The Barbarian Read online

  “Her temperature Friar?”

  He was checking it. “Good, good. You did well Lord.”

  Eldron felt sleep creeping upon him. He should go to the rooms allocated to him, but he didn’t want to leave her.

  There would come a time when he’d want to analysis his actions towards the female, but that time wasn’t now. He’d done more than his duty, but he still wished to stay.

  “That is still to be seen.” He told them. “Stool and blankets, I will rest here.”

  He barely heard the ‘yes my lord’ before his feet were lifted, blankets covered him, and his eyes closed.

  ***

  Five nights later…..

  Something woke him again. Night after night he’d been pulled from his sleep.

  Never a heavy sleeper, always on edge for an attack, it had kept him alive on more than one occasion, he stirred again. Looking for the threat. He didn’t move.

  His years of training to ascertain the threat before he moved, came to him naturally. The noise came again, he couldn’t see anyone else in the room. It was dark, the room full of shadows as candlelight flickered around the room bouncing off stone walls and floors, the firelight reaching out its tendrils to meet the shadows.

  No one moved.

  The noise came from the bed. He relaxed. The female again. Eldron removed his feet from the stool and pulled the blankets from his body moving the muscles in his legs that had gone stiff. Several benches and pallets were now his bed in this room. A place that had become his bedroom since his arrival. Her room. He placed more wood on the fire and went to her willingly. This time eyes blinked up at him.

  His heart stuttered. Even in this light he could see the blue in her eyes.

  “C..o..ld….” The voice croaked. Eldron checked the temperature of the bedding near her body heat. It was warm but not hot. He checked her face and arms, they were cool once more.

  Damn it.

  Her body still unable to retain the heat.

  Always at night, even with bed pans and the fire raging, she couldn’t seem to hold her heat.

  It had been like this since she came out of the bath. He’d not had a full night’s sleep for nearly a week.

  He could have let a maid do it but something in him wouldn’t let him leave her. They’d lost many a man in the night like this. He knew his actions were helping to keep her alive but it was more than that. It felt like she needed him and him alone.

  “Ale….” She whispered. Her throat dry.

  He wiped her brow. She looked so frail and yet she called to him.

  “No Ale. You’re not ready for it little one. The Friar has made his herb tea. I will get you some and broth. Try to take both.”

  He didn’t wait for her to answer moving back to the fire. He reached out and found his hand shaking. In the darkest of battles, he did not fear but he did now. She was awake, it was a good sign wasn’t it?

  Was it fear or relief?....

  He fed her a little tea to quench her thirst, then refilled the bed pans, letting them heat, covering them in a blanket and carefully placing them down the far side of her. Going back for the broth testing the temperature, he brought it to her putting it down next to the tea and lifted her slightly with more pillows. Giving her more of the tea slowly, followed by the broth.

  She looked up at him so vulnerable with confidence in his care of her. Eldron found it humbling and a little disturbing.

  He was a warrior not a nursemaid….

  “C..o…ld….” Her voice chattered. He checked the bed pans were doing their job but knew all his hard work would be lost if he didn’t keep her temperature up.

  He’d seen this too many times in the wars in the North. You would think they were getting better from the cold and then it struck once more in the night and killed them.

  He braced himself on the bed. His head hung low. It was pushing himself passed his endurance and once again he knew instinctively the bed wasn’t going to be warm enough on its own.

  Eldron had hoped each night and day that passed, she would get stronger on her own. Mayhap she was, he didn’t know but right now, it was up to him to keep her warm enough to make it through another night.

  He moved the bed pans that were near him to the other side of her tucking them in so their heat would reach her but not burn, then stripped to his shirt and under breaches. Lifted the blankets quickly and slipped in next to her, pulling the blankets away between them so she lay bodily across him, tucking the covers back in, he rubbed at her back, hoping once more that his body heat would be enough.

  She sighed almost immediately sinking into his heat, speaking gentle words of comfort he told her she would get through this, that she was safe.

  He hoped he was right.

  Within minutes, her small delicate fingers that had been scrunched up, opened on his chest, her body stopped chattering and she relaxed against him.

  Eldron breathed a sigh of relief. Not sure how many more nights this could go on. Her scent was like a drug. His pull towards the female was getting stronger. He feared it made him weak and knew it couldn’t go on. He needed to distance himself and quickly.

  “Sleep now,” he whispered.

  ***

  The morning of day 9…..

  “What in God’s name is the meaning of this!”

  He woke startled to the sound of the door opening against the wall and the roar. Eldron disentangled himself of the bed clothes and the female and charged from the bed reaching for his sword ready for attack.

  He was beyond exhausted and on fumes, every instinct kicked in. Danger. Alert. Fight. Protect.

  The maiden putting more wood on the fire, dropped it and screamed. He saw the shock on her face seeing him leap from the bed, but nothing looked more shocked than the new voice in the room.

