Marrok

Chapter 4

"I still don't believe it," said Saul, his eyes glazed.

"I thought the ride in the cool night air would have sobered you," commented Marrok.

"Drunk on love maybe, but not ale my friend," exclaimed Saul, smiling.Marrok choked on his wine. Regaining his composure, he glared at Saul wide-eyed but could see, for once, he appeared to be sincere.

"She was so dowdy as a child, but she's bloomed like a rose in the summer sun," Saul continued.

Marrok took a tentative sip of his drink and settled back into the cushions of the chair to contemplate his own feelings. He too had been captivated by the company they had shared. He wondered if the pleasure he had felt at Jane's touch, the warmth of her hand, her sweet scent that still seemed to linger was just the enjoyment of being close to a woman, or something more. He sank further back into the comfort of the duck down and closed his eyes.

"Didn't you think she was beautiful?" asked Saul.

His eyes still closed, Jane's smiling face appeared to Marrok like a vision. Her brown hair tumbling down around her shoulders and swaying as it had when they had danced together.

"Marrok, wake up," Saul insistently shook his friend.

Marrok sighed and opened his eyes. "Yes. Yes, she was," he replied, still envisaging Jane in his mind's eye.

"I think she liked me," Saul sat down on the stone slab floor next to his friend's chair.

Marrok sat up and reached for the wine bottle, filling his goblet. To Saul's surprise, Marrok downed it without drawing for breath. "Who?"

"You're not listening are you?" Saul glared accusingly. "Mary. Do you think she feels the same?"

"Oh, Mary," Marrok blinked repeatedly to ward off the sleep that threatened. The candle flames on the nearby table blurred as he tried to refocus. A faint wisp of smoke rose into the air from the burning tallow. "What about Sasha?"

"What about her?"

"When we left her at Botsmere you said you'd go back for her."

"That was just a harmless fling with a serving girl. Mary is a lady. A beautiful, intelligent woman."

"It shouldn't matter if she was a serving girl or a queen. You made a promise Saul. A man is only as good as his word," Marrok scorned.

"Marrok, my friend. When will you see that life is not always so simple. I chased after Sasha for many a season and maybe if she'd been more obliging sooner I would have felt something other than lust. I can't help feeling something more for Mary. For her, I would make a promise and keep it."

"You've spent an evening with her Saul, that's all."

"It's enough for me to know she's the one," replied Saul indignantly. "You seemed quite taken with Lady Jane."

Marrok shifted in his chair before sitting up and filling his goblet once more. "I'm not sure what I think," he admitted after sipping his wine absently.

Saul turned to face his friend. "I think you like her but are afraid to admit it. Afraid to let anyone in. I know the hurt you went through when our mothers passed with pox and I know that bloody crusade was an escape for you. A way to leave behind the things you prefer not to face up to," Saul paused as Marrok's face darkened. "If you like Jane, don't lose her for the sake of not letting her close."

                                                           ...............................................

The cook gave a knowing and bemused look when she saw Saul's blackening eye as she passed him on the way to the stables. She was carrying slops from the kitchen to take out to the pigs. He hurried towards her and took the foul-smelling bucket from her.

"Why thank you, Master Saul," she said with a chuckle. "So what have you been up to?" her eyes narrowed as she inspected his eye.

"I fell off my horse Nance. Damn thing wouldn't keep still," Saul smiled. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of the slops.

"You'd better come see me after feeding them pigs," replied Nance. "A bit of goose fat on that will see you right," she chuckled again.

Marrok came into sight of them but ignored their banter and continued to the stables. It wasn't long before he cantered out upon Farren's back and headed out of the courtyard towards the slopes of the vineyards.

It was unusually warm for late spring and small clouds of dirt rose into the still air as Farren's hooves dug into the pathway that led down the staggered hillside. Neat rows of vines stretched out on either side of the pathway for as far as could be seen. Saul's father, known only as Gommery, was standing with his cap in hand over his brow, trying to shade his eyes from the sunlight as he looked towards the East. Marrok dismounted, leaving Farren untethered, and strode to stand beside Gommery.

"I wonder if we may have a drought this year," commented Gommery, still looking out towards the East, his eyes squinting against the light. "As you've been to Serene, I wonder if you have learnt of anything to combat such conditions?" he asked, finally turning to look at Marrok.

"In what way?" asked Marrok.

"Irrigation," Gommery frowned and shook his head. "You've much to learn boy. Many vines will survive a long hot summer, but many won't. Did you not pass through farmlands on your travels West? Or did you only encounter battlefields?" Despite Gommery's status being far below that of Marrok, he always treated him as his own son, which brought with it either praise or reprimand.

"You're the one that knows all the tricks Gommery," Marrok replied, unfazed by Gommery's scorn. "I can't say I paid attention to the countryside views. They had many local customs and worshipped many idols, but we didn't stay long enough in one place to take any note of such things."

"Is that why you don't fancy settlin'?" Gommery asked, his eyebrow raised.

"You didn't want me up here to talk irrigation and vines, did you?"

"Maybe not," Gommery shrugged. "Either way, you still need to learn to manage the vines, crops, and the people if you're going to stay. And, if you are, are you just going to work it so that the king can take it all away on your deathbed?" Gommery shoved his hands in his pockets and kicked at the dirt with his boots as he waited for an answer.

Marrok looked off into the distance. "Saul told you about what happened?"

"Nope, but Nance did," Gommery looked Marrok straight in the eye. "You may be the Lord of White Haven someday, and me your servant, if I last that long, but you'll always be like a son to me, just like Saul. That means I'm going to speak the truth, cos it needs sayin'. I hate to admit it, but Saul's right for once in his life. Me and your father were both lucky to love women like no others, and I know you and he both feel your mothers can't ever be replaced, but that don't mean you should hide from heartache that may never come."

Marrok's face set like stone as he listened to Gommery's sermon and remained silent for some time afterwards, listening to the stones scuff against Gommery's boot as he continued to scrape them against the loose ground. Gommery recalled Marrok as a child, sulking over some minor misdemeanor, and knew he needed time, so remained quiet until a response was forthcoming.

"She has the most beautiful eyes," said Marrok in barely a whisper.

"I suspect she'll have the heart to match then," Gommery patted Marrok on the shoulder. "You'll be wanting to take leave then and travel to Treggorne."

"Treggorne?" Marrok questioned.

"A messenger came early this morning. The King is expected in a few weeks. Everyone will be gathering in court, especially the young lords and ladies. You can do me a favour and make sure Saul doesn't drink the wine order before you deliver it there."

They shared a knowing smile.