It was a struggle for Bretton not to become angry with him. “I will not repeat the shouting match we had in the hall earlier,” he told the man. “I appreciate the fact that you are concerned for my health, Grayton, but I will not put the woman in the vault so you may as well stop bringing the subject up. Besides, I do not believe that is the truth behind your grudge against her. I believe it is because you let her out of the vault and then she betrayed your kindness by assaulting me with the poker. If that is the case, then you need to move beyond that humiliation, which was no humiliation at all. I am not upset about it and you should not be, either.”
Grayton simply shook his head and looked away. Bretton watched the man, feeling remorseful with the situation between them because before Allaston had come into their lives, he andGrayton had been good friends. He trusted the man. Now, there was tension, and he was sorry. But he wouldn’t dwell on it. Still, there was more he had to say.
“I will, however, calmly address the subject of Lady Allaston,” he said. “Mayhap you feel as if I have left you out of my decision making process when it comes to her, and you could be correct. As I said before, she is my captive and she is my property, and I have considered the woman a great deal and how best to use her against her father. I believe I have a solution.”
Teague was the only one who didn’t seem guarded in his reaction. Grayton was still sitting there, his eyes averted, and Dallan was much more a follower than a leader. He was simply listening to what had been said. Therefore, Teague headed the conversation.
“Proceed, Bretton,” he said. “We are listening.”
So he had their attention. Bretton didn’t even know where to start. He didn’t want to come across as weak or indecisive or, worse, foolish. He decided to simply come out with it all but convince his men that there was less of his emotion involved in the situation than there was. It would be a struggle not to come across as emotionally invested in her because he was. He wanted his men to believe that she was a tool to gain his ends and nothing more.
“I have decided to hit de Velt where it will hurt him the most,” he said. “Holding Lady Allaston captive will not suffice. Killing her will bring me nothing but a dead captive. I must strike and strike hard at the man. I have therefore decided to marry Lady Allaston, impregnate her, and breed an army of de Llion sons who will be brought up to hate de Velt as much as I do. An enemy will be bred from the very blood that flows through de Velt’s veins. According to Lady Allaston, de Velt is quite the family man these days. I intend to infiltrate that family.”
It was a brilliant, unemotional summation and Bretton was rather proud of himself for it. By the time he was finished with his speech, Grayton was looking at him, too, and he could see a semblance of approval in their expressions. It was Dallan who finally spoke.
“Humiliation,” he confirmed. “You will humiliate de Velt through his daughter.”
Bretton nodded. “Exactly,” he said. “Do you understand that logic?”
Teague and Dallan nodded but Grayton wasn’t so sure. “You would marry the daughter of your enemy?” he asked. “She will only hate you more and possibly deny you sons.”
Bretton groaned inwardly. “Then tell me whatyouwould do with her, Grayton?” he asked, with some irritation. “You once told me I had a valuable bargaining tool in her, but all that seems to have changed. When I had her in the vault, you wanted to release her, so I permitted it. Now, you do not trust her and you want to put her back into the vault again. The messages you are sending me are both confusing and infuriating. Tell me what you would do with her and tell me now. I grow weary of your constant contradictions.”
Grayton, with all eyes on him, was defensive and uncertain. After a moment, he finally shook his head, exasperated that Bretton, who so often took his advice, had been choosing to ignore his suggestions when it came to Allaston. He was coming to feel left out of Bretton’s decisions, which was perhaps the root of his problem.
“I have already told you what I think you should do with her but you do not want to listen,” he said. “Marry the woman and fill her full of your sons, but do not be surprised if those sons turn against their father. You are playing a dangerous game by allowing the enemy so close to you.”
Bretton watched the man as he fidgeted angrily. “I am doing what battle commanders have been doing for centuries,” he said. “I am marrying the enemy to achieve my ends.”
Grayton knew his argument against the lady was at an end. He could see it in Bretton’s features. “Your ends are to capture de Velt’s castles,” he reminded him, embittered. “You promised us the wealth from these raids and unless you want a rebellion on your hands, I would suggest we continue our conquest before you marry the woman and live your life with her.Weare your priority, Bretton, and not de Velt’s daughter. As you said, she is a possession like a castle or a horse– she is merely a tool. If you delay too long with your focus on the lady, then you risk your men growing restless and either turning against you or deserting you.”
Bretton’s eyes darkened. “Are you threatening me?”
Grayton shook his head as Teague stood up, placing himself between Bretton and Grayton. He’d seen that look on Bretton before, always before he lashed out. Teague didn’t want any bloodshed between them because it would end up destroying everything they’d worked for.
“He is not,” Teague assured him. “He merely speaks the truth. The men are already growing restless, waiting to march on the next castle. You said you were planning on heading to Comen in two days. Let us focus on that. We will have the men prepared to leave at dawn the day after tomorrow. How far is Comen Castle from here?”
Teague knew the answer but he was trying to distract Bretton from his deadly glare against Grayton. As he hoped, Bretton’s focus shifted.
“It will take us a day at most,” he said, tearing his gaze away from Grayton and returning his attention to the message on the table before him. “Comen will be under siege by the next morning.”
“Excellent,” Teague said, motioning to Dallan to remove Grayton from the room. “We will spread the word. The men will be happy to hear it.”
Bretton had returned to his missive but he called out before the commanders left the room. “Grayton,” he said, and all three paused in the doorway. “Do not forget to send me a messenger. I must deliver this missive to de Lohr today.”
Grayton, upset and disillusioned, simply nodded. “Aye, my lord.”
“And, Grayton?”
“Aye?”
Bretton’s head came up, the bright blue eyes narrowed. “Make sure the men understand that if Lady Allaston is harmed or molested in any way, in any fashion, my wrath shall be deadly. I will strike first and ask questions later. Is that clear?”
“It is, my lord.”
“Then go.”
Grayton left the room, followed by the other two. When Bretton heard the entry to the keep open and then softly close again, he tossed down his quill and ran his hand through his hair in a pensive gesture. He wasn’t sure if his commanders were supportive of his marriage to Allaston and that concerned him. Without their support, he would have a difficult time maintaining the fealty of the army.
