One True Knight (The Knights of Honor Trilogy) (30 page)

A sense of panic engulfed her, and without thinking about the consequences of her actions, she sunk her teeth into his flesh, feeling a momentary satisfaction when he let out a stifled cry. He squeezed her waist harder, making her whimper. “Try that again,” he said through gritted teeth, “And you will not like what I do to you.”

“Release her!” Jonathan shouted, his voice booming across the overgrown garden. The few trees mixed with the thick shrubbery that surrounded the area added to the visual mess.

Raulf looked up and upon seeing Jonathan, he gave a nasty laugh. “Hello again,
brother
,” he said. “I was just expecting you. This time I’m much more prepared to see you.”

He made a gesture with his hand, and a dozen guards emerged from the underbrush, their faces reflecting hunger but it wasn’t for food.

“Let Rowena go and we can talk.” Jonathan took a step forward.

“Stay back!” Raulf said. Rowena took in a sharp breath as he reached down, pulling out a dagger from his belt. He positioned it at her navel. “That is as far as you go. We can talk at this distance.”

Jonathan stopped, acutely aware of Rowena’s precarious situation, but his face betrayed no fear, no emotion. “You’re wasting your time with her. The fight is between you and me. Rowena has nothing to do with us.”

“She has nothing to do with me,” Raulf said, his eyes blazing. “But she has
everything
to do with you.”

Rowena looked at Jonathan, her body frozen with fear.

“Do you think that I’m stupid?” Raulf continued as if Jonathan had responded to his question. “I can see that you care for her. And she —” he sneered, “she could have spared herself all of this trouble if she chose me over you. So now she’ll play her part in the bargain. But there is one other thing that I want to add, just to make things even more exciting.”

Raulf turned his head, and addressed one of the guards in a low voice, “You have him?”

“Aye, sire.”

Raulf beckoned for the guard to come forward. The knight dragged an older man, and tossed him on the ground in front of them.

The beaten man rolled over and moaned. One eye was swollen shut, and his tunic was torn to shreds. Rowena took a closer look at the man and gasped. “Father!” she cried.

She tried to go to her father’s aide but Raulf held her fast. “You stay where you are, my lady,” he said.

All that Jonathan could do was watch Rowena’s ashen face, and pretend that her stricken expression didn’t affect him. He knew that if he displayed any emotion, she would be harmed. The one thing to do was to keep him talking while he figured out a way to free her and her father. “Why is Sir Philip here? He is supposed to be at Airndale defending an attack.”

“‘Twas a ploy,” Raulf’s mocking voice said across the clearing. “I hired the messenger boy to send word about the
attack
on Airndale. And like a predictable fool, old Sir Philip fell for the ruse. My men captured him while he slept.” He laughed. “His men are likely scratching their heads wondering where he went. And when they arrive at Airndale, they will discover that they have been deceived.”

“You will pay for this grievous insult,” her father said, trying to get up onto his knees. “I will see to it myself.”

Raulf smirked. “I doubt that,” he said. He turned to the guard. “Roland, tie him to that tree. He can have a front view of the execution of his daughter and his new son-in-law.”

The guard moved to do as he was told and for a brief moment, he looked over at Jonathan and caught his eye.

“Roland,” Jonathan said, his voice filled with contempt. “So it was true. I didn’t want to believe it, not after all that I’ve done for you — given you protection, treating you like a brother, but here you are on the other side. How could you betray me like this?” His voice hardened. “Raulf must have offered you quite at few silver coins for that shiny new armor that you’re wearing. Was it all worth it, Roland?”

The guard broke away from the eye contact, and looked at the rope in his hands as if it was a foreign object. “I had no choice,” he said gruffly.

“Nay, he had a choice,” Raulf’s hateful voice cut in. “It was either I kill his wife and child, or he could help me. And of course he chose the latter.” He laughed. “I’m sure the promise of coins made the decision to betray you even easier. ‘Tis amazing, if you know your enemy’s weakness, you can exploit it to your advantage. And as you can see, it proved very useful to have one of your trusted men counsel me on your every move, your every course of action.”

“So that is how you found me all those years. You used this wretched traitor.”

