The Dark Brotherhood: A Medieval Romance Collection
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THE DARK BROTHERHOOD
A Medieval Romance Bundle
By Kathryn Le Veque
© Copyright 2008, 2009, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020 by Kathryn Le Veque
Kindle Edition
Text by Kathryn Le Veque
Reproduction of any kind except where it pertains to short quotes in relation to advertising or promotion is strictly prohibited.
All Rights Reserved.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
License Notes:
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook, once purchased, may not be re-sold. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it or borrow it, or it was not purchased for you and given as a gift for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. If this book was purchased on an unauthorized platform, then it is a pirated and/or unauthorized copy and violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Do not purchase or accept pirated copies. Thank you for respecting the author’s hard work.
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Kathryn Le Veque Novels
Medieval Romance:
De Wolfe Pack Series:
Warwolfe
The Wolfe
Nighthawk
ShadowWolfe
DarkWolfe
A Joyous de Wolfe Christmas
BlackWolfe
Serpent
A Wolfe Among Dragons
Scorpion
StormWolfe
Dark Destroyer
The Lion of the North
Walls of Babylon
The Best Is Yet To Be
De Wolfe Pack Generations:
WolfeHeart
The de Russe Legacy:
The Falls of Erith
Lord of War: Black Angel
The Iron Knight
Beast
The Dark One: Dark Knight
The White Lord of Wellesbourne
Dark Moon
Dark Steel
A de Russe Christmas Miracle
Dark Warrior
The de Lohr Dynasty:
While Angels Slept
Rise of the Defender
Steelheart
Shadowmoor
Silversword
Spectre of the Sword
Unending Love
Archangel
A Blessed de Lohr Christmas
Lords of East Anglia:
While Angels Slept
Godspeed
Great Lords of le Bec:
Great Protector
House of de Royans:
Lord of Winter
To the Lady Born
The Centurion
Lords of Eire:
Echoes of Ancient Dreams
Blacksword
The Darkland
Ancient Kings of Anglecynn:
The Whispering Night
Netherworld
Battle Lords of de Velt:
The Dark Lord
Devil’s Dominion
Bay of Fear
The Dark Lord’s First Christmas
Reign of the House of de Winter:
Lespada
Swords and Shields
De Reyne Domination:
Guardian of Darkness
With Dreams
The Fallen One
House of d’Vant:
Tender is the Knight (House of d’Vant)
The Red Fury (House of d’Vant)
The Dragonblade Series:
Fragments of Grace
Dragonblade
Island of Glass
The Savage Curtain
The Fallen One
Great Marcher Lords of de Lara
Dragonblade
House of St. Hever
Fragments of Grace
Island of Glass
Queen of Lost Stars
Lords of Pembury:
The Savage Curtain
Lords of Thunder: The de Shera Brotherhood Trilogy
The Thunder Lord
The Thunder Warrior
The Thunder Knight
The Great Knights of de Moray:
Shield of Kronos
The Gorgon
The House of De Nerra:
The Promise
The Falls of Erith
Vestiges of Valor
Realm of Angels
Highland Warriors of Munro:
The Red Lion
Deep Into Darkness
The House of de Garr:
Lord of Light
Realm of Angels
Saxon Lords of Hage:
The Crusader
Kingdom Come
High Warriors of Rohan:
High Warrior
The House of Ashbourne:
Upon a Midnight Dream
The House of D’Aurilliac:
Valiant Chaos
The House of De Dere:
Of Love and Legend
St. John and de Gare Clans:
The Warrior Poet
The House of de Bretagne:
The Questing
The House of Summerlin:
The Legend
The Kingdom of Hendocia:
Kingdom by the Sea
The Executioner Knights:
By the Unholy Hand
The Mountain Dark
Starless
The Promise (also Noble Knights of de Nerra)
A Time of End
Winter Solace
Lord of the Shadows
Lord of the Sky
Contemporary Romance:
Kathlyn Trent/Marcus Burton Series:
Valley of the Shadow
The Eden Factor
Canyon of the Sphinx
The American Heroes Anthology Series:
The Lucius Robe
Fires of Autumn
Evenshade
Sea of Dreams
Purgatory
Other non-connected Contemporary Romance:
Lady of Heaven
Darkling, I Listen
In the Dreaming Hour
River’s End
The Fountain
Sons of Poseidon:
The Immortal Sea
Pirates of Britannia Series (with Eliza Knight):
Savage of the Sea by Eliza Knight
Leader of Titans by Kathryn Le Veque
The Sea Devil by Eliza Knight
Sea Wolfe by Kathryn Le Veque
Note: All Kathryn’s novels are designed to be read as stand-alones, although many have cross-over characters or cross-over family groups. Novels that are grouped together have related characters or family groups. You will notice that some series have the same books; that is because they are cross-overs. A hero in one book may be the secondary character in another.
