Read Online Lady Ilena by Patricia Malone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Patricia Malone
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him, then leave the barn without looking back.
There is warm water in my room, and I wash carefully and comb my hair till it is smooth. I put on my blue dress and the girdle that my mother made for me. Before I toss the dirty bathwater out the window, I take my sword out of its scabbard and clean it thoroughly. After I've polished it with the linen bath towel, I stand it in its place in the corner.
I wonder if I will ever use it again.
Our bard is strumming a peaceful song as I approach the door of the hall, and I can hear conversation inside. Cormec is in his place as doorkeeper. He bows as he holds the doorskin aside for me.
There is total silence as I walk the aisle between thetables. I do not look to the right or to the left, but keep my eyes on Belert at the head table. He is standing now, and Gillis stands beside him. Spusscio remains seated with his head bowed. The bard has stopped playing and holds his harp upright with his hands muffling the strings.
This story will be told in halls throughout Britain, and few who hear it will have any sympathy for me. I step onto the dais and stand before my father.
He sighs and turns to Gillis. “Have you made a decision?”
Gillis nods, and Belert sits down.
Gillis looks out over the room. “You have heard the story of the battle yesterday. Ilena faltered and fell to the rear when the attack came. She left her chief unprotected.” He waits while voices murmur through the room. When it quiets, he resumes. “You watched her when the Northmen attacked Dun Alyn last fall, and you know of her courage. She has taught Dun Alyn's young people weaponry, and she has led the hunting bands against the wild boar and other game. You know, as do I, that she is brave, skilled in warfare, and loyal to her father, Chief Belert.”
I stand still, watching him and listening for the sounds behind me. I can hear shuffling as someone stands to speak, and silence as people stop their conversations to listen.
“I have hunted with Chief Ilena.” It is Cormec. “She shows more courage when she faces the wild boar than anyone I've followed. I do not know why she faltered at the Ford of Dee, but I would like to hear her story.”
Gillis looks at me for a few moments, then responds. “Her story is a strange one. Ilena saw an apparition riding beside Andrina, an image of Durant; whether in the flesh or as a spirit, she could not determine. Since no one else saw him, it is possible that Andrina cast a spell on Ilena, or perhaps that Andrina has progressed far enough into the dark arts to conjure up one from the Sidhe to ride beside her.”
The room erupts with excitement. Feet shuffle and benches creak as people stand to talk to others about the news.
Gillis stands, calm and powerful. Spusscio watches the movement in the hall. Belert toys with his dirk and stares beyond it at the tabletop. He looks weary, and he lays the dirk down for a moment to rub his eyes, then glances at me and manages a tiny smile. His eyes are warm as they have always been when he looks at me, and I feel reassured that he, at least, does not blame me for my actions.
Gillis clears his throat and raps his dirk on the table. People scurry to their benches, and quiet returns to the hall. “I have thought long about Ilena's situation,” he begins.
“The penalty for falling behind in battle for any reason but grave injury is death.” He pauses. “Ilena is guilty!
“The penalty when an uninjured warrior leaves a chief unprotected is death.” He looks at me and then out into the hall. “Ilena is guilty!
“The penalty when a chief fails to lead the war band is death.” This time when he pauses, the hall is so quiet I can hear the sound of the sea through the open window.
“Ilena is guilty!”
His words bash against me like physical blows. It is all that I can do to stand still and keep my head high. The room behind me remains silent.
Gillis continues. “Because of the strange circumstances of Ilena's lapse,
There is warm water in my room, and I wash carefully and comb my hair till it is smooth. I put on my blue dress and the girdle that my mother made for me. Before I toss the dirty bathwater out the window, I take my sword out of its scabbard and clean it thoroughly. After I've polished it with the linen bath towel, I stand it in its place in the corner.
I wonder if I will ever use it again.
Our bard is strumming a peaceful song as I approach the door of the hall, and I can hear conversation inside. Cormec is in his place as doorkeeper. He bows as he holds the doorskin aside for me.
There is total silence as I walk the aisle between thetables. I do not look to the right or to the left, but keep my eyes on Belert at the head table. He is standing now, and Gillis stands beside him. Spusscio remains seated with his head bowed. The bard has stopped playing and holds his harp upright with his hands muffling the strings.
This story will be told in halls throughout Britain, and few who hear it will have any sympathy for me. I step onto the dais and stand before my father.
He sighs and turns to Gillis. “Have you made a decision?”
Gillis nods, and Belert sits down.
Gillis looks out over the room. “You have heard the story of the battle yesterday. Ilena faltered and fell to the rear when the attack came. She left her chief unprotected.” He waits while voices murmur through the room. When it quiets, he resumes. “You watched her when the Northmen attacked Dun Alyn last fall, and you know of her courage. She has taught Dun Alyn's young people weaponry, and she has led the hunting bands against the wild boar and other game. You know, as do I, that she is brave, skilled in warfare, and loyal to her father, Chief Belert.”
I stand still, watching him and listening for the sounds behind me. I can hear shuffling as someone stands to speak, and silence as people stop their conversations to listen.
“I have hunted with Chief Ilena.” It is Cormec. “She shows more courage when she faces the wild boar than anyone I've followed. I do not know why she faltered at the Ford of Dee, but I would like to hear her story.”
Gillis looks at me for a few moments, then responds. “Her story is a strange one. Ilena saw an apparition riding beside Andrina, an image of Durant; whether in the flesh or as a spirit, she could not determine. Since no one else saw him, it is possible that Andrina cast a spell on Ilena, or perhaps that Andrina has progressed far enough into the dark arts to conjure up one from the Sidhe to ride beside her.”
The room erupts with excitement. Feet shuffle and benches creak as people stand to talk to others about the news.
Gillis stands, calm and powerful. Spusscio watches the movement in the hall. Belert toys with his dirk and stares beyond it at the tabletop. He looks weary, and he lays the dirk down for a moment to rub his eyes, then glances at me and manages a tiny smile. His eyes are warm as they have always been when he looks at me, and I feel reassured that he, at least, does not blame me for my actions.
Gillis clears his throat and raps his dirk on the table. People scurry to their benches, and quiet returns to the hall. “I have thought long about Ilena's situation,” he begins.
“The penalty for falling behind in battle for any reason but grave injury is death.” He pauses. “Ilena is guilty!
“The penalty when an uninjured warrior leaves a chief unprotected is death.” He looks at me and then out into the hall. “Ilena is guilty!
“The penalty when a chief fails to lead the war band is death.” This time when he pauses, the hall is so quiet I can hear the sound of the sea through the open window.
“Ilena is guilty!”
His words bash against me like physical blows. It is all that I can do to stand still and keep my head high. The room behind me remains silent.
Gillis continues. “Because of the strange circumstances of Ilena's lapse,
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