Chapter Fifteen #3
The last part was totally a lie, but she added her sister into the mix so her father might more readily agree. It wasn’t as if she were going to sneak off into town with the man who would soon be her husband if Gaia was along as a chaperone.
As she hoped, Alastor nodded.
“I do not see why you cannot,” he said. “Which tavern?”
She shook her head. “I do not know,” she said. “But I will send word. And I will be back with the army well before dawn.”
“See that you are,” he said. “We will depart well before sunrise for Berwick, although I’m fairly certain they know of our approach.
Any army worth their weight in gold would have scouts combing the area, so I think it is safe to say that we will be met.
That being said, your instructions will be to go with the other surgeons and provisions wagons and remain far to the rear of the battle. ”
Corisande nodded. “I know,” she said. “I have been here before. But tomorrow… all of you will be very careful, won’t you? You are my family and I love you. I do not want anything to happen to any of you.”
She was looking to her brothers as she spoke, seasoned knights, scarred and filled with the experience of dozens of battles. But it only took one to be fatal and they all knew it.
Especially Corisande. As thrilled as she was about Cole, it was such a sweet moment on the precipice of something brutal and deadly. Her brothers had seen battle, but so had she and she knew how fragile life was. The human body did not react well to being violated by swords and spears.
She didn’t want to lose a beloved brother to something so tragic.
“You needn’t worry,” Ares said, giving her a weak smile. “We have been through this before. It is the Scots you should worry over.”
“I do not care about the Scots. I care about you.”
Ares went to her, kissing her on the cheek before fixing her in the eyes. “And I worry about you,” he said. “And Cole. My eyes will be on him from now on. If he makes a misstep, he will have to answer to me.”
The focus of the conversation shifted back to Cole and Corisande, giving her brother a wry expression.
“Do not be nasty to him,” she said. “He has done nothing to deserve it. You were rude to him a few moments ago and that was not necessary.”
Ares thrust his chin up defiantly at her and turned away as Anteaus took his place. He looked at his sister closely. In fact, she was two years older than he was, her having seen twenty years and three and him having seen twenty years and one. But he didn’t feel like simply a brother at the moment.
He felt like a protective one.
“I know the de Longley family,” he said quietly. “I like them; they are good people. I do not want to see them hurt by Cole, nor do I want to see you hurt by him.”
“I know, Tay.”
“You must make sure he makes it clear about Audrie. There must not be any hard feelings.”
Corisande nodded patiently, patting him on the cheek. “I know, my darling,” she said. “I promise he will make it right. He is a man of honor and he will make it clear to them. Everything will be well; you’ll see.”
Anteaus didn’t seem too sure about that but, to his credit, he didn’t say anything further. As he stepped away, Atlas came to stand in front of her.
The rather emotionless, apathetic de Bourne brother was looking at her appraisingly. Corisande lifted her eyebrows expectantly.
“Well?” she said. “Did you have something to say to me?”
Atlas shrugged. “Cole is passable,” he said. “He’ll do.”
Corisande began to laugh. “God’s Bones,” she said sarcastically. “That is high praise coming from you, Atlas. What glowing words of adulation.”
Atlas fought off a grin as he went to find his cup of wine. With all of the brothers having spoken their minds, Corisande turned to her father.
“May I go now?” she asked. “I want to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow before I go to the tavern.”
Alastor waved her off. “Go,” he said. “And, Cori?”
“Aye, Papa?”
“Tomorrow, you will force Gaia to help you when the battle begins,” he said. “Do not let her shirk her duties. Tending the wounded will do wonders for her character.”
Corisande nodded, wondering if what he said was true. She wasn’t entirely sure Gaia had any character but, at the moment, her sister was the last thing she wanted to think of. She wanted to think about Cole and the evening to come.
She’d have to deal with Gaia soon enough.
“I will try,” she said, turning for the tent opening. “And I will see all of you on the morrow.”
“Wait,” Ares said. “I will escort you.”
Corisande let her eldest brother take her by the arm and lead her out of the tent.
They turned in the direction of the surgeon’s wagon, across the muddy meadow that she’d traversed with Cole.
She had a feeling Ares had more to say about the situation with Cole, out of earshot of his father and brothers, so she eyed the man as the crossed the moonlit grass.
“Well?” she said softly. “What is it?”
Ares grunted at his perceptive sister. There wasn’t much he could keep from her, one way or the other.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Cori?” he asked. “With Cole, I mean. He is a de Velt and there are those who will always look at that family with disdain and fear.”
Corisande looked up at him. “Do you?”
Ares shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “I understand Jax de Velt. I understand why he did what he did and I do not judge him for it. I’ve no intention of holding one man to another’s sensibilities, but not everyone thinks the way I do.
Be aware that bearing the name de Velt may cause some… obstacles.”
Corisande could sense that he was genuinely trying to be helpful.
“Not that the name de Bourne and being descended from the Bloodaxe haven’t been obstacles enough, eh?
” she said, giving him a smirk. “I appreciate your concern, Ares, you know I do. I respect your opinion in all things. But Cole is a decent and honorable man, and I am very fortunate that he wishes to marry me. I believe we will have a good life together, no matter what his name may mean to some people.”
Ares could see that she wouldn’t be discouraged. Not that he expected she would be, but he had to make sure she understood. Therefore, he simply smiled at her.
“I hope so,” he said. “And if you thought I was rude to Cole, I will apologize to him. But until you two are legally wed, it is my duty, as your beloved older brother, to ensure you are kept safe from an amorous suitor.”
