Chapter Seventeen #3
Simon’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You fathered a bastard?” he repeated, astonished. “I can hardly believe my ears.”
Maximus nodded. “It is true,” he said. “Years ago, when I fostered at Kenilworth, I fell in love with the daughter of a smithy. When my father found out, he sent the girl and her father away, but she was pregnant with my son when she left. I did not know this, of course, but she has since died and my son has come to Isenhall.”
Simon was listening with great seriousness. “I do seem to recall something like that,” he said. “Antoninus de Shera was quite upset about the affair, as I recall. He had me send away one of the best smithies I have ever had. A big man who stammered, as I recall.”
Maximus nodded. “The same man,” he said. “He and my son are now living at Isenhall.”
Simon absorbed the news. “And that is why you did not immediately answer my summons? Because of your bastard?”
Maximus didn’t like Cassius being referred to in such a way. “His name is Cassius,” he said quietly. “I would appreciate it if you addressed him as such. Being called a bastard is so… cold. He is a de Shera to the bone and I embrace him completely.”
Simon was rather amused at Maximus’ defensive stance. “And your wife?” he asked. “Does she embrace him completely?”
“She does.”
Simon held up his cup to Maximus. “Then I congratulate you,” he said. “I would like to meet this lad.”
“You will.”
Simon drank from his cup and poured himself more.
As Gallus and Maximus continued to speak on the coming babies, Edward sat silently and observed.
He seemed to be taking it all in, digesting it, studying the men who were once his enemy.
Perhaps they still were. As he poured himself a third cup of wine and prepared to re-enter the brittle subject of his support, the queen’s support, and the Lusignan contingent now behind de Montfort’s rebellion, Stefan suddenly appeared in the solar entry.
“My lord,” he said to Gallus, sounding rather breathless. “We have sighted a lone rider approaching Isenhall.”
Gallus’ brow furrowed. “A lone rider?” he repeated. “Why is that of concern?”
A hint of a smile flickered on Stefan’s bruised lips. “It is Tiberius, my lord,” he said. “I recognize his big, gray stallion. I thought you would want to know that Tiberius is coming home.”
Tiberius is coming home.
Gallus and Maximus were up and running for the keep entry before anyone could draw another breath.
*
Tiberius could see the great portcullises of Isenhall lifting, the chains creaking and the smell of scorched hemp in the air from the heavy ropes that also secured it.
He knew the sentries recognized him because Storm was so distinctive.
In certain light, he appeared silver, and with his black mane and tail, the horse was quite recognizable.
He was not hard to spot, even at a distance.
The truth was that the sight of Isenhall caused a lump in Tiberius’ throat.
Home, he thought. I have come home. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure when he would ever see his beloved Isenhall again after swearing fealty to de Moray.
It was possible that it was something he would never see again except in the wrong end of a battle, so this moment was particularly sweet for him.
Four days after leaving Wintercroft, he and Douglass had finally arrived, and Tiberius was both relieved and thankful. He thanked God that he had made it.
But he began to grow concerned when he passed through the gatehouse to the cheers of the de Shera soldiers and saw a collection of de Montfort horses and men inside the small bailey. It was quite crowded, in fact. He had to shove another horse out of the way so he could actually enter the ward.
“God’s Bones,” Douglass said as Tiberius dismounted and held up his hands to help her off the horse. “Who is here? Look at all of these horses.”
Tiberius glanced over at the escort bearing the blue and white of de Montfort. “Simon de Montfort is here,” he said with some trepidation in his tone. “Undoubtedly to berate Gallus for not obeying his summons.”
Douglass slid down into her husband’s arms and even when she was on her feet, she remained pressed against him, uncertain in the crowded conditions. “What summons?” she asked.
Tiberius kissed her on the forehead and took her hand, smacking a big horse’s arse to move it out of his way as he moved through the crowd towards the keep.
“The summons de Montfort sent us before we escorted you and your father to London,” he replied.
“We were supposed to go to Kenilworth but instead I convinced my brothers to ride escort for de Moray. If de Montfort is here to chastise them, then I must take the full blame. They did it because of me.”
Douglass held on to Tiberius’ hand tightly as he made his way through the sea of men and animals towards the keep. She was forced to admit that the thought of Tiberius in trouble with de Montfort frightened her. Anything that was a threat to her husband’s welfare frightened her.
