The young woman couldn’t take the hint.
“A word of congratulations should be sufficient,” Cole said steadily. “Lady Corisande, if you will.”
Corisande was standing just a couple of feet away from him and she complied. When she cried “mark”, Cole and Ares let the bolts fly straight to the targets. Gaia and Anteaus were running for the targets before Cole had even lowered his bow, and with Corisande at his side, he walked over to where Atlas and Anteaus were examining who came closest to the center of the target.
The targets were drawn with charcoal onto a piece of canvas with a tight bale of hay behind it. Even the soldiers were hovering over the targets, looking to see who had fired with the most accuracy.
“You both hit the center of the target,” Atlas said. “But I do believe Cole is closer to the center of the center than Ares is.”
Ares frowned deeply and yanked his brother out of the way to get a closer look. Even he could see that Cole’s bolt was directly in the center of the center, but he was unable to admit it.
“I had something in my eye,” he said. “I could not see the target clearly.”
Cole fought off a grin. “Would you like to do it again?”
“Nay,” Ares said, turning away. “You would only cheat and have someone move the target at the very last second.”
“I do not need to cheat to best you, de Bourne,” Cole said. “In fact, your sister could best you. Why not challenge her?”
Corisande grinned at Ares, who brushed her off. “She cheats, too.”
Corisande started laughing. “So we all cheat, Ares? Or is it possible that you could lose?”
Ares refused to indulge in any conversation about the possibility of him not being the absolute most skilled man among them as Gaia grabbed him by the hand and tugged on him.
“Please do it again against Cole,” she begged. “I want to see you compete again!”
Ares looked at his youngest sister. “You vixen, you do not want to seemeat all,” he said, inferring she only wanted to see Cole perform again. “Go away from me, now. You give me a rash.”
Gaia giggled but she didn’t let go of him as everyone else laughed at his comment. She was irritating enough to indeed give someone a rash. They were all heading back to their starting marks when a soldier approached Anteaus and muttered in his ear.
Anteaus’ smile faded.
“What is it?” Atlas asked.
Anteaus thanked the soldier and as the man ran off towards the gatehouse, Anteaus turned to the group.
“Our scouts have seen an enormous army pass through Hexham,” he said. “They are heading north along the road that will eventually lead them to us.”
The frivolity of the past several minutes was doused in one swift statement.
“An army from the south?” Ares said, baffled. “It would not be the Scots.”
“Mayhap the Northmen?” Atlas said. “Mayhap Berwick wasn’t the point of entry at all. Mayhap it was further south and now they are moving north, into Northumberland.”
“What about your scouts to the north?” Cole asked. “Have they reported anything?”
Anteaus shook his head. “Nothing,” he said. “At least, nothing today, but I do not think it is the Northmen. The scouts said they were flying banners.”
That brought curiosity. “What banners?” Cole asked. “What were the colors and the emblem?”
“Yellow and blue,” Anteaus said. “The emblem was a lion’s head, but I do not recognize it.”
A smile began to spread across Cole’s lips. “I do,” he said. “That is de Lohr. The Earl of Hereford and Worcester.”
That brought surprise. “Are you certain?” Ares asked.
Cole nodded. “I know it is not as recognizable in the north as some, but in the midlands and south, it is one of the most recognizable standards in all of England. My father is allied with de Lohr and we have fought with him several times. In fact, my youngest brother even serves de Lohr. So, aye… I am sure.”
