The Dark Spawn (Battle Lords of de Velt Book 5)

by Kathryn Le Veque

  She reached up and cupped his big face with her two hands, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs. “I am not entirely sure I will have a chance to speak with you tomorrow before you go into battle, so I will speak to you now,” she said. “I am so proud of you, Cole. I’ve never known pride like this. I pray God keeps you safe during the trials you must face in the coming battle, but whatever comes, know that I will be waiting for you in the end.”

  “Thank you, my queen. That means everything.”

  “And then we are going to get married!”

  He laughed softly. “We are, indeed,” he said. “Which reminds me – my father is probably down in the common room, wondering where I am. So as much as I hate to leave you, I must.”

  She sighed unhappily. “I know,” she said. “And I must dress and come with you.”

  He scowled. “We cannot go into the common room together, you silly wench,” he said. “We shall both be coming down from the upper floor? Do you have any idea how that will look?”

  “Suspicious, I would imagine.”

  He grunted, kissing her swiftly before pushing himself off the bed and going in search of his clothing.

  “Suspicious, indeed,” he said. “I would have a hell of a lot of explaining to do, and I do not wish to get into a row with my father the night before a battle. Let me go first and you will give us about a half-hour before coming down yourself. I must tell him about us and I want to do it alone. In fact, I think I will climb out the window and come in through the front door just to be safe.”

  With a twinkle of mirth in her eyes, Corisande sat up, pulling the coverlet over her chest to protect her modesty as Cole pulled on his breeches. She’d seen men half-dressed before, as patients she had tended in the course of her duties, but this was different. Cole was absolutely magnificent, muscular and powerful. It made her heart thump against her ribs simply to look upon him, to know that he was hers.

  Truly hers.

  She’d never felt so content or happy in her entire life.

  She must have been gazing at him rather dreamily because he kept looking at her as he dressed, pulling on tunics and boots.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  She shook herself out of her reflections. “I’m thinking how happy I am,” she said. “I’m sorry – I should offer to help you. Do you need help?”

  He shook his head, able to pull on his mail coat. “Nay,” he said. “What I’m wearing now is simple. Tomorrow, however, it will be considerably more complicated.”

  He may have been armed to the teeth, but he wasn’t wearing what he would normally wear on the field of battle as far as protection on his forearms, shoulders, and legs. As he’d said, he’d be carrying much more tomorrow. Corisande swung her legs over the side of the bed, still holding the coverlet up to shield her nakedness.

  “Are you really going to jump out the window?” she asked.

  In response, he went over to the window and peered out. They were on the side of the tavern, with a yard down below. It wasn’t too terribly high and he flung open the shutters wide.

  “I am,” he said, going back over to the bed and giving her one last kiss. “Hurry and dress, please. Do not delay.”

  “I won’t.”

  He gave her a wink. “Good lass.”

  He scooted back over to the window and sat on the sill, slinging his legs over the side. Wrapped up in the coverlet, Corisande stood up and started to come over to the window, but he hissed at her and waved her away.

  “Are you mad?” he whispered loudly. “Do you want someone to see you?”

  Stopped in her tracks, she shook her head, wide-eyed. Carefully, he lowered himself out of the window until he was dangling and then he let himself fall to the yard below. Throwing caution to the wind, Corisande scooted over to the window, closing the shutters, but not before she peeked out to see Cole brushing off his knees and straightening his tunic.

  As he began to head out of the yard, she quickly bolted the shutters, tossed the coverlet on the bed, and began rushing around for her clothing. The moment she lifted her hands, however, she realized that she could smell Cole on her flesh. Sniffing her arms and hands, his scent was everywhere and her heart fluttered wildly.

  His sweet, delicious musk.

  For a moment, she stood there, nude, looking down at her body and remembering all of the delicious and wicked things he’d done to her. She was an inexperienced virgin, or at least she had been only a short while ago, but that didn’t stop lustful thoughts from claiming her as she thought of Cole’s body upon hers. Timidly, she touched her breasts, the nipples he’d seemed so fond of, and a jolt ran through her when she touched herself.

