Chapter Six #3
Fergus was grim. “So you want revenge for them breaking the contract?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I want her.”
Fergus didn’t quite understand. “You want her? But why? Lady Derica without the inheritance is hardly worth the trouble.”
“You don’t understand, Fergus. I am in love with her.”
Fergus looked shocked. “I see,” he muttered. “Are you sure, Garren?”
“I am.”
“Perhaps it was something you ate. It made you ill and affected your thoughts. Perhaps you simply think you are in love with her.”
Garren grinned. “I am fairly certain that it is not my imagination.”
“A spell, then. She cast a spell to bewitch you.”
“I sincerely doubt it.”
“But love,” Fergus stood up. “Garren, you of all people cannot succumb to something that makes the strongest of men weak and ineffectual. Love has destroyed more lives and kingdoms throughout the ages than can be counted. Are you not terrified?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then let me help you,” Fergus grasped his arm. “Let me beat it out of you. I shall not let this destroy you, Garren, I promise.”
Garren laughed as his friend tried to jerk him off the bed. “You can’t beat it out of me. But if you don’t let go of me, you’re going to get a beating of your own.”
“I am trying to help you. Do not resist me, you fool.”
“Fergus, trust me. This isn’t something that can be bashed away with a fist or reversed with magic charms. It is something deep inside that can never be erased.”
Fergus let go of him. “Something has indeed happened to you, my friend. The Garren le Mon I have known all of these years would never speak like that.”
“The Garren le Mon you knew no longer exists,” Garren said quietly. “This is serious. I need your help.”
Fergus cast him a long look as he reclaimed his chair. “I see. So you sent for me not to socialize and become disgustingly drunk as we remember old times, but to put me into service.”
“Aye.”
He signed with exaggeration. “Very well. What will you have me do?”
“Go to Framlingham and abduct Derica for me.”
“And then can we get disgustingly drunk?”
“I shall buy you your own winery.”
Fergus grinned. “For my own winery, I would abduct the Queen herself.” He sobered, his manner serious for the first time since his arrival.
Things like abductions, raids and sieges didn’t bother him in the least; he’d done worse.
But the true motive behind the request plagued him.
“Are you sure, Garren? This isn’t just some manner of infatuation, is it? ”
Garren shook his head. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?” he muttered to himself. He focused on his friend. “No, this is not an infatuation. I want this woman to be my wife because I love her and her family is not going to stop me. How much clearer can I make this?”
Fergus didn’t have an overly suspicious mind, nor was he a deep thinker. He more often than not simply accepted what was said.
“If that is your desire, my friend, then I shall ride to Framlingham today for your ladylove.” He scratched his head. “You do have a plan, don’t you? What do I do with her once I have her?”
“You worry about getting her out of the castle. When you do, ride for Yaxley Nene Abbey and deliver her to Sister Mary Felicitas. Beyond that, there is nothing you need concern yourself over. I shall pay you, handsomely.”
“I am not worried over the money,” Fergus said. “I would do this for nothing at all, simply because we are friends. But there is one thing that concerns me.”
“What’s that?”
“If her family is as protective as you say, then you are going to need help keeping her. Even if I manage to get her out of Framlingham, I am willing to wager that the hounds will track us and follow.”
“That is why you are taking her to the abbey.”
“But she can’t stay there forever, and neither can you. Eventually, you are going to leave with, I suspect, her family in pursuit. What then?”
“That part of my plan is a little less clear. I shall know more when I return to Chepstow and discuss options with my liege.”
“What for?”
“The Marshal controls several bastions along the Marches. I shall request transfer to one of the remote ones, easily defended. I shall keep her there with me until her family grows weary and returns home. The Marches are a long way from Norfolk and, do not forget, her father serves the Earl of Norfolk. He cannot be gone overlong on a siege using the earl’s resources. ”
“Unless the earl gives his blessing and sends more reinforcements to aid him. Then, you will have a battle that will basically pit the Earl of Norfolk against the Marshal of England over a reason that has absolutely nothing to do with either of them. Do you want to risk that now when tensions are already so high between Richard and John’s supporters? ”
“Not particularly.”
