The Legend (47 page)

"Edward approaches!" he
announced.

Alec's eyes widened.
"What?"

Toby nodded his head like a
wagging dog. "We have spied his dragon banner. There must be four hundred
men approaching!"

"Christ," Alec hissed.
"Where's Ali?"

Toby shook his head negatively as
Olphampa and Sula exited form the solar, their black eyes round with surprise.
Alec looked to Ali's parents.

"Olphampa, you will
accompany me to greet our king," he ordered swiftly. "Toby, find Ali
and send him to me. Sula, please help my wife prepare for our royal guests, if
you would."

Urgency filled the air as
everyone rushed to do Alec's bidding. Alec and Olphampa moved into the bailey
of St. Cloven and Alec glanced about, wondering how in the hell he was going to
house four hundred men.

"The king did not send word
of his arrival?" Olphampa asked.

"Nay," Alec growled.
"Christ, I am going to kill him. He is doing this simply to anger me. He
likes to see me upset."

A corner of Olphampa's mouth
tugged. "Why would he do this?"

"Because he likes to annoy
me," Alec said accusingly, moving to mount the ladder to the narrow
battlements. "He is always taken pleasure in seeing me riled because I
show so little emotion."

Olphampa waited below as Alec
scanned the road. Suspicions as to the true identity of the approaching party
were swiftly quelled when Alec spat a curse and descended the ladder without
benefit of the rungs. Gripping the vertical posts, he simply slid to the
ground. Ali, with Toby on his heels, raced up.

"Edward is coming?" Ali
asked, stunned.

"Edward is damn well
here," Alec informed him, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

Ali grinned in spite of his
surprise. "He did this simply to annoy you. No wonder we have not heard
from him, Alec; he was already on his way."

Alec rolled his eyes knowingly as
Olphampa chuckled softly. "Our king is very fond of you, Alec. If he is
arrived without sending word ahead, then there must be a good reason."

"There is a good reason; he
wants to irritate Alec," Ali suddenly let out a piercing whistle and
several guards rushed toward him. He turned to the men swiftly. "Set up an
honor guard of forty men just inside the gates. See to it, Hans, and be quick.
Edward is upon us." He returned his attention to Alec. "We must make
room for his horses, Alec. And what in the hell are we going to do with his
excessive escort?"

Alec looked directly at Toby.
"That will be my younger brother's responsibility. Toby, see to those
problems as Ali and I take care of Edward."

Toby was off, pleased with the
heavy responsibility and thinking that, mayhap, he had indeed proven his worth
in the brief span of Ali's absence. Meanwhile, Alec had regained his careful
control. He would not allow Edward the privilege of glimpsing his annoyance.

With a lingering glance at his
manse, wondering how his wife was handling the unannounced arrival of the king,
he returned his gaze to his companions.

"Gentlemen," he
grinned, full of confidence and anticipation. "Shall we greet the king
properly?"

Ali cocked a black eyebrow.
"He would frown upon a barrage of arrows or a wall of flame, Alec."

Alec snorted. "I was
planning no such greeting. Merely a friendly reception."

Ali laughed. "You may not
slug him, either. Although Edward could easily take you on in a fight, I doubt
he would take kindly to your display of irritation."

The corner of Alec's mouth dipped
in a frown. "You have no faith in me, Ali."

Ali slanted his father a knowing
glance. "I am speaking of a man who put dung in our king's bed."

"He did it to me
first."

"But you were a new knight.
'Twas his right to humiliate you."

Olphampa shook his head.
"Good King Longshanks is beyond practical jokes. I will hear no more of
this treason."

A shout on the wall deterred them
from their argument. Alec ordered the gates opened and found himself far more
eager to see his old friend that he thought himself capable of.

Any contact between he and Edward
over the past twelve years had resulted in uncomfortable pleadings for Alec to
resume his knighthood. Now, with the wars in Wales augmenting, Alec would not
be surprised if Edward again broached the subject. 

In fact, he was sure of it.

CHAPTER
FIFTEEN

"You will look at me when I
speak to you."

Thia was staring at the floor. When
the subtle yet threatening words were spoken, she raised her head ever so
slightly and fixed Colin with a heady glare.

He smiled thinly. "That's
better. 'Tis better that we establish the rules before we are married, do you
not agree? That way, there will be no room for error."

She ground her jaw. "What do
you want? I have things to attend to."

"You mean women to
chase," Colin cocked an eyebrow.

Thia's face mottled an ugly shade
of red and she lowered her gaze in spite of his order. Colin's smile turned
into a genuine gesture.

"Come now, Thia. You cannot
believe that your secret was truly your own? You give little credit to the
intelligence of those around you."

It was all Thia could do to keep
from slapping the smug grin off his twisted lips. Deeply humiliated, her hands
began to shake as she stared at the stone floor of her father's solar.

"You asked to meet with me
privately. Say what you will and be done with it."

Colin observed the top of her
dark blond head, her lovely hair the only beautiful feature on a woman who was
otherwise quite homely looking. Arrogantly, he planted himself behind Brian's
great desk as if he belonged there.

