Ten

Guilty

For a long moment everything fell into slow motion in Gratia’s eyes. Not more than two minutes ago she was about to lose her life to a bunch of cut-throat thieves she had, only the  day before, classed as friends. Now she had been saved by a very unlikely hero. But she was too exhausted to dwell on this and her head felt like a blacksmith’s anvil. 

She smiled sweetly, wobbled slightly, and passed out.

My god! She looked terrible. Gale tried hard to conceal his shock. Her hair was all matted and her eyes were dark with sleep. There was a large gash on the side of her head that was bleeding rather severely, and her beautiful dress was torn at the side and stained with more blood. What on earth had happened to her since they had parted?

But it was still her. He had known it from the second he saw the small gypsy figure dart out of the church. He had been on his way to a tavern on the high street, passing Saint Odubon’s, when he had seen her come darting out. 

He shouted out to her, but she didn’t seem to hear him. The next thing he knew, a dozen ugly men in scruffy dress, who he recognised as some of the most notorious thieves in Lariaan, came hurtling out after her. Several of them looked out of breath and confused. More than one slumped on the pavement for a moment before slinking off back into the shadows. But there had been a couple who had run off to pursue her. 

Unsure quite what was going on, Gale had decided to follow them. He had lost them somewhere down Bridge Street, and took to the rooftops to see if he could find them from there. How glad he was that he had. A minute later and there wouldn’t have been anyone left to save. 

Though he was still at a loss as to how she could possibly have been involved with such men, neither of them were in any state for a questions and answers session at that precise moment. She did not look well at all, too pale and tired. Then she began to sway. 

He lunged forward and caught her just as her legs gave way beneath her. He sighed. Oh well, he thought. It could be worse, she could have stabbed me. 

He looked at the fine silver stiletto that dropped from her grasp.

It stung. 

Her entire body winced and she opened her eyes reluctantly. Taking a sharp breath, she stared up into the eyes of another young woman, with long blonde hair and pursed lips. She was dabbing at Gratia’s forehead with an alcohol-soaked handkerchief. Unconsciously, Gratia swept a hand up to brush the source of pain away. The lady smiled and continued with her administrations.

“Hey, you’re awake at last.”

“Wh– where am I?” she whispered, in a croaky voice. The room was bleary and she did not recognise her surroundings. There was a lot of green. Green walls, green velvet curtains, and even the woman was wearing a green dress.

“Shhhhh, shhhhh. Everything’s going to be just fine. You relax. You’re safe now.”

“Where am I?” she demanded again.

The woman sighed. “I am a friend of Gale’s. This is his house and I am looking after you until you recover. You have had a nasty blow to the head and your side is torn a little, but I have all the herbs and remedies you shall need to get better. So just get plenty of rest and let me worry about your ills for now.”

Sleep pounded at Gratia’s eyeballs and for the moment she was satisfied with that answer. She shut her eyelids again and smiled contentedly.

Then a thought struck her. Where had the lady said they were? Gale’s house? She began to frown as memories of what had happened last time flooded back. Gale’s mother stood in the door of her mind, glaring at her.

Gratia sat bolt-upright and immediately regretted it. Her head felt as though a thunderstorm were playing itself out inside, but she could not stay there, it was not right. She hoisted herself out of bed. The blonde woman sat on the end, an expression of shock spread across her face.

“I cannot stay here! I cannot.”

Gratia’s legs gave way beneath her and she fell to her knees, crawling around the bed towards the door. “Thank you for all you have done, but I am not welcome here. I must leave.”

The woman sprang up from the bed and ran to her, taking her arm and trying to lift her up. Gratia struck out at her.

“If you truly wish to help me, then open the door for me. I must leave.”

And the door flew open. 

Gale stood there with a tray in his arms. It contained a large bowl of broth and a couple of hunks of buttered bread. The smell reached Gratia’s nostrils, teasing her stomach and twisting her gut with hunger.

“Hey, hey, what’s going on here?”

“You know that I am not welcome in your house!”

Gale frowned down at her and then looked to the blonde lady.

“What have you been telling her, Lizzy?”

The lady sighed. “She asked where she was. I told her we were at your house. I thought it might calm her down. You know what these gypsy people are like about medicine that is not their own.”

Now Gale sighed and shook his head thoughtfully. Gratia looked up at them from the floor and her brow creased into a question.

