Serpent (46 page)

“He caught me off guard,” William replied, which was the truth; Kieran
had
caught him off guard. “It nearly knocked me out. I have no idea what he did to de Norville and Hage, but when I came around, the prisoner was gone.”

Edward turned his furious gaze to Paris and Kieran. “And you two?” he growled. “Are you no better than weak squire
s letting that man beat you?”

Paris was sporting a black eye, a swollen nose, and a host of other injuries. “We fought,” he said, which was also the truth; he and Kieran
had
fought. “It was a struggle but it was a struggle we lost. I cannot explain better than that, Your Grace. Hage and I fought but the prisoner escaped us.”

Edward grunted in frustration and turned away.
Angry as he was, he couldn’t bring himself to punish these men, men he had grown up idolizing, but he certainly wanted to. De Wolfe in particular; there was something not right about this entire situation but he couldn’t put his finger on it. De Wolfe seemed almost stoic about the entire thing when he had been insane with anger the moment he’d pulled de Shera from the tent. He’d cooled down inordinately fast. It was odd behavior from the man and something to watch, Edward thought. After a moment of chewing over the circumstances, he turned to William.

“You did not kill him and
hide the body, did you?” he asked. “Are you afraid to tell me?”

William’s brow furrowed. “I would not be afraid to tell you in any event, but I did not kill him.”

“Swear it?”

“I do.”

“Then you should have gone after him right away. Why didn’t you?”

William
gave him a rather droll expression. “Because someone had to tell you what had happened,” he said. “If I had gone after him without telling you, you might have thought I had deserted you or, worse, aided him somehow. I cannot go after him in any case because you have kept me here since it happened. He is well away by now.”

Edward was in no mood for de Wolfe’s arrogance. His jaw began to tick. “It matters not,” he said, “for you and I have an understanding, do we not? You are going to ride to Rhydilian this day and demand that de Shera and your daughter turn
the castle over to me.”

William was slow to concur. “That is what we agreed to.”

Edward was increasingly interested in William’s odd behavior, now adding reluctance to that list. He studied the man for a moment, pondering the march on Rhydilian. After a moment, he turned away. “I have changed my mind about it.”

William
was on his guard. “What do you mean?”

Edward’s gaze was cold
when he turned to look at him. “Since you are evidently no longer effective as a warrior, as evidenced by the fact that you let de Shera escape from your custody, I will be riding with you to Rhydilian and together we will lay siege. I cannot say my faith in you is strong, de Wolfe. Now I must go with you to ensure that you carry out my orders.”

It was a great insult to William but he didn’t flinch. He had expected worse and if this was as bad as it was going to get, he considered himself lucky. Even if Edward rode with him to Rhydilian, there were still a hundred ways in which he could either sabotage or deter the king’s forces. Edward was correct not to trust him; he was, after all, The Wolfe and he was known for his cunning
. He would put that cunning to good use, now against the man who was attempting to destroy his daughter and her husband. Blood was stronger than a kingdom. After a moment, he simply nodded his head.

“As you wish, Your Grace,” he said evenly.

Edward didn’t like the fact that William wasn’t showing visible signs of distress. He hadn’t been all afternoon and it made him more suspicious than ever. This wasn’t the William he had known most of his life, the man who was full of fire and intelligence. This man seemed nearly apathetic. Eyes narrowed, he took a step towards the big knight.

“And know this,” he hissed. “If you in any way fail or betray
me, then I shall send an army to Castle Questing and burn it to the ground. I will destroy everything you have worked so hard for and I will cause your entire family to be destitute. You will be lucky if I do not throw them all in prison. Is this in any way unclear?”

All William could see was a grown man throwing a tantrum, although he knew that he meant what he said.
It made his task just a bit more difficult. He found that he was increasingly anxious to get away from the man because had to think clearly about what was about to happen. He knew he would not aid the king in laying siege; that was a given fact. It therefore stood to reason that he had to either prevent him or deter him somehow, but he was at a loss as to what, exactly, to do. But it would come to him; he was resolute in what he needed to do.

