Gorsedd nodded. “He is,” he said. “He has a younger brother just like him.”
Kevin was impressed. “Then you are a fortunate man,” he said, turning back for the armory with Gorsedd next to him. “All men hope to be as fortunate with fine sons to carry on their name.”
Gorsedd looked at him. “No sons for you, my lord?” he asked. “Are you married?”
Kevin shook his head. “I am married to my vocation,” he said, inevitably thinking of Annavieve. “I do not think I would make a very good husband right now. My service is for the duke at the moment and he is a demanding man.”
Gorsedd thought on that statement. As far as he knew, Hage had only recently come into the service of the Duke of Dorset.Gorsedd had known the duke for eleven years. He’d seen what de Ferrers was capable of and it was the general consensus among those who knew of the duke that he was a dangerous and fickle man. It was true that he had a stable of excellent knights back at Ilchester Castle, and Victor paid them very well, but he was a harsh and demanding taskmaster.
Men served Victor de Ferrers because they had to, not because they liked him. The duke also had a penchant for slender young men so the addition of a wife was most confusing as well as concerning. Gorsedd had to admit he felt sorry for the woman. Still, he was careful in how he spoke about Dorset.
“He is indeed,” Gorsedd replied after a moment. “I have been acquainted with the man for many years and I have seen evidence of his demands. But he also rewards his faithful men well.”
Kevin detected a hint of foreboding in that statement. It wasn’t so much the words as the tone. As they reached the armory tent, he paused and turned to Gorsedd.
“You said you have known him for years,” he said, his voice quiet. “Be honest and tell me what you know of him. I swear upon my life that the information will go no further.”
Gorsedd looked at the man, reluctant to say anything at all, but he didn’t want to insult the man. He was asking him a legitimate question, knight to knight, but Gorsedd was struggling with it. Men who spoke of Dorset tended not to live long.
“You must understand that I’ve never served the man,” he said, lowering his voice. “Anything I tell you would not be from experience. It would be hearsay.”
“I understand.”
Gorsedd cleared his throat softly. “He has a mighty army,” he said. “He has the best stable of knights in the south of England.”
“I have heard that,” Kevin said. “But where are they? None of them accompanied him to London.”
Gorsedd shrugged. “When you reach Ilchester, you will see for yourself,” he said. “It is the biggest military compound outside of Kenilworth or Windsor. His knights run the place. Dorset oversees his empire as a Caesar would oversee Rome.”
Kevin pondered that a moment. “And the duke himself?” he asked. “What is he like personally? I have heard rumor that he and Roger Longespee were lovers.”
Gorsedd grunted uncomfortably. “Of that, I have seen evidence,” he admitted. “I would say that it is true. But I have heard that Dorset has had many male lovers, although I’ve not seen the truth of that personally.”
Kevin lingered on thoughts of Victor and the effeminate young lord he’d been forced to kill. “I fear the duchess is in for a lifetime of misery in her new marriage,” he said. It was as closed as he could come to speaking sympathetically about Annavieve to anyone other than Thomas or Adonis. “But I appreciate your candor and honesty. I will take the information with me to my grave. If I can ever return the favor, you will let me know.”
Gorsedd eyed him. “Your willingness to take my son as your squire for the games puts you in my favor,” he said. “Cortez is too good to remain with Salisbury. He needs to learn from a man who can teach him more than we can. You are such a man, my lord. If Cortez performs well enough in the games, mayhap you will consider taking him back to Ilchester with you.”
Kevin nodded. “If he proves himself worthy, I will plead for the chance to do just that.”
Gorsedd smiled faintly. “You have my thanks,” he said. “But… one more thing.”
“What is that?”
Gorsedd took a deep breath, as if having difficulty bringing forth the words. He struggled for a moment before speaking.
“Keep him away from Dorset,” he finally said. “The duke likes young men… I do not want his eye to fall upon my son. Cortez would probably kill the man if the duke forced himself upon him and I do not wish to see my son ruined.”
Kevin understood. “You have my vow,” he said. “I will keep your son safe.”
Gorsedd’s shoulders drooped, as if he were greatly relieved. “Again,” he said quietly, “you have my thanks.”
“And you have mine.”
With that, they proceeded into the armory tent where more Salisbury knights, along with Adonis and Thomas, were preparing for the coming games. The mood was wrought with anticipation of what was to come and as Kevin donned his armor, pieces of mail and plate that he’d worn for six years in the Levant, his thoughts inevitably turned back to Annavieve. More and more, it was clear that the situation they were both in was becoming increasingly dark.
The character of the man they were both sworn to was becoming increasingly twisted. Kevin wondered just how much further it would twist.
He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
