Chapter Four #2
As Douglass mulled over a future in the House of de Shera, Gallus has been lost in a world of reflection of his own.
Thoughts of Tiberius and Maximus and how much the three of them had been through over the course of the year, converged in his brain.
A great deal had happened, enough to rattle the most stalwart heart.
As Bose poured himself more wine from the pitcher at the table, Gallus spoke again, softly this time.
“You must also know, my lord, that the death of our mother has hit Tiberius very badly,” he said to Bose.
“Tiberius is the youngest child and my mother treated him like her baby up until he was a young man. When Tiberius was sent away to foster at ten years of age, it was to Kenilworth Castle, which is very close to Isenhall. It was so my mother could visit him monthly, which she did until he became a squire and asked her not to come so often because the other squires were shaming him. Do you know my mother went to find those boys who had been teasing my brother and she belted every one of them? They never teased Tiberius again. The point, however, is that my mother and Tiberius were quite close. He still sheds tears for her and he thinks that we do not know. His behavior tonight… he does not normally do this. I believe it is his grief more than anything that caused him to behave so.”
Bose was listening with some sympathy but it was Garran who spoke first. The black-eyed knight was Tiberius’ closest friend and when he opted to serve with his father and, therefore the king, a few months ago, it had been very difficult for Tiberius to accept.
Garran had served the House of de Shera for many years.
But Tiberius understood that the man’s loyalty was to his father and not to the king.
Still, it had been a difficult decision for all of them, including Garran, to accept.
Aye, there were perhaps more reasons than one behind Tiberius’ outburst.
“Let me go and sit with him until he comes to his senses, my lord,” Garran begged softly. “I have not seen him in months. Mayhap… mayhap he needs an old friend to talk to.”
Gallus looked to Garran, a man he still trusted with his life. “Max will see that he is tended,” he said. “You needn’t sit with him now. He is probably already asleep.”
Garran smiled weakly. “If I know Ty, and I believe I do, he is currently trying to strong-arm Maximus into letting him back into the hall,” he said. “I would go to relieve Maximus of this burden, my lord. Please.”
Gallus grinned faintly. “Although I have great faith in your abilities, are you sure you are strong enough to fight Ty off if he attempts to return to the hall?”
Garran nodded. “I have done it before.”
“Then go.”
With a nod of gratitude, Garran rose from the table and quit the hall, moving out into the dark bailey beyond.
He had been in this bailey thousands of times, both during peaceful times and warring times.
He had spent the past four years serving the House of de Shera and knew the layout of Isenhall Castle intimately.
As soldiers walked the walls, guarding the occupants against threats in the dark and with only the distant stars as company, Garran headed into the keep.
The big, square keep smelled the same to him as it always had; like smoke and dogs and Lady Honey’s incense of sage and rosemary, which she liked to burn throughout the keep to mask the musky odors of the old stone.
Even though Lady Honey had died back in May, Jeniver and Courtly kept with that tradition because it was of comfort to the sons.
The main staircase of Isenhall was off to the right of the entry, an unusual staircase in that it was straight from floor to floor rather than being spiral.
It was also wide, and easy to travel, and Garran made his way up to the third floor where Tiberius’ bedchamber was.
By the time he hit the landing on the third floor, he could already hear Tiberius’ agitated voice and Maximus’ deep, calm tone.
Carefully, he opened the old oak door into Tiberius’ chamber.
It smelled of unwashed bodies and urine because Tiberius often let the dogs into his chamber and they would pee in the corners.
Tiberius was standing over by the lancet window that overlooked the eastern portion of the bailey, slumped against the wall, as Maximus stood several feet away with his arms folded across his chest. It was clear that the brothers had been in some manner of discussion and, from the expressions on their faces, it had been a serious subject. Maximus caught sight of Garran first.
“De Moray,” he greeted. “I hope your father is not too offended by Ty’s behavior. Did you come up here to berate him? He will not listen, you know.”
Garran shook his head as he came into the room. “My father is rather forgiving,” he said. “He has not even mentioned it. I have come to relieve you of the duty of sitting with your brother so that you may return to your wife. I have not seen Ty in a few months. We have much to catch up on.”
Maximus looked to Tiberius, who was focused on Garran. He had his hands on his face, wiping the drunken tears from his cheeks.
“You were not here for my mother’s funeral,” Tiberius said to Garran, sorrow in his tone. “In fact, I missed it, too. We all did. By the time we received word of her passing, she had already been buried in Isenhall’s chapel next to my father. I was not able to tell my mother farewell.”