They shared a manly embrace before Adalbert sat with his friend to tell his story. Soon a meal was set up as Philip and Adalbert updated each other.
"Of course I will help you." Philip raised his goblet of wine. "Give me the time to gather my men and we'll march on Hawk Castle!"
They toasted and sipped their wine.
"Thank you, Philip. I really hoped you would help, even if I hadn't seen you in years..."
"Well, we're both very busy. How's Romelia?"
"She's always the most beautiful lady of the kingdom and I miss her so much..." Adalbert sighed. "We have twins, a boy and a girl, and then another little girl. What about you?"
"The lady of Bear Castle passed away last winter, no heir yet," Philip said mournfully. "I had a boy from a maid, if I don't find another wife, he'll have it all."
"You're still young." Adalbert tried to comfort his friend. "I'm sure you can find another wife."
"Of course I will." Philip smiled again. "Here, let's toast to our friendship, our castles and our present and future wives!"
After the meal, Adalbert was taken to a guest room with Benjamin.
"It's done!" Adalbert lay on the big, curtained bed, exhaling in relief. "Waltrand will soon pay..."
Benjamin stood by the bed, serious. "I wouldn't be too sure if I were you."
"Why do you have to be so cynical?" Adalbert protested. "Philip is my friend!"
"So was Waltrand. And as far as I know, Philip is Victor's friend first. And I'm not cynical, just careful."
"Relax, you're not my bodyguard," Adalbert grumbled.
"Actually, I am. You badly need one. You still haven't realized you're surrounded by enemies. You'll find help where you least expect it."
Adalbert sat and glared at the young man. "I still don't understand why you feel so involved with me."
Benjamin averted his eyes. "I'm responsible for what's going on at Hawk Castle. Something was stolen and taken there."
"You mean there's something evil at Hawk Castle?" Adalbert frowned.
"Yes, something that shouldn't be there, taken from my master's shelter."
"So you're trying to retrieve it, that's why you're helping me."
"You could say that."
Adalbert lay down again. "Well, Benjamin, I'm an adult and I can take care of myself.
Benjamin's eyebrows shot up. "You think an apprentice can't really help you?"
"I don't know, Benjamin, I don't trust magic users much."
"As you wish." Benjamin shrugged and turned around.
"Will you dine with us tonight?" Adalbert asked him.
"I am no nobleman."
"You heard Philip's invitation, it included you."
"I heard him, but I am no nobleman and I will not sit at his table."
Albert dismissed the young man with a bored look.
"Suit yourself. You can leave if you have enough of noblemen."
"I'm not leaving you until I retrieve what I've lost. But I won't dine with you either. I'm a wizard's apprentice, not a knight."
6.
Philip greeted Adalbert for the dinner banquet with a smile, introducing him to some ladies. He kept an eye on his guest until Adalbert fainted into his neighbor's arms. Philip quickly looked around and signaled to a couple of servants who grabbed the unconscious Adalbert and took him away.
Later that night, he retired to his room with his current lover, the beautiful maid Leanna. A voice from the shadows startled both of them.
"I wouldn't rejoice yet, if I were you."
Philip turned his lamp around until he found Benjamin's face. Adalbert's servant, or whoever he was. Philip cursed under his breath as Benjamin came forward, deathly serious.
"I know you poisoned your friend, but I do have the antidote and he'll be fine in no time," Benjamin continued.
"You're not a wizard's apprentice," Philip said, narrowing his eyes. "Who are you?"
"I am Adalbert's protector. Don't try anything nasty ever again, Philip, or you'll lose your castle."
"What are you, really?"
"I am what I am, do not defy me."
Philip nodded, terrified. He could feel the power behind the seemingly harmless young man.
Benjamin shot him one last threatening look and left.
***
Leanna had grabbed Philip's arm when the gorgeous young man had emerged from the shadows. Philip's reaction scared her even more than the young man – if Lord Philip was scared, there was a problem.
"Philip, what have you done?" she asked as soon as the strange young man had vanished.
