The Silver Falcon (68 page)

Odon’s chin quivered with rage.

When Robert was offered a place quite close to Odon, but higher up the table, and sat down with a mocking glance, Odon tasted bitter gall in his mouth.

Ever since he had been at court, he had been trying to attract Marshal’s attention and win his respect. He was the bravest and most famous knight in the land. He had served four kings. He was old and dignified but still an excellent warrior, a man who oozed physical power. In short, he was someone who was universally admired. If the fourth son of a more or less insignificant baron had been able to climb so high, shouldn’t it be possible for Odon, the only issue of the Elmswicks? Over the last few years, Odon had talked himself into believing that he could go as far as Marshal, even though he had never been successful in jousting.

Odon reached out a trembling hand for his wine cup, grabbed it, and knocked it over. The red grape liquor flowed across the table and dripped onto the surcoat of the man sitting opposite.

“For God’s sake, Elmswick, can’t you look what you’re doing? If wine fuddles your brain, maybe you should hold back.”

“Go to hell!” said Odon indistinctly. He snapped his fingers and told a page to right his cup and refill it.

“And now, let us have a toast to my beautiful daughter, my splendid son-in-law, and my delightful grandson,” John’s voice rang out. And then, impatiently, “Why isn’t he here?” He looked around irritably, then nodded to the lutenists and pipers. “What are you waiting for? Start playing!”

“I wonder how the king knows,” Marshal murmured in William’s ear. “Did you…?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Your mother wanted me to keep it a secret, and I honored her wish. Apart from Baudouin and, just today, you, no one knew—at least I thought so, and I’d put my hand in the fire for Baudouin. He doesn’t particularly admire John.”

William risked a brief glance at Marshal’s face. He looked genuinely distressed.

“Before my wedding, the king told me I was entitled to this match because I was the bastard son of a knight, but he didn’t mention any names,” William whispered. “I have no idea how he knew. I’ve heard he has spies everywhere.” Adam, who was standing behind him, placed a piece of roast meat on his trencher.

William nodded his thanks, smiling to himself when he heard one of the other pages whisper, “You should have picked out a better piece of meat for your master. If he’s as strict as mine, he’ll beat you black and blue later for not serving him well.”

“He isn’t,” Adam told him, his voice resonant with conviction. “He’s a good man, and the best master anyone could ask for.” He bowed to William. “Forgive me, my lord. I swear I’ll do better in the future.”

William simply nodded. It was good that Adam was amenable to words of criticism, because in fact he had no intention of chastising his pages, as most masters did. Logan had never struck the boys and had still managed to make them industrious hard workers. The falconer had been exceptionally strict, sometimes even unfair, but never violent.

“You must also make sure I get enough wine to drink,” he reminded Adam, who immediately filled William’s silver goblet.

“I will learn, my lord.”

“First, though, learn to keep silent at the table,” William said gently but with enough severity that not a single word passed Adam’s lips for the rest of the feast.

William went on eating, nodding at a baron here and there and feeling their curious looks like needles. They kept putting their heads together, whispering and laughing. He suspected they were looking for similarities, perhaps even differences, between him and Marshal, and working out how they could use this new state of affairs to their advantage. One or two glanced disdainfully
at Odon, for he had behaved not only badly but also foolishly, and he could hardly expect further signs of favor from the king.

The longer it took for the king’s page to return, the more worried William became. “Why isn’t Richard here yet?” he whispered to Marguerite. The lines over her eyes told him she was also concerned.

“Shall I go and look for him?” whispered Adam without being asked. “Perhaps they woke him up and he started screaming.”

William should have reprimanded him for his impertinence, but at that moment he was grateful for the boy’s suggestion. “Ask Robert to go with you. I think it’s more likely that Richard got away from the nursemaid and is wandering around among the tents. She probably can’t find him. It wouldn’t be the first time.” William sighed and reassured Marguerite, who was looking at him anxiously. “We’ll stay at the table until Robert and Adam come back with our little fugitive. There’s no need for the king to worry about his grandson.”

He looked over at Odon and noticed how pleased with himself he seemed. It did not seem like him to accept the recent announcement with such equanimity. It must be a source of great resentment that William and Marguerite were part of the king’s family now. Why was he grinning?

Robert and Adam found the king’s page in the courtyard.

“I can’t find him anywhere, and the handmaid won’t stop howling,” he said tensely.

“Stay out of the king’s way for a while yet. We’ll find him,” Robert reassured the boy.

Once at the tent, he asked where Richard might be. “Emma wanted to take him to the little patch of forest over there beyond the field,” said the young handmaid, sobbing. “The forest isn’t big
enough to be dangerous, that’s what Emma said, but I’m worried even so. She was going to be back before it got dark.” She used a corner of her apron to wipe her eyes. “Perhaps I should have told Sir William a long time ago, but I thought they would be back any moment.”

“Maybe something happened to them.” Adam looked genuinely worried about little Richard.

Robert ruffled his hair. “We’ll set off on horseback and see what we find.”

Adam nodded vigorously. “Maybe Emma’s hurt, or even Richard.”