“It is clear, Your Grace,” he said. He very nearly sounded bored, unwilling to let himself be bullied. “When will we leave?”

Edward’s gaze lingered on him for a moment as if to emphasize his threat before finally averting his gaze.

“At dawn on the morrow,” he said. “You and your entire contingent will be ready.”

“We will indeed, Your Grace.”

“Good. Now, get out.”

William quit the tent in silence with Paris and Kieran behind him. No one said a word until they were well out of ear shot and even then, the trio remained quiet. They were marching across the mashed grass, heading for William’s encampment and his contingent of two hundred and fifty men. More were due in from Castle Questing and their ally, Northwood Castle, but they wouldn’t arrive for at least ten days at best. William wished he had over a thousand men at the moment but it couldn’t be helped. He had to utilize what he had.

Once they entered the perimeter of William’s camp, they were finally able to speak freely but William pulled them into his tent before he said a word
. Once inside the dark but comfortable quarters, he turned to his faithful friends.

“And so it comes,” he muttered. “Edward intends to march on Rhydilian tomorrow and I must accompany him.”

Paris was already reaching for the wine; he found he needed it. “What will you do?”

William sighed heavily. “I cannot let him destroy de Shera and Penny,” he said.
“I must do what I can in order to make it so that Edward is unsuccessful.”

Kieran sat on the nearest folding chair, listening to it creak under his weight. “How are you going to do that?” he wanted to know. “Do you plan to turn against him in the heat of battle?”

William fell silent. Paris handed him a cup of wine and he drank the entire thing in two swallows. Slowly, he claimed his chair, the one that always came with him whenever he traveled. It was a big chair, made from sturdy oak, with a collapsible frame. Like a man with much on his mind, he plopped into the chair as if he had been thrown into it. He was weary and he was distressed, and it showed.

“Nay,” he muttered. “I cannot do that. He would destroy us and then he would proceed to destroy Rhydilian. I think our best option might be the most distasteful one.”

“What is that?” Kieran asked.

William glanced up at his old friend. “We ride to Rhydilian tonight under the cover of darkness and
ask for them to abandon the castle,” he said softly. “When Edward arrives tomorrow, he will find a vacant castle that he can claim if he wishes. We take de Shera and Penny and return to Questing. Edward will have what he wants even if means de Shera must flee his home. It is the only way for him, and for Penny, to survive.”

“And if de Shera will not leave?” Paris asked the fatal question.

William turned to look at him. “What would you suggest?”

Paris sighed in a gesture that suggested remorse. “You will not like what I have to say.”

“Say it and be done.”

Paris nodded reluctantly. “Penny is your child, your flesh and blood, and she has
only been married to de Shera for a week,” he said. “If de Shera refuses to leave, then we take Penny and flee. Let the man face his fate alone; it is not her fate. It is his and his alone. Even if he is suicidal that does not mean she has to be. William, you cannot risk fifty years of a spotless reputation on an arrogant Welsh warlord who is nothing more to you than your daughter’s husband of one week. He is not even family; he is simply married to your daughter, and look what he is risking – Kevin, Edward, Thomas, and most of all, Penelope. Will you let that man’s arrogance cost your children their lives?  If de Shera will not abandon Rhydilian in the face of Edward’s onslaught, then you must think of yourself and your family first. Take Penny and leave as quickly as you can.”

He had a point
. William didn’t like his advice but he knew, deep down, that the man was more than likely correct. “It is the coward’s way,” he muttered.

“So you would rather be a
brave dead man that a living coward?” Paris shot back softly. “It is not cowardly; it is sensible. You are letting Bhrodi de Shera take away everything you have ever worked for, William. You are letting him take away your honor. Do not let him do it!”

He was right. William didn’t have the strength to fight any longer. He simply wanted to get his daughter and go back to Questing where he belonged. He didn’t belong in Wales
fighting other men’s wars; he wanted to go home to his wife and children and grandchildren. Aye, that was where he belonged. After several pensive moments, he looked at Kieran.

