Rose Victory - Eagle Series

by Eagle Lady

  “But how?” Stefan murmured, totally at a loss.

  “I don’t know and I don’t care. She is mine now.” Roydon turned back to Lady Roslyn. Was that even her name? He saw her gaze resting lovingly on Aguilus. He saw both pain and pride in her eyes and longing, so much longing. No more, he determined.

  Excited whispers erupted from the crowd, and the king half rose from his seat in alarmed disbelief, as Roydon walked away from the altar. Henry fell back in his chair in tentative relief when the earl stopped in front of his son and crouched down.

  The boy looked at him with the same puzzled expression on his face as most of the people in the chapel wore. “My lord?”

  “The lady, Aguilus, look at her eyes.” Roydon spoke softly, for the boy’s ears only.

  “She has golden eyes.” Aguilus looked back at his father enquiringly. “Are they like mine, sir?”

  “They are exactly like yours, son.” Roydon paused, letting his hand rest on the boy’s shoulder. “She is your mother.”

  “Mother?” His eyes huge and unblinking, Aguilus stared at his father, hope struggling against uncertainty in his gaze.

  “Come.” Roydon rose to his feet, his hand firmly on the boy’s shoulder, he drew him towards the altar and his mother.

  The murmurs and comments escalated from the crowd as the earl set the boy in front of his bride. “He is making the woman accept his bastard!”

  “Poor woman!”

  “Good for Eagle Rock, he starts as he means to go on!”

  “That will show the woman her place!”

  Lady Roslyn did not speak; she just cupped her son’s face in the palm of her hand. The tenderness and love in her eyes said it all as she looked into the golden eyes staring shyly up at her.

  “We must continue, my lord.” The priest’s voice silenced the crowd and drew the earl’s attention.

  Roydon gave a quick nod as he arranged Aguilus facing the altar in front of him and his bride, his hand still rested on the boy’s shoulder. “You may proceed.” He smiled when Roslyn also placed her hand on their son’s other shoulder. Aguilus, he observed achingly, was almost bursting with pride and joy.

  “My lord! This is not seemly,” the priest pointed at Aguilus, a frown of disapproval on his face.

  “This is my son and he stays right where he is.” Roydon’s dark gaze bore into the priest. “If you have any objections, clear them with the king,” the determination in his voice strongly suggested that he would not back down.

  The priest’s eyes quickly sought out the king’s person, who tapped his fingers on his knee in apparent impatience. “Your Majesty, I cannot…”

  “Get on with it, man! Just ignore the boy.” The king had obviously heard the earl’s demand and the priest’s objections.

  The priest started the wedding ceremony.

  <><><>

  The banquet that King Henry hosted in honour of the newly married couple turned out to be a huge affair. Practically the whole court was in attendance. Roydon sat by the king’s side at the High Table on the dais, with his new countess beside him. On Henry’s other side sat the delegation from Gibel, who had accompanied their princess and stayed to witness the marriage.

  They had been sitting here for hours and the earl desperately needed a moment alone with his lady, but it seemed an impossible wish right now. Occasional touches, formal verbal exchanges and lingering looks were as near as they were getting at the moment. Roydon had barely managed to warn Aguilus not say anything about his mother, before Henry had led them all to the Banqueting Hall.

  Revealing that Roslyn was Aguilus’ mother would tarnish her reputation and he would not allow that. Already the king had remarked on the startling resemblance of the eye colour between the two, to which Roydon had also professed amazement at the coincidence. Then he had added, in blatant disregard to the truth, that the colour was not that similar.

  He would keep the two of them apart in public until they left for Eagle Rock. Deciding that this would be the best course of action, the earl turned in his seat and gestured at his squire, who stood in attendance behind the High Table, to approach.

  “My lord?” Aguilus stepped up between Roydon and his lady, the smile on his face seemed to have taken permanent residence there since the marriage.

  “Aguilus, I want you to find Sir Stefan and Ivan and stay with them until we get a chance to talk later.” Roydon lowered his voice, “Tell no one of your mother. This is important, son.”

