He was home.
*
The next dayat St. Cloven dawned bright and temperate. Alec awoke shortly after dawn, as was habitual, and managed to disengage himself from Peyton without waking her. Moving from the massive bed, he donned his breeches and slipped into the hall, summoning a servant for hot water and food. The small bower next to the master chamber was virtually empty, and he proceeded to claim it for his private retreat.
He ate standing next to a lancet window, his gaze lingering on his new bailey as the sun rose. Washing quickly, he silently returned to the master chamber to retrieve his clothes, passing a tender glance at his wife. She was buried under the covers and he was only able to glimpseher wild red hair and half of her face. With a grin, he closed the door softly.
Clad in heavy breeches, thigh-high black boots and a durable tunic made from panels of black leather and black linen, he went about his new duties as lord of the keep. Toby met him in the great hall, greeting him amiably and voicing his approval for the liberal use of cedar. But in the same breath, Alec could read a strange confusion in Toby’s eyes. He moved past the pleasantries.
“What’s wrong?”
Toby tried to shrug off the question but he found he could not. In fact, he was glad Alec had asked and lowered his voice. “Aunt Jubil….”
“What about her?”
Toby looked decidedly uncomfortable and eyed the foyer beyond the hall. “I found her this morn…. well, she is not herself.”
Alec put his hands on his hips. “What does that mean? Where is she?”
Toby gestured in the general direction of the foyer but thought better of sending Alec on to face the aged aunt alone. He motioned his brother to follow.
Alec was not surprised at the sight that greeted him in the small solar. In fact, confusion would have been a better term.
Jubil was hanging by her knees from an open beam, swathed from head to toe in a great cloak of black. Her faded hair hung askew and her blue eyes were closed. She was so still that she almost looked dead.
Toby eyed Alec as his brother moved into the solar, scrutinizing the woman with intense curiosity. He paced a complete circle about the hanging woman, peering closely at every aspect of her from ceiling to floor. He tore his gaze away from the dangling figure to pass a questioning glance at Toby, who merely shrugged helplessly. With that response, Alec returned his focus to Jubil.
“Jubil?” he said softly. “Can you hear me?”
Immediately, one eye popped open, studied Alec, and promptly closed again. “I am a bat. Can you not see for yourself?”
“Indeed. But why are you a bat?”
“Keen of hearing, sharp of smell. I must be a bat.”
Alec put his hands on his hips, pondering her statement. “Is there a reason why you must be a bat?”
“I must hear. Leave me alone.”
His brows drew together in puzzlement and he passed Toby a glance. His younger brother was watching Jubil with his usual fascination. “How long has she been like this?”
Toby shook his head. “I was up before sunrise and she was in this state when I happened upon her. Shall I summon your wife?”
Alec cocked an eyebrow. “Why? She shall simply become irritated,” he moved away from Jubil, his gaze lingering on the older woman. “Leave her be. Make sure the servants do not disturb her.”
Jubil heard the door close, and the faded blue eyes opened slowly. She stared into the emptiness of the room a moment, her mind cloaked with the venom of the monkshade.
“I must hear the danger approaching,” she muttered feebly, for her ears alone. “I must be aware.”
*
Under the commandof his sergeants, the bailey seemed to be running smoothly enough. Men were manning the battlements as he had commanded and he was pleased to see that, so far, there were no wrinkles in his operation.
A harried groom approached him to announce that his Saracen stallion had endured a rough night and went on to suggest the addition of ale to the animal’s water to calm him. Alec agreed, intending to administer the liquor himself, when a burly man approached him and bowed deeply.
“My lord?” he addressed timidly.
Alec fixed the man with his customary emotionless gaze. “Who are you?”
