It did indeed prove to be Luc and Thierry Douglas who had taken shelter at Tulley’s inn.Both knights had dark hair and rode chestnut destriers that were also brothers.Quinn had smiled at the sight of Emperor and Dragon in the stables, knowing the truth before he even entered the common room of the inn.Their squires, Baird and Thorne, each standing behind his knight, grinned at the sight of him, and he was certain both boys had grown several inches in height.To Quinn’s surprise, though, Rolfe de Viandin was not with them.
After greetings were exchanged and Quinn had shaken the rain out of his cloak, he joined them at the board.Baird hastened to fetch him a cup of ale.
“Rolfe rode on ahead.He wished to be home before the Yule, though we thought there would be too much snow on the pass,” Thierry said.
“Aye, we recalled your tale of it well enough and were cautious as a result,” Luc said, nudging Quinn.
“I never thought to ask if there had been others of our party when we came through the pass,” Quinn said.“I thought you all behind us.”
“And they are not so welcoming there,” Thierry said with a grimace.“Truly, it is more than the wind that is chilly at Beauvoir.”They laughed together at that as Baird returned with another pitcher of ale and a cup for Quinn.He poured and the comrades saluted each other.It was good cold ale.
“Did you ask about Rolfe?”Quinn asked.
“Aye,” Luc said and exchanged a merry glance with his brother.Quinn could not guess what amused them so.“Though I feared they might recall that beast of his more readily than Rolfe himself.”
“Mephistopheles,” Thierry said with a smile of affection.“What manner of fool would give the largest blackest destrier such a name?It would invite trouble.”
“Though Rolfe has found fortune, not trouble,” Luc observed and his brother nodded agreement.
“Aye?”Quinn asked.“How so?”
“You will never believe it,” Luc said, dropping his voice low in confidence as he leaned over the board.His eye twinkled merrily.“Rolfe was wed at Beauvoir keep.”
“Wed?Rolfe de Viandin?What madness is this?”Quinn demanded with a smile.He could not imagine Rolfe taking a wife at all, and certainly couldn’t think of a reason for the ceremony to occur at that fortress.“He is the one of us who will be last to marry, to be sure!”
Luc wagged a finger at him.“Not so.Rolfe arrived at the pass with a maiden.Evidently, he had rescued her or was escorting her for some reason or another.”
“A maiden?”Quinn asked.
“A maiden,” Luc confirmed.
“Shewasvery pretty, by all accounts,” Thierry whispered and they all chuckled together.
“And Rolfe’s mother was seeking him out, for she knew he returned home,” Luc continued.“His father had been a comrade of Bertrand, Lord of Beauvoir, so she had paused there on her way south to find Rolfe, then was compelled to remain because of the snow.Evidently, she had appealed to Tulley to find Rolfe a bride, for his older brother died last fall.”
“Rolfe inherited Viandin?”Quinn said with surprise.
Thierry nodded.“And was wed at the Yule, at Beauvoir, to the maiden with whom he traveled, at Tulley’s dictate.When there was a thaw in January, he rode on to Viandin with bride and mother.”
“These are fine tidings indeed,” Quinn said and raised his cup to toast Rolfe’s good fortune.They drank to their comrade’s health and Quinn guessed that he was not the sole one to be amazed.“Are you certain it is true?”
“So they say,” Thierry said.
“We thought to see if you had returned to Sayerne or not, then continue to Viandin to confirm the tale for ourselves,” Luc said.“It lies on the path to Paris, does it not?”
Quinn nodded.
“Unless Rolfe comes to Sayerne in May, as we all vowed to do,” Thierry added.
“He might not choose to make the journey if his lady wife is with child,” Quinn said.They agreed on this, then the brothers looked expectantly at Quinn.
“And how did you find Sayerne?”Luc asked.
“In ruin,” Quinn admitted ruefully and they expressed dismay.He held up a hand.“And I, too, am wed at Tulley’s command, by strange coincidence, and am now Lord d’Annossy.It has been but days.”
“Annossy?”the brothers asked in unison.
“A neighboring holding to Sayerne, and one that is in better repair.”Quinn leaned forward and lowered his voice.“Annossy’s borders are under attack from brigands, and the holding administered by a daughter alone.Tulley insisted upon the match and charged me to rout the villains.”
