The Fallen One (18 page)

Saer
was intrigued with the thought of a home on wheels. “I did not see it in
Brampton,” he admitted. “A home that travels, you say? It sounds interesting.”

Tate
nodded. “It is,” he said. “The children are napping right now, so she has them
all tucked in at the moment. You will see her later.
 
Speaking of later, where is Cathlina? I would
like to see her now.”

Saer
stiffened. “Why?”

Tate
cocked an eyebrow. “Let us be frank,” he said. “You fled Brampton after I told
you not to beat your daughter. If I was the suspicious type, I would say you
did not listen to me. Show me Cathlina so that I may see she is safe and
uninjured.”

Saer
was outraged. “Is that why you came?” he demanded. “To see if I have hurt my
own child?”

“Where
is she?”

“In
the keep with her sisters.”

“Produce
her for me so that I may see for myself.”

“And
if I do not?”

“Do
you truly wish to know?”

Saer
backed down; he knew he couldn’t resist his powerful cousin and he tried to
remind himself that the man only had Cathlina’s best interests at heart. Still,
he felt violated as a father. Cathlina was his child, after all, and his cousin
was making demands. Demands made him unhappy.

“You
may see her,” he said after moment. “You will see that she is uninjured.
 
And this nonsense with de Reyne… her mother
and I have been discussing the matter.”

Tate
took a big drink of his wine. “And?”

Saer
sighed heavily as if displeased with whatever it was he was about to
reveal.
 
“And we have realized that
Cathlina is a young woman now,” he said. “As a girl, she was content to remain
under our roof and do as she was told. But she is a young woman now. She
desires a home and family of her own.”

Tate
agreed. “That is very true.”

Saer
looked at him. “Therefore, her mother and I have decided to seek eligible men
for her hand in marriage.
  
It is time
she is married.”

Tate
could feel Kenneth tense up beside him.
 
“But Mathias has already offered for her hand,” he reminded him. “You
told the man you would think about it. Well?”

Saer
stood his ground. “I will not see her married to de Reyne,” he said frankly.
“Tate, surely you can understand my position. Cathlina is a beautiful girl and
will command a fine and wealthy husband, and not one who has been
disgraced.
 
De Reyne is unworthy of her.
If she truly wants to marry, then I will ask you to help me find her a suitable
match.
 
Surely, as an earl, you can find
all of my daughters suitable matches.”

Tate
sighed heavily, glancing at Kenneth to see what his reaction was.
 
Kenneth, however, remained stone-faced.
 
Saer saw the looks pass between the men and
turned to St. Hèver.

“You
were interested in Cathlina once,” he said. “Would you consider her again? With
your strong and guiding hand, she would make you a very fine wife in time.”

Kenneth
tried not to look shocked now that the focus was on him.
 
Had the offer been made back at Christmastime,
he would have accepted it without hesitation and in truth, for a split second,
he really did consider it. He couldn’t help it. But he shot that idea down
immediately; he could not do such a thing to a friend. Mathias loved the girl
and he would never betray the man so. He struggled to come up with a reply that
would not offend Saer.

“As…
attractive as your offer is, I must decline,” he said. “I am afraid that I am...
that is to say, I am already spoken for.”

It was
a flat-out lie but it was the only way he could think of that would not offend
anyone.
 
He looked at Tate, the ice-blue
eyes silently pleading for assistance, and Tate caught on to his panic. He,
too, began thinking very quickly.

“Aye,”
Tate put in, hoping he didn’t sound nervous or uncertain. “Ken is betrothed…
well, of course he is betrothed to my wife’s… sister.”

Saer
lifted his eyebrows. “I was not aware your wife had a sister.”

“She
is younger,” Kenneth put in, desperate to be off of the subject. “The family
lives near Harbottle.
 
In any case,
Cathlina already has a perfect suitor who would be very good to her. I have
been friends with Mathias de Reyne for many years and you would not find a man
of better moral character or virtue in all of England.
 
You really should reconsider your stance
against him.”

They
were back on Mathias, brilliantly executed by Kenneth, where Saer did not want
to be.
 
Tate took charge before Saer
could say anything.
 
He didn’t want the
conversation deteriorating because he had a purpose for being here.
 
It was more than just a visitation; it was a
covert operation, and he was a key part of it.
 
He didn’t want to get kicked out in a huff before his scheme had a
chance to come to fruition.

“Let
us speak of your daughter and her marital prospects later,” he said. “For now,
let us speak on other things.
 
It appears
as if you have done some construction to the north side of the castle. Will you
show me what you have done?”

Saer
still wasn’t over the discussion about Cathlina and her marital status as it
related to Mathias de Reyne, but he graciously allowed Tate to take charge of
the conversation.
 
