Lords of Darkness and Shadow (135 page)

Tevin wasn’t going to get into an in-depth discussion about his feelings for Cantia with the man so he turned to see who was still lingering nearby. Spying Myles astride his big charger, he motioned the man forward.

“Round up those who have stolen from these people and have them deposit whatever they have taken here in this clearing,” he said, his voice low. “We shall return what hasn’t already been eaten or otherwise disposed of.  Are you carrying any coinage?”

Myles dug around in his saddle, into a hidden compartment where he usually stored coin or valuables.  He pulled out a small leather pouch and tossed it to Tevin, who opened it up and counted what was inside.  Then he closed it back up and made his way back over to Gillywiss.

“Here,” he said, tossing the man the pouch.  “This should be sufficient for the moment, but I will send more at a later time.”

Gillywiss deftly caught the sack, opening it and peering inside. When he saw all of the coins, his eyes widened and he looked at Tevin with that crazed, wild-eyed look that Cantia was familiar with.

“This is better than robbery,” he announced, turning to those people hovering behind him. “It seems to be more lucrative to save the nobility than steal from it.”

His followers laughed and he tossed the purse to one of the women, watching her and a few others excitedly count the coins.  Then he returned is attention to Tevin.

“The lady said you were generous, Lord Earl,” he announced. “It would seem she was correct.”

Tevin gave him a faint grin in reply, thinking it was time to return to Rochester as the hour grew late and the darkness grew damp.  He was particularly concerned for Arabel’s health, so he turned to Myles.

“If you will take Cantia and Hunt with you, I will take Arabel with me,” he said, motioning towards the general direction of the main road that lead to Rochester. “Gather the men. We return.”

Cantia heard his order, disappointed that she would not be riding with Tevin but understanding. Arabel didn’t really know Myles and would be much more comfortable with her father.  Tevin must have been reading her mind because when he was done peeling Hunt off of her and handing him up to Myles, he took her sweetly in his arms and hugged her.  Then he kissed her forehead and both hands, preparing to lift her up to Myles when Gillywiss stopped him.

“My lady,” he said, his focus on Cantia. “Do you remember what I told you earlier about my relatives in Paris?”

Cantia cocked her head thoughtfully. “I am not sure,” she said. “What do you mean?”

Gillywiss grinned that toothy grin. “I will find this woman,” he said confidently, “so you can marry your great Lord Earl. I will find this woman who stands between you and your happiness.”

Cantia could help but grin because he was.  He was being boastful and, in truth, she didn’t particularly believe him, but she humored him.

“If it is God’s will,” she said softly.

“For my sister’s life and my nephew’s life, I vow to repay you,” he said, back to his grandiose style. “I will find this woman and bring her back to you.”

Cantia simply smiled, graciously acknowledging him as Tevin lifted her up to Myles.  She settled in behind him as Tevin mounted his own charger, collecting his daughter carefully into his arms.

The last Cantia saw of Gillywiss, the man was waving at her as if she was departing on a great and dangerous journey, not as the man who had once been both captor and savior.  It was rather strange.  The further away she got, the more vivid his waving became until he was literally jumping up and down.  

As she watched him, it occurred to her that she had not collected her bags but in the same breath, she realized she didn’t particularly care. She would leave them for Gillywiss, since he was obviously so enamored with her things.  Perhaps it would give the man, that complex, puzzling and intelligent man, a little of the happiness he had spoken of. He didn’t seem like a very happy man. Besides, from what she had seen, he liked her things far more than she did. 

The thought made her smile.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

They reached Rochester in the middle of the night, a castle and keep lit by dozens of flaming torches casting soot and smoke into the darkened sky. It was a massive bastion against the night, a sight that Cantia found extremely comforting. Finally, after a wild, dangerous and unpredictable few days past, she was home. The outcome could have been so much different and she did not take her safety, or anyone’s safety, for granted.

The women who tended Arabel, having been summoned by a soldier who had run all the way from the gatehouse, were waiting as Tevin entered the fire-lit inner bailey. Tevin handed his sleepy daughter into their waiting arms.  As the returning army around him disbanded, he dismounted with the intention of helping Cantia and Hunt.  Before he could reach them, however, he called out to the senior soldier who had charge of Rochester in his absence. The big, war-worn soldier was lingering nearby.

“Have Simon and John returned from Dartford yet?” he asked.

The soldier shook his head. “Not yet, my lord,” he replied. “I will send word as soon as they are sighted.”

“Any word of trouble from the bridge?”

“None, my lord.”

Nodding, Tevin continued to de Lohr’s charger were the man was still astride along with Cantia and Hunt. Hunt was sleepy, grumpy, and practically fell into Tevin’s arms as the man reached up for him.  But that grumpiness was forgotten when the big yellow dog came charging out of the darkness and Hunt was reunited with his very best friend.  Cantia watched the reunion as Tevin helped her down from the horse and set her on her feet.

“Hunt,” she instructed softly. “Take George up to your chamber, please. I will be up shortly.”