"I tried to kill Adalbert of Hawk Castle," Philip muttered, averting his eyes.
"You... what? Why?" she protested, incredulous.
"He stole Romelia from me!" Philip snapped. "She chose him! Victor would have thanked me and I could have had her at last!"
"Oh, Philip, don't say that," she chided, trying to calm him. "You have me, am I not enough?"
"Leave, Leanna," Philip replied bluntly. "You can't compare yourself to a real lady."
Leanna frowned but obeyed. What had possessed her to get in the lord's bed! The guest's companion was so much more attractive! She wondered if he was still around the castle...
And then he emerged from the shadows of the corridor, as if he'd heard her wish. She gasped, stopping dead in her tracks, a few paces away from her room's door.
"I have no idea either what those men see in Lady Romelia," the young man said. "But it's getting tiresome – all of them lusting after the same woman."
"I'm glad to hear she's not of your tastes," Leanna replied coyly. "I was wondering if you'd spend the night with me..."
His smile dazzled her. "As long as you don't expect me to spend my life with you..."
"No, I'll be content with one night," she assured him, feeling desire mounting inside her. She'd never seen such a gorgeous young man.
He offered his hand. She took it and led him inside her small room.
***
Adalbert lay unconscious on the forest ground when Benjamin reached him, opened his mouth and put a flask to his lips. Adalbert slowly opened his eyes and moaned.
"What's the awful taste?" he asked, feeling the dryness of his mouth.
"Medicines are not meant to taste good," Benjamin replied with a small shrug.
"Medicines? Was I drunk?" Adalbert sat and shook his head to clear it.
"Get up, we must leave." Benjamin helped still groggy Adalbert to his feet.
"What happened?" Adalbert stared accusingly at Benjamin.
"Your precious friend poisoned you," the apprentice answered with an impassive face.
"You must be joking!"
"Adalbert, how many of you were after Romelia?" Benjamin asked with a hint of impatience in his voice.
"Me and Philip and Henry..."
"But she chose you."
"Yes, Victor and Henry hated me for it, but Philip was very gracious..."
"He pretended." Benjamin took his arm and they started walking through the darkened forest. "He's not your friend, Adalbert, he's Victor's best friend. And he hates you as much as your brother-in-law."
"How do you know?" Adalbert protested, stumbling on a root and promptly grabbed by his young companion who seemed to see perfectly well in the dark.
"I know many things," Benjamin answered. "My teacher showed me much before letting me go out into the world."
Adalbert sighed in surrender. "Fine, you saved me again," he muttered. "My debt towards you is growing every day."
"Don't worry about that. Let's move."
"Where are we going?"
"Malcom's camp. The horses are right there."
Benjamin guided a subdued Adalbert to the horses.
"Do you see at night?" Adalbert asked, mounting the saddle.
"Better than you do," Benjamin answered without looking at him. It was too dark anyway, so Adalbert spurred his horse with a sigh.
***
Isabel rushed inside her mother
's bedroom and curled up against her. "Mother!"
Romelia cuddled her, trying to soothe the obvious distress of her daughter. "What's happening, darling?"
"I'm sad! I miss Conall and Father," Isabel complained.
"We will find Conall sooner or later," she said. "As for your father... I miss him very much too! It was all so sudden."
"They left us alone..." Isabel let out a big sigh.
"But Conall will come back." Romelia squeezed her. "And Adalbert is in heaven, where he keeps an eye on us. I'm sure he doesn't want us to be sad, so just smile, okay?"
She kissed her daughter on the forehead. Isabel sighed and held her mother tighter.
A soft knock on the door made Isabel jump up.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"It's Waltrand, may I come in, my lady?"
"Oh, damn!" Isabel grumbled, getting away from her mother with a pout.
"Come in, Waltrand," Romelia said.
He did, his eyes on Romelia, totally ignoring Isabel's glare. Waltrand kissed Romelia's hand.
"My lady, I didn't mean to disturb. I have come to see how you feel today."
