Chapter Sixteen #2
Cathlina opened her mouth to say something but Sebastian was suddenly at the door, knocking swiftly. “Mat?” he hissed. “Someone is at the door.”
Mathias was on the move, unsheathing the big, sharp but unadorned broadsword that had accompanied him north.
Telling Cathlina to bolt the bedchamber door, he shut it softly and moved for the door that opened up into the corridor outside.
Sebastian had collected his broadsword and together, the two of them went to answer their caller.
“Who comes?” Mathias demanded.
“Open the door or I will break it down.”
Sebastian immediately tensed for a fight while Mathias cocked his head curiously.
The voice was deep and booming, but there was something about it that he thought he recognized.
The words didn’t frighten him at all because somehow, someway, he could sense mirth.
Aye, he recognized the voice now. Yanking the door open, he lashed out a massive balled fist and made contact with some portion of a body.
He wasn’t sure which part he hit. He struck out as hard as he could.
The man at the door fell back as Mathias made contact with his throat.
Slamming back into the wall of the corridor, he didn’t try to fight back.
He was too busy gasping for air because Mathias had hit him squarely on the Adam’s apple.
As the man slumped against the wall, Mathias and Sebastian stood over him.
“How many times have I told you not to stand so close to a door when issuing threats?” Mathias scolded. “Next time, it could be more than a fist that comes out at you. It could be a broadsword.”
The man had his left hand wrapped around his neck, gazing up at Mathias and Sebastian with a mixture of irritation and humor. Clad in heavy and expensive battle armor, he was well prepared for any manner of armed offensive but a fist to the neck, where he only had a mail hauberk, had him reeling.
“You bastard,” the man rasped. “I shall get you for this, I swear it.”
Mathias just shook his head. It was readily evident that he knew the man, as did Sebastian.
After several long seconds of pregnant and tense silence, the man against the wall suddenly burst out in chuckles, which caused Mathias and Sebastian to follow suit.
Soon, the three of them were laughing uproariously.
“Pembury,” Mathias reached out a hand to pull the man off the wall. “Where in the hell have you been? I have been looking for you for a week.”
Stephen of Pembury took Mathias’ hand and pulled himself up.
He was an enormously muscled man standing eight inches over six feet and was easily taller than even the tallest man.
In fact, Pembury was a giant wherever he went.
With his dark hair, chiseled features and cornflower blue eyes, he cut a striking figure of male virility and power, and had more than his share of female admirers.
He was enormously strong, intelligent and obedient to a fault.
He also happened to be Mathias’ closest friend and the two of them came together in a hug that reaffirmed the bonds of that friendship.
Then Mathias pulled him inside the sitting room and shut the door.
“I have been at the Bucket and Barrel for two days,” Stephen said, still rubbing his throat.
“The innkeeper told me that two men had been coming daily looking for me but I could not be sure it was you. I had to be careful, you know. Yesterday, I hid while I paid a man to follow you back here. When he described the men he had followed, I was certain it was you. And here I am.”
Mathias shook his head as Sebastian grinned. “Here you are,” Sebastian said, very happy to see him. “Where have you been keeping yourself for the past year? We heard you were with Edward in Scotland.”
Stephen nodded as he pulled off his helm and moved to make himself more comfortable. “Mostly in Newcastle and Berwick,” he said. “The Scots have been a handful, fighting each other for the throne and then battling the English for independence. I have hardly seen de Lara or St. Héver. How are they?”
“Well,” Mathias said. “We just left them, in fact.”
“That is good,” Stephen said as he set his helm on the nearest table. His cornflower blue gaze sought out Mathias. “And you? How have you been this year past?”
The last time Mathias and Stephen had seen each other was shortly after Mathias had been stripped of his titles. It had been a painful parting and, frankly, Mathias didn’t remember too much of it. All he had remembered clearly was the anguish.
“I have been well,” he said quietly. “My brother and father and I were living in Brampton, operating a rather successful smithy business. It has been a quiet year and one of reflection.”
Stephen nodded in understanding. “You were entitled to some much needed rest.”
“I received it.”
“And now you are ready to return to us?”
Mathias shrugged. “It is time to move on with my life and resume my chosen profession,” he said. “Edward will simply have to understand that. I cannot remain a smithy for the rest of my life.”
Pembury shook his head firmly. “You are too great for that,” he said, eyeing Mathias. “I have been waiting for this day, in fact. I knew it would come sooner rather than later. I have some things for you.”
Mathias looked at him. “What do you have?”
Stephen smiled faintly. “Your sword,” he said softly. “I have your sword, your equipment, and your charger. I brought them with me.”
Mathias’ features went slack with shock. “You did?” he asked, awed. “I… I had turned them over to the court’s magistrate. I had no idea where they had gone.”
“I took them,” Stephen said, his manner quiet. “I could not stand the thought of them falling into hands that were unworthy to hold them, so Tate acquired them from the magistrate and turned them over to me for safekeeping. He did not tell you that?”