“What are you talking about? Where am I?”

Gale placed the tray on a table by the bed. “I shall tell you, but first you must get back into that bed without any fuss.”

She looked at them both in turn and then nodded her agreement. Gale and Lizzy bent down and took one of her arms each, lifting her back to the bed and tucking her in.

“Well now, that’s better. As for where you are – well, Lizzy here is the,” he paused and chose his words carefully, “medicine woman, of Lariaan.”

“Medicine woman?” Gale’s hesitation did not escape her.

“Yes, errr. She is the, witch, of Lariaan. She cares for the sick.”

“Oh, right.” Gratia relaxed again. She was a witch, that was all. Resting her head against the fluffed-up pillow, Gratia closed her eyes again.

“That– that does not bother you at all?” asked Gale, with a tone of amusement in his voice.

“No, should it?” she mumbled.

“Well, no. I guess not.”

Gratia was aware that the two were exchanging glances, but she was too tired to care any more. Soon she was deep in sleep again, safe in the knowledge that there would still be plenty of broth for her when she woke.

When the aching in her head finally subsided, and her body filled with newly found strength from her rest, Gratia’s eyelids snapped open. It was pitch black. For a moment she lay there until her eyes had adjusted to the dark. She was reassured by a small sliver of torchlight that slipped in around the heavy curtains from the street below.

Stretching her arms out, Gratia realised that there was a large bulky figure next to her. Rolling over, her face rested inches from Gale’s sleeping body. How sweet, she thought. He had stayed with her. A delicate smile crossed her lips and she couldn’t resist stroking his stubbled cheek with her fingers. In the faint light that filtered in from the curtains, she could swear she saw him smile in his sleep.

Her stomach churned with hunger. She sat up on her elbows, straining her eyes she made out the dark patch in the wall which indicated the door. Slipping aside the warm covers, she opened it and stepped out onto a wooden landing leading to a twisting staircase. The steps creaked underfoot as she descended. It didn’t take her long to find the pantry. It was a small, cold room under the staircase. Inside, shelves of cheeses and meats lined the walls. 

Lighting a small candle, Gratia set about plucking food from the wooden boards and cramming handfuls of cooked meats and cheeses into her mouth. There was a pitcher full of fresh goat’s milk which she washed it down with. Soon, she was stuffed and unable to eat another bite. Making her way back up the stairs to her room, she was aware of a shadow below in the hallway. Leaning over the banister to get a better look, Lizzy smiled up at her and nodded.

“I take it you were hungry?”

A sudden pang of guilt washed over Gratia. She should have asked before raiding the woman’s pantry, but she had been so hungry and hadn’t wanted to wake anyone. “I, uh–”

The young witch laughed. “I hope you helped yourself. We can’t have you surviving all your injuries only to starve to death now, can we? You are quite welcome to the food. Now go and have a good night's sleep, you need it.”

With that, Lizzy stepped back into the darkness. Gratia stood for some time, thinking. She had been so... so.... nice! Not at all like the rest of the population of Lariaan. She was happy for her to eat all her food and help herself to the milk. She seemed genuinely pleased that Gratia had made herself at home and was taking such liberties. 

Shaking her head in thought, Gratia stepped back into the bedroom and snuggled between the covers. Glancing back at Gale, she wondered if he was not cold lying on the bed without a blanket, but then he was fully clothed. He grunted and shifted slightly as she made herself comfortable again. Soon enough, the velvety curtain of sleep closed in around her.

The curtains were flung back and a glorious, bright morning flooded in to wake Gratia. Her eyes screwed tightly to guard her from the onslaught, but soon she was sitting upright and concentrating on Lizzy, who was busy opening the windows and airing the room. Gale was not there any more and there was a small white puppy chewing at a slipper in one corner of the room. It had a pink silk bow around its neck and a parchment tag attached to it.

“What time is it?” she asked, in a hoarse voice. She was regretting her midnight feast already, for her body felt bloated and hot.

“Good morning,” sang the witch, in a bright tone. She was beaming with the full force of springtime. “It is quarter-past noon.”

Gratia frowned and took another glance at the window. Indeed, the light did seem rather ferocious for morning – but noon? Surely she had not slept that long!

“Noon? But it can’t be!”

“But it is,” giggled the woman. She was dressed in a deep sapphire-coloured dress with a pretty green sash around the waist.

