Medieval Master Warlords (58 page)

Christopher understood a woman like that, as did Jax. The older knights could comprehend the strength of women but Rod was still puzzled by it. With no wife, and no lady love, he wasn’t seasoned in the ways of woman like Christopher and Jax were. In fact, Rod came across as being rather insulted that the lady didn’t take him up on his offer to release her.

“I tried to help her escape,” he said, “but she flatly refused. But rest assured that she seemed quite healthy and sound.”

Jax did take comfort in that. “Then my mind is eased as far as her health is concerned,” he said, disgruntled. “But the fact remains that she has been abducted by a man who shows no fear as he murders and burns. She is at the mercy of a madman.”

Christopher couldn’t disagree. He looked at Rod. “Did de Llion seem unstable to you?” he asked. “How was the man’s demeanor?”

Rod shrugged. “As I said, he is very bitter against my grandfather and full of hatred against de Velt,” he replied. “He did not seem unstable, only resentful and determined.”

“How did he behave towards Lady Allaston?”

Rod thought back to his meeting with Bretton and the lady. “He was not unkind to her,” he said.  “He was not cruel to her and, frankly, did not treat her like a prisoner. When I first came into contact with them, I thought she was his wife.”

Jax’s brow furrowed. “Wife?” he repeated, terrified and disgusted. “
Wife?
Was he... God’s Blood, he wasn’t affectionate towards her, was he?”

Rod shook his head. “Nay,” he assured him. “I mean that they coexisted relatively peacefully. She was not resisting him and he was not being dominant over her.”

Jax fell silent, contemplating that scenario. Although he was vastly uncomfortable with it, it was better than the alternative – acting brutally towards her. As he contemplated the relationship between his daughter and her captor, Christopher spoke.

“Is there anything the man said that would be helpful to us in regaining Lady Allaston?” he asked. “Did he discuss any plans with you? Anything of value?”

Rod shook his head. “He did not speak of anything I would consider valuable to use against him,” he said. “Are you planning on launching an offensive any time soon?”

Christopher glanced at Jax before speaking. “Not immediately, at any rate,” he said. “Two days ago, I sent a missive to Cloryn Castle acting as a mediator on Lord de Velt’s behalf. Since I am not directly involved in the situation, Lord de Velt came to me to ask for assistance. He thought using me as a mediator might ease some of de Llion’s volatility. I will act like a buffer, as it were. But the same day I sent a missive to Cloryn, I also sent a missive to Keller de Poyer at Nether Castle asking for reinforcements. I do not want to ask for reinforcements from any marcher lords because it would deplete their force should de Llion decide to move against them, so de Poyer is the logical choice. He is buried deep in Wales and not in the direct line of sight of de Llion’s activities.”

Rod nodded in understanding. “I know Keller,” he said. “He and my brother were good friends. Rhys spoke very well of the man.”

Christopher moved to pour himself another cup of wine as he spoke. “It is my hope that he sends me what I requested in order to reinforce my ranks,” he said. “In any case, I believe it prudent to wait and see what kind of response I receive from de Llion. If he is as determined as you say he is, he may look at my attempt at mediation as interference. It might earn me his wrath, so I am taking a serious chance doing this.”

“And I appreciate it,” Jax said, making sure Christopher understood just how pleased he was to have the man’s help. “But something is concerning me now that we have heard from de Titouan. If what he says is true and Allaston is remaining with de Llion willingly, and is in good health, I am hesitant to move on the man. I know my daughter. If she is working on a plan, we must give her time to complete it. If she thinks she can single-handedly bring de Llion to his knees without violence or blood, then I am wondering if we should not give her that opportunity.”

Christopher looked at him. “Do you believe she is truly capable of negotiating with a mercenary who is out for your blood?”

“You’ve not met my daughter.”

That was true. Christopher had never met her so he didn’t know how persuasive she could be. Still, he didn’t like, not in the least.

“What would your wife say to you right now if she heard that?” he asked. “She is the girl’s mother, after all. Would she agree with you?”

Jax cracked a grin. “She would demand I go and get her.”