  A jolt that ran right down through her loins.

  Hesitantly, she put a hand down there, feeling the fluff of curls. It was also damp and sticky from their lovemaking. As much as she hated to wash away his scent, she also didn’t want to smell like a man because she didn’t want anyone to catch wind of a scent that did not belong to her. Therefore, she turned towards the cool bath water and quickly washed up.

  She had a father to meet and she didn’t want to meet the man smelling of his son.

  A son she loved with all her heart.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “I was wondering where you were,” Jax said as Cole came towards the table he had commandeered in the crowded common room of the tavern. “I hope you do not mind that I’ve brought Julian. It is rare when I have two of my sons together, especially on a night before the battle.”

  Cole eyed his younger brother as he sat at the table. He loved Julian, but he wasn’t happy to see the man. He had wanted to see his father alone.

  “Nay, I do not mind that he is here,” he said, though he didn’t sound sincere. “But I have something I must speak with you about, Papa. I was hoping to do it in private.”

  Jax’s smile faded. “That’s a coincidence,” he said. “I have something to tell you, too. Julian will hear of it, eventually, so I suppose it does not matter if he is here.”

  Julian had a big cup of warmed wine, glancing between his father and brother, who were looking at him. His features twisted with frustration. “I will not speak,” he said. “I will not repeat anything I hear, I swear it. I think you know me better than that.”

  It was true. Julian was most trustworthy. Cole finally shrugged and looked at his father. “What did you wish to tell me?”

  Jax cleared his throat softly. “Do you not wish for wine and food first?”

  “Nay,” he said. “Why? Is it terrible?”

  Jax shrugged. “I suppose it will be disappointing, but it is not the end of the world.”

  “What is it?”

  Jax looked at him. “I saw Teviot tonight,” he said. “He spoke to me of Audrie.”

  Cole put a hand up quickly. “Stop right there,” he said, interrupting his father. “That is exactly what I wanted to speak to you about.”

  “What about her?”

  “I do not want to marry her, Papa.”

  Jax stared at him a moment before sitting back in his chair. “Interesting,” he said. “Because she does not wish to marry you, either.”

  Cole’s eyes widened. “She doesn’t?” he gasped. “Why?”

  “She’s evidently fallen in love with a son of Sunderland,” Jax said. “She wishes to marry another man and Teviot was very concerned that you would be upset by it.”

  Cole quickly got over his shock and shook his head emphatically. “I am not upset at all,” he said, “because I wish to marry another woman.”

  “You?” Julian piped up. “Get married?”

  Jax shushed his younger son. “Seal your lips,” he hissed before looking seriously at Cole. “What’s this? You truly wish to marry, Cole?”

  Cole nodded, a glimmer of mirth in his eyes. “I do,” he said. “I wish to marry Lady Corisande de Bourne, Alastor’s eldest daughter. I do not quite know where to start with this… one day, I met her and in the next, I was in love with her
. She loves me, too, and we wish to be married.”

  Both Jax and Julian were looking at Cole in shock. Julian’s mouth was actually hanging open. He looked at Jax, who was having difficulty processing everything – his career-oriented, emotional eldest son wanted to marry?

  He could hardly believe it.

  “But… when?” he finally said. “How? Is that why you went back to Castle Keld after I sent you to Alnwick?”

  Cole nodded. “I went back to see her,” he said. “I know this all sounds very strange coming from me, but I assure you, it is the truth. I have Alastor’s permission, but I needed to settle the situation with Audrie first. But now it looks as if there is nothing to settle. Corisande is a wonderful woman, Papa. I know you will love her as I do.”

  Across the table, Julian grinned and held out a hand to his brother. “Congratulations, Cole,” he said, grasping his arm and giving him a shake. “I could not be more pleased for you, truly. Is she beautiful with big breasts?”

  Jax side-eyed his lewd son. “You told us you were going to keep silent, Julian,” he said. “Shut your lips or leave the table. Your brother and I are speaking.”