Gratia rubbed her eyes and gave a lazy yawn. A bundle of white fluff landed on the end of the bed. It stared at her with gleaming blue eyes, wagged its tail, and trotted up to lick her face. Gratia laughed and stroked it under the chin. It began chewing her fingers. Picking it up, she held it high above her and playfully shook it from side-to-side.

“Aaaaaw, who’s a pretty little thing, then? Yes, you are. Oh yes, you are!” she exclaimed and laughed.

Lizzy looked over, clearing her throat. “So, what shall you call him?”

Gratia stared at the witch. “What do you mean? Has it no name yet?”

“Well, I shouldn’t think so. Read the tag.” A cheeky smile flashed across her lips. 

Frowning, Gratia lowered the little puppy and turned the label over to read. In elaborate blue script was written :-

To my dear, sweet gypsy princess, 

Take good care of him and choose a suitable name. 

Give him all the love you have and I shall be back to check on you tonight. 

All my love, 

Gale.

Gratia’s heart melted. She looked back at Lizzy and smiled weakly.

“I think he likes you,” giggled the witch. “So, what are you going to call him?”

Gratia gave a choked cough and wiped a small tear of happiness from her cheek. “Errm,” her voice was shaky. “I don’t know. What do you think?”

“Oh, no. You don’t get out of it that easily.” She smiled. “It’s your puppy, so you name it.”

“I really don’t know what to call it.”

“Well, how about you name it after someone? There must be someone special you could name him after?”

Gratia thought for a moment. “Wroguard. How does that sound?”

Lizzy looked thoughtfully at the puppy. “Wroguard.” Her face lit up. “Yes, Wroguard! I think that kind of suits him. So, who was Wroguard then?”

“Oh, no one really. Just someone I once knew.”

“Ah, a lover?” Her abrupt question caused Gratia to chuckle.

“No, not a lover. Just someone I knew.”

Lizzy nodded and smiled. “Well, you take good care of him. I have to go into town now. If you are hungry at all – well, you know where the pantry is.” She grinned.

Gratia blushed slightly. “Err, yes. I think I remember.” 

They both giggled.

“Good. Well, you just help yourself. I shall not be long. Now, I have washed and darned your dress. It is outside, drying. If you feel strong enough to dress yourself, there are clothes in this wardrobe,” she indicated a large, teak rectangle standing in one corner of the room, “that you may borrow. But you just take care of yourself, and don’t try doing too much.” 

Gratia nodded and exchanged smiles as the young woman left the room. A few moments later, she heard the sound of the front door being closed and locked.

Slipping from between the sheets, Gratia opened the cupboard and peeked inside. The dresses were fantastic. They were made of all sorts of fine material: velvet, satin, silk and thread to name but a few. Choosing a beautiful crushed velvet dress in dark green, she slipped from the floor-length, lace-fringed cotton night gown that Lizzy had swapped for her dress when she had first been carried in. Or at least, she hoped it had been Lizzy. Gratia blushed again at the thought of Gale staring at her whilst she bathed in the stream. 

Pushing the thought to the back of her mind, she washed herself thoroughly in the wash-pan and slipped into the dress. It was gorgeous. She admired herself in the mirror, swirling around and around. The dark green set her eyes sparkling and her long, brushed hair now shone with health as it cascaded down her back, losing itself in the emerald folds of velvet.

Sighing with satisfaction, she picked up the small puppy and kissed its forehead. Tucking it under her arm she turned back to the mirror and giggled at the reflection. She looked so fancy, all made up like a gentlewoman. She took the parchment label in her fingers and read it again, and again. All my love, Gale? Sweet gypsy princess? And what was that Lizzy had said – I think he likes you? Gratia frowned. No, that could not be true. He was not her type – but then, what was? She was hardly experienced in these matters. Besides, he was a hard-working man, he had little time for women. She snorted. Who was she to say what he did and didn’t have time for? She certainly hadn’t stuck around long enough to find out. After the way she had treated him, why on earth should he be interested in her?

And there it was, right in front of her. There it was, laid bare to her own mind. Stripped of the excuses and the side-thoughts she had been conjuring up to conceal it. The truth was, even if he didn’t care so much for her, she loved him. There, that was it. That was the truth. Suddenly, all the hatred and anger had aroused in her turned into something else completely. Another emotion, one she had never experienced before, yet knew with precise certainty what it was. 

