“Why are you here?”
“Because the Earl of Carlisle has offered their services to our cause,” Henry said, glancing at the three big knights. “It is evident that he does not wish to see the infant David upon the throne and what Tate de Lara wants, King Edward wants. We are in the presence of greatness, my lord. These men will win you a kingdom.”
Edward looked at the knights, filling up his chamber with power and glory. He hardly knew what to say. “This morning when I awoke, I had no idea that this day would bring such news,” he said, moving from Mathias to Stephen. “I am rather speechless with the military might I am faced with. Did you bring men with you?”
Mathias shook his head. “Only me, my brother, Pembury, and my father.”
“Is Carlisle planning on sending an army?”
Stephen answered. “I am told four hundred men will be making the journey from Carlisle in a few weeks. The earl wanted to make sure we were well received and settled before sending men.”
Balliol nodded shortly, thinking of more men to reinforce his cause. “Very well,” he said. “We will sit and talk now. I want to understand what your presence here truly means.”
In the stuffy room that smelled of dogs and smoke, Henry pulled up a stool but the other three remained standing. Theywere about to hear the plans for their immediate future and the reclamation of a throne for the House of Balliol. For Mathias, it was as if he was back with Mortimer, huddling for battle, feeling the power that he wielded flow through him like the rich red blood that filled his veins. Power and blood were one and the same. He could breathe battle, smell it and taste it, once for Mortimer and now for Balliol.
This was what he was born and bred to do, his destiny as God had given it to him. The year he had lived as a smithy, he realized, had only made him hungrier for his true vocation. He was a knight, through and through, and no one could take that away from him. As he sat around that small table, he realized that this was the beginning of his redemption.
Matthias de Reyne was back.
*
Midgy was wreakinghavoc.
In the accommodations assigned to Mathias and his party, the otter was a festive creature who had no idea that knocking things over, spilling water, slithering into the fireplace and then emerging with soot all over his body which, in turn, got all over people and objects, was a bad thing. He was just curious and happy, as he usually was, until he got black soot all over Justus’ lap when the old man was sleeping in a chair. Justus woke up and yelled at the otter, which promptly stood on its hind legs to beg food from the irritated old man. Cathlina had quickly distracted the animal with toys.
They were lodged in one of the small huts that lined the Den’s outer wall, built from river rock with a heavy thatched roof. There was one big room and one smaller adjoining room, and a fireplace that was open on both ends and servicing both rooms. Midgy was having a great time with the pass-through hearth.
“Justus?” she asked as Midgy tried to burrow his way into Mathias’ saddle bags. “Do you suppose you can find a pot or a tub for him to play in? It would keep him out of the hearth.”
Justus eyed the otter, who was grunting happily. “Aye,” he said, rising wearily from his chair and upset that his nap had been interrupted. “I will see what I can find.”
He opened the door to the bailey of the Devil’s Den with the intention of hunting down the stables when he caught sight of his sons returning from the keep. Pembury was walking beside them, his hulking presence unmistakable. Cathlina came to the door to watch the approach of the knights, their enormous forms shadowed by the setting sun. When Midgy tried to squeeze by and make a break for it, she caught the otter and held him fast.
Mathias smiled wearily as he came close, his gaze locking with Cathlina’s. She smiled in return and he took both her and the otter in his arms to kiss her. Midgy squirmed and tried to break free.
“Are you hungry?” he asked her. “Henry has invited us to sup with him in the great hall, so put on your best gown, my lady. Let these fools see what a true beauty looks like.”
Cathlina scooted back into the chamber excitedly as the knights filed in and shut the door behind them. Her possessions, as well as Mathias’ bags, were in the smaller of the rooms so she disappeared into the smaller chamber with Midgy. They could hear her rummaging around.
“Mathias!” she called. “I need your assistance!”
Mathias had just removed his broadsword, the prized possession that Pembury had returned to him. Setting it down on the table, he disappeared into the smaller chamber and they could hear his deep, steady voice and her excited one. When it became clear he was helping his wife with her dressing, Justus turned to Sebastian and Stephen.
“Well?” he asked. “Is Henry agreeable to our service?”
Stephen planted his bulk on a small chair. “He is,” he said. “In fact, he is very happy to have us. It would seem he has an important outpost he wants us to man, one in Fife near Kinghorn. He has a small contingent there now but it has taken a beating. He is hoping by putting more seasoned men there, the area might know some peace. More than that, he would like us to work on an alliance with the neighboring laird. He wants the man’s support.”
Justus lifted his bushy eyebrows, thinking that Henry was about to throw them all into the fire at a border outpost.
“That is no place for a woman,” he hissed.
Stephen shrugged as if he had no say in the matter. “What else is he going to do? Leave her here? You know he will not.”
Justus fussed, knowing it was a moot point. Instead of complaining, he went to sit down and wait for Lady de Reyne and her husband to make an appearance.
Inside the smaller chamber, Mathias had helped his wife from her plain yellow surcoat and helped her don a deep, rich scarlet brocade. It was the nicest surcoat she had brought with her from Kirklinton. The bodice laced up the front, emphasizing her slender torso, and she tied and re-tied it until she had it correct. By that time, Mathias had wandered back out into the other room to await her and she could hear soft conversation between the men. She was very excited to be supping in another castle because other than Lincoln Castle, Carlisle Castle, and two or three others she had visited while fostering at Lincoln, she had rarely supped away from familiar venues.
With her clean surcoat secured and Midgy rolling around on the small bed behind her, Cathlina pulled forth her comb and small polished bronze mirror. She missed Abechail and her talented fingers, for she was not nearly as clever as her little sister, so she ended up braiding her hair and wrapping it around her head like a halo. Big iron pins held her hair in place and intruth she looked quite lovely. Collecting her dark blue cloak, she emerged into the room where the men were.
