Fathers and Sons

by Le Veque, Kathryn

  Shadoxhurst Castle was a smaller castle with a rather compact, square bailey surrounded by tall gray walls, and a big round keep smack in the middle of it. It was part of the barony of Ashford, one of David’s vassals, and manned by a seasoned knight, Ridge du Bose, and his lovely daughter Victoria. In fact, Victoria had just returned from fostering at Lewes Castle in Sussex, so the party was as much an opportunity for the proud father to show off his grown daughter as much as it was for her birthday.

  Arriving well after sunset, there were several houses already in attendance for the morrow’s activities. The castle was open for the most part as the guests set up their encampments both in the bailey and outside of the walls, and already it was like one giant party as guests mingled at different campfires as the food and drink flowed. As Maddoc, Gerid, and the host of Canterbury soldiers set up their encampment just inside of the gatehouse, Adalind and Willow went in search of Victoria but were told she had retired for the night. Their disappointment faded as they found entertainment and food with several visiting houses, people they had known in their childhood who were now very glad to see them.

  David, too, loosened up as the night progressed and he visited with several old friends and allies. Even as he chatted and drank, his mind kept wandering back to Maddoc as the man saw to the organization of their encampment. He was coming to think he’d been too harsh to judge Maddoc for his actions against de Burgh, knowing that the knight only had their best interests at heart.

  After they had been at Shadoxhurst a couple of hours, David noticed that Adalind and Willow were sitting before the campfire of allies from Folkestone, and several young men were quite happily enjoying their company. Adalind had imbibed a little too much wine and was being her usually vivacious self, but the young knights were being overly flirtatious with her. It gave David the excuse he needed to find Maddoc and speak with him. He was weary of being angry with a man he looked upon as a son and was glad to find a reason to reestablish communication.

  He found Maddoc dealing with a locked wagon wheel on one of the wagons he didn’t want to bring in the first place. The smithy was having difficulty with the axle and had summoned Maddoc for assistance, mostly because Maddoc had the strength of a bull and was able to help the man manipulate the wheel. But David pulled Maddoc off the wagon, uttered a few words to him about his betrothed and her current social situation, and Maddoc was off like a flash in search of Adalind. David watched him go with a grin on his face.

  Maddoc found Adalind surrounded by the young bucks and, without a word, took her hand and led her away. Adalind had no idea why he was upset with her because in her alcohol-hazed mind, the young men were focused on Willow, but Maddoc knew better. He stopped short of scolding her but made sure she knew that the young men were not, in fact, focused on Willow. Only a blind man would have paid more attention to Willow with Adalind’s glorious beauty standing right next to her. And with that, he made his tipsy lady go to bed, but the situation only grew worse the next day.

  It all started when the festivities started at noon. Ridge du Bose, a handsome and skilled older knight, had all manner of entertainment arranged for his daughter’s celebration, including a tournament of sorts involving his guests. There were eleven houses attending and each house had two or more knights, so he solicited entrants from his guests, including Canterbury. Not only did Maddoc and Gerid enter the contest, but David did as well just for the fun of it. His wife was horrified, but David assured her he would be careful.

  Adalind and Willow were thrilled at the competition, and Adalind had dressed carefully in her new garment. It was a glorious surcoat that, once secured upon her shapely frame, gave her the appearance of a goddess. She was luscious and curvy, something that did not go unnoticed by nearly every man in attendance. Maddoc felt rather like a dog guarding its bone as he escorted her to the makeshift field to the north side of Shadoxhurst where the guests were gathering for the first event. He was so proud he could burst, a sensation he’d never known in his life. It was alien and somewhat disorienting but wholly wonderful as he walked with Adalind on his arm. It was pride in something other than himself.

  In fact, Adalind was so radiant and lovely that the gossip was flying fast and furious, and it flew straight to Victoria du Bose’s ears. Young, lovely, silly, giggly and petty, Victoria’s reaction was not entirely unexpected. When she was supposed to be the center of attention, it ended up being Adalind de Aston, and when Adalind made an appearance at the field and greeted Victoria for the first time, the claws were out.

