He began to head towards the walls.
“You may want to tell Lady de Wolfe that I suspect her husband’s army has been sighted,” he said. Then, he came to an abrupt pause. “And I thank you very kindly for the conversation. I hope… I hope it will be the first of many, my lady.”
Annaleigh smiled, revealing lovely, white teeth. “I would be honored.”
He smiled in a way that suggested he was pleased if that was all he could get from her at the moment and, with a dip of his head, trotted off towards the gatehouse.
Annaleigh watched him go for a moment, her smile fading. They’d had a few varied conversations like this one in the past, though not so deep, so she knew he’d forget about it the next time he saw her. Perhaps not forget about it so much as ignore it. The man had a sharp mind and not a bad memory.
He was simply choosing to ignore her wishes.
But she wouldn’t change her mind.
Turning on her heel, Annaleigh headed towards the keep to tell her cousin that her husband, the great Wolfe of the Border, was on her doorstep.
CHAPTER FOUR
Bamburgh Castle
Even though hewasn’t the legal owner and the castle didn’t belong to him in the least, there was still a satisfaction when the mighty fortress of Bamburgh came into view. In spite of everything, it washiscastle.
War breathed a sigh of satisfaction.
At the head of the Bamburgh army, about one thousand of them including fifty-one wounded, one of his lieutenants sent a runner ahead to inform the castle that the army was nearly home. Not that they couldn’t see it for themselves, but it was good manners to announce it. The battle at Thropton was over for good, with de Whitton buried and the castle left with a small contingent to repair and protect it until Henry could decide what was to be done with it.
The imposing bastion of stone and mortar sat on a promontory overlooking the sea, a sea that had been filled with Northmen for many centuries. A sea that was a murky gray-green, with silt churning up from the heavy currents near the shore. But on a clear day, the view was breathtaking.
War had quickly learned to love it.
The gulls were crying overhead, scouting the land for a meal, perhaps hoping for something from the incoming army. To War, it was as if they were welcoming him home. He’d only been at the castle a short amount of time, but already, it was home to him. God and the king willing, he’d be here for many years to come. In his opinion, it was one of the only fortresses in England worthy of his magnificence.
“Well?” a voice came from his right. “What’s next, War? Are we able to relax a little now? There’s much we need to do with this army, you know. We have many new recruits that need proper guidance. That was apparent during the battle at Thropton.”
War turned slightly, seeing his second in command riding near him. “Who is to the rear?” he asked. “You are supposed to be covering our retreat.”
Sir Montmorency “Monty” Vandergriff simply lifted his blond eyebrows, looking off to the meadow of seagrass to the south. “Alexei is to the rear,” he said. “You know the men are always vigilant when he is around. They’re terrified of the knight from Vilnius, so you’ve nothing to worry over.”
War grunted. “Except I toldyouto cover the rear.”
Monty didn’t particularly care about that. He gestured towards Bamburgh. “We are almost home,” he said. “I suppose I am simply eager to be done with this hellish traveling and warfare. We’ve had too much of it since we arrived at Bamburgh.”
“It was not exactly calm before you arrived.” Another knight spoke up, one who had been at Bamburgh and in royal service for several years. He possessed the unlikely name of Clement de Hemmet, which caused no end of jokes at his expense, something he wasn’t exactly keen about. “Bamburgh has been active for centuries, so do not think you’ll rest here, safe and sound. We must always be vigilant.”
War wasn’t unaware that Clement had wanted the very position that he currently held. The knight with the odd name had made no secret of the fact that he felt slighted over the king’s choice to put War in command of Bamburgh when he had served at his post for so many years. Because of that, Monty and Alexei had watched War’s back during the several skirmishes they’d had since they’d come to Bamburgh and, so far, Clement hadn’t made a move for War. He’d been completely loyal in all situations.
But they still didn’t trust him.
“I think Monty meant that it would be nice to spend an extended amount of time at Bamburgh,” War said steadily. “We’ve had four instances since my arrival when the army has been called out and…”
Clement cut him off. “And after the very first one, you spent months recovering from your wounds,” he said. When Monty shot him a withering look, Clement realized he must have sounded condescending. “I mean no disrespect, my lord. The wounds you sustained were substantial. Had we not found you when we did…”
“There is no need to revisit that subject,” War interrupted him firmly. “I am sorry if my survival has disappointed you, de Hemmet, but I am perfectly well and fully in command of Bamburgh. If that is something that displeases you, then I am certain you can be sent elsewhere. We do not want you to remain if you are unhappy.”
“I am not unhappy,” Clement said quickly. “I have been at Bamburgh for several years. My wife was born in the village. She would not wish to leave.”
“Then show Herringthorpe the respect he has earned,” Monty growled. “I grow weary of your veiled aggression, de Hemmet.”
War held up a hand before the conversation veered out of control. “I do not care what you say to each other in private, but in front of the men, we are united,” he said. “The moment it seems that we are not united is the moment I send you away, de Hemmet. Is that understood?”
