Kingdom Come (52 page)

She looked up at him, squinting in the weak sunlight. “I think it’s safe to say he’s been kidnapped.”

“I do not doubt you.”

“So what are you going to do?”

Kieran paused, turning to look at her.  Rory’s gaze moved between her husband’s gem-clear brown eyes and Tevin’s bright green ones as he gazed at his mother.  She had to smile at the two relatively identical faces looking back at her.

“I must go to London to meet with Longchamp,” Kieran said, watching Rory smile at the baby.

She stopped smiling and looked up at him again. “I figured as much,” she muttered. “But don’t offer to pay the entire ransom, okay? Remember what we discussed.  The timeline of Richard’s release can’t be altered. If it is, there’s no telling how it will affect the future.”

“I am aware of our discussion on the subject.”

“So don’t go offering your entire fortune for the man’s release.”

“I will not offer all of my coinage.”

“Good.” Satisfied, Rory moved on to the next thing on her mind. “Can Tevin and I come?”

“Nay,” he said shortly.

“Why not?”

He sighed. “Because it is not safe for the baby to travel. You know this.”

Her features moved into the familiar pout. “But I don’t want to stay here without you.”

He gave her a very impatient look. “Libby, there are some things I must do without you. This is one of those things.”

She frowned terribly, averting her gaze and looking at her feet. Kieran watched her fidget angrily but, to her credit, she kept her mouth shut.  He felt himself softening.

“’Tis not as if I want to leave you or Tevin,” he said softly, reaching out to finger a tendril of her hair. “I never want to leave either of you. But it is far safer if you stay here. I must know that you are safe while I conduct business.”

She still wasn’t convinced. “You need to bring me,” she insisted. “I know what’s going to happen and you may need to consult with me about things. You know as well as I do that Richard’s situation can’t change until it’s meant to change. He can’t be released early or, God forbid, die too soon. We really need to keep a close watch of this situation or the world as I know it will change. Everything will change.”

He studied her a moment, digesting her words. “Then tell me,” he said quietly. “Tell me everything you know about the situation so that I may know it also.”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m going with you.”

He nodded as if he just understood her completely. “So you would use this information as leverage to get your way.”

Rory opened her mouth to argue with him but shut it almost immediately as she realized he was right.  She was doing exactly what he accused her of.  So she lowered her head, kicked at the dirt beneath her feet, and remained silent.   Kieran watched the top of her chestnut head, wound in a gorgeous bun at the nape of her neck, and began to feel himself relent further. 

“Sweetheart, I know that we have not been separated since the moment we met,” he said softly. “I understand your anxiety. I have a great deal of my own and I do not want to leave my wife and son. But you must understand that it is far more important to me that you remain at Southwell, safe, while I conduct business.  As much as I will long for you every day, I also know that my mind will be eased considerably knowing you are safe and knowing that we will see each other again very soon. Does that make any sense?”

She nodded, still staring at her feet.  But then she looked up at him, the hazel eyes moist and pleading. “We were returned to this time for a reason, Kieran,” she said softly. “I know we say that over and over, but it’s true. It’s not just that you were returned, but I was returned with you. Maybe my role in all of this is greater than yours simply because of the knowledge I have. It’s not that I don’t want you to go without me because I’ll be lonely without you or I just don’t want to be left behind. It’s because I feel like I have to. I need to.”

He gazed steadily at her. “You will not be lonely without me?”

She broke down into a grin. “You know what I mean,” she poked him in the arm. “And don’t change the subject. Why do you always assume it’s you with the biggest mission on earth and not me as well? Please, baby, I really need for you to think rationally about this and not just like a Medieval knight who’s trying to protect his lady.”

Tevin was beginning to fuss and Kieran, rather than hand him back to Rory, began to bounce the baby gently. It was clear that he was pondering her statement.

“If you go with me,” he finally said. “The baby must not come. I do not want to risk his life unnecessarily.”

Rory looked stricken. “I’m not leaving him. I can’t; I breast feed him.”

“Then it is more important for you to stay here with him.”

“But….”

Kieran cut her off. “You may go but he must stay. Make your choice.”

She pursed her lips in frustration. “You know my choice will be to stay with him.”

He simply shrugged, his bouncing increasing as the baby’s fussing grew louder. Rory watched the pair a moment before finally holding up her hands.

“Here,” she grumbled. “Give him to me. I have to feed him.”

Kieran kissed his son’s cheek and handed him over.  Without a word, Rory headed into the keep.  Kieran watched her disappear into the forebuilding as his brother came to stand next to him.  Together, they watched Rory’s shapely backside move from view.

“Did you tell her?” Sean asked quietly.