In fact, he was
resigned to it. He’d had very little control over life in general since that
moment he saw Cathlina in the street brawl flanked by two enormous men.

The
men that were seated rose from the great feasting table as Saer began to
explain to Tate how he needed to build a troop house to contain the soldiers
because with three young women in the family, Rosalund was uncomfortable with
the men sleeping all about the great hall and lower level of the keep. She
wanted them away from her girls. Tate followed Saer out into the bailey where
the sky was brilliant blue and a soft breeze snapped across the land.
 
Kenneth, a few senior soldiers, and three
lesser knights followed.

Outside,
there were more soldiers and people milling about.
 
As Saer took Tate and a few men over to the
new troop house, Kenneth broke off from the group and made his way over to the
big, wooden wagon where Toby and the children were.
 
There were a few soldiers standing guard,
milling about, and one enormous knight in full battle armor, including a helm.
If one looked closely enough, one could see the faded Banbury emblem on the big
breastplate.
 
Kenneth walked right up to
the knight, lingering in the shadows of the wagon.

“Tate
will keep him busy,” Kenneth said to Mathias. “Cathlina is in the keep.
 
I will go in and bring her out to you. Take
your charger and go wait for us outside of the walls.”

Mathias
flipped up the visor and looked around. “I saw a grove of dense trees off to
the east when we were riding in,” he said. “I will wait for you there.”

Kenneth
looked around to make sure they weren’t being watched. “You have the letter
from Tate introducing you and your brother and your father to Henry Beaumont,
correct?”

“I
do.”

“Where
will you pick up your brother and father?”

“They
are riding to Longtown as we speak,” he said. “I am to meet them at the
Ladyseat Inn and then from there, we ride to Scotland.”

Kenneth
looked at his friend, seeing hope and excitement in his eyes.
 
“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Mathias
nodded without hesitation. “More than anything in the world,” he said, his
voice softening. “A week ago, I was bitter and defeated… a hammer in my hand
when it should have been a sword.
 
Then I
heard cries for help and went to the aid of the most beautiful woman I have
ever seen. Fate brought us together, Ken, and I’ll not let God nor Kings nor
fathers keep us apart.
 
With the money I
won in the joust, it is as I told Tate – I intend to start a new life in
Scotland with my new wife, once again an honored knight where I should be.
 
This is
my
life, Ken; I intend to live it.”

Kenneth
smiled faintly. “Will you ever come back to us?”

“I
suppose that is up to Edward.”

“I
will convince him.”

Mathias
felt the sincerity in Kenneth’s words. “When you do, send for me. I would like
to resume my rightful place with you and de Lara and Pembury.
 
You will tell Pembury what has become of me,
will you not?”

Kenneth’s
smile broadened. “You can tell him yourself,” he replied. “The night that Tate
wrote the missive you carry for Beaumont, he sent a messenger for Pembury.
 
The man has been in Berwick for Edward
because the Scots have been besieging the city.
 
Tate has asked him to meet you in Edinburgh at a place called the Barrel
and Bucket.
 
From there, you will travel
north to Beaumont’s home near Loch Drumilie.
 
It’s called the Devil’s Den, as it sits in the Devil’s woods.
 
If Beaumont is not there, he may be further
north near Aberdeen.
 
You may need to
hire a guide to find him. This will not be an easy journey, Mat; are you sure
you want to subject your lady to it?”

Mathias
thought about Cathlina on a driven ride straight through Scotland in search of
a rebel.
 
Well, the Scots viewed him as
an English rebel.
 
It would not be easy
but it was the chance of a lifetime. He had to take it.

“We
will persevere,” he assured him softly. “So Pembury is to meet me in Scotland?
Will he accompany me to Beaumont?”

“He
will indeed,” Kenneth replied. “Tate has told him to stay by your side until
you are both recalled by Edward.”

Mathias
was deeply moved; Stephen of Pembury had been closer to him than even Tate and
Kenneth, a mountain of a man he loved like a brother. He loved them all like
brothers, now going against the king’s directive to get him out of England and
on to a new life. He was no longer the Fallen One now; he would prove himself
the Redeemed One with the assistance of the most prestigious knights in
England.
 
He had God, the angels, good
fortune, and the earl they used to call Dragonblade on his side.
 
He was a lucky man.

“I will
look for him once we reach Edinburgh,” he said quietly. “Go and get Cathlina
now. I will be waiting.”

Kenneth
slapped him on the shoulder and left, moving off across the bailey towards the
keep.
 
Mathias didn’t waste any time; he
collected his charger, the big bay stallion that Kenneth had now given him, and
left the castle grounds, heading off of the road and into a dense collection of
trees about a quarter of a mile from the castle.
 
It was there he wait for Kenneth to bring
Cathlina to him.

It was
well past sunset when they finally appeared.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Mathias!”

