Chapter Eleven
Alston Castle
Does Max have any idea how rich he is?
That was what Addax was thinking as he listened to the scale of the de Witt mines as it was explained to him.
“With eleven lead mines, you can imagine that there are many men needed to cover that ground,” the knight said. “We have nearly a thousand soldiers, but that is needed to protect everything.”
“And you coordinate it all?” Addax asked incredulously.
“I do, my lord.”
Addax was astonished. He was in conversation with a knight by the name of Adonis de Mora who had served Ernest de Witt for several years until the man’s death.
Adonis and his father, Pierre, who was also a knight, had been in charge of the security for the mines and the transportation of the goods.
Ever since his arrival to Alston Castle two days ago, Addax had spent most of his time in the company of Adonis, while Maximilian had spent both of those days—and nights—at a nearby tavern called the Saddle and Swine.
No one tried to bring him back.
A few things had been clear to Addax from the start.
The first was that Maximilian genuinely had no interest in Alston, its people, its mistress, or its operation.
Addax had tried to convince him to stay at first, considering this was now his property, but Maximilian truly had no interest in remaining.
He’d spent all of an hour walking through the bailey, looking at the stock inside the stables, inspecting the keep and anything of value, and then he promptly demanded whatever money was available.
Emmeline, who was very glad to be home, proceeded to give Maximilian a sack of coins that had been inside a pewter pitcher on the mantel of the solar.
It was a rather large sack of coins, which pleased Maximilian, and he promptly rode out of Alston with his bag of money.
That was all he cared about. Addax had watched him go and then proceeded to apologize to Emmeline for the man’s behavior, which was unnecessary.
She was glad to see him go. Furthermore, she admitted to Addax that she hadn’t given Maximilian all of the coinage that he was entitled to.
Knowing that he was simply going to waste it on drink, and God only knew what else, she was disinclined to give him everything.
Addax heartily agreed.
Her secret was safe with him.
The first night back at Alston Castle had been a quiet affair.
Everyone was weary after the trip from Berwick, so there was no great feast or celebration.
Alston was populated by an enormous army and a fleet of servants, and everyone knew that Emmeline had been married, so it seemed strange to them that there was to be no celebration.
But not so strange considering the groom had left for parts unknown and his father had already retired for the evening.
That left Addax, Essien, and Emmeline to keep one another company over a simple meal, and that was when Addax was introduced to Adonis and Pierre de Mora.
Spending the vast majority of his time with the two Alston knights had been Addax’s routine since his arrival.
Today, he was with Adonis as they walked the walls of Alston, which were so tall that they were vertiginous in some places.
Addax never thought he was fearful of heights until Adonis took him to a tower that was at least seven stories tall, high enough that a huge swath of Alston lands could be seen from the top, including four of the mines.
The steps leading up to the top were narrow, barely big enough for a man’s foot, and quite steep.
It was a great view, but Addax couldn’t wait to get down.
But down they came, eventually, and now they found themselves near the gatehouse, where Addax was much more comfortable, discussing the security of the mines. Addax had to admit that it was quite an elaborate operation.
“I must say that everything you’ve discussed is quite impressive,” he said. “You and your father are to be commended.”
Adonis smiled, displaying his crooked teeth.
In spite of his name, he was not a handsome man, but he was big and strong and able.
“My father and Lord Ernest were friends as children,” he said.
“When Lord Ernest’s father died, he asked my father to come and help him.
He knew this was a large and important operation with the mines, but what makes the situation strange was that Lord Ernest’s father actually kept him from the business of the mines, so when Lord Ernest took control, he knew nothing.
He and my father had to figure out how everything worked.
My father knows these lands better than Lord Ernest did. ”
Addax looked out over the large green hills. “It was generous of your father to help,” he said. “It sounds as if de Witt owes him a great deal.”
Adonis leaned against the wall, looking over the landscape as well. “He compensated my father quite well,” he said. Then he looked at Addax. “Lady de Grey assured my father that the compensation would continue with the new lord.”
Addax suspected the man was looking for some inside information.