  The squire nodded quickly, perfectly willing to trust his father. “I understand, sir. I will go and find Sir Stefan now.”

  “Did I hear mention of Sir Stefan?” The monarch leaned over towards the earl. “A fine man you have there, Eagle, which brings to mind that your men have not yet sworn their service to your lady.”

  “I have only two knights with me, Sire. The deed will be carried out when we return to Eagle Rock.” Roydon tried to dissuade Henry, but in vain. The king seemed to be in a celebratory mood after sealing his alliance.

  “Nonsense!” The monarch stood up calling for silence and then he summoned the knights of Eagle Rock to attend their lord.

  Aguilus hesitated, unsure if he should still go to Sir Stefan. He looked to his father for direction and received a whispered instruction to stay, as the earl rose to his feet in deference to the king.

  It was an old tradition where knights and vassals renewed their oaths of service and fealty to their lord after his marriage. At the same time they swore to serve and protect his new lady.

  “Come, Eagle.” Henry led the way round the High Table to stand at the top of the steps.

  The earl followed reluctantly, his lady at his side. Aguilus, undoubtedly excited at witnessing the ceremony, brought up the rear. He had wanted to draw as little attention as possible to them, Roydon thought grimly, as they stood beside the king in full view of the whole court. “Stay behind me and keep your eyes down,” he muttered to his son before Henry spoke again.

  “Your lord requires that you renew your oaths of fealty and service and that you swear service to his lady wife.” The king addressed both Sir Stefan and Sir Ivan who stood at the foot of the dais.

  Stefan raised a quizzical eyebrow at Roydon and the earl returned a shrug and a quick shake of his head. This had certainly not been his idea. Besides, Stefan was his friend, not his vassal or his retainer; he would not have him paying homage to him. Roydon turned to his liege. “Sire, Sir Stefan is a friend. There is no need…”

  Too late Roydon realized that his friend already knelt before him, his sword unsheathed with the lethal end pointed at his own breast, the hilt a finger’s breath away from the earl’s hand. The posture signified the total submission and loyalty being offered, even unto death, which the lord could inflict with a flick of his hand.

  “There is no need for this Stefan,” Roydon spoke quietly. “Our friendship means more than this.”

  “Nevertheless it’s an affirmation that has been long overdue. I want to do this, Roy,” his solemn expression softened. “Besides if you formally accept my oath you have to protect me too. You won’t be able to make me leave Eagle Rock now.”

  “As if anybody could make you leave!” Roydon returned the smile. “Now get up.”

  “I offer you, my lord, my fealty, my service and my life and I swear on my honour to uphold this oath.” Stefan’s demeanour had turned deadly serious again. Once the offer was accepted, the bond became binding and indissoluble unless broken by mutual agreement.

  The earl had little choice now but to reply. “I accept your service, Sir Stefan and in return promise you my protection and support.” Roydon touched the hilt of the offered sword in acknowledgement and Stefan rose to his feet, smiling once again as he sheathed his sword.

  The knight now moved to stand before Lady Roslyn and then went down on one knee. “I swear on my honour to serve and protect you, my lady.”

  “Thank you, Sir Stefan.” Roslyn nodded gravely at the kneeling knight.

&nbs
p; “My lady,” Stefan stepped back to allow Sir Ivan to follow his lead.

  <><><>

  Aguilus stood watching the swearing ceremony from behind his father and the king, wishing that he could also swear his loyalty to his lord. For a moment he debated whether to step forward and then he thought better of it. His lord had told him to stay behind him and he would not deliberately disobey.

  A flash of colour behind the soldiers of the king’s bodyguard, who stood on the other side of the High Table, caught the boy’s eye and he moved back to get a better look. Aguilus smiled, a jolt of excitement brightening his eyes. Princess Elizabeth, this time dressed as a girl, stood behind the soldiers as she tried to catch a glimpse of the proceedings in the Hall.

  Quickly Aguilus walked round the table and between the soldiers, who completely ignored him. “You are not supposed to be here,” he greeted her, eying her shiny, black hair as it swirled and curled down her back.

