The Red Witch

Chapter 13

Judith sat stoic on the bench, her hands folded neatly across her lap and sporting a black eye, she stared emptily into the fire. Neither Greyson nor Ferrydean had laid a finger on her. The black eye was from Betty. Ferrydean sat in his chair, looking away from her in shame and Greyson paced gently back and forth across the fire. “What did you promise them?” He asked. Judith did not answer. “Answer me!” Still nothing. The woman barely blinked.

“Answer him Judith.” Ferrydean ordered quietly.

“Go f**k a fairy.” She eventually said.

“What did you promise them?!” Greyson demanded. He was losing patience with his step-mother and he thumped his fist down on the mantel. It rocked the stone and Judith jumped.

“Maybe I should let Betty loose on her again.” Ferrydean offered. “Give her another black eye to make the pair.” Judith shuddered then, clasping her hands together tightly. “Answer him.”

“A lifelong lease on their farm and gold enough to buy anything they wished.” She finally admitted.

“That farm was not yours to give.” Greyson told her sharply.

“It would have been soon enough.” She replied coldly. “And it was a small price to pay for that red-headed witch!” She then flinched as Greyson bolted from the fire, his hand raised to strike her. He stopped just short of landing his blow.

“Why?” Ferrydean asked.

“You know why.” She snapped back. “Did you honestly think I’d let that girl turn your head and replace me?” She scoffed at him icily. “I’ve worked too hard for too long to let some farmer’s daughter claim what is mine.” She eyed her husband carefully before turning her gaze on Greyson. “Or let her give you a son. She belongs in the dirt where she was born.” She turned her eyes away then and stared into the fire once more.

“You disgust me.” Ferrydean said quietly, keeping his gaze away from her.

“You’ve disgusted me from the moment you looked at me.” She returned sharply.

“Then worry not, Wife.” Ferrydean said coldly, “I shall not grace your eyes much longer.” He got up from his chair before looking at his son.

“Thank the Lord!” Judith sighed with mirth.

“You have until dawn on the morrow.” Ferrydean told her as he finally looked at her. “I want you gone, every trace of you. You will leave the valley and never return or I will watch you hang. Do you understand?”

“Perfectly.” Judith replied, “Though I shall expect a stipend of substance to house and feed us comfortably.”

“Us?” Ferrydean asked.

“Elizabeth and I, of course.” Judith snorted. “I’m not leaving my daughter here with the likes of you!”

“You will leave here with exactly what you came with.” Ferrydean snapped, “And you disowned that babe for a fantasy. You’ve barely even looked at her. She will remain here.” Judith narrowed her eyes at Ferrydean.

“I changed my mind.” She said, lifting her chin in defiance.

“I don’t care.” Ferrydean returned quickly. “My daughter will stay here. As far as she will know, her mother died giving birth to her for you are dead to me and dead to her. Now get out of my sight.” Without another word, Judith got to her feet, lifted her chin again and left the main hall. Once out of sight, Ferrydean dropped his shoulders and slumped down in his chair and sniffed away his hurt discretely.

“You did the right thing, Father.” Greyson offered as he too sat down. “That woman is a monster of the worst kind. A basilisk dressed in lamb’s wool.”

“She fooled me certainly.” Ferrydean sniffed.

“She fooled all of us.” Greyson offered in defence.

“She didn’t fool Betty, or Karin.” Ferrydean said. “They saw through her from the beginning.” He turned his eyes to his son. “I owe you an apology, son.” He offered quietly, “More than just an apology.” He reached into his shirt and produced his purse. “My selfishness nearly cost a good woman her life.” He continued as he took out six iron exactly and placed them on the table. “I nearly cost you a good and honourable wife. Please give it to Karin and with my most humble apology?”

“You can do that yourself.” Greyson told him firmly but kindly. “She should be awake now and I haven’t seen Bane for a few hours.”

“No doubt Betty will have him on guard duty.” Ferrydean said with a snort of laughter. “She’s a good egg, that one.”

“Maybe you should have married her then instead.” Greyson said with his own snort of laughter. “And saved yourself all this fuss.”

“Duly noted.” Ferrydean conceded and slowly got to his feet. He picked up the coins and clasped them tight in his hand. “Do you think she might shout and curse at me?” He asked, looking up the stairs.

“I’d be disappointed if she didn’t.” Greyson told him.

“Would you join me?” He asked quietly. “Give your father some support at least.” Greyson laughed and got to his feet.

“Join you yes.” He said with a smile, “Support you? Absolutely not. I’ll enjoy watching you grovel to a weaver’s daughter.”

Karin had just about dozed off when Bane woke her again with a sharp growl. It was soon clear why as the door opened quietly and Greyson entered. Bane wagged his tail then and Karin eased herself up a little more with a warm smile. It didn’t last long. Ferrydean entered behind him and Karin dropped her chin, her eyes narrowing in anger. Bane also growled at him. “That wolverine loves you more than he ever did me.” Ferrydean offered with a shy smile.