Love. She was in love with him. And that one thought took her breath away.

An hour later Lizzy returned with a basketful of strange fruits and several large slabs of meat. She produced a small paper bag and gave it to Gratia.

“For Wroguard.” She smiled.

Opening it, Gratia found it was filled with little greasy bones. There was scarce meat left on them, but they would still make a delicious meal for the young pup. She thanked the witch and helped her stock the rest of the food in the pantry. Then she helped Lizzy rub salt in a huge hunk of pork. The young, blonde woman explained that she would cook it for tonight’s supper. She was expecting Gale to call round with a healthy appetite.

“So, you shall thank him for his gift?”

Gratia stared down at the small puppy whose fur was beginning to matt around the paws with  grease from the bones. 

She smiled. “Oh yes, very much so.”

“It is obvious that he cares for you a great deal, you know.”

“So it would seem.” She blushed hotly.

“Do I take it that the feeling is mutual?” Lizzy raised her eyebrows questioningly.

Gratia hesitated. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

Gratia looked back, uncertainly. “Why do you have such an interest?”

The witch returned her concentration to the handful of salt she was rubbing into the pork. “Gale and I have been close friends for a long time. Please excuse my prying, I only wish to see him happy.”

“Oh, really.” Gratia studied the other woman’s face for a moment, but saw no change in her preoccupied expression. “Well, I am glad he has such a close friend.”

Lizzy glanced up. “You have a sour tint in your voice, my dear. That would not be jealousy, per chance?” she asked, with a tone of mocking. A sickly-sweet smile crossed her lips. They looked at one another for a moment before Lizzy burst into laughter. “You have nothing to fear from me, and that is no lie. I desire no more then his friendship and happiness. Please, trust me on that matter.”

Gratia could not help but smile, somewhat politely though, to hide the foolishness that welled up inside her. Here she was, imposing on this lady’s hospitality with the audacity to accuse her of being in love with a man she had taken a silly fancy to.

“If you do not mind my asking, you are not experienced with men are you?” Again, Lizzy’s face took on an almost stern expression.

“By that, you mean I have never been to bed with a man?” Now it was Gratia’s turn to take an over-enthusiastic interest in salting the meat. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lizzy nod.

“Then I must admit that I am not.” 

Lizzy nodded again. “Then you could not have chosen a kinder teacher.”

Gratia’s head snapped up to stare at the witch. “You speak from experience?” Her tone was acrid. 

Lizzy held her gaze. “I shall not lie to you. But that was a long time ago. Many, many years. That is behind us both, and you can take my word for that.”

Gratia’s throat tightened. Again, she felt completely foolish. Of course he was no great innocent. She was the one who had lived the sheltered life for so many years, completely naive about the workings of the outside world. Besides, he was a good-looking man, he must have had many women.

“Are there any other women I should ask an opinion of whilst I am on the subject?”

Lizzy frowned. “Do not be so bitter. He may be a rogue at times, but he is no dishonourable figure. He is respectable and well-mannered. He would do nothing to harm one who has gained his affections. True, he has known a few women, but never more then one of a time, and certainly not without cause.”

“What is meant by that? ‘Not without cause?’”

“All of the women he has favoured, have been deserving of his attention. They were never on a whim.”

Gratia thought for a moment. “And you believe he now favours me?”

“I believe he has a weakness for you, yes. The question is, do you favour him also?”

“No, of course I do not!” Gratia looked at Lizzy with an expression to suggest it had not even crossed her mind.

“Oh?”

Gratia gasped. “No! How on earth could you even think such a thing?”

Lizzy studied her for a moment and then smiled “Good, so long as you both know where you stand.” The witch looked at her darkly. “I’d hate to think his passions would be wasted.” 

Gratia stared at her for a moment, swallowed and blinking. She turned back to the salt dish and took another handful. “I mean, it’s unthinkable. I could never love such a man.”

“Indeed. I take back my question, forgive me.”

“It’s unthinkable.”

“Yes. Yes, I see that now.”

Gratia looked at Lizzy. “You do? I mean, good. I’m glad.”

Lizzy’s lips curled up into a huge and wicked grin.

“What?” Gratia frowned.

“Only the guilty repeat their innocence, Gratia.”

 Wroguard scratched at her leg and pined for attention.