Page 47 of Knight of Darkness
He raised the mug once more to his lips and swallowed hard.God’s blood!When had Ceridwen woven such a spell around him? He had found that he could think of little else but her since he left Norwich. No doubt the Empress had plans for Ceridwen as well. As a noblewoman, she, too, would be expected to wed and leave the running of the estate to her new husband. With Norwich’s location to the east, in an area of great strategic importance, Wymar had no doubt that Stephen’s loyal supporters would make every attempt to once more claim the land in his name. His brow furrowed whilst his mind ran amuck. ’Twas hard enough to imagine the woman he had come to care for being tormented by that scum Ratcliff, let alone she would have to give up her body to some other faceless man. Or worse yet, face another siege at her gates.
Wymar swore he could even now feel her trembling hand upon his cheek. He muttered a curse beneath his breath and prayed Ratcliff was burning in hell for what he had done to Ceridwen and her people. At least Wymar had the satisfaction of being able to save her. There was pleasure in knowing that ’twas by his hand that Ratcliff had died, but that pleasure was not enough to compensate for the grief he felt at the knowledge that Ceridwen’s spirit had been broken. To see her so afraid to reach out and touch him after all they had shared tore at his soul. But there had been naught he could do to ease her before he had departed. And now that he was gone, ’twas very unlikely their paths would ever cross again. Besides… what hope was there of any kind of a relationship with the Lady of Norwich when Wymar was now expected to wed another?
The door to the tavern opened, bringing a ray of light into the otherwise dreary dwelling. Richard and Wymar’s brothers entered. He pulled Theobald into his arms to give him a fierce hug and copied the gesture with Reynard and Richard. Together again… at least for a while. How he missed his siblings and Richard. He motioned to a serving maid and called for more ale whilst the men took a seat.
“How fare thee, brothers?” he asked, wanting them to fill the conversation so his mind did not wander to a situation he could not change.
Theobald took a gulp of his drink all the while eyeing the pretty maid who had served them. He tore his gaze from the girl whose smile promised him much… as long as he had enough coin for her time. Wymar chuckled before Theo continued. “The Empress has me awaiting her orders on her next steps to gain the crown. Londoners are not pleased with her latest dictates. There are times I feel she thinks of me as one of her knights she can trust, but without details of her intentions, mayhaps ’tis just wishful thinking on my part. Perchance she will one day confide in me and bestow upon me the privilege of knowing such particulars but that time is not yet upon us.”
Wymar nodded, thinking his brother may receive the gift of land of his own for his service to their queen. “Mayhap a title and lands will also be given as reward for your services to her,” he said and smiled for the first time in what seemed like days. As pleased as he would be to have his brothers back with him at Brockenhurst, he would rejoice at any opportunity given to them to build a fortune and a legacy of their own.
Theobald placed his tankard down and reached over to pinch the bottom of a pretty maid who giggled in delight. “Such a reward would require me to wed some noblewoman, would it not? I think I would rather just enjoy a life of leisure if the Empress releases me from her service one day. I will rejoice that you at the very least, brother, have been rewarded our ancestral home.”
Wymar nodded, then turned his attention to his lifelong friend. “What of you, Richard?”
“She sends me on a mission of grave import but alas, like Theobald, I have as yet to learn of where or when I am to travel or my duties once I arrive. I could certainly use a well-deserved rest instead of traipsing further along English soil,” he laughed before taking a drink from his tankard.
Wymar joined in. “You? Rest? Most likely not for long.”
“Aye, you are probably right on that account. I cannot stay idle in one place for any length of time. I get restless for some action,” Richard said with another grin.
Wymar chuckled at his friend’s words before looking across the table. “And what of you, young Reynard? Does our Empress have plans for you as well or will you return home with me?”
Reynard shrugged. “I am still in her service but like Theo and Richard I am in the dark on what her immediate plans are for me. I am, however, to head to Brockenhurst to witness your marriage when the time comes.”