  “Are you going to tell?” Elizabeth asked pushing her chin out at him. “And you are supposed to address me as ‘my lady’ or ‘Your Highness’.”

  Aguilus gave a quick shake of his head. “Why did you jump into Black’s stall…my lady?”

  “That silly stable boy said that boys were braver than girls.” Elizabeth looked down her nose at Aguilus. “I proved him wrong. He was afraid to go into the stall. He was even afraid of me.”

  The squire looked at the girl thoughtfully. “Well, he would be afraid if he knew you were a princess and could get him into trouble. Besides Black is a very dangerous horse. Father says that jumping into a warhorse’s stall is not being brave. My father is the earl of Eagle Rock,” he added proudly.

  “I know. I escaped from my ladies to see him and his new bride.” The Princess looked seriously at him for a moment. “You are base-born. I heard Lady Louise say so.”

  “Base-born?” Aguilus had never heard that before.

  “A bastard,” the girl whispered, her grey eyes gazing curiously at him.

  “Oh that. I don’t care what people say. I am going to be a great knight one day, just like my father.” Aguilus puffed his chest out. “The best knight in the world, unbeatable. Won’t matter if I am…base-born then.”

  Elizabeth looked at the squire, her head crocked slightly to one side. “It doesn’t matter to me. I like you.”

  Aguilus grinned. No girl had ever told him that she liked him. “I like you too, and one day I will come back and swear to serve and protect you.” The squire looked back to where Sir Ivan, who had now completed the ceremony, spoke with the earl. “Just like Sir Stefan and Sir Ivan have sworn to my…Lord’s wife.”

  “I think I would like that.” Elizabeth looked up at the boy. “But you will have to get a lot bigger to do it.”

  “Oh, I don’t have to get bigger to protect you. I already did that in the stables.” Aguilus gave her a look of superiority.

  The Princess screwed her face up at him and when the squire was sure that she would hit out at him, verbally or even physically, the girl did the unexpected. Smiling sweetly, although Aguilus saw a spark of mischief in her eyes, she curtsied prettily. “You are in so much trouble, boy!” Abruptly Elizabeth picked up her skirts and run off.

  Aguilus looked after her, a puzzled expression on his face until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Slowly he turned around.

  “Your lord told you to stay behind him.” Sir Ivan’s voice, as did his stern expression, did indeed portend trouble.

  The squire looked up at his friend, an innocent look on his face. “I am behind him, Ivan. I am just a bit further back?” he attempted to excuse himself, a question in his voice.

  “I will pretend I did not hear that, boy,” Ivan had serious trouble keeping the amusement from his face, ‘a bit further back’, indeed. Stefan would really love that one.

  “Sorry, Sir Ivan,” the squire hung his head.

  “Come with me and stay where you are told to.” Ivan led the way back round the table to where the earl now stood speaking to the king. He left Aguilus directly behind their lord and then went to join Sir Stefan at the foot of the dais.

  Roydon spared his squire a frigid glance and then he continued his conversation with the king. His mother offered Aguilus a tiny smile.

  “It’s too early to retire, Eagle.” Henry answered, obviously in reply to the earl’s request. Then he lowered his voice. “I thought you were against this marriage. Has meeting the Princess changed your mind?” The king lifted his eyebrows suggestively. “Not in the first blush of youth, but a handsome girl nevertheless.”

  Roydon frowned at Henry’s insinuation but swallowed his angry words. “It has been a long day, Sire. My lady is tired and we need to talk.”

  The king’s jovial mood took a turn for the worse as he drew the earl to one side. “I hope talking is not all you are going to do, my lord. I will require proof of the consummation of the marriage in the morning, as will the Gibel delegation.” Henry’s voice, hard as stone, gave no quarter. “There will be no grounds for annulment or I will tear up that document.”

  The earl held on to his temper, although the words that escaped him were not the most cautious. “You would break your word?” he nearly growled. “Threaten me with that document whenever it pleases you?”