“Is that what you think, too?” he asked.

Kieran nodded faintly. “De Shera nearly cost me my son,” he said. “I am not entirely sure I can forgive him. Paris is right; do not let that arrogant Welshman cost us everything.”

William didn’t intend to
. Shortly after midnight, William’s group silently slipped from Edward’s encampment under the cover of darkness. He knew that Edward had spies about and he fully expected the king to be notified. Edward, thinking William was betraying him, would move swiftly to follow.

With that in mind, William and his men rode like the wind in their quest to reach Rhydilian before Edward caught up with them.

It was the most anxious ride of his life.

⌘

“Penny,” came the hiss in her ear. “Penny, wake up!”

Penelope was so exhausted that it took two more hisses and a shake before she opened her eyes. When she did, the room was dark and a shadowy figure was looming over her. Startled out of a deep sleep, Penelope threw a fist up and caught the figure in the throat. He stumbled back, coughing.

“’Tis me!” Thomas hissed, louder.
“Stop hitting!”

Penelope had rolled out of bed and was preparing to throw another punch but stopped short when her brother slapped her hand down
. Shaken, she rubbed a weary hand over her eyes.

“I am sorry,” she whispered. “I could not see who it was.”

Thomas grabbed her by the wrist and began pulling her towards the chamber door. “An assassin would not have awoken you before finishing his task, little sister,” he said flatly. “You must come with me now. It is important.”

They were already through the chamber door and she pulled her wrist from his grip to shut the old wooden panel softly behind them
. When the latch on the door clicked, she looked curiously at her brother. “What time is it?”

“Dawn is an hour or so away.”

“Then what is the matter?” she asked.

Thomas’ expression was grim. “Kevin has returned.”

Penelope’s eyes widened. Before Thomas could draw another breath, she was racing down the narrow stairs that led to the entry level. When she hit bottom, she could hear soft voices off to her left in the hall beyond and as she ran into the hall, she could see Kevin and Edward illuminated by the soft firelight. She could hardly believe her eyes.

“Kevin!” she gasped. “You
have come back!”

Kevin, seated at the feasting table, turned in time to see Penelope rush up to him
. In her excitement, she threw her arms around his neck and squeezed, just as she would have if it had been one of her brothers or any of her cousins. She was simply glad to see the man after everything that had happened and was demonstrating that relief.

But to Kevin, it was nothing short of heaven; he knew it was an innocent hug in a long line of many innocent hugs he had received from her during the course of their lives. He
always wished the hugs had meant more than they did, and this one in particular. But that was his lot in love, in love with a woman who did not return that love. Still, he was very glad to see her, too.

“Aye, I have returned,” he said as she released him. “I have much to tell.”

Penelope sat down across the table from him, wide-eyed and apprehensive. She barely noticed that, behind Kevin, the door to the old wardrobe was open and the tiny old man was doing his dance of death back in the shadows. As the old man battled ghosts in the background, now a normal occurrence every time they were in the feasting hall, Penelope looked Kevin up and down.

“
Is it true?” she asked. “Were you captured?”

“Aye.”

“They did not hurt you, did they?”

He shook his head. “Nay.”

“Did my father free you, then?”

Kevin nodded. “Your father, my father, and Uncle Paris found me in King Edward’s tent in the midst of being interrogated,” he said. Then, he shook his head with a smirk on his lips. “If you only could have seen them; Edward thought I was Bhrodi since I was wearing Coventry’s armor
. Your father charged in and started to beat me, trying to convince Edward that I was, in fact, de Shera and that I had shamed him by leading a raid. Edward let him remove me but then your father helped me to escape. I cannot even imagine how upset Edward is at your father at this moment, but that is not the worst of it.”

Penelope was looking at him with horror. “What else has happened?”

Kevin looked at her, his expression grim. “Your father said that Edward wants Rhydilian,” he said, his voice low so gossipy servants or soldiers would not hear him. “He told me to come back to Rhydilian and prepare. He further told me that he would be joining us shortly. Penny, when Edward comes to lay siege to Rhydilian, your father will be here to defend it. He is fighting against the king.”

