Fatal Truths (The Anarchy Medieval Romance) (10 page)

ALEX GLANCED AROUND THE SMALL CHART ROOM
of Montbryce Castle, the thought occurring unbidden that some future
Comte
might have to consider expanding it.

The unpleasant odor of too many men
of action packed into a confined space around an over-large table wasn’t conducive to clear thinking, and the men gathered there needed to think clearly, especially him.

None among them—his brothers,
his MacLaichlainn cousins, Bonhomme, Brodeur, the guard captain, and his lieutenants—had expressed any surprise when he’d made his announcement. They had known, perhaps expected, that he would break the oath binding the Montbryces of Normandie to Maud.

All that remained was to discuss the defense of the castle, and it became plain as
Brodeur explained his plans that he had already put his men and machines on a war footing. The armory had been replenished, and weapons sharpened. Preparations were underway to provide accommodation within the safety of the walls for peasants dislodged from the cottages around the castle, along with their livestock.

Bonhomme explained in detail the extra food, wood and water he’d gathered in anticipation of a siege. “Montbryce has never fallen into enemy hands,” he declared, “and it’s not going to happen on my watch.”

Alex didn’t like to mention the castle had never come under attack, thanks in large measure to the uncanny ability of his ancestors to remain in the good graces of those in power—no easy feat in the quicksands of Norman politics. But his heart swelled with pride. “I thank you all for your loyalty,” he told them, acknowledging they’d accomplished all they had without his leadership.

“It’s the right decision,” Romain said. “Every man here
knows it. We’re fortunate that Maud and Geoffrey didn’t visit us as we feared they would, or they might have caught wind of our preparations.”

Bradick
Ronan stroked his beard. “Word from Alensonne is they took the road in the opposite direction when they left our castle.”

Alex shook his head. “I suspect
the Plantagenets stayed away precisely because they anticipated our defection. I’ve sent riders to officially inform Maud of my decision, wherever she may have gone, but they have spies everywhere and were probably already plotting an attack.

“We will discuss the kind of action we expect.
Laurent, you’ll send word to Gallien in England. Hopefully it won’t get to a point where we need his help, but he has Stephen’s ear.”

He put a hand on his younger brother’s shoulder. “I want you to take a contingent of men and travel to King Stephen at Westminster as my emissary. He knows you and will have confidence in our change of allegiance.”

Laurent frowned. “I will not.”

Alex was taken aback. “But—”

“
Non
, you misunderstand. I will gladly go as the emissary, but with only two men to accompany me.”

“Out of the question.
That leaves you vulnerable.”

Bradick
Ronan laughed. “Me and my son are Laurent’s chosen companions. Three men can travel fast. Otherwise—”

Alex recognized the stubborn jut of his
cousin’s chin. “Very well.”

He turned to address the group.
“Vigilance is the key, and we must know our strategy and that of our enemy,” he declared, feeling much more confident than when he’d first walked into the Chart Room after the hurried journey from his sister’s home. “But I would hear you swear now, for King Stephen and Montbryce.”