There is NO reading order except by chronology, but even in that case, you can still read the books as stand-alones. No novel is connected to another by a cliff hanger, and every book has an HEA.
Series are clearly marked. All series contain the same characters or family groups except the American Heroes Series, which is an anthology with
unrelated characters.
For more information, find it in A Reader’s Guide to the Medieval World of Le Veque.
Contents
DarkWolfe
Dark Moon
Dark Steel
The Dark Lord
Guardian of Darkness
The Dark Lord’s First Christmas (bonus book)
DARKWOLFE
A Medieval Romance
By Kathryn Le Veque
Author’s Notes
Finally, the last of the older sons of William and Jordan has his story!
Much as Scott in ShadowWolfe went through an evolution, so does his twin, Troy. If this is your first de Wolfe Pack novel, then know this book is a stand-alone just like all of them, but after you read this one, make sure to read ShadowWolfe, Nighthawk, and The Wolfe to get a feel for these powerful English knights. The older sons of William and Jordan are Scott, Troy, and Patrick – Scott and Troy are twins and Patrick is not quite two years younger than the twins, so they are a trio of very powerful, very closely-knit brothers and it has been an absolute pleasure to tell their stories.
What’s cool about this particular story is that we get a glimpse at James de Wolfe, the fourth brother, who ends up dying in Wales about ten years after this book is set. Although I would love to do a story for James, I can’t bring myself to do it, knowing that the man dies young. I can’t give him a wonderful story and a happily ever after only to know that he is destined to lose it all in Wales, but this is a nice glimpse into the man he is. He’s very much his mother’s son, gentle and kind. There’s even a scene in the book where he discusses the future, not knowing of course that he won’t be around to see it. It’s sort of heartbreaking. I’m starting to wish I hadn’t killed him off so young! Boo me! But never say never – you just never know what will happen in the world of de Wolfe Pack…
On to more pleasant things. A few old friends make an appearance in this book – William de Wolfe, Paris de Norville, Kieran Hage, Michael de Bocage, and a few others you will recognize. You will also get to meet Sable de Moray de Shera, who married Cassius de Shera at the very end of The Thunder Knight. If you’ve read the Lords of Thunder series, then you know that Cassius is Maximus de Shera’s bastard son, a handsome and noble lad with a speech impediment who marries Sable de Moray, Bose de Moray’s (THE GORGON) daughter. Sable is not only the daughter of Bose and Summer, but she’s the granddaughter of Garret and Lyssa from SHIELD OF KRONOS. She has her grandmother’s beauty and her mother’s sweetness. Lastly, you’ll catch a glimpse of Brodie de Reyne, the grandson of Creed and Carrington de Reyne (GUARDIAN OF DARKNESS). Brodie is a prime candidate for his own story at some point.
Something that’s noteworthy – cotton is mentioned in this novel, briefly. At this point in the High Middle Ages, cotton was around but not widely used. It was thought to have been brought back with the Crusaders returning from the Holy Land. In fact, it seemed as if no one really knew where cotton came from because it wasn’t grown in England during the period when this book is set. A writer in 1350 commented that cotton was grown in India by plants that had tiny lambs at the end of its branches, so cotton was from animals that were “plant-borne”. Weird.
And what can I say about Troy and Rhoswyn, our hero and heroine? Only that I think you’re going to love them both. Troy is quick to temper, but he has his mother’s gentle streak in him, making it an odd combination. He’s aggressive, but oh-so-patient with Rhoswyn, whose life is in upheaval since meeting him. She’s a fierce lass but she also has the capacity for understanding and compassion. It was a joy to get to know her and I think she’s more than worthy for a wife of de Wolfe.
Read and enjoy!
Hugs,
Kathryn
The next generation Wolfe Pack
(Issue = children)
Scott (Wife #1 Lady Athena de Norville, has issue. Wife #2, Lady Avrielle Huntley du Rennic, has issue.)
Troy (Wife #1 Lady Helene de Norville, has issue. Wife #2 Lady Rhoswyn Kerr, has issue.)
Patrick (married to Lady Brighton de Favereux, has issue)
James – Killed in Wales June 1282 (married to Lady Rose Hage, has issue)
Katheryn (James’ twin) Married Sir Alec Hage, has issue
Evelyn (married to Sir Hector de Norville, has issue)
Baby de Wolfe – died same day. Christened Madeleine.
Edward (married to Lady Cassiopeia de Norville, has issue)
Thomas
Penelope (married to Bhrodi de Shera, hereditary King of Anglesey and Earl of Coventry, has issue)
Kieran and Jemma Scott Hage
Mary Alys (adopted) married, has issue
Baby Hage, died same day. Christened Bridget.