"Some wounds are hard to heal," Romelia answered. "Any news of Conall?"
Isabel was slowly retreating towards the door, one step at a time, still glaring at Waltrand.
"Unfortunately no, my lady," he said with a sigh. "He was seen at Riverside, but when the guards got there, he had already left. Florence must have found a sorcerer to cover them and I'm more and more worried for your son's life. If he dies, who will take care of Hawk Castle?"
Romelia sighed and lowered her eyes. "Isabel's husband."
"Unless you marry again, my lady," he gently suggested. "Then you can have another heir."
"Thank you for your offer, but my sorrow is too deep. Maybe some more time..."
Waltrand bowed and didn't insist. He left, passing next to Isabel, who had her fists on her hips, ready to attack. Tears came to the girl's eyes and she ran away.
7.
"I wonder if the twins are all right," Adalbert said as they quietly headed to Malcom's camp on horseback. The daylight made the forest less daunting. "And Romelia... I wish I could go back and kill the traitor!"
"It's not your time yet," Benjamin replied patiently.
"Don't you know any spell that could show me my family?"
Benjamin smiled. "No, I'm sorry, I'm just an apprentice. Besides, you don't trust magic users."
"True, but they're useful sometimes..."
"You should make up your mind, then. Do you want me to use magic or not?"
Adalbert stared at him for a moment, trying to figure the young man out, then sighed.
"I guess not. Do you know where we're going anyway?"
"I'm not losing you in the forest," Benjamin answered with an impish smile.
"I know, thank you, but where are we going?"
"Malcom's camp. Told you already."
"Right. But I though it'd be closer."
"Closer to Hawk Castle, actually."
"Great, I have bandits in my forest!" Adalbert snorted.
"The bandit gave you the horse you're sitting on," Benjamin chided.
"Whom did he rob to get it?" Adalbert retorted. "And what will the price be?"
"I wouldn't worry, if I were you."
"You keep saying that, but the people I most trusted betrayed me, why should I trust complete strangers?"
"Because I saved your life three times already, so you could start trusting me and not questioning me, don't you think?" Benjamin snapped.
"I'll be forever grateful, I owe you my life, but you're an apprentice, you said so yourself, and you're young and..."
"You're not a prisoner, my lord, feel free to leave whenever you want to." Benjamin upturned his nose and avoided his stare.
Adalbert hesitated shortly. "You know what? I'll trust you. I could be your older brother, but you obviously have a clearer vision of the situation than mine."
Benjamin scoffed. "Thank you."
"Are you sure we can trust an outlaw?"
"I know him. I trust him, and so will you."
Adalbert surrendered with a shrug.
Finally they reached the camp. The outlaws had built huts on the ground and in the trees. Men and women of all ages were living in that strange village that blended into the forest.
Malcom was talking to some men when Benjamin and Adalbert entered the main clearing that felt almost like a village square.
"Back already?" Malcom mocked. "How come you brought our lord as well?"
"He hasn't found what he's looking for, so I thought we could rest before heading for Hurlevent."
"What for?"
"He needs men."
"Why, his noble friends refused to help him?"
"Apparently."
Malcom turned to Adalbert, raising his eyebrows. "Well, you seem to have more problems than anybody else, my lord. To come to an outlaw's camp you must be really desperate. How will you repay us?"
"When I have my castle back, I will not send the garrison to hang you all," Adalbert said.
"I might consider the idea of keeping you here forever, then," Malcom retorted.
"I will pay you Malcom," Adalbert added. "As soon as I have my belongings back, you can have whatever you want."
"And if I ask for more than you can give?"
"Don't be greedy. I trust you."
Malcom turned to his men. "He trusts me! A nobleman who trusts an outlaw!"
The others roared with laughter.
"Did I send you out here?" Adalbert asked.
"Not me personally, no." Malcom shrugged. "A few of my men lost everything and come from Hawk Castle."
"I guess I could give you back your jobs in payment," Adalbert mused.
"That's an interesting offer," Malcom replied. "And you really think we can help you to get your castle back?"