  Julian picked up his cup and put it to his mouth, contrite. “If you are nasty to me, I shall tell Mother.”

  “If your threat is a real one, I will find the Northmen tomorrow and sell you to them,” Jax said, lifting an eyebrow. “You can spend the rest of your life rowing one of those longships as they throw fishbones at you.”

  Cole started laughing. “Leave him alone, Papa,” he said. “He is a foolish whelp, but he is our foolish whelp. Aye, she is beautiful, Julian. The most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.”

  As Julian looked pleased, Jax seemed to be more contemplative. He was still quite surprised by everything. As the serving wench came and brought more food and drink, his gaze lingered on Cole as the man gulped his wine and took a helping of bread.

  “Are you sure about this, lad?” Jax finally asked. “This seems rather sudden.”

  Cole shoved bread into his mouth. “I met her when we brought Canmore to The Keld,” he said. “Papa, she exhibited such courage that day. Canmore took her hostage and she was calm and composed… I suppose that was when I realized I was interested in her. She impressed me greatly and that admiration has only grown. She is also de Bourne’s surgeon and I have asked her to join us this evening for the meal.”

  Jax’s brow furrowed. “A surgeon?” he repeated. “A woman surgeon? She’s here?”

  Cole nodded. “She is,” he said. But he could see the disapproval in his father’s expression. “I know what you are thinking. I, too, am grossly opposed to a woman surgeon, but it was not my right to make her stay behind at The Keld. Alastor is her father and he wished for her to come. Evidently, her mother was also a surgeon. It seems to be a family tradition.”

  Jax clearly didn’t approve. “A woman surgeon,” he muttered. “It is reckless and irresponsible to bring a woman to battle.”

  Cole wasn’t sure what more to say about it, but he was saved when the door to the tavern lurched open and Atreus appeared. He came to the table in his usual congenial fashion and hugged Cole before sitting down next to the man. Julian shoved a cup of wine at him, but Cole was concerned now that they had yet another body at the table when he very much wanted the introduction between Corisande and his father to be something personal and intimate. With Atreus and Julian at the table, it was going to be baptism by fire for Corisande into the world of de Velt. Either she would accept the family or she’d run away screaming.

  The thought made Cole inwardly chuckle.

  More food and drink were brought to the table and the conversation moved to the battle on the morrow. More knights entered the tavern – Christopher and David de Lohr, Alexander, Kress and Achilles, Bric and Dashiell, all of them lumbering into the tavern in a big group. When they saw Jax, they kicked men out of a nearby table and pulled it up to Jax’s table, joining in so now there were at least eleven knights at the table, all of them talking over each and calling for food.

  Cole saw his opportunity for a nice, private introduction between his father and Corisande fly out the window. The Executioner Knights were now part of the de Velt party. The insults and laughter were coming fast and furious. He loved these men like brothers, but he very much wanted his nice little quiet supper with his father and Corisande to just be the three of them.

  But that wasn’t going to happen.

  Catching his father’s attention, he stood up and crooked his finger to the man.

  Curious, Jax obliged and followed his son up the stairs to the second floor of the tavern. There were five doors on the landing and Cole went to the one furthest from the stairs and rapped on the door. Jax started to speak but Cole held up a hand, begging him for patience, as the door finally opened.

  An exquisite blonde stood in the opening.

  “Papa,” Cole said, his eyes glimmering with warmth. “This is Lady Corisande. I do not think I want to introduce her to a table full of knights. It might be a little overwhelming for her, but I very much wanted you to meet her. Cori, this is my father, Ajax de Velt.”

  Corisande appeared a little startled by the surprise introduction, but she quickly dipped into a curtsy. “My lord,” she said. “It is an honor to meet you. My father has always spoken most highly of you.”

  Jax didn’t say anything for a moment. His gaze was lingering on Corisande and, after a moment, he reached out to gently take her hand.

  “You remind me of my wife when she was your age,” he said. “You have that same strong and lovely look about you.”

