Chapter Sixteen
“Alec, before we go any further, I demand to know what this nonsense is regarding your sister’s wedding,” Edward demanded, already into his fourth tankard of St. Cloven hearty ale. “Why did I have to stop the wedding?”
Alec, beside Peyton, held his wife’s hand tightly. “For several reason I should be happy to explain, Sire. But tell me; did you send word to my father instructing him to postpone the wedding immediately, as I asked?”
Edward belched loudly. “I did. I told him I wished to attend the ceremony and forbade him to commence until I was able to travel to Blackstone. However, I never indicated when, exactly, I would be available; therefore, I would assume plans are on hold indefinitely.”
Alec sighed with relief, squeezing his wife’s hand. “Thank you, Your Grace. I am grateful.”
Edward grunted into his tankard. “I do not know why I should do this for you when you have never done a damn thing for me. You have repeatedly denied my requests to lead my army and I have no idea why I should leap up to grant you a favor.”
Alec grinned faintly as Peyton leaned against his arm, her sapphire-blue eyes gazing at him adoringly. “Then you shall not like to hear what I have to say. Mayhap we should discuss it in the morning when you are sober, Sire. You never could hold your liquor.”
Edward raised his eyebrows at the challenge. “Is that so? I shall have you know that I can drink you into your grave any day of the week, Summerlin. How dare you insult me.”
“’Twas no insult, Sire, but a fact,” Alec’s grin broadened as he glanced at Anthony Bek’s smirking face.
“Insult me no more,” Edward commanded. “Tell me why it was necessary to postpone your sister’s wedding.”
Alec’s smile froze, faded. “Because I will not allow her to wed Colin Warrington. The contract must be terminated because I plan to obliterate him.”
Edward’s jovial mood fled and he fixed Alec with a questioning gaze. “Is that so? Why, may I ask?”
Alec’s face was emotionless. “Because the man and his father have been harassing my wife’s family for the better part of thirty years.
They have seen fit to raid the small village within the fiefdom, raping women and young girls, and murdering small children.
Their mere presence on this earth is an abomination to the human race and I, for one, am anxious to be rid of them. ”
Edward was listening intently in spite of his drunken haze.
“This has gone on for thirty years? God’s Blood, why haven’t I heard of this Warrington clan?”
Peyton answered for her husband. “’Tis a large country, Your Grace.
You cannot be expected to know of every feud and disagreement within her boundaries.
The conflict between the Warringtons and the de Fluornoys began thirty years ago when my grandfather cleared several acres of forest in order to use the land for growing barley.
It was neglected land until my father and grandfather sought to make use of it.
When the Warringtons discovered that the de Fluornoys planned to make a profit from the land, they rose to dispute the boundaries between St. Cloven and Wisseyham Keep.
Even though their records could not prove conclusively that the disputed lands were within their territory, unfortunately, St. Cloven could not prove that they held title, either. ”
Edward rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “So they took to harassment to force you to relinquish your claim?”
Peyton nodded. “Thirty years’ worth, Your Grace.”
The king let out a slow, weary sigh. Alec slanted Ali a gaze and silent words passed between the two.
Edward was generous, but he was not foolish.
More than likely, he would play his advantage and Alec cringed at the thought.
Alec wanted something; so did the king. He knew, without a doubt, what proviso Edward’s reply would contain.
“And if I grant your request, Alec, and arrest the Warringtons for crimes against England, do you intend to annex all of their lands?”
That had been Alec’s original intention. But gazing into Ali’s black eyes suddenly gave him an idea. “Nay, Sire. I would have Ali assume the fiefdom of Wisseyham. He would be an excellent lord and neighbor. Moreover, he is my brother-in-law and we would forge a powerful alliance.”
Both Ali and Ivy looked shocked until Ivy turned to her husband with a hopeful grin. Edward watched them both, mulling over the possibilities. It did not take him long to come to a conclusion.
“Agreed,” he said softly, turning to fix Alec in the eye.
“I will dissolve your sister’s betrothal and arrest the Warringtons as you ask, but with one stipulation. That you return to my service and help me subdue Llewellyn ap Gruffydd.”
Alec did not react, but Peyton’s eyes widened. She did not dare look at her husband, surely knowing what his answer would be. After a moment, Alec smiled thinly.
