The Penwyth Curse (Medieval Song 6)

. He saw the west tower of Penwyth in the distance. Were men staring toward Land’s End, trying to see them? He didn’t know, couldn’t know.

“Nothing is wrong.” He finished the bread, drank down a goodly amount of the ale, and said, “I have decided what I’m going to do with you.”

10

HE DIDN’T SAY ANOTHER word to her, just gave her a hand and settled her in front of him on Fearless’s back. They rode northward along the coastline. He made sure they were always on or very near Penwyth land. He wanted to see the span of his property. The situation, he saw, was very bad. Planted fields were on the very edge of survival, and, Bishop realized, most of the people were as well. He prayed that his rain gift wouldn’t fail him this time, because it was clear to him that Penwyth was dying.

“It doesn’t look very good,” Merryn said.

“No, it does not.”

“You haven’t done anything with me yet,” she said after another long silence between them.

“I am looking for the perfect spot to stake you out for the rains that are coming soon.”

But he didn’t seem to find the perfect spot. He stopped, and they ate the rest of Dumas’s supplies. He saw that she was looking very pleased with herself. In that instant he knew that he had to do something or she would have her foot on his neck. She would believe him naught but an empty bladder. He couldn’t allow that.

“Here,” he said, seeing that they were still on Penwyth land. “This small hillock. This is where you can drown in the rain that’s coming. Actually, since it’s a hill, you won’t drown because all the water will flow off you, but you’ll still get pounded.”

She didn’t believe him. “I wish to go back to Penwyth now. Everyone will be very worried about me.”

“Why would they worry? They know I am punishing you. Do they believe I will kill you? Hmmm.” He grabbed her wrists and tied the rope around them. She fought him. She was strong, and she tugged and jerked and yelled at him, but he just tightened the knot until he was satisfied. He dragged her to a sturdy bush atop the hillock, locked his foot behind her knees and knocked her over backward, then came down over her. “Hold still. I told you what I was going to do.”

“No. I won’t let you.” She managed to bring her bound wrists up and clout him in the jaw, catching him off guard. He fell back, and she scrambled to her feet. “You will not tie me down like some animal.” She ran. He could see her chewing on the rope, trying to loosen it as she ran.

He was nearly on her, careful of his own balance because they were running down the hill and there were rocks and brambles everywhere. He could hear her furious breathing. She was looking over her shoulder at him when her foot struck a rock. She yelled as she went flying forward, her bound hands out to break her fall. She landed on her hands and knees and rolled over and over, until at last she came to a sprawled stop at the base of the hillock.

“Damn you, Merryn.” He nearly fell himself, but managed to keep his balance until he could get to her. He went down on his knees beside her. She was unconscious. He sat back on his heels and closed his eyes.

The day wasn’t going very well.

He lightly touched his fingers to her head and felt the growing lump behind her left ear. Thank God her hair was thick. He hoped it had protected her a bit.

He turned her over on her back, felt her arms, her legs, and could find nothing broken. But her insides, that was the question. Bad things could happen if the insides were jarred and pounded. He paled. He raised his face to the heavens and cursed.

“A bishop shouldn’t say such things.”

“I am not a bishop. I am the bishop. And that is Sir Bishop to you.”

She heard the relief in his voice. She was both angry and afraid of him, and yet she wished she could smile at his wit, but the truth was, she wanted to hit her head with another rock so she could ease away into that lovely oblivion.

It wasn’t to be. She closed her eyes. She’d never felt such pain before—pounding pain, ferocious pain, nearly blinding her. She felt him untying the rope, rubbing her wrists. Then his palm was on her brow and he was leaning close. She felt his warm breath on her skin.

“There is nothing I can do to help you.”

She knew that. She also heard the worry in his voice. “I can’t move.”

“No, don’t even try. Just lie still.”

He was gone. She heard Fearless whinny, heard Bishop speaking low to his stallion. Then there were two blankets covering her. He lifted her and placed a folded blanket beneath her head.

She didn’t make a sound, but it was hard, very hard.

She felt his fingertips on her cheeks and knew he was wiping away her tears.

Then, with no warning at all, the heavens opened up and the rain poured down.

Bishop looked up through the incredible sheets of rain and cursed again. The precious rain, bringing life to the parched earth. Why couldn’t it have held off just a little while longer?