“De Wolfe,” he barked.
Startled by the tone of the man’s voice, Edward turned to look at him, as did Hector and half of the table that had heard him. Edward could see Cassiopeia rushing up behind Daniel, an anxious expression on her face, and he truly had no idea what was going on.
“Daniel?” he said curiously. “What –?”
Daniel cut him off. “It seems that you and I both want the same woman,” he said in an unfriendly tone Edward had never heard before. “I was completely willing to allow the lady to make her choice between us in the spirit of fair competition, but I have been informed by the lady that my behavior has been aggressive, demanding, and rude. It seems that there is nothing I can do to convince her to give me the chance to prove I am none of those things, but I cannot do that with you here. It seems that her interest is on you and you only. Therefore, I am asking you to leave.”
The dais had grown quiet. Paris, seated over near the center of the table with Adam, rose to his feet, an expression of concern on his face.
“This is not something to discuss here for all to hear, de Motte,” he said, making his way over to the knight. “Let us take this into the solar where…”
“Nay,” Daniel said, turning to him with some anger. “I have also been informed that the only reason I am here is because you want there to be some sense of competition between Edward and me, so your daughter can make the correct choice. What you did not tell me was that she has no interest in me. That was not fair to me, my lord, not in the least. So we will dispense with the omissions and the pleasantries. You gave me permission to come to know your daughter knowing full well she was more interested in de Wolfe. Therefore, if Edward does not leave so that I may court your daughter, unimpeded, then I will have to take matters into my own hands.”
Paris frowned but Edward, his anger rising, stood up. “What does that mean?”
Daniel looked straight at him. “It means that I challenge you to a battle,” he said. “The winner remains at Northwood with Lady Cassiopeia. The loser must relinquish his suit of her.”
Most at the table gasped at the mere suggestion of a battle for Cassiopeia, including Cassiopeia herself.
“Daniel!” she hissed. “I told you to go away. That is my wish. You will not fight Edward!”
Daniel ignored her. His gaze was still riveted to Edward. “I will meet you in the outer bailey in an hour,” he said. “If you do not show up, I will hunt you down. One way or the other, this will be decided tonight.”
With that, he spun on his heel and marched from the hall, leaving those on the dais stunned. Cassiopeia looked at Edward with big eyes, but Edward was watching Daniel march away. As Paris put a hand on Edward’s shoulder and moved to follow Daniel, Edward turned his attention to Cassiopeia.
“What did you say to him?” he demanded quietly.
Cassiopeia was near tears. “I told him I did not want him here,” she said. “I told him I never wanted him here, that it was my father’s idea. He asked me if I was interested in you and I told him that I was. I could not lie to him.”
Edward shook his head, baffled. “And that spurred him into challenging me?”
Cassiopeia knew this was all her fault. She felt as bad as she possibly could. “I… I told him that he was rude and demanding and aggressive, and that I did not like that. I told him I was not interested in his suit and asked him to go.”
Edward stared at her for a moment before shaking his head, bewildered by the entire thing. Next to him, Hector appeared positively exasperated as he spoke to his sister.
“You told the man he was rude and aggressive, and that you preferred Edward,” he said. “You essentially told him he was unworthy. How did you expect him to react, Cassie? You challenged his manhood. There was nothing more he could do but try to redeem it by demanding to fight Edward. Was that your intention?”
The tears spilled over and Cassiopeia wiped at her cheeks. “Of course not,” she said tightly. “I simply wanted him to leave.”
“Then you should have let Father handle it.”
The entire table was gravitating in Cassiopeia and Edward’s direction. Atreus and Hermes, who had heard the entire thing, were now on either side of Edward, posturing angrily.
“I will fight him for you, Uncle Eddie,” Atreus said. “Let me fight him. I will win!”
“Let me! I want to fight him!” Hermes demanded. “He will never challenge our family again when I am finished with him.”
