Don't Judge Me

Her footsteps carried her to the court where mostly everyone stood talking. Joaquin watched her from the corner of his eye as she spoke with her mother.

Aminata whispered, “How is she?”

“I did what I could,” Yande replied plainly.

“Did you lift the curse or not.”

“I did.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. Yande scoffed, “I wouldn’t be so happy for a woman who declared to me just moments ago that she would have you, Samba and I burned alive for practicing witchcraft.”

“She said that?”

“That and other things,” Yande replied as she looked at her mother’s belly.

Aminata touched her belly. Joaquin walked over to them, “How is everything?”

Before they could respond, Carolina barged in, “King Tomas, come, it’s the Queen, her eyes are opened.”

He and his sons rushed to her bedroom. King stood by her bedside, “Why hasn’t she moved?” he asked.

Carolina shrugged, “I don’t know but this is something. I’ll go find the doctor.” She left the room.

The King and his sons surrounded her bedside. Her eyes acknowledged them. Her mouth could not move. Her tongue was frozen.

“I don’t know what’s worst, this or how she was before,” said Lorenzo.

David huffed, “At least her eyes are open. This is progress.

The doctor entered, “I’ll have to do a thorough examination. I’ll need everyone except the king to leave the room.”

They all funneled out.

*****

Joaquin pulled Yande and his wife aside, “I need to know what happened.”

Yande shrugged, “I lifted Samba’s curse.”

“Then why is she frozen? Lying there like a log in the middle of a pond?”

“These things can be tricky, Father.”

He kissed his teeth.

“Yande, what did you do?” asked her mother.

“I did what needed to be done. Trust me. What I’ve done to her is nothing compared to what is fated for her. I saw it when I touched her hands in that room. There is a sickness in her body. By next Spring, she will breathe her last breath.”

“And you say that so coldly,” responded Joaquin, “who are you?”

“I am your daughter. The one that almost died because of what that woman did. So please do not expect me to feel any compassion for the woman who threatened to kill me to my face after I brought her back from one curse.”

He stood in shock as Yande marched off.

Aminata touched his arm, “I’ll go speak with her.”

******

The night was slowly taking over. Yande stared out at the stars. She closed her eyes. “I only did what I had to do,” she said as if the person was standing right in front of her.

Her mother placed her hand on her shoulder. Yande turned to her, “I know you and Father are upset with me—”

“Was there no other way?”

“Perhaps.”

“Yande, we are not those kinds of witches. We don’t use our powers for evil or to take advantage of people even If it means—”

“Do you want to die? Is that what you’re telling me? I do not wish to die. I don’t deserve to burn for what I had no control over. And I certainly, don’t deserve to die because you have been sleeping with our King.”

Aminata folded her arms, “I am your mother—”

“Yes. And mothers do make mistakes. And that was a huge one. You couldn’t have thought that the queen would be okay with what you and Uncle Tomas were doing.”

“I only did what I had to do.”

Yande nodded, “So then, you understand. I won’t judge you harshly if you refrain from judging me too harshly.”

Samba walked up, “Mother, Yande.”

“You’ve come,” said Yande as she looked into his eyes.

“I came to lift the curse.”

“It has been done.”

“Then why does everyone seem to be on edge in the castle?”

“Your sister did a different curse.”

He looked at Yande with wide eyes, “Is this true?”

“She was going to have us killed for being witches.”

Samba shook his head, “Even after what she did to you, you brought her back and that was her response.”

“It was.”

Joaquin joined them outside, “It’s late. We should stay the night here and leave in the morning.”

Yande and Samba walked inside. Joaquin looked at his wife, “it seems Yande was right. The doctor found a large lump in the queen’s right breast. They will do all they can but she will be lucky to live until next spring.”

She nodded, “Don’t be so hard on the children. This life has not been easy.”

He nodded, “I know.” He pulled her close and hugged her tightly. His lips pressed to her forehead, “Let’s get some rest.”

*****

Northumbria

The horse trotted down the trail and stopped just shy of the castle at the meeting point specified in the note. Darleen dropped down off the horse. A figure standing in the shadow appeared, “And you are?”

The delicate hands emerged. They gripped the hood of the cloak and flipped it back.

“Queen Godgifu.”

“Yes. It is I. Why must you do these things, Darleen.?”

“I was bored.”

“We have to come up with a story about where you were. I’ve decided that you were volunteering at the nunnery.”

Darleen smiled, “Where?”

“Well, in Mercia of course. We can’t risk anyone questioning you further if we mention the ones here in Northumbria. I trust you kept yourself busy.”

Darleen grinned, “I did.”

“Well, it’s time to put all of that behind you if you plan to win over the prince. You have to behave like a lady.”

“Yes. Yes. I understand.”

*****

The bar was lively when he walked in. He marched right to the counter. Elanor placed a cup in front of him, “What did you see?”

“I found the lad that delivered the note. I paid him a good bit of coin to find out that she is a Lady. Her name isn’t Abigale. It’s Darleen. Her uncle is the King of Mercia and her cousin is married to a Prince in Northumbria.”

“Prince Oswald, I’m sure. He’s the oldest.”

He shrugged as he threw back his head and guzzled down the rest of his ale. “Any word from Harald?”

“Not yet. I’m certain he’s at the coast by now.”

****

He could hear the cheerful songs being sung in his native tongue at a distance. The fire glowed. The smoke rose in the sky. He quickened his pace. The men stopped and watched as he approached. He waved, “Brother!” he exclaimed as he hopped off the horse and had someone secure it.

He was greeted by Jarl Erick, “Harald, what news do you have?”

He hugged him, “The best kind.”

He smiled, “Come to my tent and let us chat over some ale.”

Jarl Erick’s tent was set up nicely. They sat around a small wooden table. The skulls were filled with ale as they discussed their plans to invade East Anglia.

King Knud huffed, “Are we sure that’s where we want to go? I was hoping for something bigger with more treasure.”

Jarl Sigurd spoke up, “We should start small to gauge what defenses these Saxons are working with. If we are successful, we can secure more than coin and jewels.”

“What’s better than coin and jewels?” asked the King.

“Jarl Sugurd is right, “We can have a settlement. We can have land. The ground here is fertile.”

King Knud grumbled, “You can have your settlement. I’ll take the gold and silver.”

“Suit yourself,” said Jarl Erick as he watched King Knud and his men stand to leave.

Harald scoffed, “he has the personality of a wasp.”

They chuckled.