She laughed softly. “So you do not think I can smack him on the nose if he becomes too bold?”
“I would hope you would kick him somewhere else instead.”
Her laughter grew. “He is rather big,” she said. “I might have to kick terribly hard and I do not want to ruin our chances of having children.”
Ares rolled his eyes. “You should not speak on such things, you sassy wench,” he said. “God’s Bones, you are unrestrained.”
She sneered at him. “You started it.”
“I did.”
He started to laugh because she was. They were just passing by some de Lohr tents when a figure appeared, walking in their direction. Peter de Lohr came into view, smiling at the pair beneath the moonlight, but his gaze eventually moved to Corisande.
“I thought I heard chatter back here,” he said. “Good eve to you, my lady.”
Corisande looked up at the blond, handsome young knight with the bright blue eyes. “And to you, my lord,” she said. “I am sorry if our conversation disturbed you.”
He shook his head. “It did not,” he said. “But confidentially, I am bored to tears sitting with my father and uncle.”
“Then go entertain yourself elsewhere,” Ares said. “You are bright and inventive, de Lohr. Think of something.”
Peter sighed sadly. “Alas, they will not let me out of their sight,” he said. “All they want to speak on are battle stories I have heard a thousand times. They are old men and have no idea how to have a good time.”
“Just what good time did you have in mind?”
Neither Corisande nor Ares had asked the question. It came from Cole as he suddenly appeared from behind a de Bourne tent. He headed towards them, like a panther stalking prey. Only he wasn’t stalking Corisande or Ares, but the rather oblivious Peter.
The man had no idea just how close he was to a de Velt beating.
“Greetings, Cole,” Corisande said. “Ares was escorting me back to the cooking area.”
Cole smiled faintly at her, but his attention swiftly turned to Peter, who had no idea why Cole was looking at him as if he wanted to throttle him.
“Good eve, Cole,” he said, puzzled. “I was just telling Lady Corisande that sitting with my father and uncle has me bored to tears. I was going to hang myself simply for something to do.”
“Nay,” Cole rumbled, taking a step towards him. “Let me hang you.”
“Peter,” Ares said as he let go of Corisande and put himself between Cole and Peter. “I shall take pity on your boredom. My brothers and I were about to start a game of chance, so you can join us. Bring the de Lohr millions with you. I want your money and I want it tonight.”
He began to drag Peter away, who literally had no idea why he was being manhandled or why Cole looked as if he wanted to kill him until Ares explained the situation to him later, for his own safety. As Cole stood there and watched him go, he felt a gentle hand on his arm.
“He was perfectly polite,” she said, sensing why Cole was up in arms. “You truly have nothing to worry about.”
Cole still wouldn’t look at her, watching Ares and Peter disappear into the de Bourne tent. “You are correct – I do not,” he said, turning to face her. “But he does. I must have a talk with Peter to ensure he does not enter another man’s territory.”
Corisande fought off a grin. “Am I your territory?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “If he takes another step in your direction, he is going to find out the hard way.”
She couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore. Wrapping her hands around his big forearm, she began to pull him towards the surgeon’s wagon.
“You have nothing to worry about,” she assured him again before changing the subject.
“My father wanted to tell me that he will give permission for our marriage provided you settle the situation with Audrie de Longley. We happen to have my brothers’ approvals as well.
Therefore, we are practically betrothed. ”
As she had hoped, her diversion worked. Cole looked down his nose at her, a smile playing on his lips. “Then this is already the best day of my life.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.”
She smiled up at him before laying her cheek against his arm affectionately. “Mine, too,” she said. “My father also says that I can sleep in town tonight. But I told him a little lie.”
“What lie?”
“That I was going to bring Gaia with me,” she said. “Let me be clear – I am not going to bring her. But I told him that so he would not think I was sleeping alone.”
Cole almost said what he was thinking, but he refrained.
You will not be sleeping alone. But he didn’t mean it in the lewd sense, that he’d only rented a room for her simply to take advantage of her.
He didn’t mean that at all. But he wasn’t going to leave her alone in a town surrounded by over seven thousand men.
He intended to stay with her and watch her sleep simply to make sure she was safe.
Truth be told, it was the night before battle.
He wanted to spend what might be his last remaining moments with her.
“I see,” he said after a moment. “Then collect your bag, or whatever you wish to bring, and make your excuses to your sister. While the men are eating boiled pig, you shall dine on the finest the tavern has to offer and sleep in the most comfortable bed I could procure. My future wife shall have only the best.”
She smiled at his determination to take great care of her. In truth, she liked it very much. “There’s one more thing,” she said.
“What?”
“I’ve not even met your father yet and I have been on a battle march with him for two days.”
He chuckled, low in his throat. “Not to worry,” he said. “Who do you think I have invited to sup with us?”
The thought of meeting Jax de Velt was thrilling. A little intimidating, but thrilling. Corisande gripped his hand, her eyes alight with the possibility.
“Wait here,” she said. “Let me grab my satchel. If Gaia happens to see me, I do not want her to see us together. She might become suspicious.”
“I’ll wait.”
Flashing him a smile, she scurried off across the dark meadow, heading for the surgeon’s wagon in the distance, and Cole watched her like there was nothing else on earth worth watching. Wholeheartedly, with his entire being.
She consumed him.
As he’d told her, it was already the best day of his life.
A life that he prayed was only going to get better.