Treasures - Book 4 The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter 14

Elliad's anger was kindled, his operation, 'Gentle John' was not working as fast as he'd expected.

John was getting nowhere fast.

"The girl wants to see me for herself. That's interesting, very interesting; she's more strong-willed than I first imagined."

Elliad ordered a day-gown for Jobyna and increased the watch in the area of her room; it would not do for her to go wandering around. The castle was a tremendous size with many hiding-places.

She had recovered much faster than anticipated.

The doctors informed him that in certain cases the progress she had made could take weeks. Her constitution must be strong for that of a young girl!

John took the gown with him in the morning. He gave the girl her medicine, then fed her breakfast food to her. He seemed different, agitated, his face lined with anger. His hair had been trimmed and he seemed altogether darker, less approachable.

Wanting to perceive his anger as fear due to King Elliad's threats, Jobyna worried for him, that he was facing an imminent deadline.

Marching boots echoed from the corridor; louder and louder as they came closer. Gilbert entered the room; John rose instinctively and turned toward him as the doctor spoke, "An urgent message arrived... the king wants to see you right away, and..."

With a wave of his hand, John hushed the older man in mid-sentence and left the room, closing the door behind him. Jobyna waited for John's return; this was not forthcoming and she was sure the soldiers had taken him away.

Jobyna fingered the new gown; it was made of finely woven wool, a delicate pale blue. Silver threads were sewn into the sleeves and hem.

The women helped Jobyna dress and combed her hair, plaiting it, winding it around her head. Gilbert, sensing Jobyna's preoccupation, said she could walk in the corridor but she must not venture to the battlement if it was raining; she was to check with him before going outside.

Jobyna felt John's absence at noon. Food was brought to the table in her room and she fed herself. There were no smiles or words of encouragement.

Silent as always, the women stood watching; always watching.

Gilbert paced in and out; he, too, was agitated. Opening the shutters, he turned to Jobyna and said, "The rain's stopped, Jobyna, you can put on the cloak and go out in the fresh air if you want."

He followed Jobyna to the battlements. The air was fresh and the smell of rain hung in the misty damp. The cliffs were draped with gray clouds swirling around their jagged tops.

Jobyna saw a company of soldiers and knights on horseback, riding out across the drawbridge. She thought of her own capture and memories came flooding back.

Gilbert uttered an exclamation, "It's him!" —At the same time as Jobyna recognized John, riding in the midst of the soldiers.

She said, "It's John. Why look, there are at least forty or fifty horses with him."

"John!" she called, but her strained cry was lost in the wind. Then she saw him turn and lookup.

Gilbert, having stared down at the company, grasped her firmly and pulled her away from the parapet. "Where are the soldiers taking John?" she asked.

Gilbert took Jobyna's arm and ushered her back inside. "I'm sorry I took you out there," he said, his voice shaking, "I should have known better. King Elliad will be very upset... with me." He spoke as if to stir the king's anger was worth more than one's life!

Jobyna paced across the room and back... Gilbert had gone, leaving one of the women with her. Her guardian was the sullen-faced woman who glowered silently at Jobyna when the girl spoke or asked a question. Jobyna asked her name; but the woman just glared, she did not answer.

The captive was permitted to walk along the corridor but when she came to a corner, two soldiers stepped out and barred her way. There were two soldiers posted in every doorway and all she could do was turn on her heel, walk back to her room and start again. She paced until her legs ached then returned to the room to rest. Curling up on the cushions on the hard bed, she drew a rug over her feet. Thoughts of John bothered her greatly. She worried about this disturbing doctor. She cared for him.

Jobyna awoke from her nap, hot and perspiring. The wool dress felt damp and close.

She decided to return to the corridor to walk. Gilbert strode from the far corner as she paced back and forth.

"Jobyna, you're flushed," he said, putting his palm on her forehead. "You're burning up. How long have you been this way?" He guided her back to the room and took a bottle off the shelf. Pouring a small amount of thick syrup into a thimble-sized pottery container, he told her to drink it and rest. Jobyna complied but the fever persisted and Gilbert stirred some powder into a goblet of fruit juice and told her to drink it all. She fell into a listless sleep.

When Jobyna woke, the room was in darkness. She could barely make out Gilbert's form. He had food for her with him. Sitting up, she noted the two women present, one of them lighting the lamps.

"Where's John?" Jobyna inquired. "Is he back yet?" The questions remained unanswered. "Gilbert, would King Elliad really kill John?" Jobyna did not miss the solemn looks that passed between the three and she felt sure her worst fears were true.

Gilbert closed his eyes and shook his head, offering no answer. To Jobyna, it was an affirmation.

"I must see the king. If he wants to kill someone, it should be me! Why didn't he just let me die?" Tears spilled down her flushed cheeks.

Jobyna couldn't settle to sleep that night; she tossed and turned. In the past week, her world had become this one small room and the few people in it were important to her.

Every time she closed her eyes she saw John's blue ones, staring at her in his uncanny way.

Gilbert finally gave her an extra draft, sponging the perspiration from her face.

He dispatched a message to Elliad informing him his patient was heading for a relapse, but word came back that the king had gone on a mission and might not return until morning.

Jobyna experienced another nightmare.

She saw hundreds of soldiers in the valley, her valley.

Elliad was there; she knew him by the purple hood he wore over his face.

They chased after John.

She wanted to take John into the treasure cave to hide him, but the wall was unmovable, and they were trapped.

Soldiers entered the outer cave and she cried out as they drew their swords.

She stood between them and John, but they shoved her out of the way.

She watched as John's body was cut into hundreds of pieces. Even in her nightmare, she could see the bright color of blood. Blood splattered the walls and dribbled to the stone floor. Red splashed her face and her hands were covered in the sticky scarlet liquid. Yet through the crimson, his blue eyes were still looking at her and she could see the horror of death on his face.

Jobyna woke up screaming and crying from the dread nightmare.

Gilbert and the women had to restrain her to keep her in bed.