The Thunder Lord: The de Shera Brotherhood Book One (Lords of Thunder: The de Shera Brotherhood 1) (30 page)

Gallus grinned, glancing at the entire table as he spoke. “Bigod’s army is camped outside of Kenilworth,” he said. “And I mean everything - horses, men, wagons, material – everything. How would you like to raid his army and steal what you can before I ride in behind you and chase you off? You can take what you can carry back to Henry, it will look as if I fought you off, and Bigod will be indebted to
me
forever for saving his men from destruction. I will best that man yet.”

Grayson started laughing at the thought of running off with Hugh Bigod’s property. Davyss started laughing as well and soon the entire table was roaring with laughter.

“A raiding party on Bigod’s army?” Grayson said. “That is the best plan I have ever heard of. Anything to humble that wretch of a man. We shall do it and do it gladly.”

Gallus was still laughing. “But what will you tell Henry when you return to London?”

Grayson shrugged. “I will simply tell Henry that we did not breach Isenhall and raided Bigod’s army instead,” he said. “He knows that de Montfort has a gathering at Kenilworth. It will please him that we shook it up a bit, especially at Bigod’s expense.”

Gallus sobered a bit. “But it may anger him that you did not punish me as he had hoped.”

Grayson didn’t seem concerned. “I will explain to him the way of things,” he said. “He knows that our families are close. I will tell him I spoke with you and that you told me the truth about your relationship with Wales. Henry trusts me enough to respect my judgment.”

Gallus’ gaze lingered on a man he looked upon as an uncle. “But what about Honore’s death?” he asked softly. “I am guilty of that.”

“Did you act under de Montfort’s orders?”

“I did.”

“Then it is de Montfort’s fault. You did not act alone, as de Montfort accused.”

Gallus felt infinitely better than he had when he had first entered the room. He felt as if there was hope now, as if he understood what had happened and had a plan to counter it. There was such relief in his heart that he couldn’t begin to describe it. No man was going to get the better of the Thunder Lord. No man alive could best him. Except for one; he looked at de Wolfe, sitting at the end of the table with a grin on his face. He focused on William.

“Your thoughts, my lord?” he asked. “I am anxious to hear them.”

William’s smile broadened as he folded his hands, resting his chin on his fingers in a thoughtful gesture.

“If the de Winter army is to raid the camp, then it would be best under the cover of darkness,” he said. “There will be more confusion that way. Did you notice the horizon when you arrived today?”

Gallus knew what he was referring to. “I did, indeed,” he said. “I saw the clouds approaching, too. There will be a storm upon us by nightfall.”

“All the better to conduct a raid as the storm is pounding,” William said. “Make sure Henry’s men display their colors clearly and make very sure that Bigod sees when you ride to his rescue. Make him see that the Lords of Thunder can tame the howl of the savage winds. It will make him far less likely to move against you in the future. With some men, respect must be borne from fear.”

Gallus appreciated the advice very much. He liked being in league with The Wolfe, conspiring with a living legend. He and William seemed to think very much alike.

“Will you ride with us, then?” he asked.

William nodded firmly. “I want Bigod to be indebted to me, as well.”

Already, there was talk going on about the best approach to Kenilworth and the timing between Henry’s army raiding Bigod’s camp and the arrival of Gallus’ troops. Gallus wanted to enter the conversation but he knew it would take most of the day. At the moment, he very much wanted to see his wife and to explain to her what was about to happen. She would want to know. More than that, Grayson had asked to visit Honey. Now would be a very good time, before they became too involved in their coming task.

“Grayson,” he said, moving around Maximus and Tiberius as they engaged in a lively discussion with Davyss. “Mayhap you would like to visit my mother now before you must ride back to your army?”

Grayson nodded eagerly, rising from his seat. As Gallus led him from the chamber and up the great staircase, Grayson spoke softly.

“She told Davyss that she did not wish to see me,” he said. “If she is awake, she will berate me for disobeying her wishes.”

