hugged her again and burst into tears. Shannon held her close and let her cry
herself out.

After
washing her face, Merry tried on many beautiful dresses, most of which were
either too ornate or too large for her to wear. There was one other simple
dress in a darker shade of green that fit Merry well, and a black riding skirt.

“This
one appears made for serious riding.” Shannon fingered the sturdy fabric. “You
might as well take it, too. You’ll be riding a long way, and I’m sure I will
never sit upon a horse again.”

Nathan
woke, demanding to be fed. Merry left Shannon to nurse him and went to show
Kieran her new dress.

Just
as she closed Shannon’s door, she stopped, feeling a twinge of guilt. Was she
being vain? Would she let the young man’s admiration turn her head? What would
Gabriel think? She knew what Papa would have said. But Papa was no longer here
to scold and criticize her. And if Gabriel
were
here, Merry was certain
he would have admired her, too.

            *         

Merry
sat across from Kieran at the trestle table while he told her a story about his
brothers. When Shannon entered with Nathan, Merry glad turned her attention to
them, because Kieran’s story was so full of people she didn’t know and events
unfamiliar to her that she was having trouble following him. Merry held out her
hands for the baby, and Shannon gratefully gave him to her.

Shannon
sat on the bench while Merry rocked Nathan. The baby’s eyelids drooped, his
mouth went slack, and he relaxed into a deep sleep. Kieran leaned his head
against his hands.

“Ye
know how to work magic on the babe, Merry.”

“She
certainly does.” Shannon smiled. “I wish you all could stay longer. But the
prince says he wants to leave tomorrow. Did I hear him right, Kieran?”

“I
think he is anxious to get to Lord Reed’s and get it over with so he can return
tae his men at the garrison.”

“So
he’s not looking forward to visiting our noble Lord of the Southern Woodlands,
is he?” Shannon smirked. Merry got the impression Lord Reed was not well liked.

“Oh,
he can tolerate Lord Reed for one night, but ’tis seeing his daughter that he
dreads.” Kieran winked.

Shannon
put her hands on her hips.

“What
are you not telling me, squire?”

He
stared at the ceiling and began to whistle. Merry felt she was missing out on
some private joke.

“Ach,”
Kieran said. “’Tis no secret I suppose. Lord Reed wants Prince Valerian to
marry his daughter. The king wishes it, too.”

Shannon’s
eyes widened, and she clasped her hands in delight.

“So
there’s to be a royal wedding? Do you know when? Perhaps Ruddy and I will be
invited!”

Merry
didn’t hear Kieran’s answer. She suddenly became ill and pushed back from the
table, careful not to wake the baby.

“What’s
the matter, Merry?” Shannon leaned closer. “Do you want me to take Nathan?”

Merry
nodded and eased the precious bundle into Shannon’s arms. Then she fled from
the hall and into the yard, desperate to find a quiet place.

The
sound of a rake came from the stables. Merry ran inside, passing a stable boy
cleaning out a stall. Farther down Kieran’s horse stuck out his head and
nickered. Merry stopped and stroked his cheek, glad that he remembered her.

In
the next stall, Valerian’s horse stamped a hoof but didn’t come to investigate.
The gray didn’t have as much personality as the brown. That seemed odd. Merry guessed
a prince would have a better horse than his squire. Perhaps the gray had
qualities not apparent to her.

That
started her tears. Why was she so unhappy anyway? Valerian was a prince. He was
the
prince and would have to marry where his father, the king desired,
just as her father had arranged a marriage for her. Valerian’s choice of wife
would be infinitely more important than her choice of a husband had been, for
wouldn’t his wife be queen someday when he became king?

And
just as she would have had to give up her friendship with Michael when she and
Gabriel married, she would no longer be able to have such a close relationship
with Valerian. But he alone could hear her words! Not even Eldred, another
Seer, could do that. She would be totally cut off from the rest of the world when
Valerian married this daughter of Lord Reed.

Desperately
she placed her hands on her throat and tried to feel what was wrong, but
apparently it wasn’t possible to Heal herself. She swallowed, hard, and tried
to make a noise in her throat. Nothing happened. Her tears flowed freely.

Kieran’s
horse nuzzled her. Merry opened the door to Gilly’s stall and went inside. The
straw poked at her bare feet, but she ignored it. A brush hung from a peg, and Merry
took it down. Timidly at first and then harder when Gilly leaned into it, she
brushed all of him that she could reach. Fortunately, she didn’t have to see in
order to brush him, for her tears would not stop flowing.

***

On
the way back to the manor house with Ruddy, Valerian was sorry to see how the
royal surcoat put that wall of separation between him and the villagers. It had
been so nice to go among them as one of them. Now each person stopped what they
were doing to bow or curtsy. Not one of the adults would meet his eye; only the
children were unimpressed by the dragon emblem and the one who wore it.

