Peter lifted his eyebrows. “I am not certain.”
Gareth didn’t ask any further questions. He made it to the slag merchant’s stall and hurried the man along as quickly as he could, having it all loaded into a wagon they’d brought from Wybren the day before. He paid the merchant well and within the hour, Gareth, Sean, Peter, Alexander, William, and about eight hundred de Lohr soldiers were making their way north to Wybren Castle.
*
“This is ahell of a place, Kevin.”
The words came from Sean as he dismounted his frothing steed in the inner bailey of Wybren Castle. Kevin was vastly surprised to see his brother, though not displeased. He was, however, curious.
“More than you know,” he said, his gaze drifting over his brother who had recovered quite nicely from his brush with death a couple of years ago. “It is quite agreeable to see you again, Sean. You are looking well. How is Dani?”
Sean smiled at the mention of his wife. “Angry because I would not bring her with me,” he said. “She wanted to come and see your new castle. Truthfully, I think she wanted to get away from screaming children. The twins have reached an age where they are quite a challenge.”
Kevin grinned. “Terrors, are they?”
Sean snorted. “That is putting it mildly,” he said. “They are not quite two years of age and smarter than I am. Everything isnew and wonderful to them, but they want everything they see and God help us all if Dani denies them– they scream louder than banshees. I had to come north to see you simply to gain some peace.”
Kevin laughed. “And leave poor Dani to deal with the tyrants.”
Sean nodded. “I am a coward, I know,” he said. “But there is good news, too. Dani is pregnant again and that is also why I did not bring her. She should not travel.”
Kevin put a hand on his shoulder. “Congratulations,” he said. “I shall pray for a son this time.”
Sean shrugged. “Truth be told, I adore my daughters,” he said. “They are beautiful angels even if they are little terrors, but I find that I rather like girls. I would not mind another one.”
“But a son would be welcome.”
“Most definitely.”
Kevin nodded, a glimmer of warmth in his eyes as he looked at his brother. He could tell that Sean had something else on his mind simply from the way he was making light conversation. That wasn’t Sean’s usual manner– he wasn’t a light conversation type of man. He eyed his brother for a moment before looking over his shoulder to see the approach of someone he liked a great deal.
Alexander de Sherrington, or Sherry to his friends, grinned as he and Kevin made eye contact. Big, dark, and handsome, Alexander had married Christopher de Lohr’s eldest daughter and was now in command of the de Lohr war machine along with Peter. With Christopher growing older, he was backing away from actively attending his massive army and left the strenuous duties to the younger men. Alexander had a congenial manner about him and was very likable, but only to men he liked in return.
That bright smile was only a façade for the deadly knight beneath.
“So,” Alexander said. “This is your great Welsh command? Impressive, Kevin. The little brother has done well for himself.”
Kevin grinned. “Thank you,” he said. “And you? How goes things at Lioncross Abbey?”
Alexander waved him off. “Give me drink and I shall tell you,” he said, throwing his thumb over his shoulder at the big, black steed he’d been riding as the grooms tried to lead the excited animal away. “I was forced to ride de Wolfe’s stallion most of the way. The beast threw him twice and we were afraid the next time he might break something, so my hands are weary and my arse hurts. I need to sit down on something that isn’t trying to throw me.”
Kevin laughed softly, looking over at young William, who appeared both defiant and sheepish. The squire had gotten taller since the last time he’d seen him, now even taller than Kevin was. William was in his sixteenth year and he was filling out, becoming big and muscular. He was already a master with a sword and his father was so proud of him that he could speak of nothing else.
But William had a naughty streak in him, hence the reason for his presence.
It was something that had seen him sent home from his training ground of Kenilworth Castle a couple of years ago and something that continued to this day. William had a penchant for gambling, but his skills were in high demand as a squire nonetheless and he squired for Caius at the man’s seat of Hawkstone Castle north of Shrewsbury. For the past several months, however, he’d been serving the de Lohr brothers, Christopher and David, because they’d declared that they alone could break de Wolfe of his bad habits.
Kevin was coming to think that perhaps they hadn’t been successful.
“Who did de Wolfe win the stallion from?” he asked.
Alexander started to chuckle. “He is so good these days that he only bets with high stakes,” he said. “You would not believe it if I told you.”
Kevin was laughing because Alexander was. “Let me guess,” he said. “Chris?”
Alexander shook his head. “Nay, but you’re close,” he said as they started to walk towards the great hall. “In the time de Wolfe has spent between Canterbury Castle and Lioncross Abbey Castle, the seats of both de Lohr brothers, he has managed to acquire a small fortune from the soldiers and others who were stupid enough to play games of chance with him. He has three horses, enough weapons for a small army, and more coinage than he could ever spend.”
Kevin shook his head. “I thought the de Lohr brothers were going to break him of that.”
