“Up the road that crossed through the village of Wooler.”
At that point, the conversation faded a bit as Desmond led the two women through the remains of Northumbria’s escort in the attempt to take them someplace that wasn’t crawling with men and animals, someplace safe. Even so, Maitland was much more interested in everything around her, castle included, as her brother dragged her through the crowd.
Wark was an oddly-shaped castle with those big gray walls but, inside it, the dimensions were rather strange. The whole thing seemed to be built on a slope that angled up before coming to a crest and then sloping downward towards the River Tweed. As they walked, they were walking uphill, heading for the keep, which was another oddly-shaped but rather large structure atop a walled motte.
To Maitland’s right, hidden behind the crowd of men and animals, was a great hall on the river side of the bailey. Cutting the bailey in half was another wall, creating an inner ward around the keep, and they had to pass through that to get to the keep itself. More hiking up the slope led them to steps that took them up to the big keep, high above the river and the countryside, with views for miles.
Before they entered, Desmond turned to her.
“We have several important guests here tonight,” he said, “not the least of which are my liege’s parents and the father of the woman he is to marry. My chamber is in the keep, right next to the entry door, and I am going to give you my chamber for the night so that you will be more comfortable.”
Maitland smiled. “Thank you, Des,” she said. “I am sure we will be very comfortable. And I promise we will not be any trouble at all. Just a little food and we shall go right to sleep.”
Desmond frowned. “You shall eat in the hall tonight, with me,” he said. “I have not seen you in years, Mae. Would you truly deny me some time to get reacquainted with my little sister?”
Maitland struggled to keep the smile on her face. She was exhausted and sitting in a hall of strangers wasn’t exactly something she was eager to do. She would have been much happier with a meal brought to her chamber, but she could see from the expression on Desmond’s face that such a request would not be well met. In resignation, she nodded.
“Of course not,” she said. “But Tibelda need not join us. She can remain in the chamber while I join you. I hope that is acceptable.”
“I should say so,” Desmond said. “Come on, then. Let’s get you settled. Then I am eager to introduce you to my liege. I have told you about him.”
“Who is your liege?”
“Thomas de Wolfe.”
“De Wolfe,” Maitland said thoughtfully. “I know that name.”
“You should. His family controls the entire northern section of Northumberland, up to the borders. You are on the border right now, in fact. Did you know that? Scotland is just over that river.”
Maitland caught a glimpse of the river before Desmond took her inside the darkened keep, stopping at the very first door they came to and shoving it open. Beyond, it was almost pitch black until Desmond sparked a flint and stone, lighting a fat yellow taper on a table next to the door. Beyond, a tiny and rather crowded chamber came to life.
There was a narrow rope bed, a table and chair, a trunk, and little else. Maitland could see, already, that she and Tibelda weregoing to have trouble squeezing onto that tiny bed, but she made no mention of it. She simply set her satchel down on the table as her brother crouched down next to the dark hearth, trying to spark a blaze.
“Will you permit me to clean up a little before I join you in the hall?” she asked him. “We have been traveling for four days and I should like to wash my hands and face.”
A flame flickered in the hearth and Desmond stirred it about, watching the blaze quickly grow. “I will have a servant bring you hot water,” he said. “Hurry and wash. I will return for you shortly.”
Maitland smiled at him as he brushed off his hands and quit the chamber, shutting the door quietly behind him. Once he was gone, Maitland gave off a little sigh of relief, happy that she had made her destination. Looking around the chamber, she once again saw how tiny it was, and the first thing her eyes fell on was Tibelda. The woman had fallen onto the small bed and was already sound asleep. Cocking an eyebrow at her traveling companion, Maitland could see that the best thing she could look forward to that night was a blanket on the floor.
Already, it was going to be a long night.
CHAPTER THREE
“Northumbria has seenhis daughter,” William said grimly. “The girl says that you have cut her arms and wish her to die.”
Thomas stared at him a moment before lifting his eyebrows to display his complete and utter disbelief at what his father was telling him.
“Are you mad?” he hissed. “Papa, she cutsherself. She has done it since her arrival and I have an army of servants and soldiers to attest to this. The woman has upended my house and hold with her constant dramatics. Nothing she says is of my doing, I assure you.”
William exhaled slowly, heavily, and plopped down into the nearest chair. He was weary, and frustrated, and far too old to be dealing with a situation like this.
It was worse than he had suspected.
Nothing could have prepared him for his conversation with Northumbria just a few moments ago. William and Jordan had arrived shortly before the earl’s heavily-armed party, and when he greeted the man amiably, it had been in the presence of theman’s daughter, who immediately held up her bandaged arms and declared that Thomas kept her locked in her chamber and abused her.
The earl, of course, had been shocked, turning accusing eyes to William, who assured the man that his son would have done no such thing. His response drove Adelaide to tears, and she wailed loudly as her father berated William for Thomas’ behavior. Through it all, William knew it was a lie. He knew what Adelaide had been doing to his son these past six months, but he didn’t say so. He let the man berate him, a man so blind to his daughter’s treachery that, in truth, he probably genuinely believed her.
William’s anger at the situation grew.
