Part Three

Deryni. Betia's thoughts raced as she left Claret's cottage. Were their Deryni among the Willimites or were there renegade Deryni taking matters into their own hands? Either way, someone murdered Rannulf and Deryni was involved. Camber's Truth-Readers did not find anything from Claret because they did not know to look deeper. She was fortunate to have stumbled across the memory. Someone had not covered their tracks very well. Or, more probable she thought, did not expect someone to read the widow's memories.

Deryni in the royal court was bad enough, but at least they were somewhat visible. Secret Deryni scouring the countryside was worse. She had no idea of who could do such an act of such vehemence, Deryni or not. It may have been true of the rumors that Rannulf had a catamite at his castle, but to have murdered him as a traitor was brutal. Molesting children was despicable, yet to have him killed like a traitor because of it was even more cruel. Or maybe Rannulf was a traitor, and all of this uproar about a Deryni child molester was a diversion to keep the king's interrogators busy while the real murderers were escaping.

The king's interrogators and Camber's men had both looked into the matter, but found nothing. Already, she had discovered more information than the lot of them together, she guessed. But now what? She knew that she was more than capable of finding the murderers, but what would she do when she found them?

Betia turned north on the main road. The wind had died down somewhat and the sun was trying to break through the clouds. Thankful for the change in weather she set out toward the river. Her next obstacle would be to cross the river that was north of Caerrorie. She had made the trip across the river before, there was no reason she could not do it again. Only the time before she was a small child crossing southward.

Memories rushed in of that long ago trip. Her parents lived in Culliecairn when she was born. Culliecairn was a town between Eastmarch and Tolan. Her parents had been prominent residents in the town, her father, the bailiff. Something happened, though, to make her parents flee from Culliecairn in the middle of the night. She never knew what happened, only that she was leaving home behind.

They traveled under the cover of darkness for the first few nights to get as far way from Culliecairn as possible and secretly. When they realized they were not being followed, they began traveling during the day. They stopped in Grecotha for a few weeks before heading south. Her father did not like the city and thought they might be recognized still this close to Culliecairn. So they moved on.

Eventually they made it to Valoret, crossing the river in the journey. Her father did not like the capitol nor the Deryni king. So, again they moved on, but not as far. They made it to Caerrorie. It was a small village near the MacRorie manorial estates. The MacRories were well-known Deryni, but well-loved Deryni. Camber's father, Ballard, was earl when they moved to the village. There they made a new life for themselves.

It was easier because they were Deryni. Living under the shadow of a Deryni lord made it easier to practice their magic, but not publicly or in the open. Both of her parents had quite extensive training. They passed what knowledge they possessed of the arcane art on to their only child. Betia was thankful for her parents and the training she received from them. She may be a simple Deryni woman, but she was determined to set the people of the village free.

Betia made it to the river before day's end and crossed without any problems. She continued on after the river knowing that darkness was soon coming. Although the day had brightened and the sun had made its appearance, it would get cold at night. With the clear night and no wind, there would be a frost. The thought of spending a night in the cold urged her onward. It was dusk when she came upon a small cottage just off the main road. There was a stable just beyond the home, maybe the owner would let her sleep in the stable for the night.

Light was coming from within the cottage as she approached it. She could hear sounds of laughter the closer she came to the home. It sounded as if there were several people within having a good time. It was a good sign. She knocked on the door. It went silent inside the cottage when she did.

Heavy footsteps made its way to the door. The door opened quickly revealing a giant of a man. "Who's there?" he bellowed.

"I am sorry to bother you, sir. I was on my way to Grecotha and the night fell. I was wondering, would you be so kind to let me sleep in your stable to keep me warm during the night?" Betia asked backing up when she saw the large man fill the doorway.

"Who are you?" he said placing his hands on his hips.

"My name is Betia. I am traveling from Caerrorie to Grecotha to see family," she lied hoping to play on his sympathies.

"Betia? Huh?" the man challenged. He looked back into the brightly lit home.

Betia heard quiet whisperings going on behind the man wondering what they were discussing. After a moment he turned around, "Betia... Welcome to my home! Come in and eat with us, my wife insists!" the man joyfully said.

"Thank you, but you do not have to feed me, I have my own food. Just a place to sleep will be fine," she answered quietly.

"I insist," the man said stepping aside with a wave of his hand to usher her into the cottage. "Come enjoy the warmth of our fire and the food of our table."

Betia bowed her head as she stepped past the man into the cottage. Candles were aglow as she glanced around the single room. A woman about the same age as the man sat next to a roaring fire holding a small child. The woman smiled at her as she bowed her head to the lady. "Thank you for your gracious invitation."

"Welcome to our simple home," the woman said letting the child down then getting up herself. "My name is Elethia, that is my husband, Allard, and our young son Kenelm."

Betia smiled as the toddler run to his father's arms. Allard gave a raucous whoop as he flung him into the air. The child laughed as the father caught him. "We were about to eat when you knocked. Please join us," Allard said placing the boy on his feet. The boy ran to his mother hiding behind her skirts.

