The Falls of Erith (44 page)

“My
lords,” Dallas said to the general group dismounting their expensive chargers.
“I am Sir Dallas Aston, Sir Braxton’s second in command.”

Thomas
turned to the young knight, inspecting the man just as he had inspected the
keep; the blue-green eyes missed nothing, as sharp as a hawk.

“Where
is my son?” he asked, removing his mail gloves.

Dallas
could immediately see the resemblance between father and son. “He will join you
shortly,” he replied. “He asks that I escort you to the banqueting hall.”

Thomas
grunted, perhaps in disapproval that his son had not been in the ward to greet
him, but kept silent on the matter. Leaving de Aughton and his three grandsons
in charge of settling the men, he tossed his mail gloves back onto his saddle
as he began to follow Dallas across the bailey and towards the newly re-built
stairs that led to the keep.  It had taken twenty men less than a day to build
the flight, which was far sturdier than the original stairs. 

The
rest of the men were concentrated on building three enormous mangonels, great
monstrous sling-shot devices that were positioned in the inner bailey at
regular intervals.   Erith Castle was built so that the north and west walls
were facing a mountainous crag and between the crag and the outerwalls were big
ditches that had been dug long ago.  Great boulders and remnants of obstacles
remained in the ditch,  and a military approach from those sides was not the
wisest of choices.  There were too many obstacles and pitfalls, making the
going treacherous. 

Therefore,
the best manner in which to approach Erith was on her south and east sides
where the ground was more level.  There was still a big ditch, partially filled
with great jutting boulders and swampy water, but it made for a better tactical
approach.   Based on this, and the fact that Gloucester had come from the
south, Braxton had the three mangonels covering the south and west walls.

Men
were building furiously and gathering their supply of crude oil in great
barrels.  They also had a huge supply of quick lime, sulpher and salt peter
from one of Braxton’s enormous supply wagons, creating incendiary devices that
they intended to shoot at the enemy.  Braxton de Nerra was, if nothing else,
legendary for his military cunning and tactics. As Thomas, Robert, Davis and
Steven de Nerra watched the extremely precise placement and planning of the
defenses, Braxton suddenly appeared at the top of the keep’s stairs.

Davis
was the first one to notice him and he suddenly bellowed like a madman,
charging up the stairs and grabbing his youngest brother around the waist.  He
lifted Braxton up, shaking the man as if to shake him to death.  Laughing,
Braxton clipped his brother on the Adam’s apple and was promptly dropped.

Robert
and Steven practically shoved their father aside to get to Braxton.  The
brothers came together in a clash of joy and affection, handshakes and
brotherly hugs going all around until Thomas pushed his way in.

“Braxton,”
he demanded in a very fatherly-way. “What goes on at this place? What are you
doing?”

He
was pointing to the mangonels. Braxton went to his father, taking the man’s
hand affectionately; it had been years since he’d seen the man, now much older
than he had remembered.   He let his gaze linger on the man fondly.

“It
is good to see you, too, Father,” he said.

Thomas
grunted; he’d never been particularly affectionate with his boys but they all
adored him and he adored them. Especially Braxton; the man resembled his mother
to a fault, the fair Regan, and Thomas was very fond of his youngest.  Braxton
had always been the strong one, the brilliant one, something that Thomas had
missed a great deal when the man had decided not to remain at Black Fell.  But
he respected his decision, or at least he had until Northumberland send the missive
regarding Lady Gray Serroux.   Thomas gazed into his son’s eyes, so full of
wisdom and life, and finally relented to the emotions with a pat to his son’s
rough cheek.

“You
look well enough,” Thomas said; it was as close to an affectionate greeting as he
could get.  Uncomfortable with the emotions he was feeling, he pointed at the
mangonel again. “What is all of this?”

Braxton
lifted an eyebrow, looking out over the inner bailey and his three big war
machines.

“We
are preparing for Gloucester’s arrival,” he turned back to his father. “Did de
Aughton not tell you everything?”

