“Which you got from your mother. I’ve always adored Gabrielle’s fiery red hair.” Lovelight shining in his deep green eyes, Bastien smiled proudly at his young son.
“Rouxis a fine name for a chestnut Friesian. You chose well, Haldar.” The rich timbre of Esclados’s deep voice reverberated in the castle solar where with the crisp pine scent of the dense forest wafted in through the two large, open windows.
When they’d finished eating an assortment of sweetmeats andfruits confits, Bastien addressed Gunnar, Haldar, and Lukaz. “Tomorrow, after we break our fast, we’ll depart at first light forla Joyeuse Garde. Boys, kissMamieandPapigoodnight, and go along now with Maëlys. She’s got the beds ready for you to sleep. I’ll be in shortly to tell you a bedtime story. Tonight, it’s the tale of Charlemagne’s paladin from the epic poem,La Chanson de Roland.”
Amid squeals of youthful delight, the three lads kissed Laudine and Esclados, then followed the chambermaid from the wooden solar, down the dimly lit hall, to the guest bedroom where they would sleep.
Once the boys had left, Bastien spoke quietly to his mother. “You mentioned that Gaultier and Cardin would arrive in August. Since you’ve called them home because of your grave illness, I would imagine that they’ll wonder why I was not summoned back to Landuc to be at your side as well. What will you say to explain my absence?”
“That you’d promised your sons a summer of training at Lancelot’s castle. And that Gabrielle—weakened by her recent childbirth—cannot travel with the babe until December. I’ll inform Cardin and Gaultier that you’ll bring your wife and four children here for the Yuletide season, just as I requested. And—if all goes as well as I hope—Cardin will have formed a bond with Lukaz by then. And I can proclaim that Ulla, the most gifted healer I have ever trained, has cured me and miraculously restored my health.” Laudine raised her wine goblet, prompting the two men to do the same. “To Cardin and Lukaz. May the Goddess reunite father and son at long last.”
The next morning, after a hearty meal of porridge with fresh fruit and honey, sliced bacon, poached fish, boiled eggs, and country bread, Bastien and his two sons leftle Château de Landucwith their dozen knights from Finistère.
“Au revoir!See you in December!” Laudine waved goodbye to her departing son and two grandsons, who rode off through the dense Forest of Brocéliande, heading southwest towardla Joyeuse Garde, the famed white limestone castle of King Arthur’s legendary knight,Sir Lancelot du Lac.
“Next year, you’ll be riding with them. And begin your training to become a knight.” Esclados, standing at Laudine’s side, placed a loving, grandfatherly hand upon Lukaz’ small shoulder. “Your Uncle Bastien said that you’d like to become a castle archer, like your father Cardin. So,Mamieand I thought you might like this fine bow and arrow.” He handed Lukaz a taut bow, made from supple yew wood, and a quiver of finely fletched arrows.
Bright blue eyes widened in wonder and delight, Lukaz accepted the gift with a wildly exuberant grin. “My own bow and arrows!Merci, Papi et Mamie!” He held the bow, attempted to nock an arrow, and aimed at an imaginary target.
“Mamiehas arranged for you to develop your skills with a very talented archer named Ulla. She’s also an expert huntress, with a magnificent horse and a peregrine falcon. She even has a pet wolf.” Esclados chuckled deeply at Lukaz’s astonished expression. “Mamie’s going to take you to her cottage today so you can meet her and begin your archery training. And maybe—with Ulla as your teacher—you’ll become a skilled hunter, too.”
****
Laudine watched Lukaz as he sat at the table in the cozy alcove off the castle kitchen, gobbling up the cinnamon oatcakes smothered in honey, licking his chubby fingers with glee.I am so grateful to have this time with him. I’ll lavish him with love and attention. Make him feel wanted and special. With Ulla’s archery and hunting lessons, his new bow and arrows, and the colt Esclados has chosen for him, perhaps we can lessen the damage that those heartless squires have done, calling him bastard. Blaming him for his mother’s death. By the Goddess, children can be so cruel!
