“Do you know when they are leaving?”
“The men were beginning to mobilize when I left Kennington. It is possible they will leave within the next hour or so.”
Maximus digested the information a moment before turning to Gallus. “We can take thirty men and intercept them on the road north,” he said. “But the issue is this– if we leave any of them alive, they will run back and tell de Lara that I have his daughters. But if we kill all of the soldiers, it will look like any manner of massacre at the hands of outlaws and the women will be missing. De Lara will not know what has become of his daughters and he will more than likely refrain from coming after me, at least for a time.”
Gallus sighed heavily as he sat back in his chair, looking to Maximus. “As a father myself, I am not entirely sure I can condone leaving de Lara to believe that his daughters have been abducted by bandits. That would be a most painful thing.”
Maximus cocked his head, almost defiantly. “Then do not ride with me and you can disavow knowledge of the entire situation,” he said. “Either way, I am riding to intercept that escort and I am going to kill every one of them because any man I leave alive will run back and tell de Lara that I have abducted his daughter. That will bring the House of de Lara down upon us ten-fold.”
Gallus could see that he was about to enter into an argument with his brother and he forced a smile at Ellice. “A moment, please, my lady,” he said, standing up and pulling Maximus with him. “A word with my brother is all I need.”
Ellice let them go, watching as the tall, youngest brother joined his two siblings. As the men huddled together, Gallus spoke in hushed tones.
“Max, I realized you want this woman,” he said quietly. “I told you before that I want to see you happy. I was more than willing to allow her to remain with us here at the inn and then fight off de Lara when he came for her. But now you are speaking of intercepting her father’s escort, killing every man there so they cannot give you away, and then abducting not only Courtly, but her younger sister as well. Now you will have both daughters and you want de Lara to think that they’ve been abducted by unknown outlaws? There is something less than honorable about that.”
Maximus’ jaw flexed unhappily. “Then do not go with me,” he snapped. “I will go myself. I do not need you.”
Tiberius reached out and grabbed his older brother. “Wait, Max,” he said, trying to soothe the man. “Gallus did not mean it the way it sounded. I believe what he is saying is that a situation like this will only create a bigger mess with de Lara.”
Maximus was furious and struggling to calm himself. “If either one of you ever asked the same thing from me, to help you regain the woman you love, then I would do it without question,” he hissed. “But I am evidently not afforded the same courtesy. Unconditional, brotherly love means unconditional support, in all things, but if you do not want to be a part of this, then I will go it alone.”
Gallus grabbed hold of him, too, before he stomped away in anger. “Nay, you will not,” he sighed, relenting. “Ty is correct. It is my sense that going about it the way you are suggesting will only create more of an issue with de Lara. God’s Blood, Max, if you marry the woman, de Lara will be your father-in-law for the rest of your life and grandfather to your children. Do you truly wish to have an adversarial relationship with him forever? Howdo you think that will wear upon his daughter and, eventually, your marriage? Could she even grow to resent you?”
He had a point. Maximus stopped his angry posturing and took a deep breath, laboring to ease his anger. He pulled upon that reasonable and steady demeanor that was his usual manner. Where his emotions were concerned, where Courtly was concerned, he was coming to see that he could be very volatile.
“I am too emotional about this,” he conceded, raking his fingers through his dark brown hair. “I am sure you are both correct. Forgive me for being so angry about it. But I intend to intercept that escort. I will rely on the two of you to decide how, exactly, we extract Courtly. All I want to do is kill them all and leave no trace. Mayhap it is not the best way, but it is my way.”
Gallus slapped him on the shoulder. “And we may yet have to kill them all,” he said. “But only if we have no other choice. For now, let us muster the knights and a party of thirty soldiers and ride out to intercept the de Lara party. Ty, summon the knights over. We will tell them what we are about to do.”
Tiberius produced a low whistle, catching the attention of the knights standing around the table where Ellice was drinking the last of her warmed wine. The men gravitated over to the de Shera brothers, expectant of the orders that were about to come forth. Gallus didn’t keep them waiting.
“We are going to intercept the de Lara escort,” he said, stating the obvious. “Scott and Troy, you will muster the soldiers. Make sure they are mounted and well-armed. Treat this incursion as you would a battle. Stefan, we will travel light, meaning no provisions wagon. You will ensure that every man has rations and also ensure that every horse is sound. If the beast is not, then this weather will surely ruin him and weaken our war party. Garran, I am sorry to say that I will have you stay with my wife while we are gone. She needs at least one competent knightand you would honor me by remaining with her. Are there any questions so far?”
The knights shook their heads and Gallus dismissed them. He was turning back for Max and Tiberius when he realized that Garran was still standing beside him.
“Do you have an issue, de Moray?” he asked, thinking that Garran was going to argue about being left behind with Jeniver. “State it.”
Garran’s gaze was somewhat uncomfortable as he looked at Gallus. He had been uncomfortable all day, ever since seeing his father, and the discomfort had only grown worse. He’d spent most of the day at the inn, as he was there to protect Lady de Shera while her husband had dealings with Kellen de Lara, and he’d therefore had a good deal of time to think on what his father had asked of him. He eventually came to the only conclusion he could come to and it was time to let the de Shera brothers know. Perhaps this wasn’t the best time, but it might be his only opportunity. He cleared his throat softly.
“My lord,” he said to Gallus. “I must speak with you, but not about anything involving your wife. I am always agreeable to protecting Lady de Shera. I must speak with you about something different.”
Gallus glanced at Maximus and Tiberius. Maximus had impatience on his features but Tiberius appeared rather suspicious. Wary, even. It was an odd expression but one that Gallus didn’t give much note to. He tried not to appear impatient, too.
“Must we discuss it now?” he asked Garran.
The man nodded. “We must, my lord,” he replied. “It is important. I will only take a moment.”
Gallus lifted his shoulders. “Very well,” he said. “State your business and be quick about it. We must mobilize.”
Garran knew that. He found that he was nervous to speak with de Shera. He hoped the man would understand his decision, as heartbreaking as it was. He took a deep breath.
“My father is in town,” he said, looking to Tiberius. “He came yesterday and paid a visit to the inn when we were away. Tiberius was here, however, and he and Tiberius spoke. I went to see my father at his lodgings on the south side of town to find out why he was in town. I had no knowledge of him visiting Oxford. I am sure you all know that my father is a staunch supporter of Henry but I do not believe you know why. When he was younger, the king saved his life and he has, therefore, always felt a life debt to him. That is why he cannot side with de Montfort. In any case, it would seem that the king has summoned my father to London and has asked him to sit upon his council. I know you were afraid that the king’s council would be full of Poitevins, but it would seem that my father will be among them. My father… he understands that I do not agree with the king or his policies, but my father has come to ask for my support, as his son.”
Gallus, Maximus, and Tiberius were listening intently. “So that is what your father came to Oxford for,” Tiberius said. “You did not give me a direct answer when I asked you. Now, I know why.”
Garran nodded, looking somewhat sad and disappointed. “Henry has asked not only for my father’s counsel, but for his sword,” he said quietly. “My father has agreed. At some point, we will be facing Henry in battle and, consequently, my father. I hope you understand when I say that I will not fight my father on the field of battle. I would never lift a sword to him, ever, no matter what I believe. I must therefore ask you to release me from my oath of fealty, Lord de Shera, because I have made the decision to support and, if necessary, fight alongside, my father.”
Gallus, Maximus, and Tiberius were stunned to varying degrees, but each brother understood, implicitly, what Garranwas saying. They would not have expected him to fight against his father. Gallus put a hand on the young knight’s shoulder.