Thomas
nodded. “He told me that you are having some difficulty with Gloucester.”

Braxton
lifted an eyebrow. “Difficulty indeed. The man is trying to kill me.”

Thomas
slapped him on the shoulder and turned him for the entry. “Take me inside and
feed me. We will speak more of this inside.”

Braxton
did as he was told.  His brothers brought up the rear, inspecting Erith’s keep
as it opened up into a two-storied banqueting hall.  Due to Braxton’s money and
the on-going repairs, it looked far better than it had in years, including a
roaring fire in the enormous hearth.    Robert made his way up to Braxton, a
big, gnarled hand on Braxton’s shoulder as they walked.

“So
tell me of your acquisition, Braxton,” he said. “Erith Castle used to belong to
de Montfort years ago.  How did you come by it?”

Braxton
looked at his brother. “I did not ‘come by it’,” he said. “I married it.”

“And
that is something else!” Thomas suddenly barked. “What is this we hear about
you taking a wife? Why did I have to hear about it from another?”

They
had moved through the small entry and passed under the great Norman arch that
led into the banqueting hall.  Just as Thomas boomed his question, an exquisite
woman suddenly appeared from the alcove near the kitchen entrance. Dressed in a
lovely green surcoat, she had a big earthenware pitcher in her hand. All four
men suddenly came to a halt, fixed on the blond beauty with the angelic
features.  Braxton, fighting off a grin at their astonishment, went to his
wife.

“Gentlemen,”
he put his arm around Gray’s shoulders and pulled her before his family. “This
is my wife, the Lady Gray de Montfort de Nerra.  Gray, this is my father,
Thomas, and my brothers Robert, Davis and Steven.”

The
men were staring at her with some shock and Gray smiled politely, looking into
faces that faintly resembled her husband to varying degrees.

“My
lords,” she said in her soft, sultry voice.  “Welcome to Erith. I am so pleased
to meet you all.”

Robert
was the first one to push forward and take her hand. “Lady de Nerra,” he said
politely. “You have little concept of just how thrilled we are to meet you.  We
had no idea that Braxton had taken a wife and already I can see that you are
far too good for him.”

Gray
smiled sweetly at her husband before returning her focus to his brothers. “I am
the fortunate one,” she said, then indicated the banqueting table, which was
laden with several dishes and great pitchers of wine. “Will you please sit? Let
us become acquainted.”

Braxton
took the pitcher from her and set it on the table as his brothers and father
began commandeering seats.  Braxton helped Gray to sit down opposite his
father, taking his seat beside her while Davis tried to sit on her opposite
side. But Steven slapped Davis on the head and yanked him out of the way,
taking the seat for himself.  Dejected, Davis plopped his big body on the table
top and tore into a huge loaf of white bread.

Braxton
poured his father a cup of wine before serving Gray and them himself.  Robert,
seated across the table next to Thomas, poured himself a cup also. 

“We
have not seen Braxton in several years,” Robert said, passing the pitcher to
his father. “Much has changed with him. I never thought I would see the day
when he would settle in one place.”

Braxton
has his arm around Gray. “I still have not settled in one place,” he told his
brother. “Erith does not actually belong to me; it belongs to my daughter and
her husband.”

The
de Nerra brothers looked doubly shocked for the second time that day.  Thomas’
bushy blond eyebrows lifted. “A daughter?” he sputtered. “What daughter?”

Braxton
and Gray laughed softly. “My wife’s daughter, the Lady Brooke,” Braxton
replied. “You should see her; as beautiful as a new spring morning.”

“And
her husband?” Thomas demanded.

“The
knight who greeted you in the ward, Sir Dallas,” he replied, catching sight of
the Dallas as the man entered the keep. “Ah, here he comes now.  I suppose you
could say that he is your grandson.”

