Raw emotion rasped her quavering voice. “There’s someone who’s been waiting to meet you for a very long time. In fact, his whole young life.”
Taking him by the hand—like she’d always done when he was just a lad—Cardin’s mother coaxed him up the cobblestone path toward the crenelated castle. “Come, Cardin. Meet your son.”
Time stood still.
The warm sun kissed his weathered face. A late summer breeze whispered through his long hair. Birds chirped and twittered in the tall trees. The crisp, clean scent of pine mingled with the pungent tang of the freshwater moat.
From the corner of his eye, Cardin glimpsed Sir Olivier de Montfort—First Knight ofle Château de Landuc—leading the wearied warriors from Biarritz across the grassy bailey toward their quarters in the knights’ lodge near the stables. Gaultier and Papa watched with bated breath as he followed his mother, stumbling up the cobblestone path toward the castle entrance.
And there, in front of the massive oak double doors leading into the imposingChâteau de Landuc, stood a dark-haired little boy, his innocent face alight with wonder.
Waiting to meet his pitiful, prodigal father.
“Cardin, this is Lukaz. We call him Little Wolf, after you, Basati—the Basque Wolf of Biarritz.” Releasing Cardin’s hand, Laudine gestured for the awestruck lad to step forward. “Lukaz, this is your father, Sir Cardin de Landuc, Captain of King Guillemin’s royal archers fromle Château de Beaufortin Finistère. He’s been defending the region of Aquitaine, for King Philippe of France, atle Château de Montmarinin Biarritz.” She stroked Lukaz’ dark, shiny waves so like his own. “Dis bonjour à ton Papa. Say hello to your father.”
“Bonjour, Papa.” Sturdy little arms tightly encircled his waist as Lukaz flung himself into a clutching, clinging embrace. “I told everyone I’m not a bastard! Idohave a father.You.”He nestled his small head into Cardin’s quivering stomach. “I’m so happy you’ve come home.”
Stunned speechless by an onslaught of conflicting emotions, Cardin shook, his stomach clenched, and his throat constricted, as he caressed the boy’s soft hair and held him close for the very first time.
His voice raspy and raw, Cardin choked out a muffled response. “Me, too. And I’m pleased to meet you, Lukaz. I’m sorry I’ve been gone so long.”
Enormous blue eyes, filled with hope and desperate longing, looked up at him imploringly. “When you go back to Biarritz, please take me with you. I don’t want to live withTontonBastien andTatieGabrielle anymore. I want to live withyou.”
Panicked, Cardin searched his mother’s rapturous face, pleading for her intervention and his salvation.
“We’ll have plenty of time to discuss that later. But first—Lukaz, why don’t you introduce Papa to Lady Ulla and Vill?” Laudine laid a gentle hand on the little boy’s back, guiding him toward the two companions who waited patiently on the large stone step in front of the castle entrance.
Instantly animated, Lukaz spun toward the intriguing young woman in a deep green dress whose long black curls tumbled to her slender waist. “This is Lady Ulla. She’s a Priestess of Dana, likeMamie.She’s giving me archery lessons, Papa. And teaching me to hunt with her falcon, Finn.” He knelt to the ground and hugged a massive grey wolf who lovingly licked his proud, smiling face. “And this is Vill, her wolf. Lady Ulla healed him when he was a wounded pup. She found him caught in a trap. His leg was broken and bleeding. But she healed him, Papa.” Lukaz scratched the wiry fur behind the wolf’s alert ears. “Vill fetches the game that Finn hunts. He retrieves it for us. Lady Ulla trained him, Papa. And she’s helping me train a falcon, too. My very own peregrine. Her name is Rask. Lady Ulla helped me name her. It’s a Viking name!”
Laudine chuckled at Lukaz’ youthful exuberance. “We can tell your papa all about it once he’s had a chance to come inside. Give your Uncle Gaultier a big hug hello, and let’s bring him and your papa into the castle. I’m sure they’d like to wash up, change clothes, and have some of Maëlys’ deliciouspot-au-feu. Come, let’s bring them both inside.”
Cardin followed his mother, his son, the wolf Vill, and the enigmatic Lady Ulla into the castle foyer where afternoon sunlight streaming through the stained glass transom window above the entrance door cast a brilliant palette of colors onto the gleaming pinewood floor.
Memories flooded him. Playingcache-cache—hide-and-seek—with his two older brothers. Training with Sir Olivier and the knights of Landuc. Riding his father’s magnificent Friesian and Ardennes horses from the renowned castle stables. Summers atla Joyeuse Gardewith Lancelot and his intrepid knights.Yuletide celebrations, with an adolescent Lady Ulla strumming her golden harp, filling the entire castle with her melodic, angelic voice.
Dancing with his beloved wife.
A smothering blanket of guilt robbed Cardin of breath as his chest compressed with grief.
“Are you all right, Papa?” Blue eyes as bright as Charlotte’s searched his face.
Cardin straightened his spine, threw his shoulders back, and inhaled deeply to regain his composure. He cleared his throat and forced a reassuring smile. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s been a long time since I’ve been home.”
A dutiful valet descended the stone stairwell which led to the upper two floors of the castle. “Your bedrooms are ready, my lords. I’ve placed a bucket of warm water in each chamber for you to wash. There’s herbal soap, a clean drying cloth, fresh tunic and pair of braies on each of your beds.Shall I escort you upstairs,messieurs?”
Cardin glanced at his brother Gaultier, whose eager expression conveyed his impatience to remove the grime and filth from their long journey.
A protective arm resting on Lukaz’ shoulder, his mother suggested brightly, “You two go on up to your rooms and refresh. I’ll bring Lukaz into the alcove outside the kitchen, where you can join us when you’re ready.” She kissed her two sons’ stubbled cheeks. “See you in a bit.À bientôt.” With a warm smile, she led Lukaz, Ulla, and Cardin’s father, Esclados, toward the castle kitchen. “Maëlys made some oat cakes with cinnamon and honey. Let’s have one or two while we wait for your Papa and Uncle Gaultier. Ulla, would you care to join us?”
As he started up the stairs behind his brother Gaultier and the valet Jehan, Cardin noticed that Ulla declined the invitation with a humble shake of her head. She hugged Lukaz, kissed Laudine’s cheeks, and whistled for her wolf, who perked up and trotted instantly to her side. With deep green eyes as verdant as the dense forest, she held Cardin’s assessing gaze, wordlessly saying goodbye.
And flashed him a dazzling smile that robbed him of coherent thought.
“See you tomorrow, Lady Ulla. For my archery lesson. And the hunt. Bye, Vill!” Lukas waved farewell and happily followed his grandmother to the awaiting treats on the trestle table.
Cardin watched the beguiling dark-haired priestess quietly exit the castle through the back kitchen door, her loyal lupine companion at her heels.
She’s breathtaking. Beautiful. But not for you, Basati.
