“I told you I would. That is good enough for you.”
Summerlin wriggled his eyebrows; it would have to suffice. He glanced over his shoulder at the massive edifice of Wolfe’s Lair, wondering what had become of his brother-in-law. He’dhoped to have an ally in Warenne but it was evident that he had been abandoned. He scratched his head with a bloodied hand.
“The last I heard, the knights you seek were heading for Wellesbourne Castle,” he said, defeat in his tone. “Norfolk sent them there to try and elicit a promise of fealty from the older Wellesbourne. Since the younger Wellesbourne serves Northumberland, Norfolk would try to sway the father with the hope that if the father swears fealty to Edward then the son will follow.”
Atticus was quite interested in what he had to say. “Andrew Wellesbourne?” he clarified. “Norfolk is trying to gain the man’s vow?”
Summerlin nodded. “I swear to you on my oath as a knight that my last information on the whereabouts of de la Londe and de Troiu are Wellesbourne Castle,” he said. “I do not know if they are still there. I was sent north by Norfolk to submit his proposal to you and your father, which I have done. That is all I know.”
Atticus was genuinely perplexed. “So he would try to gain Adam Wellesbourne’s fealty through the man’s father?”
“It would seem so.”
Atticus pondered that information, turning to Kenton, who was standing over near the gates with the empty crossbow in his hand. He waved Kenton over. As the big knight came near, Atticus relayed to him what Summerlin had told him and Kenton was clearly just as bewildered as Atticus was. In fact, the usually stone-faced knight sneered as he mulled over what he’d been told.
“What would make Norfolk so determined to destroy Northumberland’s knight corps?” he asked, more of a musing than an actual question. “There are several battle lords that are loyal to Henry, so why single out Northumberland? What purpose could he have?”
Atticus turned to look at Summerlin, who by this time had his attention on du Reims. The knight with the severed tendons had managed to roll himself into a sitting position also, but he was essentially crippled after Atticus’ attack. Atticus spoke loudly to gain Summerlin’s attention.
“Why does Norfolk want so badly to destroy Northumberland’s knights?” he asked him.
“I know.”
The voice came not from Summerlin but from the gates of Wolfe’s Lair. Atticus, Kenton, and even Summerlin turned to see Solomon lumbering from the gates. The man was moving slowly and painfully, as he usually did in the morning with the disease that caused his joints to ache and swell. Atticus went to his father to help the man.
“What are you doing here, Papa?” he asked, grasping his father by the arm. “I have handled the situation. Go back inside and go to bed. I will come in when this has all been settled.”
Solomon waved him off. “Nay,” he grumbled. “I must speak now. I heard your question. It seems to me that I know why Norfolk is intent to destroy Northumberland’s ranks.”
Atticus was puzzled. “How would you know this?”
Solomon fixed on his youngest son. “Because three years ago, when Henry was upon the throne, Norfolk was still a supporter of the king, as were we,” he said. “The man sent me a missive at that time– he wanted Titus for his youngest daughter in marriage but I refused. Titus had already been pledge to the de Shera heiress so Norfolk wanted you instead. Again, I refused. I told him that my sons were not meant for de Mowbray stock. I am sure he was insulted because I never heard from him again. Dear God… that may be why Titus was approached first. Norfolk was still trying to bring him into his fold and killed him when he refused.”
Atticus was somewhat horrified by the revelation. “Why did you not tell us of this?” he demanded, although it was without force. “We knew nothing of Norfolk’s overtures to wed Titus or me to his daughter.”
Solomon shrugged, suddenly looking very old and very weary. “There was no reason to tell you,” he said. “Besides, you were away serving Northumberland and I rarely saw you as it was. Why waste breath on talk of Norfolk? It certainly did not seem worth mentioning until now.”
Atticus didn’t press his father but what the man told him was certainly food for thought. It would explain Norfolk’s obsessive behavior when it came to the destruction of Henry Percy’s stable of knights. There was a great deal of odd dealings but nothing distracted from the fact that now, Atticus had his answer.Wellesbourne Castle.Now, he knew his next destination. He looked over his shoulder to Kenton, who was still standing over by Summerlin and du Reims.
“Keep du Reims and send Summerlin back,” he told him. “We will keep du Reims as insurance that Norfolk’s army will not attack Wolfe’s Lair. If they do, I will do to du Reims what I threatened to do to Summerlin– throw his dead body over the wall and onto his men. Make sure Summerlin understands this.”
Kenton nodded, turning to Summerlin, who had heard Atticus’ directive. It was clear that Summerlin realized he should have been shrewder when dealing for his release– he should have included du Reims as well. Nothing was ever mentioned about releasing du Reims. Disgusted with himself, with the situation in general, Summerlin knew he had no room to negotiate. The best he could hope for was de Wolfe’s mercy.
“Will you at least make sure du Reims is tended?” he asked.
Kenton, who was closer to him, grunted. “We are not animals,” he grumbled. “The knight will be well tended.”
Summerlin glanced at his dead soldiers, bleeding out over the frozen earth. “Will you also bury my dead?”
Kenton cocked a dark eyebrow. “I told you that we are not animals,” he said, his voice hard and gritty like shards of steel. “Go back to your men now and return to Norfolk. Tell him that Wolfe’s Lair is still held for Henry and that will not change.”
Weary, and in pain, Summerlin rolled to his feet and stood for a few moments, unsteadily. His head was still swimming from Atticus’ blow. Glancing up to the wall, he caught sight of Warenne near the gatehouse, as he had seen the man when he had first arrived, but he made no move to acknowledge the man. He knew, without a doubt, that they were at odds, and this entire meeting on the frozen moors outside of Wolfe’s Lair had gone very badly for all of them. With no mount and four dead men-at-arms around him, Summerlin began the long trek back to his encampment.
Kenton and Atticus watched the man go. In short order, Kenton ordered several men to collect du Reims and take the man into the fortress, which they did. Solomon followed. Meanwhile, Atticus was still standing with Kenton near the half-open gates, watching Summerlin stagger off into the distance.
“Now what?” Kenton asked Atticus. “Do we ride for Wellesbourne?”
Atticus nodded. “Absolutely,” he said. “We will leave today. Make sure the horses are prepared and that we have adequate supplies. It will take us two or three weeks at best, depending on the weather and how fast we can move, so I intend to start right away.”