  “Victoria,” Adalind said as she took the woman’s hands and kissed her cheek. “It is so good to see you again. How lovely you look.”

  Victoria was, indeed, a pretty girl with brown eyes and long blond hair. She smiled thinly at Adalind. “And I see the rumors of your beauty were not exaggerated,” she said, her gaze riveted to Adalind and all but ignoring Willow. “I have heard nothing but tales of your beauty since I have returned home. I must say, now that I see you, I understand the rumors.”

  Adalind could immediately sense an insult. It wasn’t so much in the words but the way the woman spoke, the condescending tone in her voice. Her smile faded into a grimace.

  “Whatever do you mean?” she asked.

  Victoria shrugged, her gaze trailing down Adalind’s stunning figure. “You are very beautiful, Adalind,” she said. “Surely you know that.”

  “You are quite beautiful, also,” Adalind replied, having difficulty with her temper. “Surely you know that.”

  Victoria laughed rudely. “’Tis not I who has every man’s attention today,” she said, her tone growing nasty. “They are all looking at you in that rather revealing coat, but I am sure you planned it that way. How dare you turn all attention to you.”

  Adalind was flabbergasted at the attitude. “I have done no such thing,” she said hotly. “Why do you say such terrible things to me? I thought we were friends, Victoria.”

  Victoria turned her nose up. “We were until you tried to outshine me at my party.”

  Adalind’s outrage cooled. The same thing that had happened at Winchester was happening here and she could hardly believe it. She was stunned.

  “It was never my intent to outshine you,” she said, lowering her voice. “It was my intent to wish you a blessed celebration but I see that I am wasting my breath. I had no idea that your years at Lewes had taught you that blatant envy is good manners and that offending someone who has done nothing to deserve it makes you a fine hostess. Since it seems that the only conversation you wish to have is one full of insults, I will wish you a good day and be done with it.”

  With that, she strolled away, leaving Willow sputtering at the turn in conversation. But Adalind kept walking, heading towards the edge of the makeshift lists where she could see Maddoc and Gerid as they prepared for the upcoming contest. She marched right up to Maddoc and by the time he looked up from fixing one of the straps on his breastplate, he was faced with a teary-eyed lady.

  “I want to go home,” Adalind hissed, wiping furiously at her eyes. “I do not want to be here. Will you please take me home?”

  He was very concerned. “What has happened?” he asked gently, his hands comfortingly holding her arms. “Why do you weep?”

  Adalind was trying to speak without sobbing but it was difficult. “Victoria is upset because she feels that I have dressed provocatively and now all men are looking at me when they should be looking at her,” she sniffled. “She was rude and insulting, and I do not want to be here any longer. I want to go home.”

  Maddoc grunted with both disbelief and sympathy, looking over her shoulder to see Willow and Lady Victoria in the distance. It looked to him as if the conversation were growing heated.

  “Your dress is lovely and I would be the first person to make you wear something different if I thought it was even remotely provocative,” he explained. “Do not let her jealousy hurt you so.”

  She frowned deeply and the tears surged. “You cannot say th
at to me,” she hissed. “I spent five years dealing with petty jealousies and this is the last place I expected to find them again. You have no idea what it was like.”

  She was starting to get agitated so he hastened to soothe her. “You are correct; I do not,” he said, collecting her hand and turning to Gerid. “Lady Adalind and I are going for a walk. I will return shortly.”

  Gerid wasn’t oblivious to their conversation, nor to what had been transpiring between them in general. In fact, it was becoming common knowledge at Canterbury now because de Lohr wasn’t making any attempt to hide it. Moreover, du Bois had disappeared for several days and dark rumors were about as to the reasons for his absence. He had fled with the four visiting warriors in the middle of the night and had returned days later, exhausted and filthy. Some said that de Lohr had sent him on a mission of vengeance involving Adalind, but no one knew for certain. Whatever the reason, things were different with du Bois now. The man had changed.

