England's Greatest Knights: A Medieval Romance Collection

by Kathryn Le Veque

  Her fear grew. “And he is demanding that you turn me over to him?”

  Again, Chad shook his head. He could see she was growing distressed and he hastened to soothe her. “He is not,” he said quietly. “You were not part of the missive he sent to me. It would seem that Henry is coming to Isenhall, coming with an army no less, and de Serreaux sought to warn me.”

  Her mouth formed a shocked “O” and she put a hand over her lips as if to attempt to contain her astonishment. “Sweet Mary…,” she gasped. “Henry is coming for me!”

  Chad grasped her by both arms, gently but firmly. “This has nothing to do with you,” he stressed again. “Henry was out to seek vengeance against your cousins long before you came to his attention. Henry is coming to demand loyalty once and for all. That being said, it is imperative that you leave Isenhall. I do not want you in a castle under siege, so I plan to marry you today and send you along with the other de Shera women when de Moray takes them to his home of Ravendark Castle and to safety.”

  Alessandria was having difficulty processing what he was telling her. Henry was coming… I will marry you today… you will leave Isenhall before the army arrives… all of it was spinning around in her head, so much so that her knees gave way and she plopped onto the seat behind her, unable to stand any longer.

  War was coming. Henry was coming, and in spite of what Chad had told her, she knew he was only trying to make her feel better. Henry was coming for her and Chad was making it seem like he wasn’t.

  But she knew the truth. She didn’t understand enough about wars and politics to realize that she was the last thing on the king’s mind. To her, this entire situation started because Henry had wanted her as a hostage and Chad had prevented that. She was the cause of everything terrible happening to people she had come to love.

  Alessandria had never had a sense of family. A careless father, a foolish brother… that was all she had ever known, which was why the nuns at Newington had become her family. Then, she’d come to Isenhall with people who were kind to her, family who cared about her. She had Chad, too, a man who wanted to marry her. Such a wonderful sense of family, fulfilling her like nothing she’d ever known.

  And now, this.

  Henry wanted her, still, and he was going to tear down Isenhall to get to her. No matter what Chad said, she knew that was the truth. This was her fault, all of it.

  “I do not want to leave, Chad,” she said, feeling a lump in her throat as her emotions got the better of her. “Please do not make me leave.”

  He forced a smile, kissing her on the forehead. “It will only be for a short time,” he assured her. “I will go now to St. Mary’s in Coventry and make the arrangements for our wedding. Mayhap Jeniver or Courtly will let you borrow a lovely dress for the occasion. They are more your size.”

  He was trying to make light of the situation, to have her focus on the joy of their wedding rather than the impending arrival of Henry’s army. But Alessandria wouldn’t let him change the subject.

  “Chad, you must listen,” she insisted. “I know that Henry is coming for me. You need not pretend otherwise. It is only right that you should give me over to him right away. Mayhap then he will not attack Isenhall.”

  Chad frowned at her. “Sweetheart, I assure you that Henry is not coming for you,” he said. “He is coming because he wants Gallus and Maximus and Tiberius to swear fealty to him.”

  “That is what he wanted me for!”

  He shook her gently. “But he does not have you, nor shall he ever,” he said. “I do not know how much plainer I can make this – you are not at issue. This has nothing to do with you any longer.”

  He is only trying to spare me, Alessandria thought. She knew he was doing it to be kind and she didn’t believe one word of his denial. The entire reason behind her presence at Isenhall was to keep her from Henry. Now, the king knew where she was and he was coming for her. That made the most sense to her. She both loved and hated Chad for not being truthful with her, for trying to make it easy on her, but the thought of Henry coming to destroy this beautiful place of family and warmth was something she could hardly stomach.

  Jeniver… Courtly… Douglass… the children… they would know hardship and strife because of her, because Chad could not be honest and tell her why Henry was really coming. It was more than she could bear and the tears began to come.

