Turning back to Ester, I asked, “So, how much food is left? How many of us will be needed to carry it down?”
She looked back at me in puzzlement. “Carry it down?”
“Yes, after a banquet, don’t you take the leftovers down to the village for the poor?”
I realized that the Volodanes seldom held what might be considered a banquet, but surely they observed this custom over the winter holiday feasting.
“Oh, no, my lady,” she answered, shaking her head. “The master wouldn’t like that at all.” She paused. “Did you ask Lord Kai?”
I hadn’t, but yesterday, he’d given me complete control over the kitchen. Surely Jarrod wouldn’t begrudge the poorest of the villagers a few leftovers? He’d wanted a proper lady of the keep. That was one reason he’d brought me here. It was my duty to follow through on what was expected of the mistress of a household like this one.
I thought on Kai’s words to me.
Deal with the household staff as you see fit. My father couldn’t care less what you do so long as everything runs smoothly.
“Pack up the leftovers. We’re taking them down,” I instructed. “Cora, you’ll come with us.” Once I’d given the order, Ester ceased her concerns and launched in. We packed up large baskets of sliced beef, cold chicken, fruit, tarts, and bread. We were nearly ready when Miriam walked in. Without even asking, she knew what was happening, as she and I had often accompanied my mother in the past. She began to help with the packing.
Part of my thoughts were still on the impending afternoon ride with Kai, but there was plenty of time for Ester, Cora, Miriam, and me to get down to the village, distribute the food, and then make it back before the midday meal.
Soon, we had eight baskets ready to go, and we each carried two.
The day was warm, so we decided to forgo our cloaks as we walked to the front gates with our burdens. I felt in charge for the first time since my arrival. Kai had given me a free hand, and I intended to use it.
Sebastian’s friend, Daveed, was on duty at the gate. At the sight of him, Cora blushed a little. Daveed was quite striking with tan skin, blond hair, and nearly clear blue eyes.
He’d always been polite to me, and so I smiled at him. “Could you open the gate for us?”
Glancing at the baskets, he faltered in some confusion. “My lady?” He didn’t make a move to open the gate. I believed it took two men anyway, as a heavy bar, the width of a tree trunk, had been positioned inside of iron brackets, and this had to be slid back for the gate to open.
I hoped he was not about to challenge me.
“We’re bringing food to the village,” I said as imperiously as I could.
Alarmed, his eyes scanned the courtyard, most likely for one of the Volodanes. “Have you asked Lord Jarrod or Kai for permission?”
“I don’t need permission to leave my own home and walk into the village. Please do as I ask.”
In theory, I had authority over him, and he knew it. Still concerned, he called to another guard, “Brandon! Come help me with the bar and then take my place on duty.” He looked back to me. “I’ll need to come with you. Lord Jarrod would have me hanged if I let you walk down there without a guard.”
While I found this rather impertinent on his part, it also sounded sensible. My mother had always been quite safe in our home village with only a small gaggle of maids—and me—but I’d never been to Volodane Village and had only seen it briefly at dusk the night I arrived here.
“Very well,” I answered.
Both men strained to slide the bar back, and the gate swung open.
The five of us passed through, and it closed behind us. I heard Brandon calling out for assistance, and a moment later, I heard the bar grinding back. Apparently, the Volodanes took no chances with their gate, even in broad daylight.
“Onward,” I said, trying to sound cheerful.
Neither Ester, Cora, nor Daveed appeared cheerful, and I couldn’t help wondering why, but Daveed reached out for one of my baskets.
“Let me,” he said.
Since the baskets were heavy and I was the smallest of the women, I let him carry one of mine. Even though I’d been tired and damp the night I arrived, I remembered that the village wasn’t far. Our party took a path down a hill, over one rise, and then down again.
The village came into view, and we closed the distance.
Dwellings spread out all around us. There were about fifty circular wattle and daub huts with thatched roofs, a few shops, a smithy, and a sturdy log dwelling that probably served as a common house. But in the daylight, I could see holes in many roofs and decay in the shops and dwellings.
At the sight of us, the nearest people began slipping away. The few I saw clearly were thin and dressed in rags.
Daveed set down his basket and kept so close to me I almost asked him to step away. I noticed his right hand hovering over the hilt of his sword.
“Do not draw that blade,” I said. “I hardly think we’re in danger from anyone here.”
“Probably not,” he answered, “but desperate people can be . . .” He didn’t finish the sentence.
Miriam hadn’t expressed any trepidation over our task until now, but she looked around at the state of the place in open dismay. “My lady,” she said. “Perhaps he is right. We could simply leave the food?”
An old woman with a wrinkled face came from between two dwellings and stopped in surprise at the sight of us.
She made to leave again quickly, but I called out, “Please don’t go. We’ve brought food.”
Turning, she dropped her eyes to my basket.
“Could you bring any people in need to the common house?” I asked. This seemed a rather foolish statement since everyone here appeared to be in need. What could have happened to bring them so low? Why wasn’t Jarrod doing anything to help?
The old woman slowly came up to me and looked down into my basket. “Are those strawberry tarts?” Her voice was stronger than I expected.
“Yes, we brought quite a few.”
People began appearing again, slipping out from dwellings or between buildings, staring at our baskets. To my shame, I was glad for Daveed’s presence. Then I chastised myself. These people deserved my help and pity, not my fear or judgment.
But then . . . as villagers began drawing closer, a different type of uncomfortable wave passed through me, something I couldn’t stop. In addition to focusing on a single person and reading thoughts, I also had an unfortunate tendency to absorb strong emotions or sensations if enough people around me experienced the same feelings. Right now, all I could feel was fear, hunger, and despair.
I was determined to finish my task here.
“I am the new lady of the hall,” I said, letting my voice carry. “Where I come from, after any sort of banquet or feast, we share the spoils with our people.”
No one responded. All eyes were still on the baskets. The aura of despair leeched into me and became almost overwhelming. I fought it.
“Let us go to the common house,” I said. “Where we can set up properly.” Looking down at the old woman beside me, I asked, “Can you help keep order?”
“Yes.”