Chapter Five
Westminster Palace
London
“I’ve heard.”
“About Gaveston?”
“Aye. Word came a few days ago.”
“Does Edward know?”
Sir Denys de Winter drew in a long, slow breath.
He and Titus were standing in the middle of the vast northern courtyard of Westminster Palace, out in the open but far enough away from anyone else in the bailey that they couldn’t be overheard.
They could also be sure that no one was eavesdropping, so this was how they normally conducted their clandestine conversations.
Hiding out in the open.
Since Titus was Magnus’ brother and Magnus had been the king’s captain, it was all quite normal.
De Wolfe and de Winter were close friends and allies.
Denys was from the great military family of de Winter, an astonishingly capable commander, and Magnus’ best friend.
He was positively enormous, tall and muscular, with a crown of fair hair and big, dark eyes.
He had a ready laugh and a booming voice, enough to scare the wits from most sane men.
When Magnus had resigned his post two years ago as captain of the king’s knights, Denys was the natural replacement.
He also happened to be an agent for the Executioner Knights.
“My suspicion is that Edward knows,” Denys said after a moment. “My last report was that he was in York with Isabella and that Lancaster was pursuing him.”
Titus’ eyebrows lifted. “Then all you’ve heard is that Pembroke has taken him hostage?”
“Aye,” Denys said. “Why do you ask?”
“Because if you knew the latest, then you would know that Lancaster and Warwick have abducted Gaveston from Pembroke’s custody,” Titus said. “He’s been taken to Warwick Castle, where Lancaster and Warwick plan to try the man for treason.”
It was Denys’ turn to look surprised. “Christ, are you serious?”
“I wish I wasn’t.”
“I had not heard that.”
Titus nodded ominously. “Now you have,” he said. “That happened almost eight days ago. It has taken me that long to ride to London and inform de Lohr. He told me to tell you, but he wants me to go to Warwick and keep an eye on the situation.”
Denys frowned. “Is that wise?” he said. “Warwick knows that you are a Pembroke knight. Won’t he think you’ve come to retrieve Gaveston?”
Titus shook his head. “I will go to Warwick Castle as a de Wolfe knight,” he said.
“Warwick and Lancaster know that de Wolfe has remained somewhat neutral in this situation. All I have to tell them is that I am the eyes and ears of the Earl of Warenton, the Earl of Berwick, and the Earl of Northumbria, among others. I’ve got one father and five powerful uncles who command nearly the entire stretch of the Scottish border and significant portions of Northumberland.
Do you think, for one moment, that Warwick is going to deny me entry? ”
“Of course not,” Denys grunted. “He’ll put you right in front of the action in the hopes of gaining de Wolfe support.”
Titus nodded knowingly. “Exactly,” he said. “Trust me when I tell you that I will be perfectly safe. But de Winter, on the other hand…”
Denys knew what he meant. The House of de Winter was an enormous warring house, related to the Earl of Surrey and the Earl of Norfolk, and they always, without fail, supported the Crown.
They had never been against the Crown in the history of the family, so Denys served the king whether he wanted to or not.
Secretly, he sided with the rebellion, but as Morgen had told him, he was more valuable to them on the inside of Edward’s circle.
But something like this—with the king’s closest companion and advisor a prisoner of the rebel warlords—he, more than anyone, knew how badly this could go.
“I must send word to my father,” he said with regret.
“He will want to know what has happened. He has troops with the king as we speak, men who have been protecting him from Lancaster and his allies. But I fear we’ve been alone in much of our endeavors, Titus.
So many warlords side with Lancaster. Edward has done everything he can to make sure England’s warlords are insulted and devalued. It’s his own damnable fault.”
“You know that is why my father and uncles have remained neutral,” Titus said, lowering his voice.
“De Winter has long been an ally. They do not want to go to battle against de Winter’s army.
De Lohr, too. That is why we have all stayed out of this, but I suspect the tides will be turning now that Gaveston is Warwick’s prisoner. ”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because Pembroke gave his word that Gaveston would be treated fairly,” Titus said seriously.
“Lancaster and Warwick turned against him by abducting Gaveston. Now Pembroke looks like a fool, and Lancaster intends to hold his own court to judge Gaveston. He is doing this without the support of his allies, save Warwick and a few others. He acted on his own and took Pembroke’s prisoner. Don’t you see where this will lead?”
Denys did. “No man wants to live under Lancaster’s rule,” he said. “He has overstepped himself.”
“Exactly.”
“And that means that men like your father will be driven to support Edward.”
“They will have no choice unless they want Lancaster to rule all of them unjustly,” Titus said. “By abducting Gaveston, he proved that he cannot be trusted.”