Penelope
stared at him a moment, her disbelief evident. Her hands flew to her mouth as if to hold in the gasp of horror and over in the shadows, the crazy old man came to a complete halt and stood flush up against the wall as if to hide. No one even noticed that perhaps he was waiting for Coventry’s armor to be returned to the wardrobe, or perhaps he was even listening to the conversation. It was difficult to know. Even so, no one paid attention to him, least of all Penelope. She was wracked with dread for her father.

“He
cannot,
” she hissed. “If he does, everything he has ever achieved in his life will be finished. He will lose Questing and his titles. My family will become fugitives from the crown. Kevin, he cannot do this!”

Kevin sighed heavily; he was battered, bloodied, and exhausted but he was not beaten
. He was fully prepared to defend those he loved until the death and that included siding with William de Wolfe who was now evidently a traitor. He still couldn’t believe it.

“I know,” he muttered. “But he is nonetheless and my father and Uncle Paris will be at his side. I suppose it is fitting; they have all fought together for so long that if one goes down, the others will go with him.”

Penelope was in a panic. She stood up, motioning to the knights as she moved. “Come with me,” she said. “Bhrodi must know what is happening.”

She fled the hall and rushed up the stairs. She could hear the
bootfalls of the knights behind her as she hit the landing on the third floor and opened the master chamber’s door. She held out a hand to the men behind her to hold quiet as she awoke her husband, but as she bent down to rouse him she realized his eyes were open and he was looking at her.

“It sounds as if a herd of wild horses has run into this room,” he said, his voice hoarse and sleepy. “What is happening?”

Penelope knelt down beside the bed as the others crowded close. “Kevin has returned,” she said. “He has brought much news with him. You must hear it.”

Bhrodi
wasn’t feeling particularly well; the slight fever he’d had for most of the day had grown worse and now his eyeballs hurt because they were so hot. The old surgeon was concerned about it and had him drinking his rotten brew every few hours to keep it under control. Still, his mind was also foggy with cobwebs and he struggled to clear it as he focused on Hage; the man looked as if he’d been in a row or two. Bhrodi was frankly surprised to see him.

“
I was told you rode to battle in my father’s armor,” he said. “I am rather surprised to see that you are not Edward’s prisoner. The entire English army must have been aiming for you.”

Kevin lifted an eyebrow
. “That is an understatement,” he said. “I am sure you will not be shocked to know that I was Edward’s prisoner for a time, but de Wolfe was able to help me escape.”

Bhrodi
nodded in understanding, studying the man for a moment. “How did Edward treat you?”

“Surprisingly well but, like most Englishmen, he was unhappy to see me… or you, as it were.”

Bhrodi gave him a half-grin. “How was it to assume my identity, then?”

Kevin shook his head. “I did not like it,” he said. “Too many people are out to kill you.”

“Including Edward?”

“Especially Edward.”

As Kevin and Bhrodi grinned at each other in an expected moment of levity, Penelope captured Bhrodi’s attention.

“That is what we must speak to you about,” she said. “My father told Kevin that Edward plans to lay siege to Rhydilian. Bhrodi, that is why my father told me he was coming here; he intends to help defend Rhydilian against Edward’s onslaught. He intends to fight for you!”

Bhrodi could see how much it distressed her and he thought back to that time when they first met when he had told her of his reasons for marrying her. It had been because he wanted The Wolfe on his side. Now that it was about to become reality, he wasn’t so sure he liked it. Like Penelope, he was well aware of the implications should de Wolfe side with him. William de Wolfe had done so much for them; he had saved Bhrodi’s life as well as Penelope’s and even Kevin’s. Now, the man was about to lay his entire reputation on the line in his resistance to Edward’s army. Bhrodi wasn’t entirely sure he could let that happen. He sighed heavily.

“Do we know this for certain?” he asked. “Do we know that Edward is truly coming to lay siege to Rhydilian?”