Hunt yawned, hugging the big dog around the neck. “But I am hungry,” he said. “I want thomething to eat.”

Cantia shooed him in the direction of the keep. “I will bring you something,” she said. “Take George and go now. Get out of those dirty clothes and put a sleeping tunic on.”

Hunt yawned, and grumbled, but did as he was told. Cantia watched him head towards the keep, alternately petting the dog and dragging him by his rope collar.  When the child mounted the steps to the keep, she turned to Tevin.

He looked particularly drawn for some reason.  Weary, yet edgy. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it and she smiled faintly at him when their eyes met.

“It is very late,” she said softly.

He grunted in agreement. “Indeed.” His dark eyes were intense on her. “Tell me the truth, Cantia. Are you sure you are well after all of this?”

Cantia nodded reassuringly. “I am, I promise. I told you that Gillywiss and his people did not harm me.”

“I was not speaking of Gillywiss. I was speaking of Dagan.”

Her smile faded. “He did not touch me,” she said. “He never came close. But the things he said… Tevin, I have not wanted you to make any move against Charles more than you already have, but I will be honest and say that the man is coming to frighten me.  If he offered Dagan my hand in exchange for his release and other promises, who else has he spoken to? What more poison has he spread?”

Tevin nodded, eyeing Myles as he man dismounted his charger.  “I intend to have that conversation with de Lohr right now.”

“What do you think you will do?”

Tevin shook his head. “I am not entirely sure, but I will not keep Penden at Rochester to wreak havoc. I will more than likely send him to one of my other holdings and keep him locked up for good.  In any case, the man will be removed from Rochester and punished for what he has done.  I do not want you to worry over it.”

Cantia’s lavender eyes were sorrowful yet relieved. “I will not,” she said quietly. “But we will have to think of something to tell Hunt. He loves his grandfather, you know. He has lost his father and now will lose his grandfather. That is much loss for a child.”

“I know it is, but we will explain the situation to him the best way we can and he will accept it. He is young and resilient, and this is where this conversation shall end for now. It is late and I want you to go inside and go to bed. I will join you in a while.”

Cantia resisted. “I would like to see to Val first, if I may.”

Tevin knew that neither his sister nor Cantia would sleep well without having seen each other and gaining reassurance that everyone was well and whole.  He gestured towards the knight’s quarters.

“She was in there the last I saw,” he said. “I do not know if they have moved her.”

Cantia cocked a disapproving eyebrow. “You put her in that musty place?” she scolded him. “Shame on you, Tevin. I will see her removed immediately and put in the keep where she belongs.”

Tevin put up his hands as if to defend himself. “It was not my doing, but de Lohr’s,” he said. “And before you become too angry with me, know that Val seemed to want it, too.”

She looked at him curiously. “What do you mean?”

He puckered his lips wryly. “I mean that you were right,” he said, lowering his voice as he moved towards her and captured a soft hand. “There is something between them, although Val would not admit much to me. Perhaps she will tell you all of it.”

Cantia grinned as she watched him kiss her fingers. “She will tell me everything,” she said confidently. “But I will not tell
you
.”

He lifted a dark eyebrow. “You had better tell me everything if you know what is good for you.” He winked at her when she giggled. “But move her into the keep if it pleases you.”

“I will.”

Cantia removed her hand from his grip and headed towards the knight’s quarters but Tevin called out to her.

“One more thing,” he said.

She paused and turned to him. “What would that be?”

His eyebrow was still lifted, almost in disapproval. “Putting aside the question of how the subject was even broached with that outlaw, you and I will have a conversation about what, exactly, you told him about my reasons behind not being able to marry you.”

She knew the subject would come up. She was frankly surprised it had taken this long, and her good humor fled. “And you and I will have a discussion about why you told him you are the Earl of East Anglia.”

“Because I am.”

She was serious. “I was thinking all the way back to Rochester that you would not have returned us if Geoff was still in residence,” she said quietly. “What happened to him?”

“He is dead.”

“How?”

“He attacked me and I killed him in self-defense.”

Cantia sighed faintly, thinking of the greater implications of that softly-uttered statement.  “I suppose I should be happy about this but I can see by the look on your face that you are torn,” she said softly, perhaps with sympathy. “What are you feeling, sweetheart?”

He hadn’t really thought about it since it happened. There had been so much else on his mind.  After a moment, he made his way over to her and put his arms around her, pulling her close. In the shadow of Rochester’s mighty keep, he hugged her tightly.

“I am not sure,” he murmured. “It all happened so fast… Geoff was furious because I had sent you and Val away, and you were abducted, and he refused to let me send out men to search for you.  We argued and he attacked me with a dagger.  As I was deflecting his blow, I snapped his neck. I did not mean to do it but it happened. I cannot understand why I am not deliriously happy about it, but I am not. Geoff was a vile creature and we are better off without him. I know that better than anyone.”

“But he was your cousin, your blood, and for that reason alone you are torn.”