  Maddoc took Adalind away from the temporary field, holding her elbow as they strolled past people who were heading for the spectacle. A few competing knights passed them by, looking at the heavily-armored Maddoc curiously as he headed in the opposite direction. But he ignored the stares. Instead, he was focused on Adalind as they walked through the very green and very wet grass. Her fine slippers were getting wet but he couldn’t pick her up because his armor was in the way. When they came to an old, rotted stump near the giant curtain wall, he lifted her up onto it to get her out of the wet.

  “Now,” he said, looking her in the eye. “I have also heard the gossip this morning, men speaking in hushed tones about you. All I have heard is how you are a treat for the eyes but nothing more. Whatever Victoria brought up to hurt your feelings was fed by petty jealousy and I understand you are weary of such things. However, we cannot simply make it stop. People have a tendency to be cruel when faced with something as bright and shining as you because they feel inadequate. No one can compete with you, sweetheart. You must understand this so you will not be dissolved to tears every time it happens. Take it as a compliment, understand your worth, and do not let it disturb you. Will you at least try?”

  He was so wise and rational. Adalind had stopped crying by the time he finished, her red-rimmed eyes now gleaming with something he’d never seen before. There was joy and adoration and appreciation in the green depths.

  “You are right,” she said in agreement. “I should not let words bother me so. I suppose I am very sensitive to them because, at Winchester, words were usually accompanied by some manner of humiliating action.”

  He shook his head firmly. “No longer,” he said softly, moving towards her and taking her hands in his big mailed gloves. “No one will touch you again, I swear it. Man or woman, I will punish them. Do you believe me?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Then you will no longer be upset by incidents such as this. Know that none of it matters because you have my complete attention and adoration. Nothing can hurt you ever again.”

  She sighed dreamily, a smile coming to her lips. “Do you know I have waited my entire life to hear those words from you?”

  He grinned in return. Then, he kissed her hands, sweetly, but that wasn’t good enough so he kissed her mouth as well. Standing on the stump, she was nearly at eye level with him and it didn’t take long before her arms went around his neck and he wrapped his big arms around her body. It was as much a spectacle as either one of them had ever made, but they didn’t care; lost in a heated kiss, scents and sensations and tastes consumed them.

  “Maddoc!”

  The shout disrupted what was a decidedly heated kiss and Maddoc’s head snapped around to see David approaching. The man did not look pleased.

  “Maddoc, let her go,” he snapped quietly, complete with separating hand gestures. “You know better than to take advantage of her in public.”

  “I am to blame, Papa.” Adalind leaped to Maddoc’s defense as he lifted her off the stump and put her on her feet. “I made him kiss me. I told him I would never speak to him again if he did not.”

  David scowled at her, letting her know just what he thought of her foolish explanation. “Next time, I throw a bucket of water on you both,” he grumbled, pointing in the direction of the event field. “Go, Maddoc. I will escort Adalind to the field.”

  Adalind clung to Maddoc’s arm. “Nay, Papa,” she said. “I want to walk with Maddoc, not my aged though still-handsome grandfather. I am sure you understand how humiliating it would be for me.”

  David was trying not to grin because she was being rather charming with him, trying to soften him. “You little snippit,” he rumbled. “Do as I say or I shall swat your behind. Let him go so he can go compete. They are about to start.”

  Her eyebrows flew up and she let go of Maddoc, giving him a shove towards the field for good measure. “Hurry, then,” she told him. “Do not so much as show your face to me again if you do not beat every one of those fools. I will accept nothing less than complete domination and victory.”

  Maddoc grinned lazily as she continued to push. “For you, my lady, I will smite my foes and lay their heads at your feet.”

  She stopped pushing and made a distasteful face. “Seems a little severe to me, but if you must.” She winked at him as she took David’s arm. “Go, my beautiful boy. I will watch you with great pride.”

  His grin turned real and he bowed gallantly as he turned for the field. “I shall endeavor not to shame you.”

  “See that you do not.”

