16th October 1102
Cindra awoke in the dank embrace of the autumn forest. The sun was sinking steadily towards the horizon, smearing the sky crimson with blood as his dying body was dragged inexorably down. The clouds were stained, pink and fleshy as they soaked up the gore left behind. Pale streaks of blue appeared as the wind swept them aimlessly across the sky, mopping up the fetid mess.
16th October 1102
Lochan curled his arm protectively around Cindra’s trembling shoulders, pulling her close to his body. He could feel how cold her skin was where it peeked shyly through the interlocking fingers of lacework that covered her arms.
16th October 1102
“Garrick… Garrick”, Cindra whispered as she fell away from the strong embrace of her father.
16th October 1102
Cindra was very proud of herself. She was supposed to be asleep but she had managed to totter past her dozing nurse without her even noticing. Then, even better, she had carefully pulled herself down a whole flight of stairs, bumping her bottom down from one to the next. It had been an exhausting process but she knew that it was worth it now she could see what all the fuss was about.
The fist was crunching into his face before he knew what was happening. He felt the bones of his nose cracking under its weight, a dreadful crushing feeling he remembered well and a gout of blood spurted onto the fist that was coming in a second time. Sigurd’s fingers curled around the neck of his tunic pulling him upright as his fist collided with Radomir’s exposed belly.
“You bastard!”, Sigurd was snarling, his teeth bared, “You dare touch her!”.
“Here we are then”, Cindra’s friendly voice was very close to her ear, one warm hand kindly resting on her hip to steady her. It was so difficult to walk. If only the floor would stop moving about like this it would be a whole lot easier.
Sigurd gazed down at the floor, his eyes fixed on a small scuff mark just beside his left toe where some heavy chair had been dragged across the soft-wood floor.
The door thudded softly shut behind Lisbet leaving Garrick and Cindra staring at one another, as her footsteps trailed off down the hallway. Neither said anything or moved for long moments. Garrick felt a tiny trickle of blood working its way along the creases of his forehead.
“I just can’t quite believe she’s so small”, Lisbet mused, cradling the tiny infant against her shoulder.
There was a soft knock at the door. Igrayne looked up wearily as it slowly swung open.
The duke stood in the doorway with a brittle smile.
“May I come in”, he asked politely.