Kieran inhaled deeply, puffing his cheeks out as he turned to face his brother. “I told her of Richard’s disappearance,” he said. “She knows we must go to meet with Longchamp.”

“You did not tell her about the crown?”

Kieran shook his head slowly. “I did not tell her that I am taking the crown of thorns with me,” he said quietly. “She does not know that I intend to use it for Richard’s ransom.”

“We do not even know if he had been kidnapped. He could be lost or delayed somehow.”

Kieran fixed his brother in the eye. “Trust me when I say that the man has been kidnapped. A massive ransom demand will be forthcoming and I intend to offer the crown of thorns in exchange for his release.” He paused a moment, thinking on his wife, his son, the life they had come to know since returning to his time. “I have always wondered on the purpose that Rory and I were returned to my time. She and I have been over it innumerable times, attempting to determine why were brought back together.  I have always suspected it has something to do with the crown of thorns but to what extent was the mystery. And then it occurred to me; Richard will be kidnapped. From what my wife has told me, it took over a year to raise the money for his ransom and even then it was because his mother pawned the crown jewels.  Perhaps that is not necessary now; perhaps that is what this crown was meant for - to buy the freedom of a king. What could be more valuable than a holy relic?”

Sean didn’t doubt what his brother apparently knew.  “In exchange for the life of a king, I should think it would be a fair trade,” he said softly. “But the question remains; will your wife agree?”

Kieran lifted an eyebrow. “Agree or not, it is my decision. She will have to accept it.”

“Did you discuss it with her?”

“I did not. And you will not, either.”

Sean lifted an eyebrow. “Are you afraid she will prevent you from doing it?”

Kiernan lifted his shoulders. “She is fearful that anything I do will change the course of the future and, consequently, the world she knows. But my fears are for my world and the world I know. I want our children to grow up in a land that knows peace and prosperity. What I do, I do for Tevin and Eleanor, and for any other children to follow. I do this for our family.”

Sean sighed faintly; the concept of Rory being from the future and the amazing trip his brother had taken through time and history was still difficult for him to grasp even if he did believe it. “Perhaps you should discuss it with her nonetheless,” he suggested quietly. “She has proven to be wise and insightful.”

Kieran vacillated between a strong, husbandly stance and that of a submissive man. “My decision is made. She will simply have to go along with it.”

Sean cast him a long and doubtful glance.  One of Rory’s colloquialisms popped into his mind, something he understood from almost the moment she had said it months ago. It seemed particularly appropriate at this moment.

“Bullshit,” he snorted.

***

“A massive army departed Southwell three days ago.  They are heading for London.”

John sat in the great hall of Winchester Castle, a home that had belonged to the kings of England since being built at the time of the Norman invasion.  Surrounded by the luxury of the royals, he was crowded by the servants waiting for his command, the soldiers sworn to guard his hall, and the courtiers that hovered around him like giddy children.  But at this latest news, he leapt out of his chair, his dark eyes glittering at the scout he had sent to watch Southwell over three months ago. Finally, the news he had been waiting for had come.

“Did Kieran and his brother ride with the army?” he demanded.

The messenger nodded. “With my own eyes did I see them, Your Grace.  Sir Kieran Hage was at the head of the army.”

John clapped his dirty hands together. “He rides to Longchamp,” he said, his devious mind working furiously. He eyed the messenger in mid-thought. “A massive army, you say? How big?”

“Over a thousand at least, Your Grace.”

“Did you see Jeffrey?”

The messenger shook his head. “I only saw the four Hage brothers, plus a host of other knights, Your Grace,” he replied. “Sir Jeffrey was not among the warriors.”

John lifted an eyebrow. “You are certain of this?”

“Certain enough, Your Grace,” he replied. “As soon as the army left, the castle was locked down. I have no way of knowing how many men were left in the fortress considering the size of the army that left.  Southwell could not be manned by more than a few hundred.”

The prince digested that statement, turning back for the cushioned chair that sat close to the hearth.  He was as small man with a small mind and cold bones.  His hands turned into fists as he approached the chair, shaking them in the air and speaking to no one in particular.

“I have waited over a year for this moment,” he hissed, sinking against the cushions. “Kieran Hage has not left the safety of Southwell since January last.”

“His wife delivered a son in October, Your Grace,” one of his thin, badly-smelling courtiers put in.  “Our spies informed us that he would not leave her.”

John held up a finger. “But he has left her now,” he muttered thoughtfully. “He is going to see Longchamp regarding my brother. There could be no doubt. Together, they will undoubtedly try to determine the best way to ransom Richard.”

“Hage has more wealth than the crown, Your Grace,” the same courtier snorted. “He is undoubtedly bringing chests of gold to pay for the king’s release.”