Page 13 of May Queen: May Day

The woman gasped and held her hand to her mouth. “Belenus,” she whispered.

“What did you say?” asked Flora excitedly. “Have you seen my father? Do you know him?”

“The less you know the better off you’ll be, my lady.” Rosemunda looked down as she collected the rest of her things. “This is a very dangerous game you play. Please apologize to Lord Ricard for me. Tell him I was ill and could not stay.” She closed up her bag and headed to the door.

“Wait!” cried Flora. “Where are you going?”

“I have been the castle’s healer for many years, but only so I would know when they were going to attack my kind. But now that I know who you are, I can no longer stay. You will bring Lord Ricard and his men right to us and we will all be killed.”

“Nay, I won’t. I promise. Please, don’t leave.”

“I must go.” She had her hand on the door latch when Flora tried to stop her again with her words.

“Was that man my father who saved me from the wild boar?”

The woman stopped in her tracks and spoke without turning around. “Aye, that was Belenus. My husband.”

“Belenus? Is that what you call my father? And what do you mean he’s your husband?” She rushed over to Rosemunda, holding the door closed when the woman tried to leave again. “That man is my father. I don’t understand.”

“I told you, the less you know the better. Now leave me be.”

“Wait,” Flora said, keeping her from going. “Can you tell me where to find him? I need to talk to him.”

“Nay. It is too dangerous for all of us. Now get out of my way because I want nothing to do with you ever again. I warn you, stay out of the woods and do not try to find your father.”

The woman pulled out of Flora’s hold and rushed away down the corridor. In her hurry to leave, she ran into Nash. The squire was carrying a tray loaded down with food and a decanter of wine. When she knocked into him, he almost dropped the tray and everything on it.

“Whoa!” called out Nash, teetering and walking in a zigzag, but managing not to spill the food and wine. He let out a deep breath and stopped in the doorway. “Wasn’t that the healer?” he asked.

“It was,” said Flora, turning and storming back into the room.

“I thought Lord Ricard told her to stay the night.”

“She had to leave.”

“She did?” With his tongue sticking out, he managed to set the loaded tray down on the table. Slowly releasing it, he stood up, letting out a breath of relief. “Lord Ricard isn’t going to like that she is disobeying his orders.”

“He doesn’t like anything,” she mumbled, pacing the floor, trying to figure out what to do.

“Enjoy your food, my lady. I have to go tell Lord Ricard the healer left.”

“Wait!” she said, holding up her hand.

“My lady?”

“Rosemunda left because she was ill. I am feeling better and don’t need anyone to stay the night with me. You don’t have to tell Lord Ricard anything.”

“I’m not sure about this,” said Nash, scratching his head. “He will probably want to assign someone to watch over you. Well, I’ll give him the message on my way to the tavern. Good night, my lady.” He turned to go, whistling as he walked. That told Flora that he was probably meeting someone at the tavern or at least bedding a whore.

“He’ll probably make you stay and watch over me,” she said, causing him to stop in his tracks. “After all, you are the person that he has doing all his chores.”

“Nay, that’s not true.” Nash shook his head.

“Who brought me my meal?”

“I did.”

“Who did he send to find the healer and who did he send with a message to his brothers as well?”