Gallus grinned. “If she is awake, then it is the greatest miracle we could ask for,” he said. “She has not been awake since I returned home this morning. Speak to her. Mayhap her anger alone will arouse her.”

They came to the top of the stairs and Honey’s chamber was to the left. The door was cracked open and it was dim inside. Gallus quietly pushed the door open, hit by the smell of the room. Much as Jeniver had noticed, there was a rotten smell about it. Gallus knew it was the smell of death and the physic was trying to mask that smell by burning cloves.

As soon as they entered the dark chamber, they noted that Jeniver was seated next to Honey’s bed. The woman stood up when she saw her husband enter with an unfamiliar man beside him. Quietly, she made her way over to Gallus. He reached out his hand to her, pulling her against him.

“Grayson de Winter, this is my wife, the Lady Jeniver,” he introduced them in quiet tones. “Jeni, this is one of my oldest friends. This is Davyss’ father.”

Jeniver smiled at the handsome older man. “It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord,” she said. “I met your son yesterday when he came to speak with Gallus.”

Grayson was quite taken with the lovely, dark-haired lass. “We have known Gallus and his family for many years,” he said. “I can see he did quite well for himself by marrying the most beautiful lass in Wales.”

Jeniver smiled modestly. “You flatter me, my lord.”

Gallus interrupted the gentle chatter. “If you would not mind sitting with my mother for a few moments,” he said to Grayson, “I would like a few minutes with my wife.”

Grayson waved them off, already turning for the bed where Honey lay still upon it. “Please,” he said. “Take your time. I will watch over Lady Honey.”

As Grayson took the chair next to the bed that Jeniver had occupied, Gallus escorted her out of the room and across the corridor to their bedchamber. In the chamber next to Honey’s, they could hear Violet and Lily playing with the dog and the intermittent voice of an old servant woman who looked after the girls on occasion. Quietly, Gallus pulled Jeniver into their bower and closed the door.

“How is my mother?” he asked softly.

Jeniver went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist as he embraced her tightly. “She has not changed,” she said, looking up at him. “She breathes deeply and slowly, but she has not awakened. I was telling her stories about my childhood in the hopes that she would open her eyes but she did not.”

He smiled at her, pushing a stray lock of dark hair from her eyes. “What stories were you telling her?”

Jeniver grinned. “I was telling her of the serpent that lives near Rhydilian and when I was younger, there were two servant boys I would play games with,” she said. “We would sneak away to catch glimpses of the serpent and we would even try to catch its attention to see which one of us was the bravest. We were greatly punished if my father discovered us.”

He cast her an irritated expression. “There are no such things as serpents,” he said flatly. “Your father tried to tell me about a serpent, too. I accused him of being drunk.”

Jeniver laughed softly. “There is indeed a serpent that lives near Rhydilian,” she said. “You had better take care the next time you visit or it will make a meal out of you.”

Gallus rolled his eyes. “You must be drunk, too,” he said. “All of Rhydilian is drunk and dreaming of serpents.”

Jeniver giggled but she let the subject drop. She couldn’t prove it at that moment but someday, she would. Gallus would be a believer then. But that was for another time. She put her head against his chest, feeling his warmth against her cheek.

“Did you speak with Davyss and his father, then?” she asked. “Will they attack Isenhall now or have you managed to hold them off?”

Gallus’ focus turned from thoughts of serpents to visions of Bigod. “They will not attack Isenhall,” he said. “That is what I came to tell you. I will be returning to Kenilworth soon.”

She lifted her head and looked at him. “How soon?”

He gazed down into her lovely, porcelain features. “Soon,” he whispered. “Mayhap even tonight. It would seem that I have a score to settle with Bigod.”

Jeniver’s brow furrowed curiously. “Why?” she wanted to know. “What has happened?”

Gallus sighed as he thought on his explanation. Still, it sounded wild and outlandish but he knew it was God’s honest truth.