Christopher’s lips twitched with a smile. “Then I will suggest this,” he said. “Let us wait a nominal amount of time for three important reasons – the first being that we should give de Llion time to respond to my missive and the second being that we should wait to see if de Poyer can spare reinforcements from Nether. And the third... oh, Christ, I did not even think of this. Rod, do you remember what your Uncle Morgan looked like?”

Rod’s brow furrowed at what he thought was an odd question out of the blue. “I was a very small boy when I last saw him,” he said. “I remember images of the man and not much more. He was very big and he had big, booming laughter. He was also missing most of the little finger on his right hand. I remember being fascinated with that as a child. My grandfather said he lost it when horse bit it off. That made me frightened of horses for a very long time. Why do you ask?”

Christopher looked at Jax. “Did you hear that?” he asked. “The man was missing his little finger on his right hand. Did you notice this on your John Morgan?”

Jax’s dual-colored eyes were glittering with the possibilities as he looked at Christopher. “I do not know,” he said truthfully. “I cannot recall. We sent a missive to Northumberland to send his bodyguard to the Marches the same day we sent off the missives to de Llion and de Poyer, so I suppose now all we can do is wait and see.”

Rod was confused, looking between Christopher and Jax. “You sent a missive to Northumberland, too?” he asked. “I do not understand what is being said. Why did you do this?”

Christopher turned to him. “Brace yourself, lad,” he said. “There is much more to this situation from de Velt’s perspective. There is a chance your uncle is alive and living in Northumberland at Alnwick Castle. Several men were taken after the fall of Four Crosses and not killed outright because their labor was needed, and it is possible that your uncle was one of them. The man in question is now serving the Earl of Northumberland as his body guard. We have sent word to Yves de Vesci to send that man, called John Morgan, to the Marches. If he is Bretton’s father, then we intend to present him to de Llion in exchange for Allaston, and you just gave us a very definitive clue to identifying the man – the missing finger.”

Rod’s jaw popped open in sheer astonishment. “God’s Blood,” he hissed. “I can hardly believe it. Could it be true?”

Christopher nodded. “It is possible,” he said. “Was his body ever positively identified at Cloryn? Did your grandfather ever dare to seek the truth?”

Rod was ashen with shock. “I... I do not know,” he said. “I know that he was told of Cloryn’s siege and how everyone was killed, including the garrison commander.”

“
Who
told him?”

Rod shook his head. “I do not know,” he said. “Rumors, fleeing villagers... who is to say?”

Christopher cleared his throat softly, eyeing Jax as he did so. “Rod,” he said casually. “I realize this was an extremely difficult thing for your grandfather to go through, but mayhap it would be wise to bring him to Lioncross. If Northumberland’s bodyguard arrives and it is indeed your uncle, mayhap your grandfather would like to be here when he comes.”

Rod was growing overwhelmed and saddened by the entire circumstance. “And what if it is not?” he said. “It would hurt him more to get his hopes up after all of these years.”

“Then do not tell him the truth behind my summons,” Christopher said. “Ride to Bronllys and tell your grandfather I wish to see him. I will then keep him on hand until Northumberland’s man arrives. If it is your uncle, then your grandfather will know it right away. If it is not, then no harm done and I will make up an excuse as to why I summoned him in the first place.  You haven’t told him about the confirmation of Bretton’s identity, have you?”

Rod shook his head. “Nay,” he replied. “I came here first. I am not sure what I am going to tell my grandfather. Bretton did not want me to tell him at all.”

Christopher agreed. “For now, I concur with that,” he said. “Let your grandfather live in ignorance for a while, at least until Northumberland’s man comes. Then, we will determine how to proceed in any case.”

It was sage advice and Rod simply nodded wearily. In fact, he was quite exhausted and wanted to have some time to rest and reflect on the most recent information. He was still quite stunned. Finishing up what was left in his cup, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up.

“Agreed, my lord,” he said. “But there is one more thing. Since Lord de Velt destroyed Four Crosses Castle and my uncle along with it, my grandfather bears a great deal of hatred towards him. When he comes to Lioncross, inevitably, he will come into contact with Lord de Velt at some point. That will upset him as much as anything else will.”

