Cadelyn could sense a confrontation coming but she wasn’t going to back down. She didn’t like the way this woman was trying to push her around when it came to who, and what, she was. Cadelyn knew exactly who she was and who she wanted to be, and assuming her Welsh heritage wasn’t part of that plan.
“He told me,” she said. “He told me that my father is the last of a line of Kings of Rhos and that my mother is the last of a line of the rulers of Pengwern.”
Nesta’s eyebrows lifted. “And this means nothing to you?”
Cadelyn shook her head. “Why should it?” she said. “Those kingdoms no longer exist and they have not for hundreds of years.”
Nesta put a hand to her chest as if Cadelyn’s words had physically injured her. “They are your people!”
“They areyourpeople. They are not mine.”
Nesta’s eyes widened and she turned to Atilius and Fabius, who were standing several feet behind her. “Ai hyn mae’r Saeson wedi ei wneud?”
Atilius was watching her with great concern. He could see Nesta’s overeagerness, and her daughter’s standoffishness, and the two would not mix. He was afraid Nesta might say something in her emotional state that they would all come to regret.
“I cannot understand you,” he said to her. “I do not speak Welsh. My lady, surely you must understand that your daughter has been raised by the English, as she said. She simply does not know the richness of her heritage. That will come with time. Do you hear me? That will come with time.”
He said the last five words deliberately, as if trying to emphasize a point. But Nesta was so far gone with outrage that she wasn’t listening at all.
“I asked you if this is what the English have done to my child,” she said, pointing to Cadelyn, who was now standing between Kress and Susanna. “They have erased her true self from her memory? Does she have no sense of loyalty to those who are depending on her?”
Atilius was trying to regain some measure of control of the situation. “That is not a matter to discuss here,” he said firmly, hoping she would understand what he was saying and shut hermouth. “We will take the lady to The Paladin to my brother and then on to Mountain Dark for the wedding. Once she is in Wales, she will understand her heritage. She will understand the importance of it.”
Nesta heard him but her anger had not abated. She whirled to Cadelyn, pointing a finger at her. “Your people have waited eighteen years for your return,” she said. “You were born atMynydd Tywyll, known as Mountian Dark in theSaesneglanguage. Mountain Dark is in your blood and in the blood of all men of Rhos. They must look to you for inspiration, for you are living proof that Rhos has not died. Your father lives on in you. Had you been a son, you would have been a great warrior to lead your people to victory!”
“Enough,” Atilius snapped softly. He had to take charge before Nesta said too much. He looked to the lady, practically hiding behind the knights, including a female warrior clad in protection. “We shall wait until the morrow for you to pack your things and prepare to leave. Then, we shall take you to my brother at The Paladin. He is eagerly awaiting your arrival.”
Alexander, who had been watching the entire situation with great interest, spoke up. “I told you that the lady has been ill,” he said. “If she feels well enough, then we shall muster the escort and take her to The Paladin to meet her betrothed. We welcome the addition of the de Shera soldiers.”
Atilius looked at Alexander. “There is no need for the escort from this point forward,” he said. “We shall take charge of her.”
Alexander stood his ground. “My orders from William Marshal are to deliver her into the hands of her betrothed,” he said. “That is exactly what I intend to do. Furthermore, we also have orders to escort her to Mountain Dark for the wedding and see proof of it with our own eyes. The Marshal has commanded this.”
Atilius could see that the knight had no intention of shirking what he saw as his duty. “The moment my brother agreed to the betrothal, the lady became his property,” he said steadily. “Given that I am here on behalf of my brother, I say that there is no longer any need for your escort. You can return to William Marshal and tell him that you delivered the lady to the earl’s brothers.”
“Without confirmation from Tatius de Shera, I cannot and will not release her to your custody.”
They were quickly reaching a stalemate that could turn bad very quickly. Kress moved to stand in front of Cadelyn, indicating for Susanna to take charge of her. He also motioned to Achilles, who did the unthinkable at that moment– he partially withdrew his broadsword as Susanna grabbed Cadelyn by the wrist and pulled her over towards the stairs. Achilles put himself between the moving women and the de Shera men, who were starting to move as Cadelyn moved.
Kress’ broadsword came out and he wielded it as Susanna and Cadelyn and Achilles ran up the steps. Bric drew his sword and he leapt up on a table to chop down the first fool who tried to intercept the ladies. Alexander was the only one who hadn’t unsheathed his sword as he took a few steps towards Atilius and Fabius. Fabius had also unsheathed his weapon, but Atilius, so far, had not.
“As a knight yourself, you understand that I have orders and I must obey them,” Alexander said calmly. “I believe the lady is feeling better, so I would wager to say that departing on the morrow is acceptable. But the escort from William Marshal shall escort her all the way to The Paladin. You may accompany us if you wish. At this time, this is the only option.”
He said it with finality, but now he was also coming to realize why de Shera had brought two hundred heavily-armed men with him. They fully intended to take possession of Cadelyn whetheror not Alexander agreed, and that smacked of abduction to him. Tatius was nowhere to be found, yet his brothers had come for the lady and were prepared to take her by force.
There was something definitely wrong.
Therefore, Alexander waited for Atilius’ response, which wasn’t long in coming. Atilius put his hand out to Fabius, motioning for his brother to sheathe his weapon. He looked at Alexander as one does when sizing up a cunning opponent; there was displeasure on his features.
“Very well,” he said after a moment. “Since you have your orders, you will complete them. We shall wait until tomorrow to depart for The Paladin.”
Alexander had to admit that he was relieved, but he was on his guard. He didn’t believe for one moment that they were going to reliquish their prize so easily. He simply nodded, backing away, as Fabius ordered the armed soldiers out of the tavern and Atilius motioned to Nesta, who was still standing there fuming.
But they were leaving and that was all that mattered.
For the moment.
In fact, that was all that Atilius was really thinking of– to get out of there before Nesta said something that would give The Marshal’s escort an idea of what they had planned for the lady, who clearly had no interest in anything Welsh. He didn’t want a bloodbath to get to her; at least, not yet. He’d rather speak to his brother and Nesta about all of this and have a plan before they did anything. He didn’t want to chance that the lady might somehow get hurt in a fight.