Hector grabbed his two boys, shoving them away from Edward. “You two,” he said. “Go after Bonny and see if he has need of you. I do not want Daniel turning on him in his anger, but you are not to speak to Daniel or become aggressive towards him. Do you understand me? You are only to help Bonny if he needs it.”
With the idea of their grandfather in danger, the young men tore off, following the trail their grandfather had made as he’d headed from the hall. As they rushed off, Hector faced Edward seriously.
“I fear you may not have a choice in this,” he said quietly. “Daniel clearly feels he’s been wronged somehow and we cannot let this jeopardize our alliance with Deauxville Mount. You know that, Eddie.”
Edward was still reeling from the fact that he’d actually been challenged. “I know,” he said. “Believe me, Hector, I know. There are far-reaching implications here.”
“When was the last time you held a sword other than The Lyceum?”
Edward looked at him, then, grinning weakly. “It has been quite some time,” he said. “The only broadsword I have is the one my father gave me when I was knighted.”
“Where is it?”
“Here, with my belongings, but I only bring it when I travel in case circumstances dictate that I defend myself with something other than a dagger. I haven’t trained with that sword in years.”
“And you have mail?”
“I do. I wear it when I travel. But I’ve not been to battle in years, Hector. The Lyceum wasn’t really battle. You know that.”
Evelyn, Hector’s wife and Edward’s older sister, appeared at his side. “Go home, Eddie,” she begged softly. “Go home and tell Papa what has happened. Mayhap your departure will give Daniel time to cool his anger. Papa will go to Viscount Wereford and tell him what has happened so Daniel cannot turn the man against us.”
Hector put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “He cannot run, Evie,” he said. “It would not solve the issue. It would only make it worse.”
Evelyn was much like her mother in that she became passionate, and emotional, rather quickly. “I will not stand by and watch my brother injured by de Motte,” she said. “You must stop this, Hector.”
As Hector found himself dealing with a distressed wife, Adam came to Edward. Calm, collected Adam had always had a demeanor that was cool to the point of being distant. Nothing bothered him too much. He put a hand on Edward’s shoulder.
“Whatever tantrum that was, it was uncalled for and unprofessional,” he said. “I was unaware that de Motte was capable of such a thing. I always believed he was the epitome of a professional knight, but this…”
“He is calm and professional until he is faced with an enemy,” Hector said. “I have seen him on the field of battle and that swift change in demeanor is something I have witnessed before. But always, and only, in the face of the enemy.”
“And I am the enemy,” Edward said quietly. When everyone looked at him, and no one disputed his statement, he simply lifted his shoulders. “Unless I want to damage the alliance between Deauxville Mount and Northwood Castle, not to mention all of my father’s holdings, I have little choice but to accept his challenge.”
It was a sobering thought. Edward would be going up against a man who was better trained and more skilled than he was. As Edward had told Hector, he hadn’t trained with a broadsword in years. It wasn’t as if he didn’t know how to use it, but Daniel would clearly have the advantage.
But no one could speak those words.
They couldn’t
bring themselves to.
“Where is your equipment, Eddie?” Hector finally asked.
Edward pointed in the direction of the bailey. “In the knights’ quarters, along with Daniel’s.”
Hector gave his wife a squeeze before releasing her. “I will retrieve it,” he said. “Eddie, there is a guard room right off the foyer. You know the one. Go there and I will bring your things to you.”
With that, Hector headed off to claim Edward’s belongings, and weapons, while Lady Teviot comforted Evelyn and pulled her back to the table. Adam went with them, knowing he was needed to calm the ladies, leaving Edward standing alone with Cassiopeia a few feet away. When everyone had left Edward’s side, Cassiopeia hesitantly went to him.
“I am so sorry,” she whispered tightly. “I never meant for this to happen, Edward. I only wanted him to leave.”
Edward looked at her, seeing the sorrow and fear in her expression. He didn’t really mind it so much because it felt good to have someone genuinely concerned for him for once. He’d never had that before. It didn’t exactly make the circumstances worth it, but he was trying to see the bright side at the moment and ignore the concern that was grabbing at him.
