Vampires Don't Cry: Blood Samples
Page 19
As I walked, I noticed that at one end of the jousting rail, two servants helped Prince Henry onto a fair sized horse. Once he’d been secured to the beast and supplied with a lance, he galloped to the center, where he hooked a circle of rope. Considering his age, the boy showed considerable skill. I clapped, and turning to see me, he bowed from the saddle.
Margaret waved from the small gallery which stood to one side of the jousting rail.
I returned the gesture, then bowed slightly.
I crossed the arched stone bridge over the dirty water of the moat and into the central part of the castle. At the center of the cobbled courtyard stood a tall, round tower. As I approached the arched door to the tower, I was suddenly startled by Prince Arthur leaving. He stopped, was taken aback, then fought to regain his composure. “Master DeVere, good day to you.”
“And to you, Your Grace.” I bowed. “Tell me, what is the purpose of the tower?”
He stepped to one side and motioned me inside.
“It is the Chapel of the Lady Mary Magdalene,” he said, following me inside. “I take my devotions here each day.”
Inside the round tower, the walls were draped with the most exquisite tapestries I’d ever witnessed. I recognized biblical scenes of all descriptions, and directly opposite the door, a small altar, and a high-beamed cross, upon which lay a wooden sculpture of Jesus, his arms stretched wide, his head raised in final pains.
“The tower was built by the Normans,” Arthur began. “Some time in the eleventh century. The King says it is attributed to Hugh De Lacy, whoever he was. The Knights Templar would have worshipped here before and after the crusades.”
I noticed again that he spoke of his own father as ‘the King’; so impersonal a relationship from son to father.
“The Normans invaded us in 1066, Frenchmen in our history.” I stood in silence, just grateful for more information, however pertinent to the current situation. “The King lived in France for a while, exiled to that barbarous land. One day I will ride at the head of an army and take back what is rightly ours. I will invade France.”
Once again, he spoke the correct words, but his voice held little conviction, almost as if he practiced the phrases to impress his father. I couldn’t see him leading a procession, much less an army.
“Shall you join us at dinner tonight, Master DeVere?” he asked, leading me out of the chapel.
“I would love to.”
“Then join us in the main hall when Cookie rings the bell.”
I bowed as he walked away across the cobbles. He didn’t look back.
“What are your first impressions?”
I turned to see Thomas Linacre standing close, looking up from a book. I wasn’t certain of the political situation here, and it seemed impertinent to offer anything. “It’s early days.”
“Hmm, an interesting turn of phrase.”
I looked at the book, still open in his hands. “Enjoying?”
He offered it to me, and I glanced at the pages. I recognized Greek verse. “Where did you learn Greek, Master Linacre?”
“In Italy,” he answered, accepting my returning the book. “Florence and Genoa. How about you, Richard, where were you educated?”
“Arnhem,” I said, quickly remembering my World War Two movies. “And in Remagen.” I hoped that he hadn’t been to either town. But it seems I needn’t have worried; he closed the book and again asked me my first opinions of the Prince.
“He’s intelligent, yet withdrawn,” I began. “And I’m not certain that the King’s idea of keeping him wrapped up in cotton wool won’t come back to haunt him or the country at a later date.”
“Ah, yes. I have also noticed a reticence within him. I only started as tutor two months ago, so our relationship is not as solid as it could be.”
“Princess Margaret had news of their being called to London.”
“There have been rumors in the past. There are flutterings that Catherine, his intended, will soon sail from Spain. The wedding and the nuptials will be the talk of the country for some weeks.”
“And will we accompany the Prince to London?” I asked, quietly thrilled at the prospect.
“Oh most certainly; it will be in the days before the ceremony that we will be required most. We must see to it that their majesties are fully congruous. If you know what I mean.”
I tried to think of poor Arthur in the act, but my mind couldn’t get round the prospect, and I didn’t think it proper to make the joke to Thomas.
“We shall have to see what develops.”
“Indeed.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed this ‘sampler’ of our vampire world.
Here’s a reminder of our list of vampire books, available in paperback and eBooks everywhere…
Vampires Don’t Cry series…
Vampires Don’t Cry: Original Sins
Vampires Don’t Cry: Blood Anthology
Vampire High School (Vampires Don’t Cry: Book 1)
The Helsing Diaries (Vampires Don’t Cry: Book 2)
The Rage Wars (Vampires Don’t Cry: Book 3)
Blood Red Roses (Vampires Don’t Cry: Book 4)
Connecticut Vampire series…
A Connecticut Vampire in King Arthur’s Court
A Connecticut Vampire in Queen Mary’s Court
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