A new lord could mean new ways of doing things—and a new pay scale.
“If Lady de Grey promised your father that nothing would change, then I would take her at her word,” he said.
“Nothing has been said to me that would indicate otherwise.”
Adonis looked at him a moment before averting his gaze, shaking his head as he did so. “Forgive me,” he said. “It is only that the new Lord Rheged—”
Addax interrupted. “Who is Lord Rheged?”
“That is the hereditary title of the lords of Alston Castle,” Adonis said. “It is only that Lord Rheged left as soon as he arrived, and he made no effort to greet either my father or myself, and find out anything about Alston Castle and its workings. Is he displeased somehow, my lord?”
Addax knew the man was uncertain about his future. He had suffered from that fear at various times in his life, so he understood it. He sought to give the man some assurance without saying too much.
“He had pressing business elsewhere,” he said, though it was a lie. “He will return, and I am sure you will find that nothing will change. I would not worry.”
That seemed to give Adonis some comfort. “Then I will not,” he said. “Thank you for your candor. Now, would you like to ride out to the nearest mine? I would be pleased to show it to you.”
Addax shook his head. “Later, if possible,” he said. “For now, I’d like to know how the ore is sold. Who your customers are. What can you tell me?”
Adonis shrugged. “Not much,” he said. “That was always Lady de Witt… I mean, Lady de Gray’s responsibility. She can tell you much more than I can.”
“Then I shall ask her,” Addax said. “Thank you for taking the time to explain the mines to me. I appreciate it.”
Adonis smiled politely. “I am glad to do it,” he said. Then his smile faded. “And… and you serve the new Lord Rheged, my lord? Will you be staying?”
Addax hadn’t actually introduced himself beyond his name to de Mora, who was more than willing to tell him anything he wanted to know.
The man was trying very hard to be helpful, perhaps to keep his position.
The introduction of a new knight possibly meant he wouldn’t be needed any longer, but Addax shook his head.
“I do not serve Rheged, and I am not staying,” he said. “My liege is the Earl of Hereford and Worcester. I have also served William Marshal and Baron Blackadder, Ajax de Velt, at various times. I am simply a friend of Lord Rheged and was asked to accompany him to his new property.”
Those names meant something to Adonis, who seemed to stand up a little straighter when he realized he was facing an elite knight. To have served such masters surely meant he was one of the very best.
“I see,” he said. “To serve Hereford… He is an important man.”
Addax nodded. “He is, indeed,” he said. “De Mora, I will be sure to let Lord Rheged know just how helpful you have been. I will also tell the Earl of Bretherdale. You are aware that he is Lord Rheged’s father.”
Adonis nodded. “I was informed.”
“Bretherdale, at the very least, will want to know. He will be comforted to know that his son has good knights to serve him.”
“Your kind words are appreciated.”
Addax smiled, seeing that the man was more nervous about his position and the future than he let on. He wagged a finger at him.
“Don’t worry so much,” he said. “No one is going anywhere. Go about your duties with confidence.”
With that, he turned for the break in the wall with the ladder that led down to the bailey below.
He had a lady to see.
*
She’d been watching him all morning.
In the solar of Alston’s keep, a room situated on the entry level, right up front, and with a grand oriel window to overlook the gatehouse and the main part of the bailey, Emmeline had been watching Addax all morning.
It was a chamber that had belonged to her since Ernest’s death and, truthfully, even before that.
It had an enormous table that faced the window, and alongside that table, and underneath it, were wooden boxes that contained years of records of the de Witt mines.
There was also a cabinet next to the table that contained neatly organized stacks of vellum that held the most recent production and sales records.
Those were records that Emmeline had been keeping for almost ten years, ever since she married Ernest and he decided that he didn’t want to do the clerical work any longer.
He gave his young wife the burden, and, fortunately, she’d taken to it.
Along with the financial records, that also meant she was in charge of the money.
That was something she’d been very good at.
More than that, she was protective over it. She knew very well that her marriage to Maximilian entitled him to the wealth, and if she’d liked the man, that would have made it easier to surrender the coin.
But she didn’t like him.