The truth was that he was still in shock.
Whatever Cassiopeia told the man, however she worded it, must have triggered something in him. Daniel had been extremely congenial all day, knowing that Edward was also here competing for Cassiopeia’s attention, but that was only until Cassiopeia told him to leave. Rather than comply with her wishes, it evidently turned the situation into some kind of competition he intended to win by physically subduing Edward. It brought out the side of de Motte that wasn’t used to losing.
If he couldn’t win the lady emotionally, then he was going to do it another way.
By destroying the man who had her attention.
Edward had always done far better with his brain that with his brawn. Everyone knew that, including Daniel, which made his challenge something of a cheap shot. He knew the odds were in his favor. But cheap shot or not, Edward was concerned about the situation. If he didn’t perform well, he could be in real danger.
He could only hope that Paris could talk some sense into the man.
But that brought around another problem – Cassiopeia. Edward could see how distressed she was, distressed on his behalf, and he realized that he wasn’t angry at her. On the contrary, he wanted to comfort her, to assure her that no matter what the outcome, he wasn’t going to relinquish his suit.
It only wanted to make him hold on harder.
Reaching out, he grasped her hand.
“Come with me,” he said softly. “We will wait for your brother to return with my equipment. Together.”
Holding Edward’s hand tightly, Cassiopeia followed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Daniel, this is not appropriate,” Paris said. “If you injure Edward de Wolfe, or worse, you will have the whole of the House of de Wolfe down on Deauxville Mount, not to mention Northwood Castle, Berwick, Wark, Roxburgh, Wolfe’s Lair, and the rest of them. Deauxville Mount will be crushed. You cannot bring this burden down on Wereford without his knowledge or approval.”
They were in the knights’ quarters of Northwood Castle as Daniel prepared for the coming fight. Paris stood in the doorway of the tiny cell used by visiting knights, one of several in the knights’ quarters.
They weren’t even bedchambers; they were too small. They were known as cells – small, dingy, but dry. Daniel’s cell was full of his saddlebags, his mail, his weapons, and as Paris explained the consequences of his actions, Daniel didn’t pause in his quest to prepare himself. He kept dressing right on through the old knight’s protests.
“It is my right, my lord,” he said steadily. “He is my competition and I have every right to eliminate my competition.”
Paris was growing angry with him. “Not like this,” he said. “I gave you permission to speak with my daughter, to come to know her, but challenging someone who also has interest in her is not your right. You are not betrothed to her. You are nothing to her. If you do not give up this foolish intention, then you can pack your things and leave. I do not want a hotheaded husband for my daughter.”
Daniel did stop, then. He looked at Paris. “I am not hotheaded,” he said evenly. “And you are only telling me this because you know I will defeat Edward.”
“I am telling you this because you are being ridiculous.”
“I beg to differ, my lord.”
“Don’t test me, boy.”
The last four words were spoken as a growl. It was a threat. Daniel’s gaze lingered on Paris for a moment before returning to what he was doing.
“If you ask me to back down from a challenge, then you are asking me to damage my honor,” he said. “You are asking me to be a coward. I will not be cowardly in this matter.”
Paris rolled his eyes. “You are being a coward by challenging a man to a fight who you know is not an active knight,” he said. “Edward is a diplomat. He is not a warrior. That is a cowardly act.”
Daniel turned to look at him. “Edward is a better warrior than you give him credit for,” he said, remembering when Edward had attacked him back at The Lyceum. “And it is cowardly not to tell me the truth about your daughter’s interest in Edward.”
Paris’ eyes narrowed. “I only found out about it after we returned home,” he said. “And if you call me a coward again, I will have you physically removed from Northwood Castle and to hell with the alliance with Deauxville Mount. Is this in any way unclear?”
