“I took them,” Stephen said, his manner quiet. “I could not stand the thought of them falling into hands that were unworthy to hold them, so Tate acquired them from the magistrate and turned them over to me for safekeeping. He did not tell you that?”
Mathias shook his head, still stunned. “He did not.”
“Then mayhap he wanted to surprise you.”
Mathias chuckled as he realized with great joy that the possessions he valued above all else would be returned to him.
“I am surprised,” he agreed, grinning. He sobered. “You realize that all of you– Tate, Ken, and you– are going against the king’s directive. He stripped me of my titles and told me if I held a sword again that it would mean my life. Now all of you are helping me defy him.”
Stephen’s good humor faded. “What happened to you could have happened to any of us,” he said softly. “You had your reasons for siding with Mortimer, Mat. We all knew that. What happened at the end… Edward stripped you in order to save your life. We had to do it even though it was a travesty. But now this… they can take away your titles but it does not diminish who youare as a man and a warrior. We knew your time would come again and we are here to ensure that it happens.”
Surely no better friends in the world had ever existed. The bonds they all shared ran deeper than blood or kings. It ran deep into the heart. Mathias was touched and humbled by the show of support.
“Thank you, my friend,” he said quietly. “I cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness.”
Pembury smiled in return, his big teeth straight and white. “You would have done the same for me,” he said. “Now, what is this I hear? We are to swear fealty to Henry de Beaumont and fight for his foolish cause?”
Mathias nodded. “We are,” he said as he eyed the man, “but I am not entirely sure how you are going to swear fealty to him if you are already quite sworn to Edward?”
Stephen shrugged. “Tate has sent Edward a missive asking for my leave,” he said. “You know that Edward cannot deny Tate anything. He worships the man.”
“Tate is his uncle; indeed he does.”
“Therefore,” Pembury continued as he grabbed around for a cup to fill with the remainder of the warmed cider, “you and I are bound for our Scots adventure. Oh, and Sebastian, too.”
Sebastian, standing near the hearth, sneered at him. “You should be so fortunate to have me on your side, Pembury.”
Stephen lifted a cup in agreement. “I certainly would not wish to fight against Sebastian the Red. Those Scots had better run if they know what is good for them.”
He drank deeply of his cup as Midgy decided to venture forth from his copper tub and make an appearance. As Stephen began to pick at the bread still left on the table, the otter raised up on his hind legs next to him and began grunting, begging for food. Stephen nearly bolted out of his chair at the sight and only bysheer courage managed to keep calm. His eyes were wide on the furry creature.
“God’s Bones,” he exclaimed. “What in the hell is that?”
Mathias caught sight of Midgy and grinned. “My wife’s pet.”
Now Stephen was truly astonished. “Yourwife?”
Mathias nodded as he headed to the bedchamber door and rapped softly. “Cathlina?” he called. “Open the door, love.”
They could hear the iron bolt being thrown and the door quietly opened. A woman of astonishing beauty stood in the doorway, her sweet face both curious and apprehensive as she looked at the men in the chamber. Mathias put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her out into the light.
“This is the man we have been waiting for,” he told her. “This is Sir Stephen of Pembury.”
Cathlina’s face relaxed into a smile as she gazed upon the massive man with the bright blue eyes. “My lord,” she said, dipping in a polite curtsy. “It is good to finally meet you.”
Stephen was still wrestling with his astonishment that Mathias had not only taken a wife, but that he had brought her along. He bowed his head in her direction.
“Lady de Reyne,” he said. “It is indeed a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I had no idea Mathias had married.”
She grinned as she looked at her husband. “Ask him to tell you how it came about,” she said. “It is a rather sordid tale.”
Stephen smiled just as she did. He looked at Mathias. “I can already tell she is far too good for you.”
Mathias bowed his head in agreement. “You would be correct,” he said. “Now that you have met her, you should know that she will be traveling with us. I could not leave her behind for reasons I will explain to you at another time.”
Stephen accepted his statement without another word. He went to reclaim his cup but saw that the otter had it, now rolling it around on the floor. As he hunted around for another cup,Justus emerged from the second bedchamber and greeted him like a long-lost son. Pembury was thrilled to see the old man, tougher than most men half his age. He had fought with three kings, starting with Edward I. Stephen greatly admired Justus de Reyne.
As he and Justus sat down to conversation, the otter was running amuck because it was hungry and Lady de Reyne was trying to pacify the animal. Sebastian wasn’t paying much attention to her but Mathias was, and Stephen could see in those brief few moments how enamored the man was with his wife. Not that he blamed him, for she was a lovely little thing, but he had to admit he was concerned.
