He was hurrying to leave but Margaretha stopped him again. “Wait,” she said. When he stopped to look at her, impatience in his features, she softened. “I do love you, my dear boy. Surely you know that.”
“I know.”
“I simply want you to be happy. But I want to be happy, too.”
Val softened his impatient stance, but only for a moment. “I promise you that, someday, we shall both be exquisitely happy. I would stake my life on it.”
“Then you shall marry someday?”
“Of course I will.”
“Soon?”
“If I meet her tomorrow, then mayhap soon. But if I do not… be patient, dearest Mother. I will not disappoint you.”
Margaretha knew that. He’d not disappointed her yet; he’d always been a son to be very proud of. Well, most of the time. He flashed her that devilish smile, the one he always flashed her when he got his way, and dashed from the chamber.
When he was gone, Margaretha sat in silence, pondering their conversation and listening to the distant shouts of the men in the bailey of Selborne Castle. Men sworn to the king and, through the king, to her son. He was a favored of Henry and a man who could have anything he wished simply for the asking. It was a charmed life that Val led, in royal favor, something he worked his entire life to attain. Aye, she was proud of him. Overwhelmingly so.
But pride wouldn’t bring her any grandchildren.
With a heavy sigh, Margaretha returned to her morning meal, one she found she no longer had an appetite for. Something in Val’s expression as he’d left, in that brilliant smile of straight, white teeth, had given her a sense of doom. She didn’t know why. Perhaps, it was only her imagination and nothing more. But something in his face had had a shadow of dread upon it.
Today is a day for dread.
It was just a feeling she had.
CHAPTER TWO
The village of Whitehill
4 miles east of Selborne
Upon seeing theblue roan Belgian warmblood, a very rare color of horse, Val and Calum were convinced that they had happened upon the knight Lord Horsham was seeking. Horsham had described the horse and the knight in detail, a man he wanted brought to justice for the murder of his beloved son.
It was Val’s intention to see that Lord Horsham got his wish.
In the old stone livery in a part of the village that had two popular inns, they were inclined to believe that their man was in one of the taverns but the livery keep couldn’t tell them which one. He did, however, describe a tall knight with a long red beard and curly red hair, which made finding de Wyck a little more certain. A man of that description would stand out.
It was still early enough in the morning that men were just awakening and preparing for the coming day. From their vantage point at the livery, the knights could see both inns; one was to the north about one hundred feet away across a vacant lot and the other one was directly across the road. From the rain the previous night, the road was muddy and the air cold, the breathof living creatures creating puffs of fog upon the air. As the livery keep scurried off, fearful of all of the armed soldiers, Val and Calum gathered men at the rear of the livery to produce a plan of action.
“You were briefed on our purpose for coming to Whitehill,” Val said to the forty-three men he’d brought with him, including three knights. “Based on a discussion with the livery keep, we believe that the man we are seeking is in one of the two taverns on this road. The tavern to the north, one-storied, is The Peacock and the Flame. I believe most of you men are acquainted with it. Probably more intimately than I would care to know.”
The men snorted, looking at each other knowingly. Val was generous in the time and freedom he allowed his men for service well-rendered and The Peacock and the Flame had a host of lovely women from which to choose. It was popular with travelers and locals alike. Val grinned because his men were.
“But no such distractions today because we have work to do,” he said, looking pointedly at his smirking soldiers. He threw a thumb over his shoulder. “Across the road is The Golden Pheasant. That one is bigger and less expensive to lodge in. Since we cannot know where the man is staying, our best option is to flush him out. Calum will take Kenan with him along with twenty men down to The Peacock and the Flame while I will take Mayne with me and the remainder of the men to The Golden Pheasant. Now, separate yourselves into two groups of twenty and await further orders.”
The soldiers did as they were told as Val turned to his knights, the three best knights a man had ever had the privilege to serve with. He’d brought them all back with him from France when he’d returned with his royal appointment, so these were men proven in battle. Along with Calum, a big blonde stud of a man, there was Kenan de Poyer, built like a bear with big hands and shaggy brown hair, and Mayne de Garr, a knight whowas handsome to a fault and took great care in his personal appearance.
Mayne could fight with the best of them. But if a hair was out of place on his combed head in the process, he would become furious. It was often quite entertaining to watch Kenan ruffle Mayne’s hair, only for Mayne to light Kenan’s tunic on fire. That had happened three times that Val knew of, and probably more that he didn’t. Mayne didn’t take kindly to Kenan’s taunts and there was a subversive war going on between them when Val wasn’t looking. But in battle, they would both kill and die for one another, making it an odd relationship, indeed.
But on this morning, both men were primed for what was to come. The ride from Selborne had been hard and fast. Even now, they awaited their orders. Val didn’t keep them in suspense.
“It is my suggestion that you have men surround the tavern and cover all windows and doors,” he said to the three knights. “Have a group of men go in from the rear and flush everyone out through the front. These taverns will be crowded this early in the morning, so be on your guard. We are looking for a man with long red hair and a beard to match, and he will be in no mood to be taken prisoner. He’s killed once and it is my suspicion he will not hesitate to do it again if threatened. But we want him alive for Lord Horsham’s good justice.”
The knights absorbed the orders. “The Golden Pheasant has two floors,” Calum said. “As I recall, there were at least eight sleeping rooms above the common room.”
Val nodded. “Eight plus a communal loft,” he said with confidence. “I will send Mayne and a contingent of men to roust that floor but ultimately, everyone will be driven out of the front door. I would suggest you follow a similar tactic.”