  Chad saw the tears and he pulled her into his powerful embrace, holding her close, trying to comfort her. He was very sorry he had upset her but it was necessary that she know the truth of what was coming. He, too, was saddened to know that Henry would soon rattle a place he had come to see as a sanctuary, spending time with Alessandria, coming to know the woman who had a heart as big as the ocean.

  She was fun to taunt, and made an easy target with her guileless manner, but it was all in good fun. He loved her for it. She was also not beyond returning his taunts and, more than once, getting the better of him. He loved that about her, too. Lady du Bexley’s dinner had come up more than once over the past two weeks. They had been so happy here, now to see it all change drastically. It was heartbreaking.

  But he couldn’t give in to the sorrow of it. They had to make the best of it, to do what was necessary in order to survive. He let her cry a few moments longer in his arms before giving her a squeeze and releasing her. He wiped at the tears on her face as he spoke.

  “Everything will be well in the end, I promise,” he assured her. “I do not want you to worry overly about it. We will marry tonight and then you will go with de Moray and the other women on a short journey to Ravendark. I will come for you when I can.”

  So he was going to maintain that she had nothing to do with Henry’s approach. Alessandria was nearly mad with his denial.

  “Please, Chad,” she begged. “The king is coming. He will destroy Isenhall because you brought me here. I cannot let that happen.”

  He sighed heavily, shaking his head at her refusal to believe him. He had already told her the truth so he chose to push past the fact that she still believed Henry was coming for her. He couldn’t let her dwell on it.

  “Come along,” he said, taking her by the hand and pulling her from the chamber. “We shall find Jeniver and ask her to provide you with a lovely garment for our wedding. I should like to have it tonight, at sunset. We can return to Isenhall afterwards and you can pack for your journey to Ravendark. I’ve never been there, actually, but I hear it is a very big place. And de Moray’s wife raises goats, so you will have your fill of cute little animals and children.”

  Distraught, Alessandria allowed him to pull her along but the entire time she was planning her escape. She wasn’t going to let Henry raze Isenhall all because of her. Everything had been fine before she had come. Perhaps if she left, everything would be fine again. She loved these people, and this life, enough to make that sacrifice.

  And Chad… he would go into battle because of her. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing the man she had come to love very much. All of the dreams of hope and love she’d had were only that – dreams. Perhaps they were never meant to be. It had been happiness she had never expected, a vision of heaven unlike anything she’d ever known. But like most dreams, they were not meant to last. This dream was over before it truly got started, but at least she’d had a taste of it. That would have to sustain her for the rest of her life because if Henry wanted her, then he could have her if it would only spare Chad’s life.

  She couldn’t let this all end because of her.

  She couldn’t let Chad end.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Just outside of Northampton, England

  Tomorrow, they would be upon Isenhall.

  As Davyss de Winter sat in his tent with his brother, contemplating what tomorrow would bring, all he could think of was the fact that tomorrow would see them at the walls of Isenhall. Those dark-stoned walls of that oddly-shaped, rounded fortress had a very special place in his heart, for he remembered the days of his youth when he woul
d play within those walls, running and chasing Gallus and Maximus, laughing at Tiberius because he was younger and unable to keep up with the bigger boys. Hugh, his own brother, was even younger than Tiberius and would run after the big boys, wailing because they didn’t want to play with him. Aye, he remembered those days well.

  And now, here they were, preparing to raze those very walls.

  “Henry wants to discuss tomorrow’s strategy, you know,” Hugh said, seated near the brazier and using a pumice stone to sharpen his sword. “He wanted to meet with us after sup. If we do not go to his tent, he will come here.”

  Davyss grunted at the mere thought of Henry invading their tent. His mind was still wandering the days of his youth.

  “Do you remember playing with Gallus and Max and Ty as children?” he asked. “I remember hiding from you. You would wail in distress, trying to find us, and then you’d run to tell Mother that we were not being kind to you. Do you remember that?”

  Hugh grinned. “I do,” he said. “You were bullies, all of you.”

  Davyss laughed. “And you were unbearable and spoilt,” he countered. “I remember hiding in the loft of the stables at Isenhall, dropping horse dung on your head when you would come inside to look for us.”