Kevin nodded. “William said that he was,” he replied. “As far as I am concerned, that is as good as Edward himself telling me of his plans.”

Bhrodi accepted it as truth
. He had always known at some point that Edward would come for him again after that disastrous attempt back in December. Now, he had more of an army behind him and although it would take time to ferry them across the strait, he was very capable of laying siege to Rhydilian. Only now there were no Welsh armies to stand between him and the rest of Anglesey; all of Bhrodi’s vassals were either with Dafydd or dead. Hardly any remained in Anglesey. Aye, Bhrodi had been waiting for this moment most of his life. He knew what needed to be done.

“Get me up,” he grunted, trying to sit up. “We have much work to do.”

Penelope put her hands on his shoulders, pushing him down. “Are you mad?” she demanded. “You cannot get out of bed! You are badly injured!”

Bhrodi was trying to push her out of the way in his attempt to rise. “It does not matter,” he said, his voice tight with pain. “Edward will not get my castle.”

Penelope would not be shoved away; she thrust herself forward and pushed him down with her hands against his chest. Lacking even basic strength, Bhrodi went down easily. He looked up to see a very angry wife in his face.

“Listen to me,” she hissed. “You cannot leave this bed and if I have to sit on you to ensure that you remain here, I most certainly will. You are too wounded to do any good with your sword but you are not too wounded to command. Your mind is sound. Therefore, you will tell us what needs to be done and we will do it
. Do you understand? We will be your eyes and arms and legs, Bhrodi. Just tell us what you need for us to do and we will.”

Bhrodi looked at his wife; she was hard with determination
.
She’s a warrior
, he reminded himself. She was very capable of following orders. He struggled with the alien concept of not being able to personally direct the defenses of Rhydilian but as he looked around his bed, he could see good men standing there  - Kevin, who had already risked so much, Edward who was very seasoned and capable, and Thomas, who was young and as strong as a bull. Aye, he had a powerful group of warriors. But the inactivity was surely going to kill him.

“Where are my
teulu
?” he asked Penelope.

She didn’t seem to know and Thomas went in search of them. As the young knight quit the room, Bhrodi reached up and stroked her soft cheek.

“We will wait for my commanders,” he said quietly. “I have much to say and they must hear it.”

Penelope understood. “Gwyllim said that Ianto made it back from England but we do not know about Ivor,” she said. “And Yestin… well, he did not come with us at all. He did not want to follow me, I suppose.”

Bhrodi patted her arm. “Yestin is like a dog with only one master,” he said. “He will more than likely only follow me, ever. You must not be discouraged by this. You were able to convince nearly every man in my command to follow you and that says something for your skill as a commander. Do you know how many men made it back to Rhydilian?”

Penelope looked at Edward, who had been assigned the task of accounting for the returning men. “
We left the castle with one hundred and eighty-one men,” Edward said. “As of an hour ago, ninety-seven have returned.”

“Did Ivor return?”

Edward shook his head. “Nay.”

That concerned Bhrodi greatly but he didn’t dwell on it; he couldn’t. He had too much on his mind
. “If de Wolfe is on his way, how many men is he bringing?”

Again, Edward shook his head. “I have no way of knowing,” he replied. “My father took over three hundred men with him when he
went to find the king in Wales but that was before many battles that he participated in. There is truly no way of knowing how many he retains.”

Bhrodi digested the information.
“Rhydilian is extremely defensible by only a few good men,” he said. “Its position atop the mountain and the sharp cliffs around it make it perfect. If Edward comes, his only manner of approach is the road that leads to Rhydilian; he cannot come at us from any other angle, and the gatehouse is nearly impenetrable.”

Kevin had been listening to the boast. “He will bring men to build ladders with which to mount the walls, and Rhydilian’s walls are not so tall that they cannot be mounted,” he said
. “If he has enough time, he will also build siege engines and there is plenty of lumber around here with which to build them. He’ll have all the time in the world to mount his defense while we sit here and wait for him to capture us.”