Markus wiped the sweat out of his eyes as he threw his leg over the saddle and plopped to the ground. “Northwood,” he said. “There was an accident with the horses and grandfather was badly injured. You must go to Northwood immediately. Grandmother is already heading there with Uncle Blayth and several other men. Riders were sent for Troy, Scott, and my father this morning.”
Thomas knew he had gone pale. His hand went to his heart as if to hold it into his chest, for his father was his heart and soul and then some. He simply couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Oh, God,” Thomas breathed, grabbing hold of Markus. “What happened to him? God, Markus, tell me he is not dying.”
Markus was a mature young knight but, emotionally, he still had some growing to do. He was still only nineteen years old. When he saw the fear in Thomas’ eyes, his composure took a hit.
“His horse threw him head-first into a stone wall,” he said. “He was not wearing his helm. Garr Ellsrod arrived at Castle Questing somewhere around midnight to tell us what had happened. Will has gone after Uncle Scott and Atreus has gone for Uncle Troy, and Alec rode for my father at Berwick. I was toldto summon you. I do not know how badly grandfather is injured, Uncle Tommy, but I know you must come. You must comenow.”
Thomas put his hands over his face, trying to hold back the gut reaction of tears and horror. “Oh, God,” he breathed. “Oh God, not my papa. Please, God, not my papa.”
By this time, Desmond had come off the wall and had heard most of what Markus had said. He began shouting for Thomas’ horse to be brought as well as his own. Men began running with a purpose as the stable servants flew into a frenzy. Everything and everyone was moving and as Thomas turned around to head to the armory, Adelaide was suddenly behind him.
“Why was your father at Northwood Castle?” she asked without a shred of emotion. “You said that you escorted him to Castle Questing.”
Thomas didn’t reply; he didn’t trust himself to. He pushed past her but she reached out, grabbing his arm and trying to physically prevent him from walking away from her. He reacted strongly, so strongly that when he jerked his arm from her grip, she tripped backwards and ended up on her arse. But Thomas kept walking. In fact, he started running. He ran to the armory with Desmond behind him and, between the two of them, they managed to get themselves dressed rather quickly. A few soldiers had piled in after them, grabbing shields and other items, making sure the knights were equipped.
It didn’t take long for both Thomas and Desmond to be fully dressed, and they spilled out of the armory with soldiers following behind, carrying the items they had grabbed so they could secure them to Thomas’ saddle. Thomas wasn’t any less panicked than he had been moments before, but he managed to speak somewhat coherently.
“Des, put the gatehouse sergeant in command while we are away,” he said. “Lock up Wark and make sure the men know thatthey are to remain here and remain vigilant while we are gone. I do not want that portcullis raised for anyone.”
“Aye, Thomas.”
“Make sure they know that.”
“Aye.”
Desmond was slightly behind Thomas as they walked, eyeing the man with worry. On top of everything else Thomas had to worry over, now his father had been injured. Knowing how attached Thomas was to his father, he could only imagine the man’s concern. They were just heading back into the outer bailey where the horses were being brought around and Desmond began shouting at some of the soldiers to mount a small escort when they caught sight of Adelaide again.
Now, she was over by the steps leading into the great hall with her nurse standing behind her. It was clear that Adelaide was terribly upset, brushing at her yellow skirt that had become dirty when she fell back. She was talking to the nurse, waving her hands around when she wasn’t batting at her skirt, but the sight of Thomas emerging from the armory had her rushing towards him again. She put herself right in front of him.
“Wait!” she shouted. “You are not leaving Wark until we settle a few things, Thomas. The priest will be here this evening and you and I shall be married. And I want an honor guard assembled for my father so we may…”
Thomas walked right past her without acknowledging her and she whirled around as he moved past, her fists clenching as the man soundly ignored her. She was beyond fury at that point as her betrothed refused to listen to her in any fashion, consumed with going to his father based on what he’d been told.
But Adelaide would not be ignored and she would not be brushed off. Grabbing a small dirk that she kept in the purse hanging from her waist, she lifted it and began to scream.
“This is all your fault, Thomas de Wolfe!” she screamed as she dragged the blade across her forearm and immediately drew blood. “You have caused my suffering and your father’s injury is God’s punishment! I hope he dies so that you may feel my own pain at my father’s death, do you hear me?This is your punishment!”
She was shrieking like a madwoman, slicing the blade across her other forearm as the blood began to flow. In truth, the only reason Thomas stopped and turned around was because of only one thing she said–I hope he dies. Thomas lost all self-control at that moment, spinning in Adelaide’s direction and charging. He was fully intent on killing her. But Desmond was there, putting himself between Thomas and Adelaide because he knew, for certain, that Thomas was going to murder the woman for what she’d said about William. There was no doubt in his mind.
Markus, seeing his uncle being restrained, jumped in to help, all the while confused and disgusted by the woman who was cutting up her arms in the middle of the bailey. He had no idea who she was, but based on family gossip, he suspected he was seeing Adelaide de Vauden. It was a horrific, chaotic scene.
“Nay, Thomas,” Desmond hissed, struggling against Thomas’ strength. The man was like a raging bull. “Ignore her, do you hear? She is attempting to get a reaction out of you. Do not give it to her!”
But Thomas couldn’t seem to hear him. All he could see was Adelaide, standing there with her arms bleeding, gazing at him with nearly as much hatred in her expression as he felt for her in his heart. At that moment, lines were crossed– it was no longer Thomas and his clear disdain for Adelaide, but now Thomas and his abject hatred for the woman. Even though both Desmond and Markus were restraining him, he still managed to get an arm free, pointing at Adelaide as she stood there and loudly wept.
“Bleed out into the dirt and die, you bitch, for if you do not, when I return, I will kill you myself for what you have said,” he growled. “I am at an end with you.”
Desmond managed to get a hand on Thomas’ head, turning him away so he wasn’t looking at Adelaide. With Markus’ help, they began to steer him back towards the horses that were being loaded with shields and weapons. Thomas was so shaken, so angry, that he could barely walk.
“Des,” he said hoarsely, “have that woman thrown in the vault with her father’s body. She can sit there and rot alongside him until I decide to release her.”
Desmond looked at him, somewhat shocked by the brutal command but not completely surprised. “Thomas…”
“Do it.”
It was an order, not meant to be disobeyed. Desmond sighed faintly. “It will be done,” he said. “Anything else?”