Christopher scratched his head. “I will explain to Berwyn the way of things with de Velt now,” he said. “He will understand that now is not the time for old grudges to play out. We have other things to focus on, to be aware of, and your grandfather will simply have to accept the way of things. If he cannot, then I will lock him in the vault until such time as I feel it is safe to let him out. Although I understand his grief at losing a son to de Velt, I cannot have Berwyn running amuck, Rod. Surely you know that.”

Rod nodded sadly. “I do,” he said. Then, he scratched his head and sighed heavily, the sign of a man with a great deal on his mind. “For now, I would like the opportunity to wash and rest, if I may. I find that my exhaustion has the better of me and I want to be fresh in the morning for my ride back to Bronllys.”

“Bring your grandfather back as quickly as you can, Rod,” Christopher said. “I believe time is of the essence considering what you have told us.”

Rod nodded wearily. “I will return in three days with my grandfather,” he said. “A day to reach Bronllys, a day for my grandfather to prepare before he leaves, and then a day to return to Lioncross.”

It was a sound schedule. Christopher gave the man his leave, watching Rod wander wearily from the hall. When the young knight was gone, he returned his attention to Jax.

“It would seem that you and I have some waiting to do,” he said. “I was never much good at that.”

Jax snorted. “Nor me,” he said. “What can we do to fill the time?”

“We could suit up the men and have sword practice or battle drills,” he suggested. “Pit my men against yours?”

Jax had an annoyed expression on his face. “Never mind that,” he said. “Let us discuss games of the mind. At my age, those are more appealing to me.”

“Like what?”

“Chess? Fox and Geese? Nine Men’s Morris?”

“I should warn you that I am the reigning game champion at Lioncross.”

Jax let out a burst of laughter, a rude sound. “That is because you are the lord and everyone is afraid of what will happen to them should you not be permitted to win,” he said. “I am not afraid of you, so be prepared to defend your honor.”

Christopher had a massive grin on his face as he went to hunt down his Nine Men’s Morris board.

℘

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Cloryn Castle

It was odd, really, since their return from Newtown. Odd because Bretton seemed... different somehow. As Allaston shelled a basket of peas from the garden in the sunny kitchen yard, her thoughts revolved around Bretton, who was in the great hall with his men. Even in the kitchen, she could hear voices being raised in the hall. Whatever was being said was clearly a contentious subject.

The day after their return from Newtown, things at Cloryn seemed rather strained. None of Bretton’s commanders – Grayton, Teague, or Dallan – would talk to her or so much as look at her. They kept to themselves, moving away quickly when she came around. She knew they didn’t approve of her being out of the vault and she knew that Grayton in particular seemed averse to her. She suspected that it was because he felt betrayed. He let her out of the vault only to have her turn around and clobber Bretton over the head with a poker. She wasn’t about to apologize for her actions so she, too, stayed clear of the commanders. There was no real cause for them to interact.

So she stayed to the kitchens with Blandings and Uldward, shelling peas and helping bake bread. Even now, nearing noon, the smell of baking bread was heavy in the air of the kitchen yard, wafting over the bailey to entice those who smelled it. It was almost stronger than the stench of the dead army outside the walls, but not quite, making for a rather disgusting smell once the winds changed.

I am not sure I can let go of what I have become.

Those words kept rolling over and over in Allaston’s head. She wanted to make the man forget about his vengeance against her father by marrying him, and by being his wife and providing him with heirs, but since the time they’d spent in Newtown and the serious conversations they’d had, she was coming to think that she most definitely felt something for the man. He was such a lost soul and she wanted to help him find his way. He was very funny at times, awkward at others, and frightening at still others. But she could see the man beneath the façade and it was that man she felt something for. It was that man who needed her.

So she continued to shell peas, thinking of Bretton, when she began to hear a good deal of activity coming from the bailey. From her position in the kitchen yard, she couldn’t see what the fuss was about but dared to walk to the edge of the kitchen yard, bowl of peas in her hands, to see what was happening. Whatever it was revolved around the gatehouse and she could see men swarming around the portcullis, which was slowly lifting. Curious, and perhaps a bit apprehensive, she wondered what all of the fuss was about. She doubted they were under attack but, still, the uproar was perplexing.

