Maximus wasn’t entirely sure if the woman was foe or ally so he answered carefully. “She is safe,” he replied.
It was a generic answer, one that Ellice didn’t have much to say to. It was clear that Maximus didn’t want her to know.
“What is the fighting about?” she asked. “Did my brother attack you?”
Maximus shook his head. “He is not happy because I offered for Lady Courtly’s hand,” he said. “I shall have to ask another day when he is calmer and not so drunk.”
Ellice sighed heavily. “It will not matter if you ask another day,” she replied. “His answer will still be the same.”
Maximus frowned as the sounds of fighting began to draw closer. The de Shera knights were keeping watch but it was clear that they would soon need to flee.
“What do you mean?” Maximus asked. “Why is he so opposed to me marrying his daughter?”
Ellice shook her head. “It is not you in particular,” she said. “Kellen has done it to every suitor. He even did it to my suitors when our father died at an early age. Kellen feels that he is protecting the women of the family when, in fact, he is ruining us. Did he tell you how his wife died?”
Maximus peered at her curiously as men spilled out from the hall, fighting, and the de Shera knights went into battle mode.
“He did not,” Maximus said even as Gallus unsheathed his broadsword to fend off the deadly tide that was creeping towards them. “What happened?”
Ellice swallowed hard. “A knight who came to court me,” she said, struggling through it. “He made advances to Kellen’s wife when Kellen was elsewhere. She rejected him and he killed her. Kellen has blamed me ever since and he has chased away every suitor that has ever come for me to punish me. He is repeating the pattern with Courtly. He will chase you away, too.”
Maximus’ jaw flexed with sorrow, with determination. Sorrow for what had happened to Courtly’s mother and determination that he would marry Courtly regardless.
“I am sorry that happened,” he said, unsheathing his broadsword because he could hear the fighting close behind him. Even though he was facing Ellice, he could still hear it. He knew the sounds of Gallus’ sword. “Courtly does not know this, does she?”
Ellice shook her head. “She must never know,” Ellice said. “She was away fostering at the time. Kellen told her that her mother died of a fever.”
The fighting was nearly upon him. Ellice was starting to back up, fearful of the men with swords, but Maximus followed her. He had to know something more. Answers were coming forth from an unexpected source and he needed them.
“If Kellen will not consent to marriage, then I will take her anyway,” he said. “I am telling you this so you will know. I… I am very fond of your niece. I am sure I will grow to love her. I will make her happy and comfortable for the rest of her life, I swear it.”
Ellice’s dark eyes glimmered at him, a moment of peace and joy amidst the turmoil of the battle surrounding them.
“Then you have my approval,” she said. “Let Courtly know happiness where I have not. Do not let her father’s burdens become her own.Take her.”
Maximus could see that the woman meant it. But the fighting drew too close and she ran off, back to the shadows fromwhence she came, leaving Maximus somewhat reeling from the conversation.Courtly’s mother was killed by a rejected suitor.Now, Kellen’s attitude was starting to make some sense. Maximus was eager to share the information with Gallus but they had to get out of this predicament first.
De Shera and de Lara men were fighting all throughout the kitchen yard, in the hall, and in the bailey. The de Wolfe brothers and Stefan had entered the fight in the kitchen yard and de Lara men were beginning to die. Gallus had even entered the fight and he had already dispatched two soldiers. Maximus, sword in hand, began to move towards the bulk of the fighting and the de Lara men, knowing the Thunder Warrior on sight, began to back off. Sometimes, all Maximus had to do was show himself in order to strike fear into the hearts of men. But Maximus had another purpose. He was looking for someone.
St. Héver.De Lara’s big, blond knight was not in the kitchen yard so Maximus moved through the kitchen gate and out into the bailey beyond in search of the man. He finally spied him over near the doorway leading into the great hall and he shouted the man’s name above the combat. He had to call him three times before St. Héver finally heard him. Then, the blond knight headed directly for Maximus, his sword leveled.
But Maximus didn’t want to fight him. He wanted to speak with him. As St. Héver drew near, Maximus held up a hand.
“Stop,” he commanded. “You know a battle between us cannot end well, so lower your sword and order your men to do the same. Your lord attacked us first. By God’s word, I swear that is the truth. Tell your men to lower their weapons.”
St. Héver didn’t hesitate. He knew Kellen de Lara well enough to know that the man wasn’t shy about striking the first blow or even attacking his own guests. He’d seen it before. Moreover, he’d seen how Kellen had treated the de Sheras when they first arrived. Immediately, he lowered his sword andemitted a piercing whistle, one that the de Lara men evidently recognized because they all seemed to slow their assault. When St. Héver saw that he had his men’s attention, or at least most of them, he held up a big fist.
“Cease,” he roared. “Gather the wounded and dead in the hall!”
It was a simple command but one the de Lara men followed. They simply lowered their weapons and walked away from the de Shera men, who were quite confused by the abrupt cessation of hostilities. Maximus called out to his men.
“Gather at the gates!” he bellowed. “We leave!”
Weapons lowered or sheathed, the de Shera men did as they were told by their commander. They began picking their wounded up from the ground, carrying men back to their horses. The de Shera knights, including Gallus, had heard the command and they began to emerge from the kitchen gate and out into the bailey. Gallus, without a scratch on him, headed for Maximus.
“What happened?” he asked his brother as he drew near. “How did you convince them to stop?”
Maximus pointed to St. Héver, who was over near the entrance to the great hall. “See that knight?” he said. “That is Kirk St. Héver, de Lara’s knight. I sought him out and told him what happened. He is the one who gave the cease command to de Lara’s men.”
