War nodded. “You may tell Lady de Wolfe that I slept quite comfortably,” he said. “I visited the knights’ quarters, where my men were, and their accommodations were quite satisfactory. In fact, I was just going to find my men. It seems that we are to leave for Wark Castle within the hour.”
“Ah,” Christian said. “The grand tour?”
“So it would seem.”
“Then you must find your men and tell them to prepare,” Christian said. “May I walk with you?”
“Please.”
The two of them began to head off in the direction of the knights’ quarters. Christian glanced up in the sky, shielding his eyes from the sun.
“At least the weather will hold for you,” he said. “It can be quite unpredictable this far north, or have you discovered that for yourself yet?”
War glanced up into the clear, blue sky. “It has seemed a little erratic at times,” he said. “Mist seems to favor Bamburgh.”
“Indeed,” Christian said. “The entire coast can be covered with it. Berwick, especially.”
“Where your cousin is?”
“Aye,” Christian said. “Actually, my eldest brother is there, too. Alec. I believe you met him.”
“The man who looks so much like your father?”
Christian grinned. “He acts like him, too,” he said. “I have two younger brothers, also.”
War looked around. “I believe I saw them,” he said. “Young boys?”
“Nathaniel is four years of age and Kevin has seen about twelve years,” Christian said. “I heard that you have younger brothers, also.”
“I do,” War said. “Sterling and Callum are in London, serving in the royal household.”
“They will not come north to serve with you?”
War shook his head firmly. “All I would want to do is box their ears or kick them in the arse,” he said, watching Christian snort. “They are thorns in my side, but I would kill or die for them.”
“No truer words were spoken about any brothers,” Christian said. He paused a moment before continuing. “I heard you came from Suffolk?”
War nodded. “I was born there.”
“But I heard you say that your mother was from the north.”
Again, War nodded. “Her family is from Yorkshire.”
“Ah,” Christian said in understanding. “Mine is from Scotland. She is a cousin to Lady de Wolfe.”
“So you’re all related?”
“We are a clan unto ourselves,” Christian said, grinning. “In fact, in speaking of cousins, I’ve been wanting to ask you a question. May I?”
“Go ahead.”
Christian scratched his head thoughtfully. “I’ve heard a few people comment on how much you look like William,” he said. “I was wondering if you might be a cousin? Most of the de Wolfes are big and dark like you are and, God knows, there are enough de Wolfe relations running around the north. Half of Wolverhampton contains de Wolfe cousins and relations. Mayhap somewhere back in your family line?”
War didn’t like the question. In truth, he was caught off guard by it. He didn’t get the sense that he was being probed and the reality was that it was simply in the course of conversation. There would be no possible way Christian Hage could know anything about him or his relationship to William, but Christian had pointed out something that War hadn’t noticed until he’d come to Castle Questing– the reality was that he did, in fact, look like William. He was surprised it had taken someone this long to point that out.
He supposed the question had to come sometime.
They were just entering the area where the knights’ quarters were located and War spied Alexei and Monty outside of thestone building. They looked to be working on a saddle between them. War came to a pause, turning to Christian.