  How had he not heard the maid or new comer before entering the room?.....

  He’d been too tired. Strung out. Exhausted. Others filed in. Eldron looked to newcomers.

  Several people were now standing in the room with him. Olivia and Ava amongst them. They looked warily at the newcomers. Eldron took in the new arrival’s robes and manner.

  So, the Lord of the manor was back.

  About bloody time…

  He thought too exhausted to deal with this now. He beckoned the maid who brought him warmed wine and he thanked her keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the female in his bed.

  His?....

  The Lord ranted on. Eldron snarled. “Keep your voice down Lord. The female is weak,” he told them calmly as he put down his sword and went back to cover her in the blankets and furs once more. The male spluttered. Eldron ignored him.

  He looked at the female servants. They knew how tired he was.

  “Heat the bed pans,” he told them gently. They bobbed and got to it.

  “You dare to give orders in my house?”

  Eldron came back towards the new arrivals and indicated the seats before the fire saying nothing. He took one, waiting on the male to take the other. He did so in a huff. Eldron rolled his shoulders. He could kill him with his goblet. One strike is all it would take. His wife stood beside him glaring, their daughters behind them.

  So the family was all here…..

  “Your child,” he told them quietly, indicating the bed then sipping his wine. Bread and cheese was brought to him and he thanked the maid.

  “was found by me, in the turret tower frozen, practically at deaths door. I accept I came early and therefore take some blame for her condition. On hearing the news on our early arrival. As any good Chatelain,” he looked at the mother coolly who stuck her nose in the air.

  “She saw to our well being asked the Friar to serve as witness to our arrival as friend or foe with the few men you left to defend them,” both parents stiffened.

  “Then she checked on our approach. Why she remained there, feeling the need to do so I do not know. Mayhap you do.”

  He looked at the Lord directly while he ate. They both knew
repeated fears and rumours of him had led to her actions.

  “Barbarian! You have ruined our child’s reputation!” The mother hissed in defence.

  “Better her reputation than her life.” He replied calmly taking another drink.

  The Friar came rushing in. “My Lord,” he bowed breathless, “My Lady welcome home.”

  “Friar what in God’s name has happened here, why is that man sharing a bed with my daughter Eleanor!?” The Lords voice had risen once more.

  “Keep your voice low,” Eldron bit out angrily. His men moved forward, and he shook his head at them.

  The Friar looked at Eldron, the bed and back to his master and mistress.

  His face was surprising in support of Eldron and moved to his side to face them before answering.

  “As Lord Eldron has probably told you, there was an accident with Lady Eleanor. She was found on the turret badly frozen. Without doubt near unto death.” Both sisters started to weep giving their agreement. “Lord Eldron acted quickly and with honour, placing her in a hot bath, then into a hot bed. Although unorthodox, I am sure his actions saved her life.”

  “He was in the bed with her Friar!” The mother stretched again pointing at it. “Just now!”

  Eldron snarled this time. “Keep your voice down Lady, she sleeps poorly, and you will wake her.” He was too tired to give a shit.

  The Friar had hid his surprise well on hearing he was sharing her bed Eldron would give him that, but he doubted that he was actually surprised at all. He’d noticed not much got passed the old Friar. He had a love for the Lords children. This one mayhap more than the others. It was likely he already knew that he’d ended up joining her each night in the bed.

  “He was also in her bath for half a day keeping her safe in the water until we could take her out and that was only possible once her temperature returned to normal levels which was not a quick fix. She would not have been able to keep herself afloat or warm enough without him. He prevented further harm by stopping others less informed on how to treat her when they tried to help. If he was in her bed, then her temperature must have dropped dangerously again in the night.” He looked at Eldron who gave a sharp nod. Satisfied the Frier turned back. “It’s been doing that every night since we put her in it and every time it did, we could have lost her.”

  The Lord looked back to him. “Well? Does that explain it my Lord?”

  Eldron rubbed his face. He was really too tired for this shite. “The Friar is right. Her body temperature would not hold, still does not hold. The chills would start, she would shake with it and no matter how much we warmed the bed or the room it wasn’t enough, she was too cold inside and unable to heat herself. More bed pans were not effective or quick enough, body heat is a rapid and sure fix. We have had to do it many times saving men from the frost in the North. We were lucky, she survived, and I believe she is getting better. Holding her temperature longer now.”

  The Lady was unimpressed and spoke with her husband. “This is unacceptable Richard. People will talk. The servants, the girl is ruined.” The mother paced a little. A maid brought them both wine. She turned to her other daughters.

  “And what were you doing while all this was going on?” They both moved as if struck. Eldron didn’t like it. The woman was brittle.

  Her father had a calculating look about him. Eldron didn’t like that much either but his words were better when the father spoke.

  “It is clear my dear that Lord Eldron is right Mildred, the child lives, and the Friar would not go along with anything less than godly. We could have lost her.”