"Indeed," he folded his
hands, examining the nails. "I have a proposition whose details will not
leave the confines of this chamber. Do you understand this before we
begin?"

Thia's head came up and she
focused on him. "Nay. As you have pointed out, I am ignorant. Make
yourself plain."

His eyes narrowed. "As I
should have from the start. Thia, I am as displeased about this union as you
are. I have made it no secret that I am marrying you simply as a duty and a
difficult one at that. It's not you I want."

She wasn't following his
reasoning. "As you have said. As you have all but shouted to the world.
Please come to your point, if you can."

Colin did not deal well with
disobedient women, and Thia had already proven over the past two weeks that she
could push him into a rage. The wench was not only given to abnormal appetites,
but she was mouthy and rude. And she was so strong she could have probably
given him a good fight had their quarrels come to blows.

Brian and Nigel had spent a good
deal of their time playing peacemaker between their children when they weren't
battling each other. Within the past several days, Blackstone had become a
bitter, uneasy place.

"I can indeed spell out my
purpose, considering that is what it will take for your small mind to
understand," he said cruelly, watching her jaw tick. "Lady Thia, you
do not wish to marry me."

She cocked an eyebrow. "That
is the first intelligent statement I have yet to hear you utter."

He forced a humorless smile.
"That is because you have not been listening closely. 'Tis difficult to
hear at all with your head buried between the legs of a wench," she did
not flinch and he continued, somewhat perturbed that she had not reacted to his
insult. "Considering that you do not approve of the proposed union, it
would seem logical that you would do anything to be released from the
obligation."

Caution gripped her. "Within
reason."

His smile turned genuine.
"Within reason," he repeated her words, mockingly, as he rose to
stretch his long legs. Slowly, he paced toward the lancet window, pausing after
a moment to face her. His eyes mirrored the evil within his soul. "You
will help me destroy St. Cloven."

Thia's eyes widened. "What?
I cannot...."

He held up a quieting finger, his
voice loud enough to stop her protests. "I will relinquish my claim to you
and you can frolic with the serving wenches happily for the rest of your life
if you assist me in destroying St. Cloven."

Thia's face was white. Her first
reaction was to condemn him, to deny him, but the prospect of finding a way out
of the horrifying future her father had chosen for her was appealing. Too
appealing. Gripping the arms of the chair with white-knuckled intensity, she
eyed Colin warily.

"I will not destroy my
brother."

"I did not ask you to. I
merely asked for your assistance in destroying St. Cloven."

"St. Cloven is my brother's
keep."

Colin fixed her with a look of
such sinister proportions that it made her skin tingle. "It is only his
property through his wife. I know you hold little love for Lady Peyton."

Thia relaxed somewhat, regaining
a measure of composure. "She is a sly bitch and I hate her."

Colin sat on the edge of the
desk, gazing down at her. "Enough to be rid of her?"

Thia's mind began to swirl,
remembering the time when the very same thoughts had filled her mind. Good
lord, she recalled plainly the very day in which she had sat in the grand hall
listening to Nigel and her father tear at each other because of Alec and
Peyton's marriage.

She recollected well the hatred
she harbored for Peyton for causing such dissention by coercing Alec into
marrying her. It was Peyton who had turned Blackstone into a battleground and
the repercussions were still going on.

"Do you want her?"

Colin shrugged. "Not really.
'Tis the keep I want, but I have to be rid its mistress first. With his wife
gone, your brother will most likely return to Blackstone and thereby leave the
fortified manor vacant. My father will, in turn, petition for my
supervision."

Thia sat back in her chair.
"Why would Alec vacate the keep simply if his wife is no longer there?
It's his keep now, not his wife's."

Colin gave her a condescending
look. "Do you know nothing of the human character? 'Tis obvious your
brother holds a good deal of affection for his wife and I would wager a great
deal on the fact that he would not remain at the fortress simply because it
would remind him of dead wife at every turn. To be free of her memory, he would
return to Blackstone to forget his grief."

Thia looked at him a moment.
"It appears to me that there is more to this than merely being rid of Lady
Peyton to obtain St. Cloven. I would venture that you are attempting to gain a
measure of revenge against my brother for taking what you believe to be
rightfully yours. That is your contention, is it not?"

"It is mine!" he
suddenly spat. "It's always been mine and your brother had no right to
take what was not his!"

Thia sighed, far calmer than she
should have been. Clearly, she did not like the fact that she would be
contributing to Alec's grief. She loved her big brother, but she was thoroughly
convinced that he would be better off without the influence of his wife.

His grief would fade in time and
he would marry again and forget all about the first wife who had alienated him
from his family. Aye, he might even thank her someday for loving him enough to
rid him of the redheaded leech.

It did not matter that Peyton had
defended against Colin's marriage demands. His brother's wife had led a strong
opposition against Colin and, together, they had proved to be a most powerful
force to reckon with. They had defended each other against the Warrington
bastard as if they had truly been sisters and in spite of her hatred, Thia had
felt a strange bond with Peyton. The bond went beyond mere words or feelings.
It cut deep. Peyton knew her secret.