“Evidently, de Montfort sent the missive to Henry knowing it would cause the man to attack Isenhall,” he said. “You already know the contents of the missive so I will not repeat it, but it is my assumption that de Montfort and Bigod wanted Henry to attack Isenhall so that they could ride to my aid. I would then be indebted to Bigod and would forgive him his slander against me. I know it sounds foolish, but if you knew these men as I do, it would make perfect sense.”

Jeniver expression was full of disbelief. “Is that how de Montfort expects you to forgive Bigod?” she repeated, aghast. “The man is clearly mad!”

Gallus nodded. “Clearly,” he said. “But that is my best guess nonetheless for why this has happened. That being the case, I am going to turn the tables on the man. Bigod’s men are camped outside of Kenilworth and the de Winters are going to raid the man’s camp. Not to kill, but to steal what they can. I simply want to shake Bigod up. I will then ride in with my army and chase Davyss and his father away. Bigod will then be indebted to me and I will have upset the man’s foolish plans. I will emerge the victor in this situation, trust me.”

Jeniver had a grin on her face by the time he was finished. She put her hand over her mouth, giggling. “And they will not know that you figured out their scheme?”

Gallus shook his head. “For all they will know, I was returning from Isenhall and saved Bigod from destruction.”

Jeniver couldn’t help but laugh. “God’s Bones,” she exclaimed softly. “Are these men truly so foolish and petty?”

Gallus shrugged. “Not normally,” he said. “But they are both used to being in control and expect to have their wishes obeyed. Had Bigod not become so enraged because I did not marry his daughter, none of this would have happened.”

Jeniver simply shook her head at the lunacy of the English lords. “Shocking,” she said. “All of it. Then you will be leaving tonight?”

Gallus humor faded. “The sooner we accomplish this, the sooner the entire circumstance will be settled,” he said. “I am not entirely sure I want to leave my mother again but I feel that this cannot be helped. The timing of everything is perfect and I must strike sooner rather than later. I have no idea when Bigod will move his army so we must act while I know it is still outside of Kenilworth.”

Jeniver could see that the poor man was torn. There was so much going on when all he wanted to do was sit with his dying mother and share her last moments with her. To be called away only to return, and now to face the prospect of leaving immediately again, was much to accept. But Honey and Antoninus had instilled a great sense of duty in their sons and it was something they couldn’t shake.

“You know that if your mother could speak, she would tell you to go,” Jeniver murmured softly. “I am not entirely sure that she cannot hear even though she does not respond. Go and speak to her and tell her what you must do. She will understand. It may even give her the will to live just a bit longer to savor Bigod’s humiliation.”

Gallus smiled regretfully. “Mayhap,” he agreed softly. “I suppose I would like to sit with her for a few moments before duty takes me away again.”

Jeniver was already moving for the door, gently pulling him along. “Of course you would,” she said. “Come, now, spend a few moments with her and tell her what you have discovered about the missive. She will want to know.”

Gallus followed his wife from the room and back across the corridor to Honey’s chamber. Just as they reached the doorway, they could hear Grayson’s soft voice and Jeniver came to a halt, putting her fingers to her lips as she turned to her husband. Jeniver had caught a few short words from Grayson that had caused her to stop just outside the door. Curiously, they listened.

“… and they, too, have told me there is little hope,” Grayson was saying. “Davyss does not know of my symptoms and my wife knows very little about it. I have assured her it is nothing serious because I do not want her to worry. You know how Katherine is. If she knew the truth, she would scour the world and spend piles of money to find the best physicians when my case is hopeless. She will not surrender in any case, but I know that I must. The pain is only growing worse. I suspect this will be my last battle campaign… and it will be the last time I see you in this life. I suppose that is why I had to see you today, Honey. I had to tell you of my own health issues and I also had to tell you something that I have never shared with anyone. It will seem silly and I hope it will give you reason to laugh, but do you remember when I spent time with you and your sons after the death of Antoninus? I think, for a time there, I fancied myself in love with you. I know it sounds foolish and it is, but for a time, I even pretended you were my wife. It gave me such joy to imagine that. Katherine and I… we are as brother and sister. I respect and admire my wife, but to love her… I am not sure if I ever did.”