"You are very kind," Betia responded.

"Kenelm, sit at the table, so I can get the stew," Elethia said pushing the boy toward the table.

After the boy settled at the table, Betia sat beside him. The young boy smiled at her as she did. She guessed he was about two years old. Allard assisted his wife by placing the stew on the table. The food was warm and delicious. The couple told Betia they had just moved into the cottage to begin tenant farming for the local lord. Betia listened as they told of their simple life. Their conversations carried on into the night. Betia liked the family. Kenelm had fallen asleep in his father's lap as they conversed about the local people. Allard was putting the boy to bed when Elethia asked about the situation in her village.

"I suppose ye are moving north to get away from the Deryni king Imre? We heard about what happened at Caerrorie. Ah, must be sad days in Caerrorie," Elethia said as she cleared the table.

"Let me help," Betia asserted. "Aye, the king has invoked the law of Festil. The first two were murdered today."

"The king is a barbarous man. It is a custom that should be done away with."

Betia surmised the couple were anti-Festil with the statement and possibly pro-Deryni. "I take it, you do not care for the king," she said in a non-committal tone.

"Aye, nor his Deryni friends. Rannulf was a hard man to live under."

"Rannulf deserved to die," Allard said returning from putting the boy to bed. "We are fortunate to not have to live under his sway."

"Aye," Betia replied. "'Tis fortunate indeed."

Quiet came over the room at her declaration, the first quiet of the evening. It was an awkward moment for the three of them as they were unsure of what should be said next. Betia sat next to the fire in a state of comfortable rest somewhere between wakefulness and sleep.

"Let me get a cover for you," Elethia spoke interrupting the silence. "We cannot have you getting cold during the night." Elethia moved to the other side of the room to a chest.

"Thank you, I'll return it before I leave in the morning." Betia awoke from her half sleep as she opened the chest. Something caught her eye as she moved things around inside the chest. She spied a piece of green cloth that appeared to be a Healer's mantle. The recognition of the mantle brought her to full wakefulness. If a Healer, then a Deryni. She tried not to be obvious as the woman fished out the covering. Now, the dilemma of whether to say anything to her newfound friend.

"Ah, here it is," the lady said as she folded it for Betia. "You are welcome to stay as long you need."

"I will just spend the night," Betia replied. "Maybe when I journey back home, I will stop and visit with you and your family."

"Let me show you to the stable," Elethia said. She took a candle from the table, cupped her hand around the flame to keep it from going out, then proceeded tot he door. "Allard, my love, I will return shortly."

The walk to the stable was a quiet one. Betia followed the woman a little behind her left elbow. The candle bobbed up and down with the woman's gait. Already a light frost covered the ground as they walked to the stable. Still debating whether to say anything, Elethia thrust the candle to Betia's care so she could open the stable doors.

"It is not much, but we only have the one bed in the house," Elethia said opening the door wider to the stable.

"This is all I need for the night." Betia handed the candle back to her friend.

"I know you saw the Healer's mantle. You will not say anything, will you?" the woman pleaded.

"No, who would I say anything to?" Betia asked looking at the woman. She could see despair in the woman's eyes from the meager flame of the candle. Even if she could not see it, she heard it in her voice.

Sighing, then bowing her face, she quietly murmured, "'Tis a long story, but I will not tell it to you now. We are hiding from the Willimites for fear of our lives. We are afraid of what they might do if they found out I was a Healer."

Stepping into the stable, Betia threw the covering onto the hay. "The Willimites do not usually hunt down those Deryni who are behaving themselves. They are after the ones who abuse their powers. I do not agree with the Willimites tactics, but I understand their reasoning. They do it out of fear, I, however, do not like Deryni who abuse their powers either, but would find a more reasonable way to deal with the abusers than murder."

"It is a hard thing to live with ...being Deryni," Elethia whispered.

Betia lifted Elethia's face with a gentle touch on her chin. "I know," she said flaring her shields momentarily. Elethia's eyes grew wide at her silent declaration. They embraced warmly. Though they known each other for just a few hours, they felt as if they known each a lifetime.

"Maybe, when I return, we can share with each other thoughts and memories mind to mind," Betia said pulling away from Elethia.

Tears were streaming down Elethia's cheeks. She smiled. "That... that would be nice." Elethia dabbed at the tears with the back of her hand. She turned to look at the cottage to see her husband standing in the doorway. "I must be abed, Betia."

"Aye, I, too, must get some rest. I have a long way to travel tomorrow." Betia watched her friend turn and run back to the cottage. Elethia embraced her husband in the doorway, then they disappeared inside the cottage. She smiled knowing Elethia was telling Allard about her being Deryni. Shaking her head, she wondered if she should have told Elethia more. Shrugging her shoulders with an audible sigh, she stepped into the stable, closed the doors and made herself as comfortable as she could. She would need as much rest as she could get, for the road ahead would demand much of her.