Page 114 of Raven's Rise
“Are you well?” he asked in a low voice.
“Well enough, if you are here to help me.”
The warmth of the statement kept Rafe going during the discussion that followed. Angelet related all that Ernald told her, including the fact that he intended to go before the king after Easter.
“He’ll do everything he can to advance his own cause and hurt any other. He hoped to have me behind walls, and also to recover the stolen gold. But he’ll settle for destroying reputations. He’ll destroy mine to ensure that I’ll never get to see Henry again. And he’ll destroy Rafe’s because Rafe thwarted his plans, more than once.”
“Then we should go there too,” Rafe said.
“Go there?” Angelet said. “Away would be a better choice!”
“Ernald just threatened to blacken my name with the king. He might be able to do it, especially if he gives his story before I can tell mine. I’m not going to let that miserable excuse for a man ruin the name I just regained.”
“Your name is important to you,” Angelet said softly.
“Of course it is. It’s all I have. Without it, I’m nothing.”
She smiled, but her face looked even paler than usual. “Then we should go. To Northampton. You can put your case to the king, and he’ll see the right of it.”
Chapter 32
Easter came in mid-Aprilthat year, leaving less than a fortnight for Rafe to gather any witnesses he could find to support his case, travel to Northampton, and prepare a defense before an audience with the king himself. He was not optimistic.
Fortunately, however, he was no longer alone. Alric and Octavian both helped him. In addition, Luc was sent for. Luc’s family was close with the king, and Luc could advise Rafe on what to say—and not say.
Luc did even more than that. He arranged for some of the group to stay with his own family in Northampton, and assured them that he’d help in any way he could. Rafe could hardly believe it.
“Why are you doing this for me? After what I did?”
“What are friends for?” Luc replied. Then he grinned. “Besides, it wasn’t me you impaled during a practice session.”
“Be serious.”
“I am serious, Rafe. We practically grew up together, and I know the truth of what happened—Alric told me the whole story. So stop dwelling in the past. You’ve got a problem in the present, and that’s the only time we can affect our fates. So let’s get to work on mounting a defense against whatever accusations the Yarboroughs will make.”
“They will accuse me of theft and kidnapping, and possibly murder. I should have taken care of Ernald back at that farm.” Rafe walked from one end of the room to the other and back again, full of energy he couldn’t get rid of.
“You can’t solve this with a sword, Rafe,” said Alric. “How will you being executed for murder help Angelet?”
“She’ll be safe once Ernald is dead.”
Luc put a hand to his head. “Rafe. For God’s sake, stop pacing. We’ll find a way through this. And blood will not be involved.”
“Otto must have already spoken to the king,” Rafe said worriedly. “He’ll have lawyers, local friends, and witnesses. I may as well give up now.”
“You have the truth on your side,” Luc said. “That counts for something. Usually.”
A group left Cleobury for the town of Northampton, arriving a few days before Easter. Both Robin and Goswin had to stay behind at Cleobury, and both complained bitterly about it. Yet they were children, and Cleobury was the safest place for them.
Angelet rode most of the way in a carriage with Lady Cecily, which must have been more comfortable for both of them than a horse would have been. But it separated her from Rafe, which annoyed him. He liked to see Angelet as often as he could.
When they arrived, the group went directly to the home of Luc’s family. The house they came to was impressive, but not cold. Indeed, the whole family—father, mother, and daughters—welcomed them as if they were all old friends. They fussed over Cecily’s expectant condition and chatted with Angelet as if she’d always been part of their circle. Rafe had always been somewhat in awe of Luc and his noble upbringing. He had access to the sort of life most people never even dreamed of. Yet Rafe was welcomed, and that was before his true parentage was even revealed.
“Luc has told us something of what’s happening, Sir Rafe, but I’d like to hear more,” the Lord of Braecon said.
So Rafe told the story as best he could. It was not the final retelling either. As it happened, wheels were already turning, and an agent of the king was conducting something like an investigation before the king held an audience with them all. He was interviewing all parties, trying to discover what really happened.
The day after they arrived in town, Luc took Rafe to meet the man at an inn close to the center of town. “Be careful what you say,” Luc told him before they entered. “I’ve met Lord Drogo before. You don’t want to antagonize him.”
