The Red Witch

Chapter 2

Steven Ferrydean had long been considered the richest Lord of the Northern lands and he owned not only this valley and all the land within, but several thousand acres to the North that bordered with the lands of Northumberland. He was a lord of Lincoln and a veteran warrior in his youth and had been awarded the land as his prize by the current ruler, King Aethelwolf. Now as old as Fergus, if not a few years more, he had a happy and comfortable life. His soft brown eyes gazed around the tiny home of Fergus Tilling and his sons and he firmed his jaw. His gloved hand stroked back his soft grey hair before he pulled his fine blue cloak about him and sat comfortably on a chair near the fire. His mastiff hound Bane rested easily on a small pile of hay near the fire. Fergus was propped up in his bed and it had been moved closer to the fire so the two men could talk. Hamish and Thackery milled about as they drank ale and chewed on yesterday’s bread. A second man stood near the window, leaning against the wall. His deep black hair was braided down his back and he stood with his arms folded and his ankles crossed, his head down in thought. He too was dressed finely in his leather tunic, the shirt underneath unable to hide the large amount of muscle around his arms, shoulders and neck. He was much larger than Ferrydean, giving Fergus the impression this man was a bodyguard of some kind. At least temporarily anyway.

“Master Tilling.” Ferrydean sat as he settled back in the chair. “Though I am sympathetic to your condition, it isn’t in my nature to let you use it to your own advantage. The terms of your lease were clear.”

“I was born in this house!” Fergus snapped back as he coughed. “My father built it stone by stone. You cannot simply throw us out.”

“I can Master Tilling.” Ferrydean returned calmly. “And I will.”

“Sire.” Hamish said, bowing his head some. “At least would you consider giving us until the end of the harvest?”

“Why?” Ferrydean asked.

“We can pay the lease then.” Hamish told him politely. “Sire, just a few more months, that’s all my father asks.”

“That would make an entire year that you have lived on my land against the law.” Ferrydean said coldly. “Land that the King gave me for my service. I have made every effort and on several occasions, I have turned a blind eye but no longer……” His voice trailed off as he spotted someone through the back window. “Who is that?” He asked. His question also raised the head of the large man leaning against the opposing window. Amber eyes lifted and stared with both suspicion and curiosity.

Hamish quickly turned to the window and his shoulders dropped. “That is Karin.” He said with some disgust. He then looked to his father and then to Thackery.

“Karin!” Fergus snapped. “Get in here girl!” Her image crossed the window again quickly and she entered the house. Ferrydean grinned as he looked her up and down openly. Hamish grabbed her by the arm and presented her to the lord. She kept her head low and her hands clasped tight before her.

“Well now, aren’t you a pretty thing?” Ferrydean offered as he moved to Karin. “Karin, is it?” He stood over her and folded his arms.

“Yes Sire.” She replied quietly, not daring to look up. She curled her toes up under the hem of the dress and chewed on her lip.

“How old are you Karin?” Ferrydean asked.

“I know not Sire.” She told him quietly.

“She turns nineteen just after the solstice.” Fergus offered.

“I see.” Ferrydean said before looking to his man. “Greyson?”

“Father.” The large man replied quietly, making Fergus and both his sons blink with surprise. The last anyone had seen of the lord’s son was over a decade ago when he was summoned to the capitol. Clearly, his return had been private. His voice was deep and somewhat guttural but it was smooth. “Barely a scrap of a girl. I’m surprised she isn’t dead.”

“She should have been.” Hamish said coldly under his breath.

“The end of the harvest, you say?” Ferrydean mused.

“Yes Sir.” Hamish told him quickly. “As soon as the grain has been sold at market, we can buy a new lease, I swear.” He then looked to his father briefly before he offered a half-c****d grin, “Or if you deem worthy Sir?”

“Yes?”

“You can take her for the price of the lease.” Fergus offered quickly.

“Father!” Karin yelped. Hamish squeezed Karin’s arm painfully.

“Half a year.” Ferrydean said, turning to Fergus.

“No Sir.” Fergus told him. “The full lease Sir. Five years plus this last year.”

“You are asking much Mr Tilling.” Ferrydean said with a narrow gaze. “Even as pretty as she is, she isn’t worth that much.”

“Five years.” Fergus repeated. “You will not find another as rare as she in these parts, nor as hard working.” He made to prop himself up further. “And she can read.” Ferrydean’s brow shot up at that.

“I doubt that somehow.” Greyson offered as he looked carefully at Karin. A woman that could read were indeed very rare and in low born such as this one, it was considered almost blasphemous. She looked utterly terrified.

“Are you calling my father a liar, Sir?” Thackery interjected sharply. Greyson lifted an eyebrow but nothing more. Quickly, the young man grabbed up a small book and shoved it into Karin’s hand. “Read it!” He demanded.

“That will not be necessary.” Ferrydean said as Karin opened the book. He looked carefully at Fergus and then his sons in turn before looking to Karin. He worked his jaw as he considered the offer. After a moment, he leaned back on the chair and lifted his head over his shoulder to Greyson. The huge man stepped forward and lowered his bulk. “What do you think she’s worth?” He asked in whisper. “I suppose she could make a half decent w***e or perhaps a maid for your mother?”

“Step-mother would snap her neck like a twig.” Greyson replied also in whisper. “She’s not worth anything close to what they want.”

“What would you pay?”

Greyson pursed his lips and lifted his eyes at Karin again before shaking his head. “A few iron coins at best.” He said. “Nothing more.”

“Sir?” Fergus said. “Do we have a deal or not?”

Getting to his feet, Ferrydean tapped his leg with his crop and Bane got off the hay pile near the fire. “You have until the harvest.” He said plainly. Greyson nodded his approval and made for the door. He opened it and stepped outside. Ferrydean followed him. As both men left, Hamish made for the door but as he was about to close it, Ferrydean turned. “Bane.” He said. A massive black hound lifted his giant maw. “Fetch the girl.”

“Wait!” Fergus shouted.

“Sire!” Hamish shouted.

“Father!” Karin yelped.

Bane growled and snapped at the men before he moved around Karin. She yelped and stepped back in fear, tears welling up. Bane moved around her again and snapped his maw at her, growling menacingly and she fled from him towards the door. As soon as her feet touched the mud outside the house, Bane snapped his maw on her hair and dragged her the rest of the way. She continued to fight but then Bane let go and she fell to the ground before Greyson. The massive hound then moved closer to the house to stop Hamish and Thackery from reclaiming their sister. Without hesitation, Ferrydean mounted his large horse and started to ride away slowly. Greyson mounted his own, a massive beast with dark tan spots on black. He held his hand out for Karin. “You can ride with me.” He offered, “Or you can walk with Bane.” Karin didn’t need telling twice. She instantly got to her feet again and Greyson lifted her with barely any effort. He shifted back as Karin landed with a thump in front of him. She then wrapped her fingers into the horse’s mane as Greyson gave it a sharp kick and it bolted from the house.