“For King Stephen and Montbryce!” they shouted in unison, fists thrust into the air.

~~~

ELAYNE BECKONED HER CHILDREN
to sit either side of her on the bed, even at this last moment unsure how to explain the new realities to them. She spread her arms around their shoulders, wishing forlornly that was all that would be necessary to protect them. How could infants be expected to understand the sometimes deadly games adults played?

To this point she’d managed to allay their fears by
treating their situation as a game, a charade. Playing the role of grandchildren to King Dabíd wasn’t hard—that’s what they were. Illegitimacy and its implications meant nothing to them.

She glanced over at Faol, lying across the threshold of the door, snoring contentedly. The dog had finagled his way into the chamber, but
accepted he was expected to remain at the doorway. She wondered absently how long it would be before the animal was sleeping on the children’s bed.

Yawning,
Claricia leaned into her. “You’re sad,
maman
.”

She kissed the top of her daughter’s head. “Part of me is sad, but part of me is happy too.”

The child looked up at her. “I understand. Part of me is sad that I can’t be with Rosetta any more, but part of me is happy that she’s my friend.”

Elayne swallowed the lump in her throat. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so hard after all.
“I want you both to listen very carefully.”

She got up, scooted them closer together,
then knelt before them, holding their hands. “The
Comte
has decided to change his allegiance.”

Henry and Claricia’s confusion was plain to see. Why couldn’t she get her
scattered thoughts together? “Alexandre has broken his oath to Maud.”

Henry frowned. “Why?”

Claricia extracted her hand from her mother’s and put both hands on her hips as she turned to look at her brother. “Because he’s angry that Maud chained us,” she declared, as if speaking to a nincompoop.

Henry clenched his jaw. “But that’s no reason to—”

As the squabble continued, Elayne fought for calm. “Listen, both of you. Alexandre believes Stephen is a better person to be King of the English.”

Henry nodded. “I never met Maud, but I didn’t like being chained, and she demanded hostages. That made grandpapa angry.”

The edges of Claricia’s mouth edged down. “What will grandpapa do now?”

Elayne inhaled deeply. “I don’t know, but we can’t worry about that. What we do know is that Maud and Geoffrey
may attack Montbryce Castle.”

“Because we’re here?” Henry
asked, his eyes wide.

Claricia’s lip trembled. “I’m frightened,
maman
. Will Maud kill us if she catches us?”

Elayne couldn’t lie, but she could make them more hopeful. She climbed back onto the bed, gathering her children to her. “Maud and Geoffrey will want this castle in revenge. Alexandre will protect his lands at all costs. Maud will never take it. We’re safe here.”

As her frightened children clung to her, she only hoped she was right.

Henry looked at his sister. “Don’t worry, Claricia, we have Faol. He will protect us.”

A SENNIGHT LATER,
serfs posted as lookouts in the outer reaches of the apple orchards raised the first alarm after espying a large force of mounted men and carts approaching in the distance. This early warning gave time for the villagers, who’d been prepared to move at a moment’s notice, to gather their belongings and herd their livestock within Montbryce’s sturdy walls.

“Everything has gone according to plan, Bonhomme,” Alex declared from atop the battlements as the first soldiers of the unwelcome army appeared on the fringes of the meadow.
“Less than a half hour.”

Romain patted
Bonhomme’s back. “Why are we not surprised, since it was your plan?”

The Montbryce men-at-arms standing near enough to overhear voiced their heartfelt agreement. A ripple of approval ran through the ring of armed men assembled atop the walls as the word was passed.

The Steward’s face reddened slightly. “Took a lot of practice,” was all he said.

“That’s exactly why there was no panic,” Alex added, thankful once again for
Bonhomme’s efficiency.

“How many?”
Romain asked, looking out.

“At least two hundred,” Alex replied, “and
more streaming through the orchards.”

“We can assume it’s Geoffrey, then?”

“
Oui
, though I don’t see him. I surmise they plan to set up an encampment on the edge of the orchards.”

Shouts and sounds of mallets pounding pegs into the ground echoed across the meadow as the enemy soldiers in the far off field labored to erect tents and pavilions. Alex and Romain watched for more than an hour until a thick bank of fog rolled in, obscuring their view.

“
Merde
,” Romain exclaimed. “It’s going to be impossible to tell how many they are.”

Alex shared his brother’s frustration. “Judging by the number of tents, he’s planning to stay a while. We could attack, but I can’t send the men into a trap. He might have hundreds more than we’ve seen so far. Some reports claim he and Maud have raised an army of thousands, others dispute that.”

Bonhomme cleared his throat. “
Mes seigneurs
, perhaps we should say some words of reassurance.”

Alex turned to look down into the bailey, where a crowd of serfs, peasants, servants, and soldiers had gathered,
worry and uncertainty writ plain on every face.

“Indeed. Thank you, Bonhomme.”

It was important to allay the fears of his people, who might face months of being cooped up in the castle while Geoffrey and Maud laid siege. Though all knew the reason for the presence of Geoffrey’s army, some might not approve of his actions and dissension could eventually cause problems of discontent.

“Villagers of Montbryce, I applaud the brave manner in which you arrived here, with your livestock.”

A goat bleated. Snickers of amusement drifted up from the crowd.

“I
laud the servants of this castle, men and women, who have made room here for those who’ve been displaced. Some of you may be living in close quarters, but you won’t be out in the cold.”

Murmurs of agreement.

“Your ever faithful Steward has made sure we have plenty of food, wood and water and there will be enough to last a long time if everyone takes their fair share.”

Nods, grunts, a few smiles now.

“However, I do not anticipate that we will be cooped up like this long. You are well aware of the army we garrison here. Montbryce is protected by the best trained and bravest soldiers in all of Normandie.”

It had been so since the
terrible time of his parents’ kidnapping.

“
Capitaine
Brodeur has prepared an armory fit for a King’s army. The day will come when Geoffrey of Anjou will sorely regret tangling with us.”

Loud cheers.

“Nothing good ever came from Anjou,” someone shouted.

“What was King Henry thinking,
marrying off his girl to an Angevin?” another yelled.

Alex was glad of the determination he now saw on their faces, but he held up his hand. The crowd quieted.

“It’s true Normans and Angevins have long been enemies, and Geoffrey is laying siege to this castle for one reason only. He wants to rule Normandie, just as he thirsts to rule England.

“But I believe Stephen of Blois, grandson of our great Conqueror, is a better man and a better King, and I will protect this castle and the people in it against those who would challenge his rule. Go now, and have confidence in these soldiers.”

“And in our
Comte
,” a voice declared.

“Long live
Comte
Alexandre,” many shouted as they dispersed.

Romain slapped him on the back as he let out a long, slow breath. “Well done,
mon frère
, best speech you ever made.”

Alex laughed. “It’s the
only
speech I’ve ever made.”

