Juliandra simply nodded her head, unsure how to reply. When Kevin lowered his head and looked back to his vellum, she spoke up.
“And my father? May I have him returned to me, please?”
Kevin didn’t look at her as he spoke. “He is not here,” he said, which was technically not a lie. He’d been taken to the nearby church of St. Aelhaiarn’s for temporary keeping. “I do not keep Welsh prisoners here at Wybren where they can possibly engage in insurrection. All Welsh prisoners are moved… out of Wales.”
He’d gotten through that without outright lying to her and congratulated himself for it. It was true that they sent all prisoners back to Trelystan, the closest castle to Wybren, because he didn’t need a bunch of Welsh prisoners rising up and having the support of the locals. But Juliandra looked at him with concern.
“He’s gone?” she said anxiously. “But… but he was only arrested yesterday. You have sent him away already?”
Kevin couldn’t seem to look at her. “I had men returning to my properties in England,” he said. “As I said, I do not keep Welsh prisoners in Wales.”
Juliandra seemed confused by that and quite distressed. She pulled forth all of those coins she’d collected from her singing.
“I will give you all of these coins if you will only send for him,” she said. “This is more than enough to pay for his toll.”
Kevin looked at the coins. “I have money,” he said. “I do not need all of those coins. If you truly want your father released,then you have something that is more valuable to me than money.”
“What?”
“Your knowledge of this area and of the people who live here,” he said. “That is what I need. If you are willing to remain here, sing for my men, and answer my questions, then that is more valuable than any toll you could pay. Am I making myself clear?”
Juliandra wasn’t certain at all. “I… I am to remain here as a… a…?”
“My guest,” he supplied. “An advisor. You have answers that I need.”
She shook her head. “I do not have any answers,” she said. “I help my father in his merchant stall, I account for his money, and I write songs that I have only sung to myself until tonight. I manage my father’s home and attend mass once a week, and that is all I know. What answers could I possibly have?”
“You were able to tell me about Aeron,” he said, finally looking at her. “My lady, I am blind in this land of theCymry. I have been here a few months and have yet to truly come to know those in my domain, and you were the first one able to tell me anything. Continue helping me become knowledgeable on this land I have acquired and your good behavior will secure your father. Now do you understand?”
She did. She put her hand to her belly as her stomach began to churn. “But… but for how long?”
“Until I decide your father’s debt has been paid,” he said. “Why? Do you have something better to attend to?”
She didn’t, but she didn’t want to tell him that. As Juliandra scrambled for an answer, she found herself looking over the knight, taking a long and solid assessment of him. As she’d noted before, he wasn’t terribly tall, but he was very handsome, with deep blue eyes, dark blond hair, and a granite-square jaw.He was beautifully and powerfully built, and there wasn’t one thing that wasn’t formidable about him. He had a terrifying look about him but, so far, their conversation had only suggested that he was deliberate and calm. He didn’t seem hotheaded as some men could be. In fact, quite the opposite.
From what she’d heard, he had brought law and order to the Marches. And in giving half of the tolls to the church, he proved that he wasn’t greedy. It sounded as if he were benevolent as far asSaesnegknights went, so based on that knowledge, she supposed that remaining at Wybren wouldn’t be a danger. If he wanted answers, she could tell him as much– or as little– as she wanted to. The only matter of concern to her was the release of her father.
De Lara wanted something.
She wanted something.
Perhaps this was the way to achieve it.
“There is my father’s business and his house to tend to while he is away,” she answered belatedly. “While he is away, they are my complete responsibility.”
Kevin sat back in his chair, eyeing her. “Don’t you have servants that can attend to both?”
“Of course, but…”
“Then it is settled. You will remain at Wybren as my guest until such time as your father’s sentence is satisfied.”
Juliandra was coming to see that she had no choice. In truth, the prospect of remaining at Wybren with de Lara was somewhat… intriguing. The Welsh in her was wholly resistant, but the woman in her… and the English side of things… didn’t seem to be all that opposed.
It was quite perplexing.
“I would prefer if you set a limit to my time spent,” she said. “I cannot remain here for years and I do not want my father to remain in the vault for years simply for failing to pay a silly toll.”
He lifted his big shoulders. “Very well,” he said. “Six months.”