  The king stepped back, his displeasure apparent. “You go too far, my lord! That will be quite enough! The contents of that document would be grounds for annulment if the marriage is not consummated, that is why I mention it now. I have put the success of this treaty at risk by giving you what you asked of me. Do your duty and the document will never be mentioned again.” Henry’s voice softened slightly, “It is my gift to you, do not let me down.”

  Roydon felt deflated and ashamed of his allegations after the king’s explanation. Again his liege was being more than generous in ignoring his undeserved accusations. Worse, there wasn’t even a reason for this latest argument. “Your pardon, Sire,” Roydon bowed his head. “For the hundredth time it seems. The last few days have not been easy and I am very grateful for your leniency and indulgence.”

  The earl locked eyes with the king. “I have never had reason to doubt your word or your honour, Sire, please forgive my groundless insinuation. It was spoken in anger.”

  The king nodded curtly. “It is because I understand your situation that you have my pardon this one last time.” Henry’s eyes darkened in thought. “I too first met the Queen on our wedding day.” Impatiently he shook his head. “Do not try my patience again.”

  “Thank you, Sire,” Roydon said gravely. “Also know that I am now fully reconciled to the marriage and that there will be no question as to its validity.”

  “I am glad to hear it,” Henry nodded with satisfaction, his expression thawing as his mood lightened. “You have my leave to retire. Take your bride and run, before someone thinks to give you a bedding ceremony.”

  “No chance of that, Sire.” The earl lips tilted slightly as he remembered Stefan’s instructions to his men-at-arms that morning. “My men are waiting just beyond the Hall doors to ensure nothing like that happens.” Roydon straightened to his full imposing height. “No one is going to carry me to my bedchamber, much less strip me and put me to bed!”

  Henry had to smile at the earl’s impressive and daunting posture. “Are you sure, Eagle? Because there are a lot of people down there who are just waiting for you to give an indication that you are leaving.”

  Surprisingly, the earl laughed. “Watch, Sire.” Roydon gave Sir Stefan, who still stood at the bottom of the dais, a signal. Immediately the knight repeated the sign to a man standing just inside the Hall. Henry watched as the man disappeared, only to return a moment later with ten of his fellow men-at-arms in a two column formation. Not only that. In front of the men-at-arms were four off duty soldiers of the King’s Bodyguard. The troop of men stopped just inside the Hall.

  Roydon glanced sideways at the king. “Still think someone will wish to put me to bed, Sire?”

  “No, most defin
itely not.” Henry glanced down to see Aguilus trying to peer round his father. He had not moved from where Sir Ivan had left him. “Come here boy and learn how your father won my battles for me. Strategy and meticulous planning always governed his actions and invariably led us to victory.”

  Rafe led the four men of the bodyguard across the crowded room while the rest waited by the entry. They came to a stop when they reached their commander. Sir Stefan looked up at Roydon, an easy smile on his face. “My lord, your escort and honour guard.”

  “By your leave, Sire?” Roydon waited for the king’s amused nod before bowing and offering his arm to his bride. “My lady, our escort awaits.”

  Lady Roslyn gave the earl a grateful glance before laying her hand on his arm. “My lord.” Gracefully she sunk into a deep curtsey before the king.

  The earl then glanced at Aguilus, who looked slightly put out, probably at not being included in the arrangements. “Well squire? We are waiting for you. It’s your responsibility to lead your lord and lady to their escort.”

  The smile that Aguilus gave his father could have lit up the whole Hall. Hastily he stepped in front of his parents. “My lord, my lady, this way,” the squire bowed and pointed towards the foot of the dais, as if the escort were not clearly visible. With a last bow to the king, the boy led the way down the steps towards the waiting soldiers.

  Roydon smiled at his lady and her golden eyes smiled back at him as they followed their son from the Hall.

  Chapter Eleven

  The earl of Eagle Rock and his companions had no trouble reaching their chambers, where the honour guard left them.

  “Lady Roslyn’s maid arrived a while ago, my lord. She waits inside.” One of the two soldiers on duty reported as he held open the door to the ante-chamber.

  The earl acknowledged the information and accompanied his lady into the room, followed by his son and the two knights.