Mathias shook his head, still stunned. “He did not.”
“Then mayhap he wanted to surprise you.”
Mathias chuckled as he realized with great joy that the possessions he valued above all else would be returned to him.
“I am surprised,” he agreed, grinning. He sobered. “You realize that all of you – Tate, Ken, and you – are going against the king’s directive. He stripped me of my titles and told me if I held a sword again that it would mean my life. Now all of you are helping me defy him.”
Stephen’s good humor faded. “What happened to you could have happened to any of us,” he said softly.
“You had your reasons for siding with Mortimer, Mat. We all knew that. What happened at the end… Edward stripped you in order to save your life. We had to do it even though it was a travesty. But now this… they can take away your titles but it does not diminish who you are as a man and a warrior. We knew your time would come again and we are here to ensure that it happens.”
Surely no better friends in the world had ever existed. The bonds they all shared ran deeper than blood or kings. It ran deep into the heart. Mathias was touched and humbled by the show of support.
“Thank you, my friend,” he said quietly. “I cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness.”
Pembury smiled in return, his big teeth straight and white. “You would have done the same for me,” he said. “Now, what is this I hear? We are to swear fealty to Henry de Beaumont and fight for his foolish cause?”
Mathias nodded. “We are,” he said as he eyed the man, “but I am not entirely sure how you are going to swear fealty to him if you are already quite sworn to Edward?”
Stephen shrugged. “Tate has sent Edward a missive asking for my leave,” he said. “You know that Edward cannot deny Tate anything. He worships the man.”
“Tate is his uncle; indeed he does.”
“Therefore,” Pembury continued as he grabbed around for a cup to fill with the remainder of the warmed cider, “you and I are bound for our Scots adventure. Oh, and Sebastian, too.”
Sebastian, standing near the hearth, sneered at him. “You should be so fortunate to have me on your side, Pembury.”
Stephen lifted a cup in agreement. “I certainly would not wish to fight against Sebastian the Red. Those Scots had better run if they know what is good for them.”
He drank deeply of his cup as Midgy decided to venture forth from his copper tub and make an appearance.
As Stephen began to pick at the bread still left on the table, the otter raised up on his hind legs next to him and began grunting, begging for food.
Stephen nearly bolted out of his chair at the sight and only by sheer courage managed to keep calm.
His eyes were wide on the furry creature.
“God’s Bones,” he exclaimed. “What in the hell is that?”
Mathias caught sight of Midgy and grinned. “My wife’s pet.”
Now Stephen was truly astonished. “Your wife?”
Mathias nodded as he headed to the bedchamber door and rapped softly. “Cathlina?” he called. “Open the door, love.”
They could hear the iron bolt being thrown and the door quietly opened. A woman of astonishing beauty stood in the doorway, her sweet face both curious and apprehensive as she looked at the men in the chamber. Mathias put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her out into the light.
“This is the man we have been waiting for,” he told her. “This is Sir Stephen of Pembury.”
Cathlina’s face relaxed into a smile as she gazed upon the massive man with the bright blue eyes. “My lord,” she said, dipping in a polite curtsy. “It is good to finally meet you.”
Stephen was still wrestling with his astonishment that Mathias had not only taken a wife, but that he had brought her along. He bowed his head in her direction.
“Lady de Reyne,” he said. “It is indeed a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I had no idea Mathias had married.”
She grinned as she looked at her husband. “Ask him to tell you how it came about,” she said. “It is a rather sordid tale.”
Stephen smiled just as she did. He looked at Mathias. “I can already tell she is far too good for you.”
Mathias bowed his head in agreement. “You would be correct,” he said. “Now that you have met her, you should know that she will be traveling with us. I could not leave her behind for reasons I will explain to you at another time.”
Stephen accepted his statement without another word.
He went to reclaim his cup but saw that the otter had it, now rolling it around on the floor.
As he hunted around for another cup, Justus emerged from the second bedchamber and greeted him like a long-lost son.
Pembury was thrilled to see the old man, tougher than most men half his age.
He had fought with three kings, starting with Edward I.
Stephen greatly admired Justus de Reyne.
As he and Justus sat down to conversation, the otter was running amuck because it was hungry and Lady de Reyne was trying to pacify the animal.
Sebastian wasn’t paying much attention to her but Mathias was, and Stephen could see in those brief few moments how enamored the man was with his wife.
Not that he blamed him, for she was a lovely little thing, but he had to admit he was concerned.
They would be traveling into enemy territory for the purpose of swearing fealty to a man who was fighting for the Scottish throne.
This was a serious endeavor, as much as any of the wars between Edward and Mortimer, but now Mathias was bringing his wife along with him who would only be a distraction.
Stephen wondered just how effective Mathias would be with his attention divided.
He prayed the distraction would not be deadly.