David studied the chair de Worth had been planted in before slowly depositing his own weary body atop the leather sling. “Now what? Do we forget about her?”
Owen shook his head faintly, rubbing the sharp stubble on his chin. “Nay,” he said softly. “We do not forget about our relation.” He removed his hands from the vizier, his jaw ticking as he mulled over the future. Certainly he would not forget about Henry’s daughter, his own cousin. She could still be a very powerful weapon in his war against the English.
He turned to his cousin. “Would it be safe to assume she’s still at Lambourn?”
David nodded weakly, feeling drained as his shock wore thin. “As long as Lambourn is still standing in light of de Rydal’s attack.”
Owen scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Then I would have you return to Lambourn again. Mayhap a second abduction attempt would meet with some success.”
David stared at him a moment before shaking his head. “Le Bec is her shadow. He’s no doubt aware that Henry’s enemies have discovered the princess’ whereabouts and I doubt a second attempt to seize her would be productive.”
Owen sat opposite his cousin, his gaze heady. “Then we will keep trying until we have her. She’s Glendower and I mean to have her.”
“She’s Plantagenet.”
Owen did not reply as his gaze left his cousin, moving to the dying embers in the vizier. The freezing night was seeping into his bones and somewhere in the distance, he could hear a wolf cry to its mate. He would not be deterred in his scheme to obtain Henry’s daughter; not even the threat of Richmond le Bec was enough to dampen his conviction. The fact that the girl was of direct relation to him changed the overall design little; truthfully, he had never meant to harm her, merely use her against her father. And he would still use her against her father. But first, he had to obtain her.
“It would seem to me that our biggest obstacle is Richmond le Bec,” he said after a moment, returning his gaze to his cousin. “Neutralize le Bec and the princess is ours.”
David sighed irritably. “Brilliant, Owen. And just who is supposed to neutralize Henry’s greatest knight? There is not a man among us who could best him in a fight. Who did you intend to act the role of assassin?”
Owen’s brown eyes glittered dully in the weak light. “Not a Welshman. Mayhap one of le Bec’s own countrymen will turn against him.”
David’s brow furrowed. “I do not understand.”
Owen leaned into the palm of his hand. “Henry Percy and I have been communicating, as you are aware. Hotspur is growing weary of Henry’s rule; in fact, his relationship to the king has never been hearty, whereas le Bec is well known as Henry’s greatest supporter. If Henry Percy is to align with me, mayhap we will be able to annihilate le Bec with a man who has fought with him. A man who knows his strengths and weaknesses.”
“Hotspur?” David repeated incredulously. “You are mad! He will never agree to such a thing!”
Owen shrugged. “Mayhap. But we must not disregard our options. In any case, I will expect you on the road to Lambourn before sunrise.”
David eyed his cousin in the darkness, pondering the information that had been revealed this night. In spite of discovering her relationship to them, Owen still wanted Arissa as a weapon in his struggle against Henry. And with the possibility of Hotspur’s alliance, the Welsh resistance was growing stronger by the day.
A certain young lady was about to find herself the central focus of a very long, very bloody conflict.
*
It did nottake David Glendower an over amount of time to ascertain that the Princess Arissa was no longer within the walls of Lambourn. He’d spent nearly a week lingering in the woods, assuming the role of a tradesman from the village in order to gain access to the keep. Being rebuilt from her recent siege, there was always work available and he involved himself in therenovations as deeply as he was able. Being a fine stonemason, he was able to find daily work.
With one eye on his mortar and stone and the other roving the grounds for any sign of the princess, he established a moderate rapport with a few of the lesser men-at-arms supervising the rebuilding of the wall. Through several days of carefully orchestrated dialogue, he was able to discover that Richmond le Bec had fled Lambourn with the earl’s eldest daughter, escorting her to Whitby in the hope that the church would be able to protect her from Ovid de Rydal’s wrath.
It was well known that Tad de Rydal received his severe wound from Richmond’s men as a result of his attentions toward the earl’s daughter, and it was the general opinion that Ovid would disregard his anger towards Lambourn if the very reason for his fury were extracted from the walls. Even though his son was on the mend, the father’s rage had not abated in the least and with Richmond and Arissa removed, mayhap the situation would be able to calm somewhat.
It was the overall consensus that justice had been served, however, considering Bartholomew de Lohr had also received a near-fatal wound in the attack. Ovid had nearly lost his son and it was only appropriate that the earl’s heir be compromised as well. Both young men, however, were said to be recovering from their fierce injuries but the animosity between the House of de Rydal and the Earl of Berkshire was nasty. ’Twas said the earl had even sent word to Henry demanding crown retaliation against Ovid de Rydal, a move that could only extend the hostilities should Henry respond to the earl’s request.
A complicated issue, David was told, but he was not concerned with the complexity of the feud between Lambourn and Goring Hall. All that mattered was that he had discovered the Princess Arissa’s whereabouts and he set out with a vengeance for the Welsh border. Owen had to be made awarethat the young lady was no longer in the protective custody of the crown, but something far more powerful. When the earl had sent his daughter into the shielding confines of Whitby Abbey, it had been with the intention of protecting her from a vicious act of revenge.
Little did he realize how many people sought to gain vengeance against the petite raven-haired beauty and David realized that the situation was far more complex than originally believed. There were more people determined to acquire control of Henry’s daughter than could be counted, each for their own reasons, each for their own aspirations. But through it all, one thing had remained constant– Richmond le Bec.
Henry’s most powerful knight was always by her side, creating an even more difficult situation. But more than le Bec, Whitby Abbey would prove to be a most powerful adversary. Even if David’s own sister was imprisoned within the walls of the Yorkshire abbey, it was of little comfort. Ellyn would not assist their cause, he was sure; in fact, David was not particularly surprised that Arissa’s destination was Whitby. Mayhap the earl believed that the princess’ mother would be an extra incentive against the jaws of harm. As if, somehow, the reclusive nun could protect the child she gave up those years ago.
Upon returning to Wales, David spilled the news. Owen was not overly surprised to discover that Arissa had been moved from Lambourn. In fact, he considered it somewhat of a blessing that she had been taken to Whitby and he immediately sent word to Henry Percy requesting a meeting. Although Hotspur had not officially joined the ranks of the rebellion and was still, technically, considered Henry’s premier general in the war against the Welsh insurgents, Owen was well aware that the man was verging on mutiny against the crown.
He and Hotspur had already met twice, discussing their mutual roles in Henry’s England, and Owen could sensenothing but bitterness and uncertainty from Henry Percy. It was apparent that the king was intent on blaming his greatest military leader for the loss of several fortresses along the Welsh border and Hotspur’s offense was limitless. If Henry did not trust his general, it was apparent that Hotspur no longer had reason to maintain his loyalty to the crown. All it would take was the correct persuasion to lure Hotspur into the Glendower fold.
Owen was no fool; an extremely intelligent man, he knew how to play the games of the rich and powerful. He knew that Henry could not survive without Northumberland’s support and set forth with great determination to undermine the weakening foundation of Hotspur’s loyalty. All it would take was the correct inducement.
He had a plan.