“Aye, you’ve taught him well in the art of stealth. He was instrumental in my plot, and did a beautiful job, I might add, in incapacitating Sir Philip’s young knight. All has gone according to my plan, and now all that is left is to bring you to your knees.”

Jonathan saw out of the corner of his eyes that a dozen of his own knights had arrived and were standing behind Gareth, waiting for a signal from him to strike. The other guards that he stationed throughout the castle were no where to be seen. “What have you done with my castle guards?”

“They’re still around — the few who decided to join me, that is. The others who have refused were either killed or locked up in the dungeon.” He lowered his voice, his tone turning conspiratorial. “Can you imagine? They believe that you’re going to save them.”

“What do you want from me?” Jonathan asked calmly.

“What do I want from you?” Raulf said, his voice rising in anger. “I want your life.” He looked at Jonathan with hate filled eyes. “All these years I spent fortifying Blackburn, making sure that it was well protected from the many enemies that salivate over these lands. I did everything that Richard asked of me.” He spat on the ground. “And in all that time he never acknowledged me as his son. I was treated like a servant, forever at his beck and call. Even on his death bed, he refused to acknowledge me. And he served me a final kick in the face when he gave everything to you — the land, the title — everything! And all I got was a paltry sack of coins.”

“Aye, one sack of coins,” he continued bitterly. He kicked hard at a rock near his foot. “Those coins cannot begin to repay me for the years of service I gave him. I know I deserve more. So you ask — what is it that I want from you? I want you to forfeit the demesne — all of it — to me. And in exchange I will spare the lives of your whore and her worthless father.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then they will end up with the same fate as the rest of your pathetic family,” he said with relish.

“My family?” Jonathan repeated. He began to feel sick to his stomach.

Raulf twisted his lips in a secret smile as if he was recollecting what had happened. The hand holding the knife slackened against Rowena’s body, but she was clever enough not to move. “If you must know, I had no love for Lady Beatrice,” he said, making a face as if he smelled something rank.

“My mother…” Jonathan said faintly as the knowledge sunk in. “You killed my mother.”

“Aye, your mother. She was the one who knew the truth about my birth, yet she made everyone believe that I was a poor orphan that Richard had taken in.” Raulf shrugged. “She hated me as much as I hated her so she had to die. Now with Richard —”

“You killed him too,” Jonathan said, finishing for him.

Raulf smirked. “Aye, I had a hand in quickening his demise. He had the sweating sickness, and was going to die anyway. I did him a favor by adding poison to his wine. You might even thank me for killing the old tyrant, because he was the one who wanted Amelia dead in the first place.”

“You lie,” Jonathan said.

“I’m a killer but not a liar,” he responded. “Richard was livid when he learned that you were marrying the daughter of his sworn enemy. He asked
me
to kill her, and in return I could have anything I wanted. I agreed to do it too — for a price, but then I fell in love with her.” A shadow crossed his face. “I had gone to her bed chamber that night to convince her to leave you, and marry me instead. She wasn’t supposed to die. Perhaps she would still be alive today had she not screamed when you burst into her chamber.” He clenched his jaw. “In the end, I hold you to blame for her death.”

The bile was rising to Jonathan’s throat as he listened to Raulf. His father’s confession…the Grey Knight…He could feel his heart racing, his mind reeling as all the pieces came together. He had never thought Richard was evil enough to commission an innocent woman’s death. And the fact that he was murdered gave Jonathan small satisfaction. But Raulf…”All these years I’ve been searching for the Grey Knight, and it was you all along,” he said. His voice was devoid of emotion even as the sword in his hand tightened.

Raulf gave a manic laugh. “Congratulations, you’ve finally figured things out! It took you over ten years to discover the truth. You don’t know how many times I wanted to tell you,” he continued, laughing. “I sent so many clues your way and led you on a merry chase across the countryside, but I always came just short of revealing my identity. In truth, I just wanted to see you squirm, struggle, and suffer just like I had. And to see your face now,” he bared his yellow teeth, “it was worth the wait.”

“I have never caused you harm,” Jonathan said, his voice strangely calm.