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  “My son tells me that you are a surgeon.”

  Corisande nodded. “I learned from my mother, who is no longer with us,” she said. “I have been my father’s surgeon for a few years now.”

  “And he always brings you on a battle march?”

  “The men have a better chance of surviving if I come, my lord. I am not afraid.”

  Jax just stood there and held her hand, his gaze studying her. “I can see that,” he said after a moment. “Cole tells me that he wishes to marry you.”

  That brought some surprise from Corisande, who looked at Cole before replying. “I… I wish to marry him, too,” she said. “My father will give his permission if the situation with Audrie de Longley is settled, my lord. Cole told me about it and as I explained to him, I have no wish to build my happiness on someone else’s sorrow. The situation must be resolved before I will marry him.”

  Jax fought off a grin as he kissed her hand and let it go. “Very noble, my lady. Most women do not care for another woman’s feelings when it comes to a husband.”

  Corisande shrugged. “I am not heartless,” she said. “A knight I was fond of left me for another lady years ago, too, and I will not do the same thing to someone else. It is a cruel thing to do.”

  “And if Lady Audrie insists on marrying Cole?”

  Corisande tried not to falter at the mere thought; Jax could see it. She took a deep breath and steeled herself. “I would be the heartbroken one,” she said steadily. “But I would understand. She had a claim with him long before he knew me.”

  Cole looked at his father, distressed that Jax would say such a thing to her when they both knew Audrie was already set to marry another man. But Jax had asked the question for a reason – Corisande’s answer would speak volumes of her character.

  He wanted to see what kind of woman wanted to marry his son.

  “A reasonable attitude,” he said after a moment. “But an unnecessary one. Lady Audrie’s father, the Earl of Teviot, is in the encampment with his men. He has sought me out this evening to tell me that his daughter wishes to marry another man, something I just told Cole without even knowing he wanted to marry you. But now, I shall tell you, too. Lady Audrie is no longer an obstacle to this union.”

  Corisande’s eyes widened. There was even a little glisten of tears as she looked at Cole, utter joy on her fa
ce. “Oh… my lord,” she breathed. “That is most welcome news.”

  Jax could see, as she looked at Cole, how much adoration she had for his son. That glowing expression told him a great deal about this woman his son wanted to marry. As a father, it touched him, for every parent wanted their child to have the love and admiration of a wife or a husband. It looked like Cole was going to be so blessed.

  Jax put a hand on Cole’s shoulder.

  “She is perfect for you,” he said. “You have my permission to marry her if she will have you.”

  A smile spread across Cole’s face. “Truly, Papa?”

  “Truly,” Jax said, looking between the pair. “In fact, I will go tell Alastor that the de Longley obstacle is removed and we may have a wedding as soon as he wishes.”

  With that, he turned and walked away, heading back down the stairs as Cole swept Corisande into a powerful embrace, one of joy and delight.

  The last Jax saw of them as he descended the stairs, they were locked in a passionate kiss.

  Jax grinned all the way back to the table.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The Scots were waiting for them.

  The battle for Berwick started at sunrise when the enormous English army, flying the standards of several powerful warring houses, approached Berwick from the southwest, over the fields slick with morning dew as a frosty mist hovered over them.

  Earl of Pembroke…

  Baron Blackadder…

  Earl of Hereford and Worcester…

  Earl of Teviot…

  Descendants of Bloodaxe, Lords of Bernicia…

  Earl of Savernake…

  Earl of Canterbury…

  House of de Winter…

  Great warring houses who brought hell and fire with them, unleashed just after dawn as the archers let loose and rained flaming bolts onto the Scots who had set up a defensive perimeter to prevent them from coming close to Berwick.

  The bolts flew before the siege engines began to let loose.

  Jax and Teviot brought two siege engines each, meaning there were four big catapults to use against the Scots, who had dug trenches. Not deep ones, unfortunately for them, but they’d been given enough notice of an approaching army that they’d been able to give themselves some protection from the coming storm.