He heard his name in the darkness, watching
Cathlina race through the darkened bramble towards him.
 
It was so dark that she ended up tripping, but
jumped to her feet with the agility of a cat and continuing on her way.
  
Mathias’ arms opened up to her and she
hurled herself into them.

She was all hair and flowing fabric.
 
Mathias held her tightly, relishing their
first real embrace with more emotion than he believed himself capable of.
  
Behind her, silhouetted by the moonlight
that was straining to penetrate the canopy of trees, he could see Kenneth
coming up behind her.
 
He had something
clutched to his chest and when he lowered his arm, Mathias could see the
outline of a satchel.
 

“What happened?” he hissed and Kenneth.
“What took so long?”

Kenneth seemed irritated, unusually for the
usually unflappable knight. “God’s Bones, don’t ask,” he said, handing Mathias
the satchel even though he was still embracing Cathlina. “When I went to locate
the lady, she was with her sisters and the eldest one would not let us out of
her sight for a couple of hours at least.
 
She made me sit and converse and then when I tried to get Cathlina alone
to tell her of your intentions, she followed us.
 
And you will not believe this part – your
intended had a red welt on her cheek and when de Lara saw it, he accused her
father of beating her again.”

Mathias looked at Cathlina in the darkness,
trying to get a look at her face. “The bastard,” he hissed. “What did he do?
Did he hit you again?”

Cathlina shook her head as he ran his
enormous hands all over her face. “It was Roxane,” she said. “We had an
argument this morning and… well, sometimes we are known to slap each other. It
was not my father at all.”

Mathias’ eyebrows shot up. “Your
sister
slapped you?”

“She did.”

“I hope you slapped her back.”

Cathlina broke out in giggles. “Of course I
did. I pulled her hair for good measure, too.”

Mathias chucked, hugging her tightly, so
thrilled to have her in his arms.
 
As he
embraced her, kissing her cheek, Kenneth entered the conversation again.

“You can imagine with all of that madness
going on, the hours dragged out,” he said. “Suffice it to say that it has taken
this long to bring your lady to you. Now, you need to get out of here before
they start looking for her. I must go back and keep the sister occupied until
you are well on your way.”

Mathias looked at Cathlina. “Did Ken tell
you everything?”

She nodded eagerly. “He said you are
running off to Scotland and wish to take me with you,” she said. “Oh, Mathias,
I can hardly believe it. I thought I was never going to see you again!”

He grinned at her, his white teeth
reflecting the muted moonlight. “Hardly,” he said. “But Ken is correct; we must
flee and we must do it now. Are you certain you want to go with me?”

“Of course I am!”

“It means marriage. I will marry you as
soon as possible and you will be wed to a knight on the run.”

She shushed him. “I do not care,” she said.
“All that matters is that we are together, whether you are a smithy or a
dishonored knight or the king of bloody England. I do not care about any of
that. Let us leave before my father finds out!”

He laughed softly, turning to Kenneth and
reaching out to take the man’s hand.
 
The
handshake was firm, full of the reassurance of a good parting.

“I will do what I can to stall them,”
Kenneth said. “Get as far as you can tonight. By morning, surely they will
discover her missing and the search will commence.”

    
Mathias
nodded quickly, taking Cathlina in hand and rushing her towards the
charger.
 
The beast was munching on
undergrowth as he lifted her up.

“I will send you word when and where we
settle,” he told Kenneth. “And you have my deepest gratitude for what you have
done, Ken. I will always be in your debt.”

Kenneth simply waved him off, watching
Mathias vault onto the back of the charger and direct the steed further into
the darkness of the forest growth.
 
He
had to avoid the road because the castle sentries could see the land for at
least a mile in all directions, including the road.
 
Mathias had to get them out of the range of
the sentries.
 
When they finally faded
from view, Kenneth turned back to the castle.

By the time he returned to the great hall,
he was fending off more marriage innuendoes from Saer and Roxane, and cursing
Mathias under his breath for having to endure such a thing.
 
Tate, too, was playing the stalling game,
plying Saer with enough wine to get the man ragingly drunk so that they feasted
long into the night.

 
No
one realized Cathlina was missing until well into the next day and to add an
additional stalling tactic, Tate took charge of the search parties and told
Saer to remain with his family and await word.
 
Tate then moved his army away from Kirklinton and sent at least three
advance parties out in full view of Saer.
 

The search parties, however, all had secret
instructions to sweep through Brampton, stop at nothing, and proceed to
Carlisle Castle post-haste.
 
Instead of
searching for Cathlina as he promised he would, Tate simply took his army and
his family home, but he made a good show of a search for Saer’s sake. One week
later, Saer received a missive from Tate, written carefully by Toby.

Have
no worries for your daughter is in excellent hands.
 
Will send word later.

He never did.