Curious, she stood there and watched, still shelling peas, as men began to emerge from the great hall directly in front of her. She could see Bretton and his commanders make their way towards the gatehouse while the sentries at the portcullis shouted excitedly. She lost sight of Bretton as he disappeared into the crowd of armed men, all of them milling around the gatehouse.

Whatever was happening seemed to be confined to the castle entry so after a few minutes of watching the activity, Allaston grew bored and went back to her stool next to the kitchen door and finished shelling her peas. There was another big basket that was full of unshelled peas so she began shelling those as well. She was halfway through the basket when she caught sight of someone entering the kitchen yard. When she saw who it was her entire manner changed dramatically. She softened and there was a smile already on her lips to greet him.

Bretton came through the gate, his eyes immediately finding Allaston near the kitchen door. She was smiling at him, dressed in the yellow surcoat he had torn down the middle, now mended and with an apron covering the repair. Her long hair was braided, draped over one shoulder, and a kerchief was tied around her head, keeping the dust off her hair and her hair out of her face. She looked, as always, like an angel. That was the only way he could describe her because he’d seen so much hell in his life that he was positive she was his first, and only, glimpse of heaven.

The sight of her did things to him that he’d never experienced before. It was as if his heart was lighter and his mood was better instantly. Something had changed for him since Newtown – if the woman had been on his mind before, now he could think of nothing else. She was never far from his thoughts no matter where he was and, as such, he found himself becoming fiercely protective of her. Just now, in the great hall when Grayton had brought up the fact that she had gotten away with her terrible behavior on the morning they’d left for Newtown, Bretton had reacted just as he’d reacted before - he punched Grayton in the face and sent the man onto the floor.

No one brought up Allaston after that and Bretton knew it was because his men sensed there was much more than a captor/prisoner relationship between them. Even if it was the case, Bretton wouldn’t elaborate on it and he wouldn’t explain it away. It wasn’t any of their affair, anyway. But he knew the uncertainty was making his men edgy and that edginess was beginning to create a divide. He’d been feeling that divide since before Newtown, but now in the aftermath, it had gotten worse.

It was tension between him and his commanders that was interrupted by the commotion at the gatehouse. It had been enough to divert the attention away from his relationship with Allaston. A messenger had evidently ridden to within a few dozen feet of the gatehouse, dropped an envelope that contained a missive, and had just as swiftly left. The army of the dead did its job to frighten away those who would approach Cloryn. Bretton’s men ran out to grab the envelope and a couple even gave chase to the messenger, but he was astride a very swift horse and able to lose those who were trailing him. Meanwhile, the envelope was delivered to Bretton.

The first thing he saw on the leather envelope was the seal of Hereford and Worcester burned into the animal hide.
De Lohr
, he thought. Curious, he had gone into the keep with Grayton, Teague, and Dallan trailing after him, opening the envelope by the time he entered the keep. By the time he entered the small, open room, he had broken the seal on the parchment and carefully unrolled it. There was a good deal of writing on it and the first thing he looked at was the signature on the bottom. He could make out de Lohr’s signature.

His curiosity grew. He had no idea what message de Lohr would have for him but he soon found out and as he read down the parchment, the veins on his temple began to throb. He was absolutely enraged by what de Lohr had to say, not at all the reaction the earl was going for but one that he had feared. Bretton read the missive four times before turning it over to Grayton, who read it once in its entirety before reading it aloud to Teague and Dallan. As the three commanders discussed the possibilities of de Lohr’s missive, Bretton left the room. He had to, or he was sure to get in another confrontation with his commanders. They were amenable to de Lohr’s suggestions, he was not. He knew the only reason the commanders were agreeable was because the missive involved removing Allaston from Cloryn, which was something he suspected they were increasingly inclined towards. They wanted her out.

So Bretton found himself in the kitchen yard staring at Allaston as she sat and shelled peas. The mere sight of her gave him pause to breathe, to collect himself. He could feel himself calming. As she smiled at him, he returned the gesture and made his way over to her.

“More peas?” he asked. “I swear I have never eaten so many peas in my entire life until I came here. Is that all that grows in the garden?”

