Page 34 of Wolfehound
They were playing that dangerous chess game again. Edward would move, and then Canterbury would move, and then they would spend the rest of their time counter-moving against oneanother until one of them came out on top. Usually, it was Edward, but today… today, it seemed that Canterbury had the upper hand.
Because nothing he said was untrue.
The smug expression on Edward’s face faded.
“According to the information you have relayed, William de Wolfe betrayed me years ago,” he said matter-of-factly. “But how is that possible when one of his grandsons is my Lord Protector? Does that not show the man’s loyalty?”
Both Edward and Canterbury turned to look at the big, tall knight standing several feet away. He was dark-haired, hazel-eyed, and had most of the women in London begging for a glance or a smile or a lock of his hair. This particular de Wolfe male was, as most men and women would describe him, uncannily beautiful. He was also talented, strong, educated, and unwaveringly loyal to the king.
Edward crooked a finger in the knight’s direction.
“Cassius, come here,” he said.
Cassius de Wolfe immediately moved out of the shadows, going to stand in front of Edward.
“Your Grace?” he said smartly.
Edward looked up at the knight. “Did you hear what Canterbury told me?”
“I did, Your Grace.”
“Do you know anything about this situation with de Royans and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd’s infant daughter?”
“Nay, Your Grace.”
“Was your grandfather disloyal to me?”
“Nay, Your Grace.”
“If he had been, would you tell me?”
“If you asked me, I would tell you the truth, Your Grace.”
“You would betray your grandfather?”
“Never. But I would tell you the truth, and the truth is that he was not disloyal to you, Your Grace.”
Canterbury, who had been listening to the crisp replies, cast a long look at Edward. He wanted to see how he was handling the answers from a man who was in charge of the king’s personal protection. Young knights from the House of de Wolfe had been historically offered the position, and that was for a reason—to keep a de Wolfe close to the Crown. It was a position of honor, but also one of political leverage. The House of de Wolfe wouldn’t do anything overtly against the Crown if one of its members were so close to the king. Scott de Wolfe, the current earl, didn’t have the same quarrelsome relationship with Edward that his father had, but that could change.
Edward liked to think of Cassius’ position as insurance against such an occurrence.
But in this case, whatever happened had occurred twenty years ago. Whatever insurance he held today against Warenton’s behavior was a moot point. The betrayal had already happened.
The more he thought about it, the more anger he began to feel.
“Cassius, how old were you when your grandfather was in Wales fighting Llywelyn the Last?” he asked.
Cassius had to think about it. “Twenty years ago I would have been fostering at Kenilworth, Your Grace,” he said. “I was around ten years of age.”
“Then you were not at home when your grandfather returned.”
Cassius shook his dark head. “Nay, Your Grace,” he said. “But I received word through my father that my uncle, James de Wolfe, had been killed in Wales.”
“Killed and resurrected,” Edward said. “He returned as Blayth the Strong, the product of Welsh rebels who restored his damaged memory with lies.”
“He serves my grandfather flawlessly now, Your Grace.”
Edward waved him off irritably. “I am aware,” he said. “Though he has no love for me, so I’m told. Pity. I hear he’s an excellent knight.”
