“The name’s Kaven,” he said.
I barely heard. My gaze was fixated on the crest adorning his cap. It was the same crest that the delivery boy had worn. All righteous pride at besting this man fled, replaced by the cold, convicted anger filling my chest.
“What is that?” I demanded.
He straightened to give me a quizzical look.
“The crest on your hat. What does it mean? Who is it for?”
The suspicion returned to his gaze.
“It’s the king’s crest. How can you claim to live on these lands and not know the king’s crest?”
I didn’t answer. My mind was racing. What did it mean that a king’s messenger delivered the necklace that killed my mother? It made no sense. We were on the king’s land by his decree. Why would the king favor us with land then kill one of us?
Kaven, reached out, gripping my arms.
“Answer me, woman.”
That snapped me from my thoughts.
“I know nothing of the king’s crest because my mother forbade us from walking the woods when the king was in residence. Now, unhand me.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care what you believe. You truly are a beast. How many more of you are there at the lodge?” I asked.
His grip tightened.
“Why do you want to know?”
“So I know how many people the king has brought to push me into the mud and torment me,” I lied, trying to pull myself free from his steel grasp.
He didn’t budge.
I stomped on the arch of his foot.
“Release me,” I demanded.
He did so immediately and scowled at me.
“Go home, Eloise Cartwright. Listen to your mother’s wise words.”
I hated him. I hated all who’d come with him. And I vowed to find the necklace, the boy who delivered it, and the person responsible for it all. Even if that person was the king himself.
“Do not speak of my mother. She died the day after you arrived,” I said glaring.
His anger vanished from his face. Nothing replaced it. No sympathy or pity.
“How?” he asked.
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t tell what I knew. Not with him wearing the king’s crest. No one would believe me that the king sent the magic amulet. Even speaking of the amulet would get me killed.
“My mother’s health has been failing for years,” I said instead.
“I’m sorry for your loss.” He didn’t sound sorry. He sounded distrustful. His next words confirmed it.
“Where is she buried?”
“In the clearing behind our home. She liked the trees and sunlight on her face.”
Something shifted in his eyes, but I couldn’t tell what.
“Tell me, Kaven. For how long must I avoid the woods I’ve called home?”
“I do not know.”
He turned and left me standing in the woods, mud drying to my skirts. The birds started singing after a moment, and the small animals in the underbrush chittered at me.
“Nothing good will come of this,” I said, thinking of Kaven’s crest. The king’s crest.
Father’s warning to let go of what I knew rang in my ears once more. I'd thought I could wait until Kellen and I grieved, and she chose the future she wanted before I pursued answers. However, I now understood that I couldn’t. Mother deserved more. Father had already abandoned her. I would not.
The walk home was cold and wearying. Thankfully, there were no visitors to spot my disheveled state when I slipped into the kitchen.
Judith looked up from whatever she was stirring over the fire.
“Eloise, what happened, child?”
“The spring mud tested my agile step and showed me that I was lacking. I think a washing is in order.”
Her gaze swept me from head to foot.
“The mud is in your hair, too. A simple washing will not do. A full bath is needed. Sit on the stool. Anne and I will start drawing water.”
The pair had the tub before the fire and half-filled before the kitchen door opened again. Kellen walked in and stopped abruptly at the sight of me.
“Sister, did the pig drag you through the mud?”
I grinned.
“Why, yes. A pig did do this. Unfortunately, not our sweet pig. However, you’ve just given me a brilliant idea for a name for our dear pig.”
“Oh?”
“What do you think of Kaven?”
She tilted her head and gave me a quizzical look.
“I sense a story. Would you like me to help wash your hair while you tell it?”
“Please.”
Judith and Anne left the kitchen to give us privacy. Kellen helped me out of my muddy things and started removing clumps of mud from my hair as I slipped into the tub of warm water and washed my arms and face.
“Who is Kaven?” she asked.
“A dolt I met in the trees behind our house. He startled me so badly I slipped and fell. Then, the boor didn’t even have the manners to help me up. Instead, he began accusing me of trespassing. He was completely rude.”
“Sounds like the boys in the market.”
“Very much so,” I agreed. Only this one had made my heart race and may have had a hand in Mother's death. I pushed that thought from my mind as Kellen answered.
“Then, of course we will name the pig after him. I’ve removed as much of the mud as I can. Now, you need to go under.”
I looked at the murky water and sighed.
“I wish it was warmer out. Bathing at the pond would be infinitely more enjoyable.”
Kellen made a sound of agreement, which stopped abruptly as I ducked under the water. Her fingers threaded in my hair, removing more mud as I held my breath. Being underwater was one of the things I liked about the pond. Nothing but fish could touch me. No sight or sound from the real world. It was an escape from troubling thoughts. One that Kellen and I enjoyed during the sweltering heat of summer.
When I reemerged, Kellen started soaping my hair.
“While you were out playing in mud, I was in the attic,” she said. “I found something interesting in one of the trunks pushed into a dark corner.”
“What’s that?”
“Letters to Mother from an old friend. Do you recall Mother ever mentioning an Elspeth?”
I shook my head.
“Nor do I. Yet, from Elspeth’s letters, it would seem they were close. She apologized for leaving Mother so soon after our births and asked after us by name.”
Kellen seemed intrigued by the idea that Mother had a friend. I could understand why. Although no one had said so, we’d grown up under the impression that Mother had no family. To discover Mother had an estranged cousin and, now, a friend from before our births felt odd. Why would Mother hide letters from us?
“How many letters are there?” I asked.
“A small trunk full.”
“It would seem you found your hobby,” I said, knowing the mystery of who Elspeth was would keep Kellen occupied for a time.
Kellen left me to sit impatiently on my own as I dried before the fire. With nothing to do but run my fingers through my hair, I dwelled on my meeting with Kaven.
I wished I hadn’t met him as I had. That he hadn’t been wearing that cap and crest. But that wish was purely selfish from the treacherous organ buried in my chest. My mind knew better. It was too coincidental that Mother died the day after Kaven had arrived and that he wore the king’s emblem, the same as the boy who’d delivered the amulet. I needed to find the connection between Kaven and the boy; and the best way to do that was to go to the king’s hunting retreat. What excuse could I give for my presence, though?