  Hugh snorted. “I seem to remember Mother beating you for that,” he said. “Or was it Father?”

  Davyss conceded the point. “It was both,” he said. “Father was laughing at what I did but it was Mother who forced him to punish me. He did not hit me very hard, however.”

  Hugh reflected back to those days. “That is because you were his favorite,” he said. “And I was Mother’s.”

  “You were a terrible child.”

  “I know.”

  Davyss continued chuckling at the recollection. “I have so many good memories of Isenhall and of Gallus and the pranks we would play,” he said. But soon, his smile faded as pain began to glaze his expression. “And now Henry expects me to lay siege to my best friend. He expects me to bring him to his knees. Surely he knows that….”

  Hugh looked up from his sword, cutting him off. “You do not have to say it, Davyss.”

  “I know.”

  “When the time comes, I will stand with you, whatever your decision.”

  “You have known since the beginning what my decision will be.”

  Hugh nodded reluctantly. “I know,” he said. “We have made the necessary preparations for it. Our properties are fortified against any… aggressions.”

  “Aye, they are.”

  “Then I will ask something I’ve not asked since we left Wintercroft Castle – why did we agree to come to Isenhall in the first place?”

  Davyss turned to look at him, then. “Do you not know?”

  “I think I do.”

  “Someone must protect Gallus from Henry.”

  The truth of the situation was spoken and Hugh drew in a long, deep breath and returned to his sword. His work with the pumice stone slowed.

  “I wish Father was here,” he muttered. “I wish I knew that we had his approval in this.”

  Davyss stood up, cup of wine in hand. It was his third cup, trying to ease the guilt and angst he felt over Henry’s orders. He knew, and had known since receiving Henry’s orders to march on Isenhall, that he was only going through the motions of obeying the king. When it came down to the command to launch an attack against Gallus’ home, that was when Henry would discover that Davyss, for all of his loyalty to the crown, would refuse him. The man simply couldn’t move against his best friend, only Henry didn’t know it yet. But he would soon enough, Davyss suspected.

  Maybe he already knew.

  “Father would have tried to reason with Henry,” Davyss finally said. “He would have tried to talk the man out of this, but I do not have Father’s sense of diplomacy. I am a warrior and Lespada does the talking for me, but in this case, my weapon shall remain silent. I will not lift it.”

  Hugh glanced up at the man; big, powerful, and cunning, Davyss was the type of knight that all men hoped to be. Even Hugh. As good as Hugh was, and he was excellent, even he admired his brother’s skill and sense of honor. This situation with Henry and the House of de Shera was weighing heavily upon Davyss, threatening to topple him, but the man wouldn’t waver. He knew what was right and what was wrong. He knew that family and blood was stronger than any king or country. Still, it was a terribly difficult situation for them all.

  “Henry wishes to discuss tomorrow’s strategy,” he said again, quietly. “What will you tell him?”

  Davyss lifted his big shoulders. “Nothing for the moment,” he said. “We will ride to Isenhall and see if Gallus can convince Henry not to move against him. Gallus is a far better diplomat than I am. If Henry refuses, then he shall know my stance at that time. Meanwhile, you will ensure that our men are not to respond to Henry’s commands of battle. Pass the word through the ranks that all commands to be obeyed will come from me or from you. Will you do that?”

  Hugh nodded. “I will do it tonight,” he said. Then, he stopped rubbing at his sword and looked at his brother. “We have two thousand men with us, Davyss. Henry has only brought about five hundred, including his Six. We will have to fight off de Serreaux and the others, you know. When our army balks, Henry’s army will move against us.”

  Davyss knew that. He thought on Torran de Serreaux and the other knights with him, men called Henry’s Guard of Six. He knew them all very well, as they were all interwoven into Henry’s command structure.

  “I know,” he said. “I do not even know why they brought de Garr, however – the man is in terrible shape after the de Lohr beating. Did you hear the story behind it?”