~~~

ELAYNE, HENRY AND FAOL stood in the shadows just inside the doors to the Keep, out of sight but not out of earshot of Alexandre’s voice.

Pride swelled in her heart. Henry turned around and beamed at her. “He’ll not allow this castle to fall,” her son declared. Faol barked his agreement.

Elayne had to believe it was true. If they fell into Maud’s hands, they would be exposed as imposters. Alexandre’s castle was their sanctuary.

She took deep breaths, trying to calm her nervous heart. A
troubling thought had occurred. If Alexandre took her to wife, he would never be expected to give them up to Maud, and she would have to accept that. They would be safe—forever.

But did he want marriage? Or was he content to have her as his mistress, now he knew she was of noble birth? Was there a reason he’d never married? He desired her, of that she was certain, but a Norman nobleman wouldn’t want to be saddled with another man’s children, though it was evident
he cared for Henry and Claricia.

If she broached the subject, he might think she was only concerned for her children’s future, which was true, but how to convince him she loved him?

~~~

ALEX HEARD FAOL’S BARK
. The dog wasn’t far away, which meant Henry was close by, and probably his mother. His body warmed at the possibility she’d heard him address the crowd.

He had no doubt that if Elayne was already his
Comtesse
, she’d have been up there on the battlements with him, encouraging her people.

It was
a lightning bolt. What was he waiting for? Why hadn’t he asked her to be his wife? It was the surest way to make sure she stayed out of Maud’s clutches. And she was a widow, the children fatherless.

He caught sight of Elayne and Henry entering the bailey. Henry waved.

He hesitated. She might think he was asking simply to save her and the children, or because she’d refused to become his mistress, when the truth was he craved her every minute of every day.

Did she feel the same?

His body was on fire for her, but he thirsted also for the peace she brought to his soul. He saw himself in a completely different light when he was with her. He was the Alexandre his parents believed him to be. Alexandre the Great.