“And of yourself?”she prompted.
“Aye.Every tale you might wish for, and perhaps a few more.”
She laughed then, the familiarity of the sound like a knife to his heart.
For a moment, he thought that he might never force another word past his lips, but the dark-haired girl reappeared with a tray of food.He joined Guibert at the board with relief, knowing their hunger could no longer be denied.The meal would give him an opportunity to put aside his grief, at least for the moment.Alienor sat with Iolande, eyes bright, and, out of deference to her, Kado returned to his tale as quickly as he could.
“You are half Mongol, child, for Arpais was full in her superior blood.”He made the claim proudly, unable to stifle the curl of his lip when he considered the other half of Alienor’s lineage.Robert had been a fine man, but neither Mongol nor even nomad.Kado had been raised with pride in his kind that could not be so readily put aside.
“When her mother died, she rode with me.She was the finest horsewoman in our tribe.”Memories stopped his words again, the vision of Arpais riding, face tilted to the wind, making that lump rise in his throat again.It was hard to speak of her so soon after having his hopes of a reunion destroyed, but Kado owed Arpais’ child the tale.
He should know by now that ’twas folly to rely upon the morrow.
Alienor seemed to understand his dismay, for she covered his lined hand with her own soft one.The contrast between their hands prompted Kado to smile through his pain.A great-grandchild, he mused, shaking his head in wonder, even as his resolve to remain for a while at Montsalvat grew.
He had left Arpais with her infant daughter, granting the responsibility for her safety to her spouse.Only a fool made the same mistake twice.
“It is a long tale in the telling, but rumors came to us some years past of a line of kings who claimed they had been chosen to rule by the divine.These kings sought to regain their rightful heritage, a stolen crown, and were said to be secreted in the ancestral lands of the Visigoths.”
Kado glanced at his granddaughter and saw understanding in her eyes.The tale would be simpler to share, as she was aware of her husband’s heritage.“Thekhanwas troubled in those years.He grew aged himself and saw none fit to take his place as leader of our kind.That made him doubt the will of the divine, and I was sent to learn more of these kings and their claim for him.”Bitterness rose in Kado’s chest and he was forced to look away to regain his composure.“I would never have come had I known that Arpais would fall in love and refuse to return with me,” he confessed.“I would never have willingly paid that price, even for thekhan.”
Silence reigned around the table and Kado saw that none would dare ask him to continue, much to his relief.He had already revealed too much and wished to rest before he chose how much more to share.’Twas clear, though, that Alzeu’s bloodline fared little better than his own.
’Twas too soon to suggest an alternative plan, though Kado already had an idea of the path they might take.He would bide his time, wait for Iolande’s son to return.If that man surrendered his quest and passed responsibility for the battle to his child, if the child was a boy, then there would be time to speak of such matters.
Kado would wait and see his great-grandchild arrive in the world.That event could not be distant in the future, and he would savor each moment in learning more about Arpais’ daughter.
Alienor was her name.He liked it well enough.
“Can you ride?”he asked her and she smiled as she nodded, the resemblance to Arpais startling him anew.“Have you skill with a bow?”He raised a finger.“If not, I will train you...”
If naught else,two months had taught Dagobert much of Raimon’s habits.He stood in the shadows below the man’s second-floor window several nights after discovering Eustache’s location and listened.’Twas Thursday eve, and though the sky was overcast, Dagobert could have guessed the hour when Raimon’s cry of sexual release carried to his ears.
He scanned the gardens before quickly climbing the trellis on this side of the building.The woman would leave immediately, Dagobert knew.The routine of the sentries meant they would remain on the other side of the house for yet another few moments.
’Twas now or never.
The woman’s skirts were just disappearing and the door to Raimon’s chamber closing when Dagobert gained the window.The chamber was plunged into darkness, and only the sound of Raimon’s breathing filled the air.Dagobert swung over the window ledge and landed in the room on silent feet.He pulled his dagger and eased into the seat beside the bed.He could have waited in the darkness for Raimon to awaken but he was impatient to complete his plan.
Dagobert struck the flint on the table and lit a lantern beside the bed.He savored the look of panic that crossed Raimon’s features when that man spied him.Raimon reached for his servant’s bell but froze when Dagobert turned his blade to catch the light.
“You!”Raimon whispered.
“I escaped the grave.”Dagobert leaned closer.“For you and I have much to discuss, Raimon.”
That man eased backward.“What do you want?”
“You have something of mine and I would have it returned to me.”Dagobert moved closer and the other man recoiled from the dagger that touched his throat.“I have little affection for those who use my mark, especially when ’tis used for deceit.”
Raimon swallowed.“’Twas but a prank.”
Dagobert shook his head determinedly.“The deceit and imprisonment of a knight pledged to the service of another house is no jest.”
“’Tis no jest to challenge the king over his crown,” Raimon snapped.“And inciting his wrath against so many people is folly.”
Dagobert nodded in the darkness.“Aye, there is the truth in that.”
Raimon’s eyes narrowed.“You make a jest,” he accused.“You will never cede this battle...”