  He laughed as he headed off for the event area at a slow jog. Mail jingled and creaked as Adalind and David watched him go. When he was well out of earshot, Adalind sighed happily, her gaze lingering on him, before turning to David.

  “Would you really throw water on me?” she asked.

  He cocked an eyebrow as she wrapped her hands around his forearm rather manipulatively.

  “Well,” he said reluctantly, “perhaps not you, but definitely him. He knows better than to make such a spectacle.”

  “But we are in love. Why can we not shout it to the world?”

  “Has he told you he loves you?”

  She shook her head. “He said he adored me. I can live on that for the rest of my life.”

  David couldn’t help the chuckle as they headed towards the field and sounds of the coming event. Women in love were odd creatures, indeed.

  *

  The first event of the day was a mêlée, a competition where two teams of opposing knights would face off against each other until the last man was standing. Instead of swords they had clubs, and once a man was down he was not allowed to get up again. Any blow was fair, including those to the face and groin, so after the event marshals explained the rules, they tossed a yellow flag into the air and when it hit the ground, the men went at each other to the roar of the crowd.

  Since David was the highest ranking nobleman in attendance, it was his team against Ridge du Bose’s team, and David was in command of his team. When the flag fell, Maddoc charged forward with the club poised over his left shoulder, as his left hand was his dominate hand, and began swinging it in several calculated strikes. Men fell at his feet in rapid succession as the spectators cheered.

  Standing at the edge of the field since the very small lists were for Victoria and her family, Adalind and Willow were cheering like mad. Every time Maddoc would fell a man, Adalind screamed his name. The pair of them jumped up and down eagerly, causing Christina and Emilie to laugh at their enthusiasm. Watching them was more fun than watching what was happening on the field. But that all changed when David went down only a few minutes into the fight. Then, the mood decidedly dampened.

  For an elderly man, David was still very spry and very skilled, but with his reflexes diminished from age, he was no real match for the younger and stronger knights. When he went down, Maddoc beat his way through a couple of men to make it to his side, slinging David over his big shoulder and fighting his way to the edge of the field
to get him out of the line of fire. Emilie and Christina were waiting for him and took David gently as Maddoc carefully unloaded the man. But as he did so, he was hit from behind by a pair of fairly large knights, causing him to lurch forward and plow a big shoulder into Adalind. As she fell to her bum, Maddoc furiously turned to the pair that had attacked him and plowed into them with his fists.

  Blood splattered as Maddoc’s enormous hands did severe damage. One man fell almost immediately while the other put up more of a fight. Adalind watched with terror and fascination, picking herself up off the ground, as Maddoc’s fury was unleashed. It was truly a sight to behold. She didn’t even notice that her mother and grandmother, plus a host of Canterbury men, had carried David away. The only thing she was aware of was Maddoc and his unearthly strength and skill as he battered the second man to a bloody pulp. Even after the man finally went down, Maddoc gave him a swift kick in the kidneys for good measure. Then he turned to Adalind, somewhat out of breath. Beating arse the way he did was something of an exertion.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  She nodded, her eyes wide with surprise and, perhaps, some realization as to Maddoc’s true capabilities.

  “I am well,” she assured him. “You did not hurt me.”

  Satisfied with her answer, he winked at her as he turned back for the field, collecting his club, which had fallen to the ground, as he went along. As Adalind watched, he jumped back into the fray, pounding men with both fists and club. Blood spurted, men fell, and the crowd went mad with approval. It was a gory bit of fun.

  The mêlée actually took a few hours. It wasn’t an easy game, nor was it quick. It was quite brutal. There was a good deal of blood and many broken bones, split scalps and the like. Since David was out of commission, Maddoc took charge and corralled the earl’s team into a circle, and that circle was making its way slowly through the battle and destroying men as they went.

  Every knight in Maddoc’s circle was back to back with another knight so they covered each other from the rear and formed an unbreakable bond. It was classic warfare tactics, now employed to ensure Canterbury’s team emerged the victor. All went well until two hours into the fight when a new and fresh knight was introduced.