Thia hated her for knowing her
secret, a secret Colin was also privy to. Peyton had been presented with the
opportunity to publicly admit Thia's private lusts, but she hadn't. Unlike
Colin, she had tactfully kept silent.

She saw the opportunity to be
free of her unwanted betrothal. That reality alone was enough to cause her to
consider her priorities over Alec's. She did not want to be married to a man
who took delight in humiliating her, who would force her to submit to his will
in the bedchamber. That component in itself sent bolts of disgust racing up her
spine; as reluctant as she was to harm Alec, she was selfishly thinking of her
own needs. She almost did not care about her brother's feelings anymore, so
long as she was free of Colin.

Her guilt was forgotten. But it
was nonetheless difficult to spit out her agreement.

"What is it that you would
have me do?"

Colin smiled, a genuine gesture. 
“Listen carefully.”

Out in the hall, someone else was
listening carefully, too. Paul Summerlin hovered near the door, listening to
every word spoken. He knew he wasn't supposed to listen to the conversation of
others; his parents had long chastised him for his bad habit. But it was part
of his natural curiosity, an element of his pre-pubescent intelligence over
which he had no control.

He had heard the words. Even with
his limited capacity, he knew what Colin Warrington was suggesting was evil.
And Thia was very bad for agreeing.

They were both very, very bad.

***

Edward rode into the bailey of
St. Cloven grinning like a fool. Alec stood by, hands on hips, as King Edward I
came to a halt aboard his gray destrier. Tall and lanky, his fair hair barely
shadowed with gray at thirty-seven years of age, he dismounted his steed with
grace. His gaze never left Alec's face.

In spite of his irritation, Alec
couldn't help but grin. When Edward approached, he bowed deeply, only to find a
hand thrust in his face. He took it.

"The Legend," Edward
murmured appreciatively. "God's Blood, Alec, how long has it been?"

"Not long enough, your
grace" Alec insulted his king softly. "I do not recall sending you an
invitation to visit."

"Any missive from you is
considered an invitation," Edward replied. "I came as soon as I
could."

Alec cocked a blond eyebrow as
Edward turned his attention to Ali.  Long ago, Prince Edward had been one of
the only men who had been able to see beyond the ebony skin, accepting Ali for
his strength and fighting ability. He had come to appreciate the dark man's wit
and intelligence and the fondness was still evident. "Ah, my black
soldier. The years have been kind to you, Ali."

Ali bowed gracefully. "Thank
you, your grace. 'Tis good to see you again. How is Queen Eleanor faring?"

"Well enough. She is
expecting a child and unable to travel," he returned his focus to Alec.
"And you. What's this that you have married without my permission?"

"Indeed, sire," Alec
replied, his attention turning briefly to the ministers that had accompanied
Edward. Men he had not seen in years who gazed back at him as if they were
beholding God himself. A bit unnerved by the adoration, he returned his focus
to the king. "My wife is inside, I am sure, having fits with your
unannounced arrival. I shall leave you to soothe her irritation."

Edward snorted. "She is your
wife, Alec. You calm the woman," his gaze traveled over the massive
structure before him. "God's Blood. So this is St. Cloven."

Alec's proud gaze followed his
king's. "The finest ale in all of England."

Edward nodded firmly, turning to
Alec with a twinkle in his eye. "Does this mean I do not have to pay for
my ale any longer?"

Alec cocked an eyebrow. "The
price is double for you, sire."

Edward laughed heartily, clapping
Alec on the shoulder. "I am weary, my friend. Let us retire to your hall
and drink ourselves sick. We have much to discuss, you and I."

With a smile, Alec and the king
crossed the bailey towards the expansive manse. Peyton and Ivy met them at the
door, dipped low in a customary display of respect.  It did not take a trained
observer to note the quaking hands and quivering knees, indicative of their
level of shock as the King of England entered their home. Had their faces not
been parallel with the ground, their surprise would have been easily
interpreted.

Edward eyed the two women but
before he could demand to know which was Lady Summerlin, Alec reached out and
pulled Peyton to her feet.

"Sire, may I introduce you
to my wife, the Lady Peyton Summerlin."

Edward looked Peyton over from
head to toe. Much to Alec's amusement, Peyton was as white as plaster and her
eyes were so large with shock that he actually thought they might pop from the
sockets and roll across the floor.

"A pleasure, Lady
Summerlin," Edward said after a moment. "Alec has delightful taste in
women."

Peyton nearly choked on her own
tongue as the king took her hand. In lieu of a complete seizure, her cheeks
suddenly flushed a dull red and she lowered her gaze. "Thank you, Your
Grace. Welcome to St. Cloven."

The corner of Edward's lips
twitched, noting her horror and Alec's mirth over his wife's pallor. "I am
pleased that your husband was gracious enough to invite me to his home,
considering I was excluded from the wedding," he cast Alec a long glance
before allowing his gaze to rove the great foyer of the fortified manse.
"I would greatly enjoy coming to see this grand ale empire for
myself."