  “I did.”

  Davyss shook his head, now grinning. “I wish I could have seen it,” he said. “Those six against the de Lohr knights would have been a battle to see.”

  Hugh lifted his eyebrows. “I, for one, would have run at the sight of Jorden de Russe or Rhun du Bois coming after me. Those men are enormous. De Garr is lucky he still has his head after all of that.”

  Davyss laughed. “De Serreaux is nothing to trifle with, either,” he pointed out. “It would have been a battle of epic proportions and I am sorry I missed it. But Chad had what Henry wanted, the de Shera girl, and de Serreaux was determined to gain the woman for Henry’s purposes, so a clash of that magnitude was inevitable.”

  Hugh set his sword and stone down. “De Serreaux told me that he believes Chad is at Isenhall,” he said, sobering. “You know that Chad will stand with Gallus.”

  “I know.”

  “If Chad stands with him, then his father will stand with Chad,” Hugh pointed out. “If Daniel stands with Chad, so will Curtis de Lohr. The entire House of de Lohr will stand against Henry.”

  Davyss sobered as well, thinking on the greater implications of what was about to happen. “And de Moray will stand with Gallus because his daughter is married to Ty,” he said. “Is Henry a fool not to realize all of this?”

  They were prevented from further conversation by a soft hail at the tent flap. Davyss went to push back the fabric panel to reveal de Serreaux standing there. Davyss wasn’t surprised to see the man but he wondered if he’d heard any of their conversation.

  “Torran,” he greeted evenly. “Will you come in? My brother and I were just having some wine.”

  De Serreaux shook his head. “Thank you, no,” he replied. “Henry has sent me to retrieve you. He wishes to discuss tomorrow’s approach on Isenhall.”

  The time had finally come to face what they did not want to face. Davyss simply motioned to his brother, who stood up from the stool and stretched the kinks out of his big body as he made his way to the tent flap. Once outside, beneath the carpet of stars against the black sky on a breezy and cold night, the three men headed for Henry’s tent several dozen yards away.

  As they walked, de Serreaux sniffed the air. “It smells like rot,” he said casually. “I smell moldering leaves.”

  Davyss pointed off to
the west. “There is a bog not far from here,” he said. “It always smells of compost, worse when the wind shifts.”

  De Serreaux gazed off into the night towards the west. “You are familiar with this area, are you not?”

  “I am.”

  “And you are familiar with Isenhall.”

  “Verily.”

  De Serreaux looked at him. “You and Gallus are childhood friends.”

  “Everyone knows that.”

  De Serreaux came to a halt, facing Davyss in the dark. “Henry wants to glean your knowledge of Isenhall’s weaknesses to plan this siege,” he said. “I’m assuming you already know that as well.”

  Davyss’ dark eyes glittered in the starlight. “What would you have me say?” he asked. “Of course I know. I have known from the start. Why would you ask such a question?”

  De Serreaux shrugged. “I simply want to make sure you are aware,” he said. “I can only imagine that this is a very difficult situation for you.”

  Davyss was immediately suspicious of the line of conversation. “That would go without saying,” he said, his gaze lingering on the man. “What will you run back and tell Henry of this conversation, Torran?”

  De Serreaux could see the defensiveness in Davyss’ expression. Not that he blamed the man. It was difficult to let on to the fact that he was sympathetic to Davyss’ position. He didn’t like what Henry was doing, either, and hadn’t since he sent that missive to Isenhall himself. Still, there was a line between him and Davyss; he could see it. It was the line of mistrust.

  “Nothing,” he finally said. “You and I have not had much opportunity to speak privately on this battle march.”

  Davyss glanced at Hugh, who was less adept at hiding his wariness of what seemed to be a probe from de Serreaux.

  “What could we possibly have in common to speak privately about?” Hugh demanded. “There is nothing to say, de Serreaux. We are doing our duty just as you are. We do not have to be happy about it. What else did you want to know?”

  De Serreaux shook his head calmly. “Nothing, Hugh.”