She sat down at the table with him and sipped a cup of chamomile tea. “When you’ve finished, I’ll bring you to meet Ulla. She lives in a stone cottage at the edge of the woods. She’s a gifted healer—she found Vill, her wolf, when he was a wounded pup. His back leg had gotten caught in a rabbit trap, and he couldn’t get free. Ulla cut the snare, brought him home, and tended him until his leg healed. She commands him with hand signals and whistles, because she can’t talk. Vill is a very well trained wolf. He hunts with Ulla and her falcon, Finn.”
Lukaz finished his oatcake and gulped down his watered ale. He set the mug down on the table, tilting his head to the side as he considered Laudine’s words. “She can’t talk at all?”
“No, not at all. But she can read and write, so sometimes she communicates through messages that way. But with her hand gestures, she’s easy to understand. I think you’ll like her very much. She’s a skilled archer. A gifted healer. And an exceptional huntress. Her falcon Finn brings down all sorts of high flying birds that arrows can’t reach. And Finn can trap rabbits, squirrels, and other small animals with her sharp talons, too. The wolf Vill retrieves the prey and brings it back to Ulla. She feeds Finn and Vill some of the meat, keeps some for herself, and cures the rabbit pelts for the fur.” Laudine finished her herbaltisaneand stood to collect Lukaz’ plate and mug. “Are you ready to go out to the cottage and meet Ulla and Vill?”
Lukaz jumped to his feet, blue eyes sparkling like a sun-kissed river in the early morning light. “Oui, Mamie!Let’s go.Allons-y!”
Chapter 8
Huntress and Healer
“Ulla, I’d like you to meet my grandson, Lukaz. My youngest son Cardin’s little boy.” Laudine smiled down at the shy lad standing at her side who was nervously trying to hide behind her full skirts. Resting an affectionate, reassuring hand on his hesitant shoulder, she introduced Lukaz to the dark-haired priestess who greeted them on the doorstep of her secluded woodland cottage.
“I’ve told Lukaz you’re a skilled archer,” Laudine continued cheerfully, “and that I’ve arranged for him to have lessons with you each morning.” She smiled encouragingly into her grandson’s big blue eyes where anxiety warred with wonder. “Lukaz wants to become a castle archer, just like his father. That’s why his grandfather Esclados and I have given Lukaz his very own bow and quiver of arrows. So that he’s ready to begin his lessons.” Laudine indicated the leather case slung across her grandson’s back and displayed the weapon he carried, made from the finely crafted wood of a yew tree.
Laudine led Lukaz by the hand as she followed Ulla into the welcoming stone cottage. The wolf Vill lay watchfully on the floor in front of the hearth, eyeing the two visitors warily as he guarded his beloved mistress. “I’ve also told Lukaz about your wolf. How you healed him as an injured pup and trained him to hunt with you and your falcon Finn.”
Ulla nodded at Lukaz, her lovely face alight as she knelt on the wooden floor beside her wolf and stroked his thick grey fur. She raised her eyebrows inquisitively and extended her hand to the little boy, gesturing for him to come forward.
“Would you like to meet Vill? Ulla is offering you the chance to pet him.” Laudine grinned at her awestruck grandson. “I wonder if his fur is shaggy or soft? Would you please tell me how it feels? I’ve never had the chance to get close enough to find out. You must be very special for Ulla to let you touch him.”
His chubby cheeks dimpling in delight, Lukaz sauntered forth, exuberant yet still cautious and fearful.
Ulla patted the floor at her side, and the breathless little boy knelt down next to the prone wolf.
Lukaz allowed the young priestess to guide his small hand as he tentatively stroked Vill’s dense, wiry fur. “It’s rough on the top,Mamie,” he cried with joyful discovery, “but very soft underneath.” Lukas scratched the top of Vill’s bristly head and behind the wolf’s pointed ears.
Vill affectionately licked Lukaz’ fascinated face.
Laudine chuckled softly. “He likes you, Little Wolf.”
Lukaz beamed proudly at Ulla as he explained the meaning of his nickname. “My father is called Basati. It means ‘savage wolf’ in the Basque language of Biarritz, where he lives.That’s whyMamiecalled me Little Wolf. Because I’m Basati’s son.” The youthful, effusive smile—revealing a missing front tooth—quickly disappeared as Lukaz dropped his head in shame. “But all the squires call me ‘bastard.’ They say I have no father. Because he never comes home to see me.”