Thomas’
expression was one of shock and outrage as Dallas approached the table, but the
old man’s expression didn’t hold for long as Braxton formally introduced Dallas
to his new family.   Dallas projected a strong, well-spoken and intelligent
demeanor as he took his seat next to Braxton and Braxton realized that he was
very proud of the man.  Their relationship had changed since he had married
Brooke and now Braxton took pride in him as a son and not just a knight in his
service.  It was a pleasing awareness.

Thomas
and the brothers couldn’t decide whether to focus on Gray or on Dallas; there
was too much information coming forth and they were understandably befuddled.
But Robert kept his head in the face of all of the new information; he remained
focused on Gray, his new sister, simply because she was much prettier than
Dallas. He wanted the chance to know her.

“Your
family is de Montfort, Lady Gray?” he sipped at his wine. “’Tis a distinguished
heritage you bear.”

Gray
smiled faintly. “It is kind of you to say so,” she replied. “Not many do.”

Robert
cocked an eyebrow. “I have always admired Simon de Montfort.  There are many
who do in spite of the general opinion of his actions.”

Gray
again smiled her thanks, not sure what more to say as Braxton came to her
rescue. In fact, he came straight to the point of his father and brothers’
visit.

“Speaking
of de Montfort,” he said to her. “You will not believe why my father is here.
Your mother has apparently sent him to save you from me.”

Gray’s
eyebrows flew up. “Save me?” she looked confused. “What are you talking about?”

He
grinned, taking her hand and toying with her fingers. “Your mother evidently
made it back to Northumbria, whereupon she asked the Earl of Northumbria, Yves
de Vesci, to send help back to Erith to save her daughter from the clutches of
the horrible mercenary Braxton de Nerra.  My father, being a vassal of
Northumbria, was asked to come and intervene.”

Gray
looked at him as if he was mad.  Then her gaze moved to Thomas, to Robert and
Steven, shocked by the circumstance of their appearance.   Her wide-open gaze
ended up back on Thomas.

“Is
this true?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thomas
nodded slowly, studying Gray just as she was studying him; he was trying to
discern if the woman really was in danger from his son but, so far, all he
could see between them was great happiness.

“It
is,” he replied. “Is my son holding you against your will?”

“Absolutely
not!”

“Did
he force you into marriage?”

“He
did no such thing!”

“Then
why would your mother say such things?”

Gray’s
face began to turn shades of red. “Because my mother is a miserable, deceitful
person who cannot stomach the fact that my daughter and I are no longer under
her control,” she hissed. “She has used lies and manipulation to gain her wants
and even now, she continues to cause trouble.   The army that attacked Erith
two days ago was a direct result of my mother’s underhanded actions.  She has
done all she can to try and destroy me, and Braxton, and your presence here
shows me that she is still trying.”

Thomas
remained calm, although he believed her explanation completely. He didn’t sense
any fear or treachery from the woman in the least.

“Why
is Gloucester here to destroy you?” he wanted to know.

Gray
told him everything she knew, followed by Braxton elaborating on the more
critical issues.  They heard of Constance’s lies against Braxton, of her
attempt to sell Brooke’s hand to the highest bidder, and of Braxton’s solution
to marry off both Gray and Brooke so that Constance could no longer control them. 
Thomas, Robert, Steven and Davis sat quietly through the explanation, drinking
their wine and feasting on warmed over venison and bread.  

Braxton
finished his tale with the deaths of Roger and William de Clare, bringing them
up to date on everything that had happened, and Thomas poured himself another
cup and drank the entire thing in two swallows.  It was evident that he felt
the situation was indeed dire. Robert and Braxton exchanged concerned glances
as Thomas seemed to lose himself in deep thought and another cup of wine. 
Finally, the man stirred back to life.

“Then
it would seem that we have a problem,” Thomas finally said. “I cannot leave
here with Gloucester an impending threat, but Gloucester is a strong ally of
Northumberland.  If I fight Gloucester, then I will do great damage to that
alliance.”