“Then I would suggest that you take her someplace remote, with no soldiers, no connections whatsoever. Just the two of you. Wait until the situation cools. As it stands now, running to a fortified castle is basically inviting her family to follow and bring on a full-scale war. It is a tease.”
Garren thought on his words carefully; Fergus may have been flighty and scatter brained at times, but he had the heart and soul of a true warrior.
In battle, the man was invaluable, which was why an undertaking of abduction didn’t faze him in the least. He would have battled through fire if Garren asked him to.
“I appreciate your point of view,” Garren said after a moment.
“But the de Rosa’s are powerful. It will be imperative that Derica and I have ample protection against their onslaught, which I have no doubt will come.
My hope and inclination is that, after a time, the de Rosas will tire of any siege they may undertake and give up.
Furthermore, with Derica and I married, the Church will undoubtedly support our position.
Were the de Rosas able to retrieve her, however remote, the fact remains that she would still be a married woman. ”
Fergus shrugged. “Anything is possible. But if you are trying to avoid being tracked and thereby avoid the entire siege scenario, then surely keeping a low profile is best.”
“I cannot disagree.”
“Do you want a battle, Garren?”
“To teach those bastards a lesson, perhaps. But that would certainly not be in Derica’s best interest.”
“Nor yours. People tend to die in battle.”
The men fell silent a moment, pondering the immediate future. “Your family is from Wales, Fergus?” Garren ventured.
“Aye.”
“Then if I were to maintain a low profile, as you suggest, perhaps….”
Fergus was already thinking ahead of him.
“A half a day’s ride from the village where I was born lies an abandoned castle,” he said, excitement in his tone.
“When I was a lad, it was fairly intact but neglected. Story has it that Rhys, a Prince of Dyfed, built Cilgarren Castle for his new bride, but that he abandoned it shortly after her death. So there it sits, massive and unused. My father could direct you to this castle. It would be a perfect hiding place for you.”
“You’re sure? An entire fortress completely unused?”
“In all of the years my family has lived there, they have never seen it inhabited except for immediately after its completion. Legend has it that the place is haunted, and the princes of Dyfed will not go near it. And, being that nearby castles like Cardigan and Carmarthen are far more threatening, the English have no desire to claim it at this time. They have got their hands full with manned castles much less unmanned ones.”
Garren felt better than he had in some time. A plan, a place. With Fergus to help him, he was positive the outcome would be favorable. Now to the get man to Framlingham and claim the prize. He suddenly snorted, softly.
“Cilgarren,” he muttered. “It is fate that I go there.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because the castle bears my name.”
Fergus grinned. “Indeed it does,” he agreed. “Perhaps in the years to come, people will forget the ‘Cil’ altogether and simply call it Garren’s Castle.”
Garren nodded vaguely, his mind mulling over Fergus’ advice. “Your clear thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated, my friend,” he said. “Strange thing about Love; it muddles your head like fog. I have not been able to think objectively about any of this. I needed you more than I realized.”
“My offer still stands to beat it out of you.”
Garren laughed softly. “I think when you meet Derica, you will change your mind.”
Fergus stroked his chin. “Is that so? Then perhaps I will abduct her for myself.”
Garren cast him his best intimidating glance. “You will rue the day you were born, I assure you.”
“Very well. That threat, coming from you, is enough to cause me to reconsider. I shall stay the course and then you shall name your first born son after me.”
“Fair enough.”
“Then let us make this so, my friend. Time waits for no man.”
Fergus’ confidence reassured Garren. But deep down, he was anxious for something that would be completely out of his hands until the moment Derica appeared at Yaxley.
Until then, all he could do was wait and ignore the nameless fears that attempted to seduce him.
So many things could go wrong and thinking such thoughts would surely drive him mad.
All he wanted to do was see Derica again, and truly hold her for the first time.
If he thought about it, he’d never done anything more than kiss her hand.
The longing to touch her, hold her, experience her, was almost more than he could bear.
He didn’t like waiting.