"Why not? You survive in the Woodlands, you must be pretty good archers anyway."
"We are indeed."
"Then I could use some in my garrison. I'll repay you, you have my word."
"I guess your honor is all you have left at the moment." Malcom offered his hand. "We have a deal, my lord."
They shook hands as the men cheered. Benjamin smiled, looking satisfied.
***
Florence and Conall walked on a narrow road through the forest.
"You said we should stay away from Tower Castle," Conall said.
"We barely escaped from Waltrand's soldiers, Little Brother, if he's able to locare us, I'd rather know you're safe with your grandfather."
"He passed away," Conall said gloomily. "And I've never seen Uncle Victor. Maybe I should go to the king..."
"Xendaria is too far to travel without a real escort. I'm sure your uncle can provide you with one."
"All right, Brother, let's do it,"
Florence smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
Suddenly the trees around them came to life and branches tried to grab them. Conall was pulled off the ground and almost strangled. Florence took her axe and hit the living tree to free him.
"Run," she ordered, as breathless Conall dropped to the ground. "To Tower Castle! Tell your uncle what happened! Go, go!"
Conall ran away while Florence fought the enchanted trees.
***
Waltrand and Beltrand observed the scene in the basin.
"What shall I do?" Waltrand asked. "I can't follow both."
"We know where the kid is headed – if he even makes it on his own. Bring back Florence, I'll send men on the road to Tower Castle to catch Conall."
Beltrand nodded and whispered something to the basin.
***
The trees were suddenly still again and Florence panted for breath. She looked around, worried, but didn't think about a threat from the sky. A griffin glided towards her and grabbed her with huge claws.
Florence screamed and lost the axe, but then calmed down as the griffin took her up over the forest. Us
eless struggling against such a beast, she'd better keep her strength to fight her ex-lover.
At least they'd stayed on her. Conall would be safe. The young lord had become very good at hiding, Waltrand wouldn't be able to find him again that easily – unless, of course, he used magic. Florence wondered how she could get rid of Beltrand.
The griffin dropped her on the highest tower of Hawk Castle and left. Waltrand and Beltrand arrived together while she was still on the ground, catching her breath.
Waltrand offered her his hand to help her on her feet as if she were still the elegant maid he'd slept with.
She hesitated, pulling back her tangled hair and considering her dirty face and men's clothes.
He smiled mockingly and she took his hand to stand up. He didn't let go of her hand once on her feet, so she put on a defiant look.
"I find you in a sorry condition, my dear," Waltrand said with a mellifluous voice.
She freed her hand and lowered her eyes, embarrassed. As if she'd ever been like Lady Romelia anyway.
"Why did you bring me back?" she asked. "Lady Romelia resists you and you've decided you could use that dumb Florence instead?"
"You're everything but dumb, Florence," he replied pleasantly. "I had to use Beltrand's powers to locate you."
Florence glared at the sorcerer who mockingly smiled back at her with a bow.
"Romelia will soon surrender," Beltrand said. "She has accepted her husband's death."
"No doubt she'll soon marry me," Waltrand added, then turned to Florence again. "But we're talking about you, here. Tristan has expressed an interest in marrying you."
"I'm not interested in your brother," she snapped, scowling at him.
"Come on, he's even younger than me!" Waltrand scoffed. "And if you want, we could see each other anyway..."
"That's the worst proposal that ever came out of your mouth!" she spat. "Not only did you never let me love you openly, now you even suggest a double adultery!"
"Then you'll have to be content with Tristan, since he's the only person you will see. Nobody will know you're back. Romelia knows you kidnapped Conall, and I don't want her to torture you to find out where he is."
"You're already torturing me yourself."
"Who, me?" He shot her an innocent look and flashed a smile at her.
He took her head in his hands and gave her a long, passionate kiss that left her breathless.
"Beltrand will take you to your new room," he said then. "Tristan will visit you tonight. Try to be as nice to my little brother as you were to me."
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 2 Page 22