Alec (married to Lady Katheryn de Wolfe, has issue)
Christian (died Holy Land 1269 A.D.) no issue
Moira (married to Sir Apollo de Norville, has issue)
Kevin (married to Lady Annavieve de Ferrers, has issue)
Rose (widow of Sir James de Wolfe, has issue)
Nathaniel
Paris and Caladora Scott de Norville
Hector (married to Lady Evelyn de Wolfe, has issue)
Apollo (married to Lady Moira Hage, has issue)
Helene (married to Sir Troy de Wolfe, has issue)
Athena (married to Sir Scott de Wolfe, has issue)
Adonis
Cassiopeia (married to Sir Edward de Wolfe, has issue)
The Darkest Wolfe
From the Chronicles of Brother Audric, 13th c.
Discovered in Jedburgh Abbey’s archive
Original text:
Whyth th blud uf Saracyns, hs vane,
Premier uf th Wolfe.
Ayes uf gilt, hare uf night,
A hart uf stel.
He is bekum Legynd.
Translation:
With the blood of Saracens in his veins,
The boldest border Wolfe.
Eyes of gold, hair of black,
And a heart of steel.
He is become legend.
PROLOGUE
April, 1270 A.D.
Castle Questing, Northumberland
She was cold to the touch.
She was also wet, wrapped in a blanket with the twins, who were also cold and wet to the touch. But it was more than the coldness and the dampness of their flesh; it was also the color. Gray, like the color of stone. There was an odd quality to it as well. It wasn’t the flesh he knew. It wasn’t the warmth of Helene as he knew it, and the faces of his children weren’t the lively and smiling faces he recognized.
Acacia was the older twin by several minutes. Her face was pressed into her mother’s torso and he couldn’t see it, but Arista – his blond, vivacious Arista – was lying next to her sister, her sightless eyes half-lidded, staring up at the ceiling. As he stood there staring at them, his father reached down and closed the little girl’s eyelids.
“I am so sorry, my son,” William de Wolfe whispered hoarsely, tears trickling from his one good eye. The other eye, patched, was something he’d lost years ago. “It was an accident. A terrible, terrible accident…”
His handsome face was lined with the fatigue of sorrow, something Troy had never before seen on his father. At least, not like this. Perhaps that, more than anything else, disturbed him because it conveyed to him the hopelessness and grief of the situation almost more than anything else could. If his father was in tears, and the man was the strongest man he knew, then surely the situation was as horrible as Troy’s disbelieving eyes were telling him.
Dead.
They were all dead.
An odd buzzing filled Troy’s head. It made the room swim. When he looked at the bodies of his wife and two younger children, his stomach started to lurch. Behind him, on the floor and lying on wet blankets, were the wife and two younger children of his twin brother, Scott. He’d seen the three of them when he’d first entered the stale, warm solar. In fact, he’d seen them before he ever saw his own family. Scott’s wife was lyin
g on her side as if she were sleeping, her children lying right next to her as if they, too, were sleeping. But they were all wet, much as his wife and children were. They were all wet because not three hours earlier, they’d all drowned.
Troy’s knees buckled.
“God,” he groaned, gripping the nearest chair as if it could support his substantial weight. Hands were holding him steady, the hands of his parents, but he didn’t notice. All he could see was the lifelessness before him. “Nay… it cannot be. Tell me this is not true.”
William had a tight grip on his faltering son. “It is true,” he said, his voice hoarse as his emotions got the better of him. “It was purely by accident, Troy. No one is to blame.”
Troy still couldn’t grasp the situation, not entirely. “What happened?”
He spoke harshly and William glanced at his weeping wife before continuing. This was such a horrific moment for all of them, the death of children and grandchildren, and it was only by God’s good grace that William was able to keep his composure. He’d been the first to see the bodies of his daughters-in-law and grandchildren when they’d been brought back by their escort of soldiers, men who were weeping even as they told him the appalling story of what had happened.
As William listened in horror, he noticed that all of the soldiers were soaking wet to varied degrees. They’d all tried to jump in to save the women and children after the bridge collapsed and the carriage was washed down the rain-swollen creek, but their efforts had been futile.
Now, the dead had been returned home.
Therefore, William was prepared for Troy’s question, a father demanding the reasons for the precious lives of his family that had been suddenly ended. The husband who was now a widower. William could hear the anguish in Troy’s tone and it cut him to the bone.
“Your wife and her sister were traveling this morning to see Patrick and Bridey’s new son,” he said, trying to remain calm. “They have been planning it for weeks. You know this, Troy. That is why your wife came to stay with us last week and brought the children, so she could travel with her sister to see your brother’s newest son.”
Troy wasn’t getting the answer he wanted; his big body tensed. “I know,” he rumbled. “Stop telling me what I already know. Tell me what I don’t know, Papa.”