“Davyss,” his grip on the man lessened. “We are amassing. Your beloved Henry is refusing to honor the terms he agreed to six years ago at Oxford and….”
Davyss pulled away from him. “I am a soldier, not a politician. I do not dictate the king’s decisions nor do I care. I simply serve him, Simon. You know this.”
“He is bringing about another war.”
“Then I shall fight it.”
“And you shall die,” Simon grabbed his arm again and held fast even as Davyss tried to move away. “Listen to me, lad; there are many barons angered by the king’s refusal to honor the terms that he signed at Oxford and they are ready to do something about it. We have given the man six years, Davyss; six years to come to his senses and honor his word. But he has not. Do you not understand? An explosion such as you have never dreamed is coming and I do not want you to be a casualty of it.”
Davyss stopped yanking and stared at the old man. “Listen to me and listen well,” he rumbled. “I serve the king. I am his sword. If Henry goes into battle, then I lead the charge. I will not join you, Uncle Simon. I do not know how much plainer I can be.”
Simon remained calm, his wise old eyes regarding the man. His grip moved from the man’s arm to his hand, and he held it tightly.
“You are like a son to me,” he murmured. “Your father gave you over to me at birth to guide and to bless. I have done so, have I not?”
Davyss nodded slowly, fighting off old and tender memories. “Aye.”
“I love you as my own.”
“I know.”
“I would risk my life for you.”
Davyss just stared at him, struggling to fight off the increasing emotion. “And I, you, under normal circumstances. But do not ask me to betray my king. I cannot and I will not. I would be a man without honor if I did.”
Simon hung his head. It seemed as if he wanted to say something more, something crucial. He was struggling. Davyss didn’t understand why until the old man opened his mouth again.
“Hugh has joined me,” he whispered. “Your mother sent word a short time ago. Hugh is now with me. You have lost his sword.”
That revelation received a reaction; Davyss’ eyes bulged and he yanked his hand away from Simon.
“You lie,” he hissed. “Hugh would never….”
He abruptly came to a halt, unable to finish his sentence. All of the trouble with Devereux and Hugh came crashing down on him and suddenly, he felt extremely ill. The room swayed. He put out a massive arm, bracing himself against the stone wall. Simon could see the weakness and, like a good warrior, swooped in for the kill.
“I was told that Hugh murdered your wife,” he whispered urgently. “Your mother sent him to me for protection. Davyss, whatever has transpired between you and Hugh, a woman is no reason to hate or disown your brother.”
Davyss reached out and grabbed Simon by the neck; Simon was a big man but not as strong nor as big as Davyss. Simon could see, in that instant, that there was much more to this than the missive Lady Katharine had sent him. Simply by his expression, Davyss was as passionate as he had ever seen him.
“Shut your mouth,” Davyss snarled. “You know not of what you speak.”
“He is your brother, Davyss.”
“And she is my wife,” Davyss let go of Simon’s neck, roughly, his hazel eyes flashing. “In spite of what Hugh tried to do, she is not dead. She is alive and well. But Hugh will suffer my wrath and all of the protection in the world will not prevent that. If you protect Hugh from me, then you are against me. If you are against me, then we have nothing more to discuss.”
Simon’s eyes took on a pained look. “I will never be against you, lad. Neither is Hugh.”
“My entire family has apparently turned against me.”
“But what of this wife? Is she so valuable to you that you would put her above your brother?”
It was a difficult question to answer, considering Davyss had been wrestling with that very dilemma for a few days. “That is not your business,” he snapped. It was the best answer he could come up with.
But Simon was beginning to see why Davyss and Hugh were divided and it wasn’t simply a matter of honor. There was more to it from the look on Davyss’ face.
“Nay, Davyss,” he said patiently, as if trying to explain things to him. “A woman must not come between you and your brother.”
Davyss was feeling ill; he simply waved a hand at the man as if to stop all further words and turned to leave. Simon followed.