“God save us, don’t say such things or they might come true.” Robert seized two horses and a pair of flaming torches and asked one of the hunt assistants to join them. He set Adam in front of him and told him to be quiet and keep a good lookout. No one could say what dangers lurked in the forest. “So keep your eyes peeled and your ears open, even if it’s pitch-dark and you’re a bit afraid.”

“I’m not afraid of the dark.”

“Good.” Robert smiled, patting him on the back.

They crossed the field and entered the heart of the forest. The only sounds that broke the night’s silence were the muted thumping of their horses’ hooves and a single hoot from a screech owl.

“Shouldn’t we call out for them? If they’ve lost their way or are hurt, we’ll never find them otherwise,” suggested Adam.

“No,” said Robert. “I can’t believe they lost their way. Emma is reliable and would never put Richard in danger. They’ve been attacked. I’d wager my life on it, and if I’m right, we need the element of surprise.”

“There, did you hear that?” Adam whispered, but the darkness seemed to swallow his voice.

“Silence,” said Robert angrily, tugging his reins and listening. “It’s nothing.”

“Yes, I’m quite sure I heard something. There, in that bush.” Adam slipped down off the horse.

“Wait for me. You won’t see anything without a torch.”

Suddenly, Robert heard the groaning, too. “I’m coming!” he called out softly, waving the torch about and listening. He could see a branch moving. “Come, over here,” he said to Adam and the assistant.

They found the nursemaid in the undergrowth.

“Emma.” Robert helped her sit up. “Emma, where’s Richard?”

“I’m sorry,” she groaned. “I tried to protect him.”

“She’s bleeding.” Adam’s eyes were wide with shock. “Someone must have stabbed her.”

Robert looked at the hand he had used to support Emma. It was covered with blood.

“Don’t worry about me,” insisted Emma, tears running down her face. “You must find my little Richard. She took him away. You must get him back, you hear? She claimed Richard’s father had sent her, but I knew she was lying. Someone like her…I think they went deeper into the forest. Richard, my Richard, get him back!”

Robert spent a moment thinking what he should do. He could not take the nursemaid with him, but it was too dangerous to leave her alone in the forest. Adam was too young to care for her. He would not be able to protect himself or the injured girl against a wild animal. So Robert told the hunt assistant to take Emma back to the tent, where she could be cared for, and then come back with reinforcements. In the meantime, he and Adam would continue the search.

Because the night was so dark, their progress was slow. Robert waved the torch from side to side in order to see, and they strayed off the path.

Suddenly, he stopped. “That looks like a hut over there, doesn’t it?”

“It could be the old hunting lodge. One of the king’s hunt assistants told me about it. Some of the knights use it for trysts,” Adam said, sounding older than his years. “I heard my father has been here, too.”

Robert looked at him in surprise. “We’ll look and see whether she’s hiding here with Richard, but be quiet. They may not be alone.” He put his finger to his lips and they dismounted. Cautiously, they crept up to the hut.

“Maybe we can surprise them in their sleep,” Adam whispered. “Everything seems dark.”

Knightly blood flows in his veins, thought Robert, with a certain amount of disapproval. Sometimes he was unable to forget that Adam was Odon’s son. But Adam is a good lad, not like his father, he corrected himself.

“We’ll try going in. I have my hunting knife, and I know how to handle it, but you’re unarmed. We need to think this through.” Robert thought for a moment. “I’ll take the torch. If you can, try to take Richard. I’ll deal with the woman. Let’s hope she’s alone. As soon as you’ve got Richard, run out. Hide, but don’t go far.”

Robert tested the door quietly, to see if it would open. It was unlocked and opened with a creak. Cautiously, they stepped into the hut.

The torch illuminated the interior with an unsteady light, throwing long flickering shadows across the wooden walls. The maid was asleep and had not stirred. Richard was sleeping, too, his breathing regular.

Robert was relieved to see that nothing had happened to the boy. William would not have been able to bear losing this son, too. There was no one else in the hut, so they should be able to manage.

On Robert’s signal, Adam crept over to the maid’s bed. She was lying in such a way that he could not reach Richard, so Robert had to wake her.

“Hey, you there,” he thundered, frightening himself as the sheer loudness of his words shattered the silence. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” He held the torch in front of her face in such a way that she could not recognize him, and he dragged her out of the bed.

“Be quiet,” she hissed reproachfully. “You’ll wake my child.”

Adam picked up the sleeping Richard, and the maid noticed, grabbed the child’s leg, and refused to let go. The commotion caused Richard to wake up, and he started screaming. He struggled fiercely, trying to get loose. “Obert,” he cried, reaching out his arms as soon as he recognized the familiar face.

“Adam, hold him tight,” warned Robert, trying to scare the woman by moving the torch close to her face. But she still would not let go of Richard.

The child was kicking and squirming more and more violently, and he scratched at her face until she let go.

“You little devil,” she screamed at Richard, making to slap him, but she never managed it.

Robert punched her in the face, giving Adam the chance to run outside with Richard.

The maid staggered, holding her nose and wailing. “I’ll tell him you hit me,” she whined, crouching in a corner and weeping.

Robert removed the leather strap he wore on his left wrist and used it to tie her up.

“Who will you tell? Who told you to seize the child? What’s his name? Tell me!”

The maid did not reply.