“Ever shrewd, Edward. You stop the marriage between my sister and the Warrington bastard, turn their confiscated lands over to Ali, and in turn you wish for me to help you defeat the Welsh prince.”
Edward, suddenly fully sober, cocked an eyebrow. All of the humor had fled from the conversation, the comfort and warmth. Abruptly, it was tense and uncomfortable, and no one dared to twitch a muscle as Alec and Edward stared at each other.
Currents of emotions played upon the warm, stale air, enveloping all present. Peyton felt the uncertainty and squeezed Alec’s hand encouragingly, distressed when he did not respond to her gesture.
“You are fully aware of my vow,” Alec said in a low voice.
Edward was the first to avert his gaze. “No one is more aware of it than I, Alec. But that was twelve years ago. Surely you have resigned yourself to Peter’s death by now.
You must go forward with your life,” he suddenly slammed his tankard against the table.
“I have waited twelve damn years to come to grips with your mistake and I refuse to wait any longer. You want something from me, Alec, and I want something from you. Will you do this for your king, or will you continue to live your life in self-pity? I have always believed you to be made of stronger character than that.”
Peyton’s eyes were wide enough to pop from her skull.
She swallowed hard, her gaze moving between Edward and her husband.
Alec, however, hadn’t changed expression.
He was still smiling faintly at his king, although it wasn’t a humorous smile.
Edward, irritated and full of alcohol, rose unsteadily to his feet and jabbed a long finger at Alec.
“You would expect me to do you a favor, yet you have no intention of reciprocating. God’s Blood, Alec, I won’t lift a finger to grant your requests unless you agree to help me. I need you, Alec. I need your sword!”
Alec’s eyes glittered. “I will have to discuss this with my wife.”
Edward turned from the table, throwing up his arms in a gesture of resignation.
“By all means, Alec. Discuss it with your beautiful wife and let me hear of your answer. I shall not ask again. If you deny my request this time, then you can consider your ties to the throne cut. You will no longer exist to me.”
Tears welled in Peyton’s eyes. She refused to sit by while the drunken monarch humiliated her husband. She leapt to her feet before she could control herself, fully prepared to defend him against the king.
“You cannot speak to him in such a manner,” she sobbed. “His father has disinherited him, his mother hates him, and still he is trying to do what is best for them by eliminating the Warringtons. How dare you threaten to destroy your friendship.”
Alec reached up and grasped her by the arms. “Sit down, love. It’s all right.”
She whirled to him angrily. “Nay, it is not all right. You have given up everything and still the king threatens to take away more,” she refocused on Edward, her sobbing lessened as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“Wasn’t Alec’s strength and reputation enough for you in the Holy Land?
My God, he killed his own brother trying to protect your approach to Acre.
He has sacrificed everything in the name of the crown and still you have the gall to berate him as a weakling. ”
Edward stared at her as Alec gently pulled her to sit.
He tried to comfort her, but she would not let him.
She continued. “Sire, Alec has nothing left but St. Cloven and a bad-tempered wife. You have stripped him of his dignity by reaming him in front of his colleagues and peers, and now you would destroy your friendship? I do not know if I can respect a king who resorts to intimidation and threats to gain his wants. I thought you loved Alec.”
Edward did not reply for a moment. His half-lidded gaze never left her.
“My lady, your husband means more to me than you can possibly know. There is not a fighting man in England who has not heard of The Legend. What he has just heard from my lips is nothing he hasn’t heard before; in fact, I believe I say something similar every time we meet.
I have been threatening to disregard him for the past twelve years; obviously, I have no intention of following through on my warning. I am sorry to have upset you so.”
Alec’s smile returned as his gaze moved between Peyton and the king. His massive arm was around her shoulders, watching her expression as Edward explained his actions. He could see, however, that she was not entirely convinced and he kissed her tenderly on the cheek.
“Edward rants and raves habitually, sweetheart,” he murmured. “’Tis nothing new.”
Peyton sniffled loudly, lowering her gaze to wipe daintily at her dripping nose. As the realization of Edward’s words settled, she calmed somewhat. But she was still grossly upset with the king for berating Alec for all to see.