Allaston giggled. “Practically,” she said. “Peas, carrots, and a few cabbages. But the peas are my favorite. I like to eat them when they are young and green. They are soft and delicious.”

He nodded, grinning because she was. When she coyly lowered her eyes and turned back to her peas, Bretton’s attention stayed on her a moment longer before he turned away, leaning against the support beam for the kitchen’s roof overhang as he studied the immediate area. He found that he really didn’t have to say anything. Their silences had become comfortable ones, as if they were content simply to be next to one another. All the while, however, his mind was reflecting upon de Lohr’s missive. He was trying to determine just how much to tell her. Normally, he wouldn’t have involved her in his business but because she was mentioned by name in de Lohr’s message, he felt she had a right to know something about it.

“I saw some commotion near the gatehouse earlier,” Allaston said, breaking into his thoughts. “What was happening?”

Bretton, leaning against the support post, folded his enormous arms against his chest. “We had a messenger,” he said casually.

Her head came up and she looked at him curiously. “A messenger?” she asked. “Another message from your cousin?”

Bretton shook his head. “Nay,” he replied. After a brief hesitation, he decided to tell her all of it. He couldn’t come up with a good reason not to. “It was a message from Christopher de Lohr. It would seem that the Earl of Hereford and Worcester has offered to mediate my dispute with your father. He wants to know my terms to return you to your family.”

Allaston set aside the basket of half-shelled peas and stood up. “What are you going to tell him?” she asked. “I do not want to go back, not now.”

Bretton glanced at her. “Why not?” he asked. “You had a mind to escape me once.”

She calmed down a bit, her expression uncertain. “I know,” she said. “But the situation has changed. It is as I told your cousin. If I can deter you from killing my father, then I am more than willing to stay.”

Bretton turned to her, looking at her full-on. “Is that the only reason you stay?” he asked softly. “I told you that my vengeance against your father is my own. You shan’t change my mind.”

Allaston gazed at him, steadily, thinking many things at that moment. He was asking for truth. Perhaps he was even asking her how she felt, as if there was more in her heart than the mere desire to save her father’s life. Their conversation in Newtown had been very deep and very revealing. Perhaps he was asking for more than what she was willing to tell him. Allaston has the distinct feeling that he was demanding to know what was in her heart. Simply by the way he was looking at her, she could tell. She began to feel warm and quivery all over.

“What do you want me to say?” she asked quietly. “Do you want me to tell you that somehow, someway, you have grown on me, too?  I will tell you that if that is what you wish to hear.”

His expression was surprisingly soft. “I only wish to hear it if it is the truth,” he said. “Is that why you wish to stay? Because I have grown on you?”

Allaston wasn’t comfortable speaking on her feelings when it came to a man. As a woman committed to the cloister from a young age, it was something she had never had to face. She felt a bit embarrassed, that was true, but not so embarrassed that she did not want to answer his question. After a moment, she simply shook her head.

“There is more to it,” she said, gazing into his bright blue eyes. “I cannot tell you what more, or how much more, but there is more to it. I want to stay because... because I think you need me somehow. I told you in Newtown that I want to be fond of you but I think I already am.”

His eyes roved her lovely face, devouring her as he had never devoured a woman in his life. All things fine and soft and beautiful were standing before him, things he never knew to exist. He never knew feelings like this to exist, something that took his breath away yet made him strong all in the same moment. It was astonishing.

“You told me that you wanted me to give you a reason to love me,” he murmured. “How can I do that? What can I possibly do to earn that love?”

Allaston was growing giddy with the conversation, feeling an odd liquid warmth spreading between the two of them, enveloping them both. She’s never known anything like it and it was enough to make her feel light-headed. But she didn’t mind in the least.

“I... I am not sure,” she said. She couldn’t help notice that he was moving closer to her. “A man of goodness and mercy would surely earn it. I have asked that you show mercy in your dealings, Bretton, that you spare women and children in your quest to conquer their homes.”

He reached out, timidly, and grasped her by the upper arms. His grip was warm, strong, and reassuring. “I told you that I would try,” he said. “But even if I do, you will not be there to witness such things. How can I do something that you will witness, something that will please you?”