The Devil's Mark

The cart jolted and Agnes' eyes flew open. Her arms tightened around the bundle on her chest as she sat bolt upright, nearly crying out when her head hit the hard surface above her. She looked around, though there was not much to see in the darkness, the wooden box was fully sealed, with layers of hay piled on top. It was safer this way, but she did miss the comfort of the light. Her back was aching but it was no use trying to move in the tight space, plus, that would only make noise, something she dared not do. She'd slept for what felt like minutes, but by the absence of the freezing cold, she knew it'd been hours. The sun was up, which meant by now her absence would surely have been noted. She rubbed the sore on her head, listening anxiously for the shouts of patrolling knights, or the sound of clanging of armour, but heard nothing but the steady march of a stallion and the wheels of the clumsy cart it pulled on the dirt beneath her. Far away, a single crow called out, answered by a smaller, more feeble voice. No doubt a mother and her hatchling. Agnes smiled at the thought, stroking her baby's soft new skin.

Steadily, the near silence began to stir, the streets awoke, and soon Agnes was surrounded by the sound of passing hooves and the smell of bacon and eggs, which made her stomach grumble. The streets were busy, a prospect which both frightened and comforted her. Afterall, it was easier to hide in a crowd. Through all the chaos her baby awoke, his cries seemed to echo in the tiny space and Agnes anxiously calmed him, praying the sound would be lost in the commotion around her. She fumbled at her buttons and fed the hungry little creature. Until he was finally content, let out one last whimper and fell back into a deep, undisturbed sleep. Agnes sighed, if only he knew his fate. How could something so innocent bear such a curse? Agnes touched the side of his face lightly, where a purplish red stain covered his creamy white skin.

"O heavenly father, tell me, please," She whispered as loud as she dared, "what monstrous sin have I committed for this to be brought upon my son? He would have been a king, why take away his livelihood when his life has barely begun?" A tear dripped from the corner of her eye. She let it run down her cheek and into her thick auburn hair where another followed in its path. Silently she wept, until eventually, hungry and exhausted, she drifted into a haunted sleep.

In her dreams the midwife's eyes widened. King Henry's face blackened, "Finally I birth a son, and this is what I get?" He spat. "Give up the child or you will go with it!". "The devils mark...". "Monster!" a faceless crowd shouted. Out from the crowd a priest drew a glowing sword and walked towards her son. But try as she might, Agnes could not move. She screamed as the sword struck down. She was sitting in a small, stone cell, a ragged bundle in her arms. She had been stripped clean other than her underclothes, a small bowl of brown porridge sat near the iron barred door. Her stomach hurt so she ate. But the week old leftovers would not stay down. She vomited. The guard outside laughed, only to be suddenly stopped with a dagger stuck out of his throat, from the darkness appeared a knight. It was her brother. He took the keys from the dead guard, "we have to hurry". Suddenly she was back in the screaming crowd. "Monster!" they shouted.

"Milady!" firm hands shook her shoulders, "Milady wake up."

The sun flooded into her eyes, blinded by the brightness, she threw a fist up in a panic and heard something crack beneath her knuckles.

"Ouch!" The figure reeled back. "What's that for!"

Her vision cleared and she gasped, "Rob?" The man had his hand over his nose, which was bleeding heavily. She looked around in panic, but could see nothing but people less hills and smoking huts, "Sorry, I'm a little anxious is all."

"Yeah, you were screamin' in your sleep. Nearly screwed us both, you did."

"Where are we?"

"The ploughers, we common folk call it," he said, "Miles and miles of farmlands. Your brother told me to bring you here. Said it was somethin' like a fresh start. Should be easy to find work here, though they don't feed yous nearly enough."

She looked around. Sure enough there were fields all around them some filled with corn and wheat, and others with herds of sheep and cattle. It seemed to stretch on endlessly into the mountains.

"Thank you." Agnes said, "We would have died without you."

"Didn't do't for you," he said, "your brother promised to make my son a knight for doin' this. It's the only thing Eddie's ever wanted. Afterall, we give everythin' for our children innit."

Agnes looked at her son and smiled, "Yes, I suppose we do."