  She turned on her husband and hissed. “No one will marry her now.”

  “She doesn’t wish for a husband anyway, you know that.” The Lord told her sharply.

  The Lady shook her finger at him. “That is your doing, putting ideas into her head. Letting her read all those books.”

  Eldron raised his eyes watching the bi-play between the husband and wife. Recalling the name of the female he’d been helping was Eleanor. Meaning bright, shinning one. She was that and more. In the time he’d been caring for her they would speak her name and try to roust her. To little effect. She only responded to him. He’d become use it himself when alone with her.

  He smiled a little and once more thought it suited her. She was a fighter and they clearly loved their child.

  “I came here for a contract.” He butted in, not wanting to hear them argue any longer. “I’ll take the child.”

  The words were out of his mouth before he realised what he’d said. They both turned to him in surprise. The room was now a shocked silence. The more the silence went on the more annoyed he became.

  “I came for a contract,” he said again. He looked to the bed. “You brought me here, that’s the price,” he snapped.

  “No.” Lady Mildred took a step back and swayed a little, she was none too happy. “He will kill her.”

  He sneered at her. “I will fuck her not break her.” The woman flinched at his coarseness. Eldron felt like laughing at her. The sisters flushed.

  What did these women think he did with a woman?

  Eldron smiled his best, don’t push me smile, putting on his boots, then stood.

  “You want my strong arm and my men, you offered me a daughter in exchange. I’ll take the one that has been ‘sullied’ by my actions. That’s the price. Have the papers drawn up and I will sign tonight. Now that you have finally arrived, we can leave. The child will need a body wrap, an armoury suit of your warmest furs from head to toe. Have her maids and sisters accompany her if they so wish to care for her on the journey and I will return those that wish to return thereafter. We leave at first light tomorrow with that agreement. Or not and we leave with no contract at all.” He bowed.

  “Good day.”

  He stalked from the room with Makas and Brute the rest of his elite waiting in the hallway. He had no idea why he’d made that decision. There was still a chance the child would die anyway or always be weak and useless. It played on his mind as he exited the room to walk to his chamber. He didn’t like it.

  “My child may die on the journey you brute!” The Lady called out as he walked away from the room, to hushing sounds coming from the father.

  At least someone was listening. …

  He left them with a parting comment. “Your child may die either way, at least this way you have your alliance. Life is not guaranteed.”

  He smiled as he heard their gasps and walked away.

  Eldron stalked to his room. The last couple of weeks had drained him. His elite walked the corridors with him. They’d been increasingly concerned for his attachment to the female. He understood it. Each in their own way, trying to guide him. He appreciated their concern and as Makas had pointed out on several occasions, ‘the child’ was in fact a 25-year-old woman. One that should have been married and bred many years ago and only ten years his junior. He agreed to some extent.

  He’d given up all hopes of home and hearth when he’d had to fight to stay alive but, in his arms, something called to him, she looked so much younger. And that was a problem. He was no saviour and wanted no child. All he ever needed was a full-grown female that he could dominate and fuck hard and walk away from.

  This wasn’t her. So what was he doing?.....

  He wiped his face down with his hand as he tended to do when stressed.

  “Enough of the blasted place. Have the men ready to travel tomorrow. I need sleep, wake me before eve meal.”

  He slammed his door shut and headed for the bed. He’d been up beyond his endurance and had little finesse left. It was pushing it even for him. The longer he stayed in this place, the more of a fool he would become.

  It was time to leave.

  ***

  The rocking motion was soothing. She was warm and cosy.

  When was the last time she’d felt that?....

  She couldn’t remember. She heard the timber of his voice and knew she was safe here, wherever here was. Hands
and voices around her were comforting and familiar telling her to swallow. She did. It was nourishing and good and they all fell away once more.

  ***

  “We are making good time.” Makas had ridden back to join him.

  Eldron’s attention was firmly on the loaded wagon in front of him. Makas having taken his place at the front of the column. The question of leading or being with the child was answered quickly once he’d physically inspected her clothing and bed inside the wagon, to both the disapproval of the maid and her sisters. He’d been firm on one of them laying with her at all times. She still looked vulnerable and not out of the woods yet and for once, he questioned his decision to leave.

  Changing his mind would have made him look weak and considerate of the female, which was out of the question. It would have given her father a bargaining chip he didn’t need but he’d been sorely tempted to do it anyway. Conflict had raged inside him. A feeling he rarely had, and it only served to make things worse and booster his anger. Only tempered by the fact that her maids and sisters had chosen to join her on the journey, with their own battalion of men. Their father being more cautious this time. Or more likely making sure the contract was upheld.

  “We are,” Eldron continually scanned the area around them. “But we both know this wagon will not survive an attack. If that happens, pass the word, I want 3 more elite to ride back here and take a female each wrapped in blankets and ride for home. You will take Eleanor while I help fight them off.”