Page 23 of Wolfehound
“It means ‘wolf’ in Welsh.”
It made a little sense, but Carlton wasn’t nearly as curious about the returned son as he was about William’s passing, so he continued to focus on that. “So he was restless that day,” he said. “But he was in good health?”
Liam nodded. “So we all thought,” he said. “He seemed normal. He ate a good meal in the evening and then retired to bed, but according to Lady Warenton, he was tired and aching. He could not sleep. She rubbed at his back, which he said painedhim, but it was to no avail. He soon became short of breath and the physic was summoned. The physic gave him a potion to help him sleep, so he did. And he did not wake up. He went very quickly, in his sleep.”
There it was. The moment that the greatest knight of his generation quietly passed into legend, as Carlton had put it. No great dramatics, blood, or battle. Simply sleep and peace. After a moment, Carlton nodded as if accepting what he’d been told.
“How is Lady Warenton?” he said. “I cannot imagine she has taken this well. They were married for many, many years.”
“Over sixty,” Liam said. “And Lady Warenton is a strong woman. She has shown great strength since that day. The entire family has. I have spent my time shadowing Blayth, as I have been appointed his right hand. If he needs something done, I am there to do it, so while Blayth has been comforting his mother, as the rest of the family has been also, the duty for securing all de Wolfe properties has fallen to me. I would have come sooner, only it was not wise to leave Castle Questing so soon after his passing.”
“Why?” Carlton asked with concern. “Has something happened?”
Liam shrugged. “As I am sure you are aware, the past few years have not been without strife,” he said. “The Scots are unsettled. Edward used Berwick, which belongs to Patrick de Wolfe, in order to show his support for John Balliol. This did not sit well with supporters of Robert Bruce, as you can imagine, so there has simply been a good deal of chaos and contention since then. If it is not one thing, it is another.”
“I would believe it.”
“Blayth and Scott wanted things to settle down before they sent out messages about their father’s death,” Liam said. “When they deemed it safe enough, they sent out several knights to allies. I’ve already been to a few. You are the last one.”
“Good,” Carlton said. “You may stay with us for a while and rest. In fact, we will hunt. It has been a while since I’ve gone on a good hunt.”
Liam smiled weakly. “I would like that,” he said. “But I’ve also come to see Cambria. Has she been well?”
“Very well,” Carlton said. “Where is the dog she gave you?”
Liam’s smile grew. “Bran is well,” he said. “He was riding in the wagon when we arrived because he’s practically walked all the way from the north. Also, he tangled with a badger yesterday and suffered a little in the battle. The ridiculous dog must learn he cannot chase down abrock.”
A brock was another name for a badger, a creature that most sane dogs wouldn’t deliberately tussle with. But Bran the dog, named for a fearsome mythological canine, still hadn’t learned that he couldn’t take on the world and win.
Carlton shook his head. “The dogs that my daughter continues to raise are big and strong,” he said. “No one ever said they were smart.”
Liam laughed softly. “He’s actually quite smart,” he said. “Sometimes, anyway. But he loves me and I love him, and I must thank Lady Cambria for the gift. She has no idea how much better that ridiculous dog has made my life.”
Carlton patted him on the shoulder in a gesture reminiscent of the days when Liam had been his squire. Truth be told, Carlton was a mild-tempered man and he’d never raised his voice to Liam the entire time the lad had been his squire. He’d always calmly instructed or calmly reprimanded him, but never a harsh word. Harsh words came from Colm. But Liam had always appreciated the way Carlton had treated those in his command.
Like now.
It was a gesture of comfort.
“You will tell her soon enough,” Carlton said. “But you have had a long journey and I am sure you could use some rest. It cannot be easy telling men that the great William de Wolfe has passed away. He was fond of you, Liam. I know. He told me.”
Liam appeared pensive for a moment before he looked up at Carlton. “I will tell you a secret,” he said, eyeing Colm as he did so. “It must go no further. Will you swear this to me, both of you?”
“Of course,” Carlton said seriously. “What is it?”
“William de Wolfe was my grandfather.”
Colm’s eyebrows lifted in surprise as Carlton sighed faintly, perhaps with some genuine sympathy for the young knight who seemed to show a crack in his composure when he’d said that. Something in his eyes flickered. The pain was there, a pain he’d had to keep hidden because few knew of his true relationship to William, but he’d felt comfortable enough with Carlton and Colm to let his guard down a little. With men he’d served with years ago, men he trusted.
That kind of trust was rare.
“I know,” Carlton murmured. “Warenton confided in me on the night Cambria was brought to Folkingham. He only told me because he wished for there to be a betrothal between you and Cambria, so it was only fair that I knew why he wanted you, since I was to raise Cambria as my own.”
Liam didn’t seem particularly surprised to hear that Carlton had already known. As he’d said, given the fact that Liam was betrothed to his adopted daughter, it was only fair he know the extent of their relationship.
“Did he tell you why it is a secret well kept?” Liam asked after a moment.
Carlton nodded. “To protect your father’s mother,” he said. “Your grandmother’s reputation must be preserved.”
