Velvet Song (Montgomery/Taggert 4)

Alyx nodded numbly and before she knew what was happening, Judith gave her more work than she knew existed. Alyx was given ledgers to read, columns of figures to add, bushels of grain to count and record. There were storerooms to clean, meals to oversee and hundreds of people to care for.

Alyx was given the care of the hospital for two weeks and learned she was good at cheering the patients. Judith was pleased with Alyx’s musical ability, but she saw no reason for Alyx to spend the day alone working on music. She composed songs as she bandaged a wounded leg or as she was riding to the village below the Montgomery castle.

It was a bit of a shock to Alyx when neither Judith nor Gavin was awed by her talent but took it in stride. They, too, had talents, but they did not indulge them to the exclusion of work.

Alyx wasn’t sure when she started to realize how selfish her life had been. She’d been set apart from the people of her village by her talent. Everyone had been reserved toward her, had treated her as if she were someone touched by Heaven. In her smug sureness she’d decided she hated the nobles because of what one man had done. But in truth she was jealous. She’d always felt she was the equal of anyone, but actually, what had she ever given to anyone? Her music? Or was her music really for herself?

She realized that Gavin’s men and the servants were kind to her because of her relationship to Raine, but she wanted to give something that wasn’t so easy for her.

She set up a school for the many children in the castle complex and began to teach them to read and write. There were many days when she wanted to quit, but she kept on and was rewarded once in a while when a child learned a new word.

In the afternoons she worked with the wounded and ill. Once a man’s leg was crushed under a wine barrel and it had to be taken off. Alyx took his head in her hands and used all her training, and all her feeling, to hypnotize him with her voice. Afterward, she cried for hours.

“It hurts to become involved,” she said to Judith. “One of my children, a lovely child, fell off the wall yesterday and she died in my arms. I don’t want to love people. Music is safer.”

Judith held her and soothed her and they talked for a long time. In the morning Alyx went back to her school. Later, the man who’d lost his leg asked for her and there were tears of gratitude on his face for Alyx’s help.

Judith was behind Alyx. “Did God give you your talent to help men who need you or should you save it for prettily dressed people in church?”

At Christmas, Judith’s mother came to visit them. Helen Bassett didn’t look old enough to be anyone’s mother. At her side was her husband John, who looked as content as any man could. Together they smiled at their eleven-month-old daughter, who was just learning to walk.

Judith’s son was six months old, Alyx’s daughter two months. Everyone tried to make the festivities merry and no one mentioned how many of the family were missing.

“We were all together last year,” Gavin muttered into his ale cup.

There was no word from Raine.

In January, everything seemed to happen at once. Roger Chatworth had indeed gone to King Henry—but not alone. Whether by chance or contrivance, Pagnell had appeared at the same time.

Roger said Miles was holding his sister prisoner in Scotland and Pagnell said he had proof, not just the vague rumors of before, that Raine was training non-nobles to fight as knights, that he was attempting to raise an army against the King.

King Henry said he was heartily sick of the feud between the Chatworths and the Montgomerys and he wanted Lady Elizabeth released. If Miles did not do so, he would be declared a traitor and his lands confiscated. As for Raine, if he put more weapons in those outlaws’ hands, the King would burn the forest and all of them together.

Gavin sent a messenger to Scotland, pleading with Stephen to force Miles to obey the King. Before there was a reply, it was heard that Pagnell had been found dead and it was whispered that the Montgomerys were responsible. The King added this to a long list of grievances.

“He wants what we’ve held for centuries,” Gavin said. “Other kings have tried to take it and have failed. This one will, too.” He grabbed a mace from the wall. “If Stephen cannot reason with Miles, I can.”

Within an hour he was off again for Scotland.

“And what about Raine?” Alyx asked quietly as she held Catherine. “Who is going to warn him about the King’s threats?”

“King Henry won’t burn the forest,” Judith said practically. “There are too few of them left. Raine wouldn’t really march on the King with his band of cutthroats, would he?”

“Perhaps. Raine would dare anything if he saw some injustice. If he thought his brother were in danger there is no predicting what he might do.”

“Miles will listen to Gavin this time—I hope,” Judith said. “Roger will get his sister back and everything will be settled.”

They looked at each other for a long moment, neither of them believing Judith’s words.

“I’m going to Raine,” Alyx said softly, then opened her eyes in surprise.

“Will he allow you into the forest? Oh, Alyx, I’m not sure you should do that. The Montgomery men can get terribly angry.”

“Has Gavin’s anger ever kept you from doing what you had to do? If Gavin were in danger would you hesitate helping him in any way you could?”

Judith was quiet for a moment. “I once led Gavin’s men against a man who held him captive.”

“I merely ride into a forest. Would you care for Catherine? She’s too young to take with me. It will be cold there.”