IX.
“Amir, what brings you here? Did Lord Ryan kick you out again?” a voice asked from somewhere far away from us. I pressed my body up against the side of the stall and Jay did the same.“No, Lord Wesley. Surely you have heard that Father Jonathan was visiting Lord Ryan’s manor to deal with some....undesirables.” Amir began. I heard his horse snorting and hoped that it didn’t recognize our scent.
“Yes, I did hear about that. What does that have to do with your visit?”
“We were able to dispose of one of the problems, but a few of our serfs have managed to free the other and were last seen heading in this direction.”
“Why would they come here? If they had any sense, they’d head to London, and that’s in the other direction.”
“Shit.” I hissed. Jay slapped his hand over my mouth and continued watching out the cracks in the stall.
“None of them have had much education. I think they just decided to follow the road. Oh, and the one that I’m particularly looking for has a brand on his neck. A pitch-fork.” Amir explained. I heard feet scuffling in the earth. “Like that.”
“Well, I’ll keep a look-out for any suspicious activities, but I doubt that they’d come here.”
“Thank you for your time, Lord Wesley.”
“I must insist that you stay here for the night. It is a long ride to the next manor, and it is already dark.”
“I suppose I can. Lord Ryan won’t mind.” Their footsteps trailed off into the main building of the manor. Jay let his hand drop from my mouth and laid back down in the straw.
“We’ll make it to London, don’t worry. And once we get there, everything will be fine.” I soothed. He shook his head and sighed.
“Maybe I am hell-spawn, maybe I do deserve to die.” His eyes invited no polite protest that what he was saying was untrue. And I didn’t feel like doing that. Empty assurances that nothing would happen to him would only make him all that more sure that something would.
“Just go to sleep.” I said softly. “We’ll be out of here tomorrow.” A slow nod and then his head on my chest again. Held him tightly, Amir would still be here tomorrow. And his horse had smelled us, I knew it.
“Psst!” Shaking, jarring my shoulder. My eyes opened slowly, met Bobby’s. “We’ve gotta get going! Amir and Lord Wesley are talking about going off to find us.” he whispered. His cousin stood to the side, holding some clothing.Jay stirred and stared blearily up at everyone. The mark was inflamed and delicate. It seemed like if one touched it, it would shatter and spill over, turning Jay into a flood of pain. Sweat painted his skin cream white, lack of sleep made his eyes hollow and numb.
“Because they’re looking for three men, I think one of you should put this on.” Bobby’s cousin suggested, holding out a bundle of women’s clothing. All eyes instantly went to Jay. He had closed his eyes again.
“It’ll have to be him, he’s the only one that would be believable.” I said. Bobby nodded. I shook Jay gently. “Come on, wake up.” He groaned softly and opened his eyes. “You need to pretend to be a woman.”
A small nod and he smiled blindly. Bobby’s cousin handed me the pile of clothing and then she and Bobby walked to the other side of the stall and started whispering. I sighed, maybe she wasn’t really his cousin after all?
The chemise was too tight to fit over Jay’s clothes, so I helped him take off the tunic. That was when I realized that Father Jonathan hadn’t stopped at branding his neck. Bruises of varying sizes, shapes, and intensities turned his flesh into a sea of hurt and damage, bloody tracks from the whips and chains streaked across his back in strings of pain. It didn’t look like he had been branded anywhere else. He shrank from my gaze and slid his eyes half-closed. “Please don’t look at me.” he whispered. It was hard to obey him, but I tried as hard as I could. The chemise went over easily, then I helped him on with the gown. A wimple was all that was left. He stood slowly and the folds of fabric rustled to the floor. If he had been born a woman, the sex appeal would have driven many men to committing suicide. As it was, I was about ready to maul him to death. Granted, the gown was just the dirty shit brown of peasant clothes, and the chemise the yellow of spun wool that has been washed a few too many times, but he looked like a goddess.
“What are you staring at?” he asked. Bobby and Bobby’s cousin turned. Bobby’s jaw dropped and he babbled for a moment. Jay narrowed his eyes and flopped the gown a little. “I’m already spoken for.” His hand went for mine. I kissed it lightly and felt him shiver at the contact. Stood and adjusted the wimple on his head. His hair under the cover of the coarse cloth, he looked like a completely different person. Everyone stared at him in silence.
“Here’s some bread and ale. Go back down the road you came and take the first left. Then go straight and you should be headed right for London.” Bobby’s cousin said, breaking the silence. Bobby blushed slightly and nodded. Jay ran his hand up my back smoothly, leaning forward to lick on my ear. “And you! No self-respecting woman would act like that in the company of men! Two key words. Demure and diligent. You don’t talk until you’re spoken to, and no looking directly at anyone.” she snapped. He nodded and smiled at me.
“I have to be silent.” he said. A blush crept across my face, why did he always have this effect on me? His smile fell after a few minutes and he leaned on me. Teeth sought out his bottom lip and he whimpered slightly. I kissed his cheek and he hugged me.
Bobby picked up the bread and ale, hugged and kissed his cousin goodbye, and then gestured for us to follow. I bowed to his cousin, muttered my thanks, and then picked up Jay again. He held onto me firmly, as if he was afraid I was going to drop him. I would rather die than do that.
We walked along for a few hours, occasionally looking back to see if anyone was following. Jay had fallen asleep or passed out, and his head lolled from side to side until I guided it to one of my shoulders.“Hark! You three! Stop for a moment!” someone called out. It only took about five seconds to recognize the voice as Amir’s. We had no option but to stop.
Watched him ride up, his hair whipping in the wind, a demon on a horse made of liquid copper. He reigned his horse in front of us and peered down at us closely. “Where are you going?”
I swallowed and Bobby pretended to be wiping something from his eye. “My mother is very sick, my father and I are taking her to the priests in London.” he said.
Amir sat up straight on his horse and sighed. “I thought they outlawed child marriages...” he said under his breath. His horse started sniffing at Jay. At that moment Jay woke up and turned to face Amir. Amir gulped and tried to prevent himself from losing his last shred of dignity. “H...How did a peasant wind up with...a beauty such as this?”
“M’lord, can we continue on our way? My mother tires easily.” Bobby asked. Amir nodded after a moment of quiet contemplation.
“I have but one question to ask. Have you seen three men walking this way?” he asked.
“Well, we did see some people walking on this road, but they went the other way.” Bobby said quickly.
“Madam, I realize that you are sick, but could I prevail upon you to speak a few words?” Amir asked. I froze.
“A few words for someone such as yourself...” Jay said softly, his voice more feminine than I had ever heard. “A simple request and one gladly fulfilled.”
“Thank you. I shall take my leave now.” he said, and then rode off.
We continued on in silence. London was miles away, and only seemed to be getting closer with each step.