Kieran
met them at the edge of the road. Valerian
Saw
concern in his eyes.

“What
is it?”

“Merry
is distressed about something. The lass ran out of the house a little while ago.
I watched her go into the stables, but she hasn’t come out again.”

“Did
you try to talk to her?” Valerian glanced at the stables.

“No,
Sire. She must have wanted to be alone.”

“Go
on in with Ruddy. I’ll find out what’s bothering her. Then I want to get out of
this surcoat as quickly as possible.”

“Aye,
my lord.” Kieran bowed and ran to catch up with Ruddy.

Valerian
nodded to the stable boy when he entered the building. He peered into each
stall, whether occupied or not. When he reached Kieran’s horse, he peered over
the half door and saw Merry brushing the bay.

“Merry!”
He opened the door.

She
turned so quickly the brush flew out of her hand.

“Let
me get that. You shouldn’t be standing so close to a horse with your bare feet.”
He didn’t mean to scold her, but her feet were so small compared to the horse’s
hooves that one misstep might have crushed her foot.

While
he picked up the brush and replaced it on the peg, she left the stall. But when
he came out and closed the door, she was nowhere to be seen.

“Merry?
What game are you playing? I need to talk to you. Please, come here.” Valerian
exited the stables and found Merry sitting under a shaggy beard tree. She would
not look up at him. He went down on one knee and brought his face close to
hers.

“Please,
tell me what happened. Why are you so distressed?” Valerian kept staring at
Merry, but her face was set against him. He sat directly in front of her. “I’m
not leaving until you look at me, no matter how long it takes. I am just as
stubborn as you are.”

They
sat in stony silence for many awkward minutes. Merry wore a different dress,
and Valerian absently noted how it flattered her. At last Merry sighed and
closed her eyes. A tear leaked out, and she wiped it away. Then she gazed into
his eyes.

I
have to stop talking to you. I can’t stay with you any longer. It will just be
more difficult.

“Merry,
what are you talking about?” Valerian frowned in confusion.

We
can’t be friends any more, since you are going to be married.

“Who
told you that?”

Kieran
and Shannon were talking about Lord Reed’s daughter.

“Yes,
I will probably have to marry her someday.” Valerian shifted when he felt
dampness leeching through his breeches. “But I hope it will be many years
before that happens. Why would you think we couldn’t speak because of that?”

Because
it would not be proper.
Merry plucked a blade of grass and twirled it in her
fingers.

“Proper?
I don’t understand, Merry. If you don’t speak to me, you won’t be able to
communicate with anyone.”

Her
eyes widened and she straightened.

I
know! That is why I’ve been so distressed! You’re the only one I can
communicate my words and feelings to.
She shrank back in resignation and tossed the
blade of grass aside.
If I were your wife, I would not want another woman
speaking to your mind.

“Oh.”
It was so obvious now, Valerian felt foolish for not seeing it before. Someone
like Hanalah would certainly be jealous of Merry. Why hadn’t he considered that?
What could he do?

“Merry,
I respect you greatly, and I value our special friendship. I feel I can trust
you as much as I trust Kieran, which is with my life. I hope you can trust me,
too.” She nodded. “Before I have to marry Hanalah, I’ll find some way for you
to communicate. I can teach you how to write, or—” He threw up his hands. “I’ll
search the entire world to find a Seer who can
See
your words. I will
not leave you voiceless. I would rather die than to hurt you.”

She
wiped her eyes again before meeting his gaze.

I’m
afraid it will hurt more the longer we wait. Perhaps, I should stay here with
Ruddy and Shannon. I could help with the baby and in the kitchen, and it wouldn’t
matter if I couldn’t talk. A servant is supposed to listen, not speak.

“No!
You’re not a servant. You are a Healer, and that complicates all of this.”

What
do you mean?

He
took her hands between his, amazed anew at how small they were.

“I
have seen the power coming from your hands. You are gifted in a way that evil
men will want to use to your destruction. I must take you to the Keep so my
father and I can protect you.”

The
Keep?
She
pulled her hands away.

“It’s
just a castle.” He stopped when he realized his words were not reassuring. “Your
village had a wooden palisade around it. Do you remember when it was built?”

It
was long before I was born.

“Inside
those wooden walls was your whole village.” She nodded. “A castle is like a
village inside stone walls. Instead of separate cottages, there’s a large stone
building where people live in individual apartments or in community rooms, like
a barracks. There are kitchens even bigger than Lady MacNeil’s.” He smiled when
her eyes widened. “You can grow your Healing herbs in the gardens. And there
are stables. You can meet my horse at last.” From the stables a horse whinnied
as if in agreement.