Page 21 of Promises Made at Midnight
And that was how Ulrick reluctantly began training with the lady from the future on the proper ways to swing a sword.Merde… she was really was going to be the death of him!
CHAPTER15
Bridgette opened the door to the hut belonging to the castle’s healer, Kenna, after hearing the bid to enter. The place was like no other she had seen. She wasn’t sure what she expected, but it certainly wasn’t the beautiful woman with long black hair busy near her hearth.
“Good day tae ye, Bridgette,” Kenna said, without looking up from her task. “I have been expecting ye.”
“You have?” Bridgette asked skeptically. Amiria had discreetly made mention that Kenna couldseeevents before they occurred or sometimes had other visions. Although some people in her own time would swear up and down they could talk to the dead, Bridgette had always been wary of their ilk. Not necessarily because she didn’t believe them, but more because there was always someone out there in the world ready to scam you if you let your guard down. Well… maybe with the exception of Zoe.
“But of course,” Kenna answered, finally looking up and waving her to enter. “Come take a seat by the fire and let me look at yer hands. ’Tis nippy outside this day, and I am certain ye could use the warmth tae take the chill from yer bones.”
Bridgette didn’t even try to question how Kenna knew she had injured her hands. She went to sit on a stool by the hearth. She held them out, but the woman didn’t even take a glance at the blistering fingers, so she put her hands in her lap. She supposed she shouldn’t have been so confident that she could just pick up a sword and start swinging it around with any sense of accuracy and not get blisters on her hands. It would take years for calluses to develop before something like that wouldn’t affect her. She wasn’t sure she had that much time.
The dwelling of the castle’s healer wasn’t overly large, but it seemed about as perfect a place as anything in Bridgette’s imagination could muster up for what a healer’s place would look like. She honestly couldn’t identify the herbs for various uses hanging upside down from the ceiling. A fire welcomed her in the hearth where a pot had something boiling in it. Pans and utensils sat on a sideboard made of wood. The cottage’s smell reminded her of the earth or the oak trees after a rainfall in the forest. It had a very calming effect on her.
“I am sure they must pain ye,” Kenna said softly, as she began taking various herbs hanging from the ceiling to place them in a mortar. She picked up a nearby pestle and began grinding them into powder.
“Yes, but please do not tell Ulrick. I would hate for him to think this was his doing and not my own fault for my stupidity in trying to impress him,” Bridgette said, trying to remember that she shouldn’t be using contractions when she spoke. It might be okay with those close to Ulrick, including Dristan and Amiria, but she wasn’t sure it would be in her best interest for others to learn her origins.
Kenna stopped her task as she peered at her from over the table with raised brows. It was almost as if she read her mind. She then gave her a bright and friendly smile. “’Twill be our secret.”
“I appreciate your kindness.”
Reaching for a thick cloth, Kenna took hold of the pot hanging over the fire and poured water into the mortar on the table. She returned the heavy kettle back to the hook over the fire before she began mixing whatever the concoction was again until she set it on the edge of the table. Reaching for a stool, Kenna moved it next to Bridgette and began examining her hands with a grimace. “Do not thank me too quickly, Bridgette. I am most sure ’twill not take long for Ulrick tae figure out for himself as tae the extent of yer injuries. He is most astute, much like my own husband, Geoffrey. I cannot hide much from that man, and I am the one with the gift of second sight.”
“You really can see things before they happen?”
“Aye, but not all things, although I do not make such information public knowledge. ’Twould be costly, if such information fell into the wrong hands, much like yer own situation, I am afraid.”
Kenna stood once more, and Bridgette followed the woman about the room with her eyes while Kenna collected some clean cloths and began tearing them into strips. Once more seated, she took the paste she had made and began smoothing it onto Bridgette’s torn skin. The effect was immediate, as the blisters at last felt a bit of relief from the previous stinging.
“You know where I’m from,” Bridgette said, as a statement instead of a question, since it seemed obvious the woman before her knew her deepest secret.
“Aye, that I do. Ye are not the first woman tae come a greater distance than could be traveled on either a ship or horse. Ye will not be the last,” Kenna answered as she began to bandage Bridgette’s fingers and hands.
“I won’t be? How do you know?” Bridgette asked, feeling there was no need to hide the way she normally spoke in front of this woman.
Kenna smiled. “Suffice tae say in the years tae come, Berwyck will lose many a great knight who will venture on tae their place of birth tae take over the titles they have disregarded over the years. They have ventured for fame and glory with the Devil’s Dragon for many a year and their departure have been a long time in coming.”
“I understand Sir Rolf and Amiria’s grandmother have had a hand in introducing a couple of recent visitors, including myself.”
“Aye, this is true, and yet another came of her own accord, but I will leave the telling of that story tae those who wish to share it. Amiria’s grandmother may show herself tae ye at some point when she is ready. Do not be afraid of her, for she has yer best interest at heart.”
“Wow! I really can’t believe I’m having this conversation, let alone I’m sitting here in the twelfth century.”
“I will assume thiswowis a form of expression from whence ye hail, but I will have tae agree with ye. ’Tis a most unbelievable tale that could land ye in much trouble. Take heed that ye only share such information with those ye can trust,” Kenna cautioned.
“I’ll be sure to watch my speech,” Bridgette answered, having figured out she might be burned at the stake or worse if someone with ill intent learned of her origins.
“’Tis good that ye haveperformedin yer previous life, much like the bards who come tae Lord Dristan’s hall tae sing their songs or tell their stories tae amuse us. ’Twill be in yer best interests tae continue using our speech except when alone with Ulrick,” Kenna said, finishing her task. She stood and began cleaning her hands.
Bridgette flexed her fingers and was amazed how much better they felt. She also stood, getting ready to leave. “I’ll remember and thanks again for the aid. My hands feel much better.”
“’Ye are most welcome.” Kenna reached over to the sideboard again and then handed Bridgette a pair of softly made leather gloves. “Please take these. They may hide yer injuries from Ulrick, but for how long I can only venture tae guess.”
“I’m sure he’ll figure it out pretty quickly. Nothing seems to pass him by,” Bridgette replied, as if she had known the man all her life.
“He is most astute,” Kenna repeated but tilted her head while she gave Bridgette an odd look. “I mayhap should not ask this, but I canna help myself. How is Zoe?”