The past four days, traveling from Wintercroft to Isenhall, had seen the two of them bond in ways she never knew was possible.
The days of riding had been hard and fast, with little time for rest or conversation, but at night he always made sure she had a comfortable bed to rest in.
The nights had become their time together, to talk of all things serious or trivial, and to discover the intimacies of being a husband and wife.
Tiberius wasn’t shy about letting his na?ve wife know what pleased him and she was coming to discover what pleased her as well.
She’d never felt so close to anyone in her life and her love for him knew no bounds.
Therefore, the thought of him in trouble with de Montfort was terrifying.
“What will de Montfort do?” she asked, apprehension in her voice. “Will he punish you?”
Tiberius could hear her fear. “Nay, sweetheart,” he assured her. “He will yell and he will threaten, but he will not punish. He never has before.”
Douglass felt a little better with his reassurance but she was still anxious. As they approached the steps of the keep, the door opened and men were flying out at them. It took Douglass a moment to realize it was Gallus and Maximus.
“Ty!” Gallus exclaimed, throwing his arms around his youngest brother. “You have returned!”
Tiberius grunted when Gallus hugged him too tightly. “I have,” he said as Maximus grabbed his head and kissed him on each cheek. “Great Bleeding Christ! You act as if I have come back from the dead.”
“You nearly have,” Gallus said, immediately seeing Douglass at Tiberius’ side. He wasn’t quite sure how to react so he decided to be blunt in his questions. No need for tact at that moment. “Can I expect de Moray to lay siege to Isenhall now?”
Tiberius started to laugh. “Nay, brother,” he said assuredly. “She is mine, legally and morally. De Moray gave her to me but it was not an easy task. I will tell you about it sometime, but for now, you will tell me what de Montfort is doing here?”
Gallus sighed heavily, with great relief. “In a minute,” he said, pointing at Douglass. “Is she my sister now?”
“She is.”
Gallus went to the woman and put his arms around her. “Thank God,” he said, hugging her. “I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear that.”
Douglass grinned as she accepted Gallus’ somewhat enthusiastic hug. “It was most definitely a battle,” she said as Gallus let her go and she accepted Maximus’ kiss on her cheek. “Tallis d’Vant and your brother had quite a battle. I was there. I saw the whole thing.”
Gallus and Maximus looked at Tiberius, greatly concerned and greatly interested. “Is that so?” Gallus wanted to know. “Can I now expect all of Cornwall to lay siege to Isenhall because you defeated one of her sons?”
Tiberius chuckled. “Not at this time,” he said. “I will tell you all about it, but first let me go inside and explain everything to de Montfort. I am sure he will want to know why I pledged my fealty to de Moray.”
Maximus put out a hand to stop him as he started to mount the steps.
“He does not know,” Maximus said quietly.
“We did not tell him. We did not tell anyone, in fact. No one knows. For all they are aware, everything is as it should be and you have simply returned home with a new wife. Leave it at that.”
Tiberius’ brow furrowed. “You did not tell anyone that I swore allegiance to de Moray?” he asked, both perplexed and oddly relieved. “Why not?”
Gallus answered. “I could not bring myself to do it,” he said honestly.
“Ty, we are the de Shera brothers, the Lords of Thunder. It is always the three of us and the loss of one diminishes the other two greatly. I suppose… I suppose I could not accept that you were no longer with me. I could not bring myself to face it.”
Tiberius put a hand on Gallus’ shoulder.
“I will always be with you,” he said softly, warmly.
“I suppose I could not face being away from you, either. You are where my heart and soul lies. In fact, that is why I have returned. I had to fight d’Vant and nearly the entire de Moray contingent to get here, but I am here.
I have come across some information that you must know.
I am glad de Montfort is at Isenhall for he can hear it as well. ”
Gallus and Maximus were deeply concerned. “God’s Bones,” Maximus exclaimed. “What has happened?”
Douglass had been listening to the brothers speak and the way Tiberius had glossed over the real struggles he had faced to make it back to Isenhall.
As arrogant as he was, she could see that, as a warrior, he was quite humble when it came to the true scope of things he had faced.
She admired him a great deal for his sense of modesty in that respect.