“Perhaps he knows honest affection when he sees it.” She returned sharply. Ferrydean put his hand up and nodded in defeat as Greyson moved to the bed and sat down gently so as not to cause Karin any discomfort. “What do you want?”

“I want to give you something.” He said. He moved closer but then stopped as Bane growled again. “If I may?” He asked.

“Bane.” Karin said, “Be nice.” The hound instantly laid back down. Her eyes turned back to Ferrydean. “What is it?” He stepped closer until he could reach the nightstand and he carefully put the money down on it. Karin glared at the coins and then at him. “Six iron.” She said coldly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “After everything you’ve let that woman do to me, you give me six f*****g coins?!” Despite her injuries, she leaned over past Greyson and swiped the money onto the floor, spitting on it. “You coward!” She yelled.

“Karin please!” Ferrydean pleaded.

“After everything I’ve had to endure!” She continued. “The torment you let your wife level against me! I should wring your scrawny f*****g neck!”

“I know!” Ferrydean said quickly, “And I deserve every last insult you could throw at me but please, just hear me out.” He held his hands up, his whole body taking on a submissive pose as he pleaded with her.

“Hear you out?” She repeated with deep sarcasm and hatred. “Hear you out? I’d rather die than listen to another word from you!”

“Karin please.” Greyson offered quietly. “Calm yourself before you open your wounds.” He placed his hand gently on hers.

“Wounds he is responsible for.” She returned sharply. “I nearly died because he was too stupid to see the truth!”

“And I admit it.” Ferrydean interjected quickly, “All of it and I beg your forgiveness, Karin.”

“With six iron.” She hissed at him. “You could bury me in gold and it would never be enough Ferrydean. Your money will not clean my brother’s blood from my hands, or their piss from my skin. Nor can it ever quell my hatred for you.”

“I don’t expect it to.” Ferrydean said, somehow finding his spine again. “If you remember Karin, six iron coins is what Greyson paid me for you.”

“I remember just fine.” She snapped.

“I’m giving it back to atone for my arrogance in thinking you could be bought.” He offered honestly. “I was wrong to think so little of you and I’m sorry. You’re a good woman Karin Tilling, an honest and caring soul and you deserved so much better than I gave you.”

“Menoda.” Karin said, correcting his mistake. “My father disowned me. Your son demanded he give me my mother’s name.”

“Actually, you’re a Ferrydean now.” Greyson said with some mirth but then shut his mouth tight when she glared at him.

“Menoda.” Ferrydean said. “As in Faith Menoda. A fine weaver.”

“You knew her?” Karin asked. She watched his face turn from pity and sadness to happy pride and he stepped forward without thinking. Bane lifted his head and growled but then dropped down once more as Karin patted his head. “You knew of my mother?” She asked again.

“I did.” He said with a warm smile. “She made many of the tapestries you see hanging here and the banners.”

“I know.” She told him flatly. “What else did you know of her?”

“She could light up a room just by entering it.” Ferrydean said as he got steadily closer. “She was like blossom and fresh rain. With hair the colour of the sunset and eyes that twinkled when she smiled.”

“You were in love with her.” Karin said, stating the obvious, it seemed. Ferrydean blushed a little. “What happened? Why did you leave her to Fergus Tilling?” She said her father’s name with open disgust.

“My father demanded I look higher for a wife.” He said honestly, “And in my arrogance, I did just that. I married Elizabeth Tanner instead, the daughter of a wealthy officer in the King’s personal guard.” He turned his eyes to his son, “Your mother, Greyson.” He looked back at Karin again. “And Faith was married off to a farmer in the valley. I thought I’d never see her again but for some reason, I ended up with this place as payment for my service to the crown and when Beth died, I went looking for her. By then, she’d already had your older brothers and when she looked at me, she didn’t even recognise me.”

“I suppose you tried to buy her like you did me.” Karin said sharply and Ferrydean flinched.

“I took the lease.” He admitted, “And offered Tilling many times to clear it if he’d give me Faith but he refused. Then she died in that terrible storm and the rest as you know, is history.”

“So you knew.” She said somewhat coldly. “You knew the whole time?”

“No.” Ferrydean said, “I didn’t even know about you until I saw you through the window.” He inched just that bit closer to the edge of the bed. “I could see her in you though I remembered her so differently.”

“So that whole negotiating with him for her?” Greyson asked. “It was all a façade?”

“In my arrogant way, I figured if I couldn’t have her, I’d have her daughter instead.” Ferrydean admitted but then looked at Greyson. “Until my son paid me six iron when my wife took such offense.” He crouched down and picked up the money. He sat it back on the nightstand. “I didn’t think you would treat her so well and I would end up having her back, but it angered me that you got to have what I could not and so I let Judith do as she pleased.” He offered a shrug and slowly stepped back again. “And that anger and arrogance nearly got you killed.” He continued, looking squarely at her now. “There is nothing I can say or do to pay for my sins against you but would you at least give me a chance? Let us begin with the price that started this mess.” He held his hands out again in humility and bowed his head.