Wymar’s smile faded from his visage at Reynard’s words whilst watching his youngest brother’s forlorn face. Thoughts of his forthcoming marriage to some unknown woman made Wymar uneasy. He had yet to become accustomed to the notion that his bride would not be the fair Ceridwen. “Do not be too disappointed, Reynard. I am certain she has your best interest at heart.”
Richard leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table before he turned his attention toward Wymar. “Like the plans she has for you?”
Wymar took a sip of his drink before he answered. “So, you, too, have heard. I am still attempting to come to terms with the situation for what it is. ’Tis an inconvenience, for certain, and yet ’tis nothing more than fulfilling my duty to gain my title and lands. I have always known that ’twould be my duty to father heirs who can one day carry on in my stead. As for the wife who will carry them… I am at the command of the Empress and cannot gainsay her.”
Richard swore beneath his breath. “Marriage to someone who you do not even know is not doing you any favors, Wymar.”
Wymar shrugged. “Marriage of convenience is nothing new. ’Tis done all the time for the advantage of gaining lands and monies. Does it matter who I wed if I cannot have the woman who I care the most about?”
“You could petition the Empress to change her mind,” Reynard said with a frown.
“The Empress is too busy trying to be crowned Queen of England to be bothered with having her orders disobeyed,” Wymar muttered. “Nay, I will obey her just as I have faithfully followed her all these years. I will pray I can at the very least find some common accord with this woman, whoever she may be. There is no further need to try to persuade our Empress when she has made her directives clear. I will wed before the end of summer and will not look back at what could have been.”
The men fell silent, each lost in their thoughts until Wymar raised his cup. “To my brothers… two who share my same blood and one the brother of my heart.”
Tankards clanking together, the men drained their cups before slamming them upon the table. He resolved to enjoy this moment while it lasted. He could sense ’twould be some time before they were once more all together again.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
June, Norwich Castle
Ceridwen raced Defiancethrough the fields and toward the ocean beach. She needed to get away from the castle, the responsibility of its people, and the missive she had received from the Empress that contained nothing but depressing news.
Plans had not gone well in London for her Empress. All her efforts to be crowned Queen of England had ended in disaster. Even without the missive confirming Ceridwen’s worst fears, word had spread to Norwich that Stephen’s wife, Matilda of Boulogne, had raised an army on her husband’s behalf. They had arrived at the Thames and threatened the city of London. Even the people of London had risen up in opposition to the Empress who had displeased them with the imposition of taxes and the favoritism she showed to her followers in the West Country. Before the Empress’s coronation could take place, Londoners had stormed out of the city to attack Westminster. Such an act caused the Empress to flee, her plans in complete disarray.
Even now, Ceridwen had no knowledge of who exactly was protecting the Empress until she and her army could regroup and form their next course of action. She only knew that she was not to be included in the Empress’s plans. She had other directives for Ceridwen and although she had wished such news would be put off a bit longer, ’twas clear that her time as the mistress of Norwich was running out.
’Twas not until she reached the shore that she at last pulled on the reins and slid from the saddle. She knew her horse would stay where she left her whilst Ceridwen ran to the water’s edge. Fury filled her soul. Anger for the lingering memories of Ratcliff that continued to haunt her dreams no matter how hard she tried to rid herself of the thought of him. Anger for that damn missive. Anger with herself that she could not change where the course of her life would lead. She had thought given her service to the Empress that she would allow Ceridwen to run Norwich since she was the last surviving member of her family.
But the Empress made it clear that Ceridwen was only a woman and therefore unable to be the castle’s mistress. Somehow this did not sit right with Ceridwen. If the Empress could do everything within her power to take control of running the whole country, then surely Ceridwen was more than capable of running this keep and lands. She muttered a curse, knowing that however much she might dislike the idea, she must needs obey her Empress’s commands.
The sound of a thundering horse over the crashing waves caused her to glance behind her but she calmed seeing Arthur had followed her. Arthur… faithful to her with every breath he took. She should release him from his duty and reward him handsomely for his devoted service. Then he would have enough monies to buy his own land and find a wife to live out the rest of his life in the comfort of his own hall.