“Perhaps. But it is done. I will not linger on it.”

Cantia hugged him close. “This means a great many things will change for you.”

“That is true,” he whispered. “But it all means nothing without you by my side. You are my all for living, Cantia. Always remember that.”

She pulled her face from the crook of his neck, smiling up at him. “As you are mine,” she whispered. “We will speak more of all of this later, but for now, I wish to see Val and then I wish to sleep for the next hundred years. I am exhausted.”

He nodded. “I know, sweetheart,” he said, gesturing towards the knight’s quarters once again. “Go and see Val, but do not be too long. I will join you upstairs shortly.”

Blowing him a kiss, Cantia headed off to see to Val, her thoughts lingering on Tevin and his newly acquired earldom. It was an enormous event and she was very proud of the man. It would seem that much had happened in the past two days, life changing events that she was trying to come to grips with.  Her mind was a little muddled by it all.

Val was ecstatic to see Cantia, and the two women chatted until Tevin finally came looking for Cantia and had to separate them so he could get Cantia up to bed.  But Val wasn’t to be alone for long; soon after Cantia and Tevin left, Myles joined Val in her dark little room.

When dawn came, he was still there.

***

“I am going to do all of the speaking and you are going to do all of the listening,” Tevin’s tone was a growl. “Is this in any way unclear, Penden?”

In his bottle prison, Charles looked filthy and haggard.  The time spent in captivity had not been kind to him. His body had aged tremendously and his mind had entered that dark and shadowed realm of madness, now waiting anxiously for word from Sutton on the success of their plan. Du Reims appearance was not a good sign, and he eyed the man with animosity.

“What time is it?” he barked.

“Dawn.”

Charles waved listlessly at him. “Speak then,” he said. “But know there is nothing you can say that will interest me in the least.”

Tevin’s expression was like stone. “I beg to differ,” he said. “Let me be the first to inform you that your plans with Dagan Sutton have been foiled.  Dagan is dead and your schemes along with him.”

Charles’ eyes took on a strange glimmer. “Be plain.”

“I am. Dagan was killed while attempting to abduct Lady Cantia for the purpose of marriage, I am told, at your prompting. You were to provide the man a dowry for the lady if he married her.”

Charles’ gaze remained steady.  He could see de Lohr and two of du Reims’ other knights standing behind him, big sentinels lurking in the shadows.  Charles looked at Myles.

“You serve
me,
de Lohr,” he rumbled. “You will defend me against this… this usurper.  He accuses me of something he cannot prove and I will have my satisfaction.”

Myles could see the madness in Charles’ eyes and it both saddened and enraged him. He had been particularly close to Brac and knew the man would have been devastated by his father’s actions. He found that he was furious on Brac’s behalf more than anything. So many of Charles’ actions were disgusting in so many ways.

“Dagan confessed everything to Lady Cantia,” he replied, deliberately leaving out ‘my lord’. “She has informed us of your scheme with Sutton.  I will not defend a guilty man.”Charles flared. “You would believe that bitch over me?” he snarled. “I will have your hide for this.”

Before Myles could reply, Tevin stepped forward. “That woman is the only thing standing between you and certain death,” he rumbled. “She has asked me not to kill you and as of this very moment, I will not. But if I ever hear you call her a disparaging name again, I will slit your throat and take great pleasure your lingering and bloody death. Is this clear?”

Charles gazed at Tevin, a wicked flash in the dark eyes. Either he was too crazy or too arrogant to be intimidated.  After a moment, a hint of a mocking smile creased his lips.

“You have wiped everything of Brac off of her, have you not?” he snorted. “My son was barely cold in his grave before you were bedding his wife. Have you flushed her veins with your scent and wiped all taste of Brac from her lips? You are a vile bastard to take advantage of a woman in mourning.”

“And you are a vile bastard to shame your son with your behavior towards his widow.”

The smile on Charles’ mouth faded and he turned away, the insanity in his veins building. Tevin could see the tremor in his movements, the twitch in his eye.  He knew there was no reasoning with a madman, and Charles Penden was far gone with madness.  It started the moment those arrows struck Brac.

“She is mine to do with as I please,” he muttered. “As the Steward of Rochester, she belongs to me.”

Tevin could feel his body tense, his fierce sense of protectiveness for Cantia overwhelming him.  He pressed up against the rusted iron grate that separated him from Charles.

“And I
am
East Anglia,” he rumbled. “De Gael is dead and the title now belongs to me, which means Rochester belongs to me and everything about it. You take orders from me now, Penden, and I will have the truth. Did you offer Cantia in marriage to Dagan Sutton for a price?”

Charles was looking at Tevin without turning his head, a sort of ghoulish slant of the eye that was unnerving and piercing. “You boast like a fool,” he hissed. “How do I know you are truly East Anglia?”

“Because he is,” Myles confirmed before Tevin could. “Geoff de Gael is dead and Tevin du Reims now controls East Anglia.  He is now your liege.”