“The trouble with Hawkstone began three years ago when Rupert rejected your marital proposal between his daughter and your son,” he pointed out. “Your son has only been a favorite of John’s for a year, two at the most. Nay, de Wrenville, do not tell me that the information of disloyalty comes from the king or that you are doing the king’s work. You are doing your own work because you want Hawkstone and what you perceive to be her rich lands. It would be better for all of us if you just admit that.”
By the time he was finished, Covington was red in the face. Jaw ticking, he turned away from Edward and claimed his cup of drink again, draining it. He was prevented from responding immediately when a knight bearing the tunic of Winterhold entered the chamber. Maxton immediately confronted the man and almost chased him out, but Covington stopped him.
“He may remain. This is Sir Hallam Chadlington, the captain of my armies.” As Maxton backed off and Hallam settled in by the door, eyeing the shaggy bear of a warrior, Covington refocused on Edward. “My lord, let us be plain. You spend your time at Warstone Castle, or at Pembroke, or Lioncross Abbey, or even London. I have not seen you in over a year. You have given little concern to Winterhold or Hawkstone, or any of your vassals along the Marches other than de Lara, yet you show up suddenly with a massive army, big knights, and verbally lash me on something you know nothing about. My life and how I conduct it should not concern you.”
It was the wrong thing to say to Edward. It was outright disrespect. But instead of becoming angry about it, Edward seemed to calm dramatically. In fact, a twinkle came to his eyes. Then, he started to chuckle, but it was without humor.
It was the calm before the storm.
“De Wrenville, until this moment, I had held out hope that you were a sane and reasonable man,” he said. “But you have just proven to me that you live in a world of delusions. You do realize that I can declare you an enemy of the king and take this property from you.”
“With my son as John’s confidante, you would not be believed,” Covington countered, brave when it came to throwing around the king’s name. “Moreover, I married The Marshal’s niece two months ago. I am now related to William Marshal. If I call upon him to defend me, you would be in a bind.”
It was a threat, perhaps suggesting it was Covington who held all of the power now. But Edward didn’t say a word. He looked to Caius, who realized it was his turn to speak up. He’d been watching the entire ridiculous exchange with an overinflated Covington de Wrenville, wondering when Edward was going to rip the man’s tongue from his mouth.
But Edward was going to let Caius do the honors.
Metaphorically, anyway.
He was ready.
“My name is Sir Caius d’Avignon,” he said as he stepped forward. “If you do not know that name, then allow me to introduce myself. I am the garrison commander for Richmond Castle and command more than two thousand men. I am one of William Marshal’s elite commanders. Part of my career was spent in The Levant with Richard doing things that I am going to have to do great atonement for in Purgatory when the time comes. Suffice it to say that I could butcher a man like you without effort, so do not test me. The Muslim armies had a name for me– The Britannia Viper. If you doubt my deadly strike, I can prove it to you. But you would not survive. Do you understand me so far?”
Covington was back to his expression of confusion, but now it was filled with anger. “Did William Marshal send you here to threaten me?”
“He did not,” Caius said. “I have come with the men you requested in your campaign against Hawkstone Castle, but it seems you have already gone forward with your plans to defeat the castle and de Thorington. I am also here to discover the truth of the situation, so do not lie to me. I do not do well with lies. I will ask questions and you will give me completely truthful answers. The use of the army is at my discretion and if I am not satisfied, you shall not have it.”
Covington was beginning to burn. “Use of The Marshal’s army isnotat your discretion,” he said. “I do not care who you are or how much you threaten me. I am married to William Marshal’s niece and unless you wish to create a rift in The Marshal’s family, you will turn that army over to me.”
“You are mistaken in that assumption,” Caius said coolly. “Any military support will not happen unless my questions are satisfied. The army will follow me, not you, so do not think you can commandeer them. They would laugh at you.”
“Then ask your damnable questions!”
Caius was enjoying Covington’s agitation. “We were told you captured Rupert de Thorington and his daughter,” he said. “Where are they?”
Angrily, Covington turned his back on him and marched over to a sideboard containing two pitchers, presumably both with wine. The sideboard was well-stocked with cups as a result. Covington picked up one of the pitchers and poured himself a sloppy cup.
“Rupert did not survive,” he said, taking a long drink before answering the second part of the question. “His daughter is in the vault.”
Caius didn’t like the sound of that. “What happened to de Thorington?”
Covington looked at him, pointedly. “A casualty of war.”
The answer was almost mocking, which didn’t sit well with Caius or anyone else in the room.
“By your hand?” Caius asked.
Covington shook his head. “I do not fight with my army,” he said. “He was dead when they brought him here.”
Edward could no longer remain silent. He sighed sharply. “Christ,” he muttered. “So Rupert is dead. What about his daughter?”
Covington’s attention shifted to him. “I told you that she was in the vault.”
Edward was starting to get angry all over again. “You would put awomanin the vault, you idiot?” he hissed. “De Wrenville, you will listen to me and listen well. You will release that woman from the vault and you will bring Rupert’s body to me, or that army I brought will be turned loose on you. And then I will send for more and I will raze Winterhold to the ground. Before you tell me that your son has the king’s ear and William Marshal would not be pleased by that, it is of little matter because you would be dead before they knew anything about it. You have provoked me for the last time. Is this in any way unclear?”
Covington could tell he meant it. He’d pushed the earl about as far as he could, but he was a prideful man. Submission did not come easily for him, which is why he’d married Alice. He wanted the power that William Marshal could bring him.
But he wasn’t stupid. He knew when it was time to capitulate.