Denys could see the bigger picture. “Then I must send word to my father right away,” he said. “He must know what has happened. Lancaster is just looking for an excuse to get rid of Gaveston.”
“He will execute him, and when he does that, he has sealed his fate.”
“Only he does not realize it yet.”
The impact of those words hung in the air as Titus and Denys looked at one another, each man knowing what was coming.
It wasn’t so much that the rebel warlords of England would swear fealty to Edward again.
It was the mere fact that the Earl of Lancaster, the richest and most powerful warlord among them, was taking justice into his own hands and usurping the king’s power in all things.
And he wanted it badly enough to betray an ally in Pembroke.
No one needed a demigod ruling England.
“I’ll send word to my father at some point, but not now,” Denys said.
“Men have seen us talking, and they know you. The only saving grace is that you are Magnus’ brother and de Wolfe is neutral, though I know some of them might know you’ve been at Pembroke’s side.
In any case, if they see us meet and then I immediately send a missive to Norwich Castle, it will look suspicious. ”
Titus nodded. “Agreed,” he said. “But do not wait too long. If I could ride to see Davyss de Winter myself, I would. How is your father, anyway?”
Denys smiled faintly at the mention of his beloved father. “Old,” he said. “Old and refusing to stand down. He still commands Norwich, even at his age, and even though my brother, Devon, has virtually taken everything over for him. But Papa is healthy, and for that, we are grateful.”
Titus smiled. “He is much admired by all of us,” he said. “My father has always been fond of him.”
“And my father is very fond of Atty.”
Atty was a family nickname for Patrick de Wolfe, something that close friends and allies called him as well.
When Patrick had been a very small boy, a mild speech impediment had prevented him from properly pronouncing his name.
“Patrick” came out as “Atty,” and it stuck.
To call such an enormous, powerful warrior by a childhood nickname seemed foolish, but for Patrick, it was natural. Even his grandchildren called him Atty.
It was something timeless and endearing.
Titus knew that. He had known Denys his entire life, and the man was like family, but he refrained from what came naturally to him and kept his hands to himself.
Normally, he would have clapped Denys on the shoulder or otherwise shown his affection now that the conversation had turned to something more pleasant.
But Denys was right—men were watching them.
He had to stay neutral.
“Right,” he said, looking about casually. “And with that, it seems that there is nothing more I can do here, so I will be in London for another day or two before heading to Warwick Castle. Other than send word to your father, what do you plan to do? Will you try to get a message to Edward?”
Denys shrugged. “I cannot get a message to him now, not if he is running from the warlords intent on capturing him,” he said. “My only duty now is to keep Westminster from falling to an enemy army.”
“Do you think it will?”
“Angry warlords have marched on London before.”
“True,” Titus said. “Let us hope it does not come to that.”
Denys couldn’t disagree. “I only have about a thousand men here,” he said. “We can hold it if we need to, but not much more than that. I cannot protect the city.”
“What about the Tower of London? How many men are there?”
“Five hundred at the most. It will hold even if London falls.”
Titus grew serious. “I do not have to say this, but I am going to,” he said. “If it looks as if Westminster is going to fall, get out of here. Get on a boat and go across the river. Go back to Lonsdale or return to Norwich, but do not stay here. Edward isn’t worth dying for, Denys. Please.”
Denys’ dark eyes twinkled dully. “What is worth dying for, Titus?”
“Not a man who has never been kind to you and who threatened to take your father’s lands if he did not properly serve him.”
The humor in Denys’ features faded. “You forget to whom you are speaking,” he said softly.
“I can get closer to Edward than anyone. I can end this conflict once and for all with only my bare hands. Edward may not be worth dying for, but England is. And for a better England, I am not beyond doing what needs to be done. Even to a king.”
Titus understood. Denys was the king’s captain, but he could also be the king’s assassin. Sometimes an Executioner Knight had to do what needed to be done, regardless of the politics of it.
Even regicide.
Denys was in a prime position for it.
“Let us hope it does not come to that,” Titus muttered. “Now, I must take my leave. I’ve been here long enough.”
“It was good to see you, Titus.”
“And you, Denys.”
“I wish you good fortune in your endeavor with Warwick. I think you are going to need it.”
Titus gave him a lopsided smile as he began to back away. “Much like you, I will do what needs to be done.”
Denys took a step or two after him, following him as he turned away. “Titus?”
Titus glanced at him. “Aye?”
Denys was hesitant. “Be… cautious,” he finally said. “Gaveston is not worth dying for.”
Titus knew that. He appreciated Denys’ concern. Flashing the man a cheeky smile and giving him a bold wink, he headed for the western gatehouse of Westminster.
Denys watched him go, praying it wouldn’t be the last time he saw him alive. With the way things were going with the winds of war in England, anything could happen.
And anything probably would.