Before Daniel could answer, the door to the knights’ quarters flew open, smacking back on its hinges, as Atreus and Hermes made an appearance. Since Daniel was staying in the first cell by the door, Paris could see them as they entered. When they saw their grandfather, they rushed to him like two colts that had just been released from their pens.
It was a stampede.
“Are you well, Bonny?” Atreus demanded. “You are not injured?”
Paris frowned at the overeager lad. “Why would I be injured?”
Atreus and Hermes were both glaring at Daniel as he continued to prepare inside his cell. Though the two young men were only fifteen and fourteen years, respectively, they were still quite tall for their ages and well-built, as well as or better than some adult men. These were not small children, but like those young colts, they were wild and had no real grasp of control of their own actions, as evidenced by the battle in the river earlier.
“Him,” Hermes said, visually shooting daggers at Daniel. “We came to make sure he does not injure you.”
Daniel eyed the two young squires. “He has a name,” he said. “You have used it freely in the past.”
“Not any longer,” Atreus said angrily. “You have made my mother cry. You are no longer my friend.”
Daniel stood up, looking at young Atreus full-on as he sheathed a dagger in his belt. “I am sorry you feel that way,” he said. “And it was not my intention to make your mother cry.”
“Then what, exactly, was your intention, Daniel?” Paris asked seriously. “You challenged Edward in front of everyone, and Edward is her brother. Did you think no one would care? And what do you intend to do when you fight him? Gore him? Kill him? Maim him?”
Daniel’s jaw began ticking as he struggled to focus on what he was doing. “I do not intend to kill him,” he said. “I would not do that. But I do intend to defeat him.”
“You already know you are going to defeat him. Where is the honor in that, Daniel?”
Daniel looked at him. “Then tell him to go away. If you order him away and he goes, I will not fight him.”
“So you would use me to make the way smooth for you to court my daughter? I am surprised at you. There is no honor in that, either, because that tells me you would cheat to gain your wants.”
“There is no cheating in love or war, my lord,” Daniel said steadily. “Everything is fair to achieve an end result.”
“Then you inten
d to fight Edward no matter what I say.”
“I do.”
Paris sighed heavily. He’d been trying to mediate the situation, but now he felt as if he’d been backed into a corner. “Then you no longer have my permission to court my daughter,” he said in a low voice. “Go back to Deauxville Mount. I will make sure that Wereford knows the situation for what it is before you think to poison him against me.”
The door to the knights’ quarters opened up again, interrupting the conversation, and Hector came through. Paris could see him, as could his sons, and they watched him to go a cell on the opposite side of the long, one-storied stone structure, emerging a few moments later with saddlebags and a weapon. But Daniel captured their attention.
“I will leave since you are ordering me to,” he said. “But I will still fight Edward. I will wait for him outside of the gatehouse so I am not inside the perimeter of Northwood Castle. If you order me away from the gatehouse, then I will wait for him on the road. One way or another, I will fight him and your daughter will see who is the better man. But know this – if I fight him outside of the perimeter of this castle, I will aim to kill. Inside the walls of Northwood, this is a contest, but outside of these walls – he is an adversary.”
Paris could see where this was going. Daniel wasn’t going to let it go. He had a dogged, determined personality, something that made him an excellent commander at such a young age. But it also made him dangerous. He looked at Hector, who had come up beside him, listening to Daniel spout his threats. But Hector, who hadn’t heard the entire conversation, was immediately angered by Daniel’s attitude.
“What in the hell did Edward ever do to you that you would turn on him so?” Hector hissed. “The man was your friend until a few minutes ago, and now you want to kill him? Do you think that will impress Cassie? More than likely, she’ll hate you for it.”
“I’ll kill you first,” Hermes blurted. “I’ll not let you kill Uncle Eddie!”
Hector grabbed his son by the shoulder, pulling him away from the door. “Hermes, go stand over by the front door,” he growled. But Atreus started to say something, too, jabbing his finger at Daniel, so he had to pull Atreus away from the door, as well. “Atreus, stand with your brother. Go before I beat the piss out of you.”
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