“Nay, you haven’t harmed me physically,” Raulf admitted. “The harm occurred the day you were born. You had everything and I had nothing. I wanted to inflict some hardship, some pain into your perfect life.” His face flushed and he looked as if he was a child that had a toy taken away from him.

Jonathan expected to find fury brewing in his chest at discovering the identity of the Grey Knight, but instead he felt…nothing. “You led a life that was unjust, yet you chose the path of a killer,” he said slowly. “Richard may have asked you to kill Amelia but you didn’t have to agree, and you didn’t have to end her life. And those people…you could have spared those innocent people…”

Rauf shrugged. “Not all of them were innocent. But the ones connected to you made the killing all the more satisfying. And I’ll kill this one too if you don’t agree to my terms,” he said as he wrapped his free arm tighter around Rowena’s waist. He smirked at Jonathan as she let out an involuntary gasp. “Unfortunately the other times I didn’t have the pleasure of having your audience. But if I don’t get what I want, I’ll make sure you’ll have audience to
this
execution.”

Jonathan flicked an alarmed glance at Rowena, and any sympathy he felt for Raulf was gone when he saw her white face. Anger ignited in him once again. He gripped his sword tighter, suddenly wanting to swing the heavy sword and silence him for good. The only thing stopping him was his inbred sense of honor. “You’re a bastard,” Jonathan said.

“Aye, you are right on that account,” Raulf said harshly. “I am the bastard son of Richard, aren’t I? Most bastards don’t get their due. When Amelia died, I approached Richard for my payment — to be officially declared his son, but he refused to do it.”

“No one told me that Richard had another son.”

“Of course not,” Raulf hissed. “You were too blind and too stupid to notice. But that can’t be helped. Good fortune has followed you since your birth. You were wrapped up in your perfect life.” He twisted his face in disgust. “And your mother made it a point to keep you in the dark.”

Some movement caught the corner of Jonathan’s eye. Raulf’s guards formed a line behind him, waiting for his signal to attack.

“And these people,” Raulf continued, indicating Rowena and her father, “are connected to your perfect life, and by killing them, I can inflict even more pain and suffering on to you. However, I might be convinced to keep them alive if you would surrender the demesne to me.” Raulf tightened his grip again on Rowena, and pressed the dagger closer to her stomach. “Choose wisely,
brother
for you will be offered this deal once.”

“You murder people in cold blood,” Jonathan said. He avoided looking at Rowena, afraid that if he did, he would charge at the whoreson and put her life at considerable risk. “I don’t know if I can trust your word. What if I agree to forfeit the demesne and you still end up killing me and everyone else?”

“Then suit yourself,” Raulf said, his face darkening. “It was a mistake to even give you a choice. Perhaps this wench means nothing to you after all. I might as well as kill her now.” Rowena suppressed a cry of pain as his finger bit into her side. He raised the dagger, the blade glinting dangerously in the morning sun.

“Wait!” Jonathan said, raising his hand. “How can I trust that you won’t harm her? What assurance do I have that you will release her and her father once I surrender the demesne to you?”

“Despite what you may think, I am an honorable man.”

“Your definition of honor differs from mine,” Jonathan said sarcastically. “What do you propose that we do?”

He watched as Raulf started walking forward, pushing Rowena along and using her body as a shield.

“We will have the steward draw up a contract, with the chaplain as witness, stating that you are handing over the demesne to me. Then you will publicly proclaim that you are no longer interested in Blackburn, and that you will return to King Edward’s service. You will then give the king the signed contract, and convince him that you are relinquishing
all
your rights to me, your half brother. Once you do all that, I will release your woman and her sire.”

“‘Tis not that simple. Not even King Edward, will believe that that I would forfeit my birthright to you.”

Raulf waved his hand, as if it were of no consequence. “Tell them that Richard was delirious when he died and that he gave the land you by mistake. Tell them it was all a misunderstanding. You’re the Iron Hawk, people will believe you.”

“I’m afraid you’re making things too complicated. The people of Blackburn are already angered over your involvement with the raids, and when they learn that you are also the Grey Knight
and
linked to the deaths of my parents, they will revolt. I cannot be responsible for an uprising and the loss of more innocent lives. I say we fight and end this today.”