Chapter 28
Griffith stumbled back and sat on the filthy cot. Kallen had rejected him.
For Nowland?
The world had gone mad. Numbness set in, gripping greater than any cold he’d ever experienced.
This was not the Kallen he knew. She may have walked away from him just now, but she was lying. When she’d first entered the earl’s torture chamber, he hadn’t imagined the feelings written so plainly on her face. She’d run to him, begging Nowland to stop.
She couldn’t have changed so drastically in the space of mere minutes.
Then it hit him. In the blur of words she’d hurled at him, she had repudiated Savina. Savina, the only one who had ever shown Kallen an ounce of love. He understood the hidden message in her words and realized Quentin forced her. Kallen dismissed Griffith to save him.
Her life—for his.
He tried to take a deep breath, but his sore ribs ached.
He caught himself and continued taking slow, shallow ones.
Every muscle in his body burned from the strain of being placed upon that wheel.
He knew the evil Nowland had only scratched the surface, toying with him as a cat might tease a captured mouse.
Griffith couldn’t imagine the pain of a man broken upon the wheel.
He heard muffled voices and caught the flickering shadows upon the wall moving his way.
His enemy had returned. Would the torture begin again, this time in earnest? Had the sacrifice Kallen made been all for naught?
The earl came and stood before Griffith’s cell door, an apologetic smile dancing upon his thin lips.
“I am sorry if you did not enjoy my hospitality, Sommersby, though I must agree that you found what you sought. I’m afraid your little bird has flown your nest, though.” The nobleman’s gaze was malevolent. “She has made her choice. Me.”
“Kallen would never choose you of her own free will,” Griffith spat out.
Nowland smirked. “Oh, but she did, dear boy. Besides, I have decided to acknowledge Kallen as my true offspring. By law, I am her father. I have total control over her. Not her uncle. Not the de Mangeron family. Certainly, not you. None of you hold any rights whatsoever as far as she is concerned.”
Nowland leaned against the bars, his voice barely above a whisper. “And my brother Edward, our king? He would never condone any attack to try and spirit my daughter away from me, would he?”
The earl leaned away, fussily smoothing his tunic. “Kallen is trapped behind these walls forever. My plaything... for as long as I wish.”
A sinking feeling overwhelmed Griffith. This monster spoke the absolute truth. Women possessed no rights in English society. Crispin would no longer have any authority to intervene in the situation. Only a father or a husband would possess the power to decide Kallen’s future.
Nowland cleared his throat. “I’m afraid you must return to Mangeron without your prize, but take heart. You will soon be an uncle yourself. Mayhap that will take your mind off this little interlude.”
The noble bastard flashed a signal, and a guard stepped forward to unlock the cell door. The earl gestured for him to step out as the guard moved away.
“You’re releasing me?” Griffith still suspected foul play.
Nowland expelled a long breath. “Unfortunately, yes. Although I would love to spend hours with you in my special room, Kallen wishes you leave. She may not want you any longer since I can offer her so much more, but she won’t see you harmed.
” He chuckled. “I can keep my word as well as any de Mangeron. My daughter is precious to me, so I will acquiesce to her wishes.”
The nobleman tapped his foot impatiently.
“Come now. You’re free to go. You shall be escorted to the stables for your horse, and you will leave my estate, never to return.
” He narrowed his eyes and studied Griffith a moment.
“Unless you miss being here. You can be a part of it all again if you choose.”
Griffith remained silent, squelching the torrent of curses he wished to hurl at this man.
“No? Well, I realize you’re needed at home. I know that father of yours is so ill. I was very sorry to hear of his accident.”
Griffith glared silently in return.
“You must excuse me then. My best to your sister and her husband.” The earl quickly exited the dungeon, his false words of goodwill echoing in Griffith’s head.
A guard threw his clothes at him. He hastily dressed, ignoring the pain, and the guard escorted him from the keep. Griffith saw no sign of Kallen. He reasoned it was the middle of the night, but his spirits sank nonetheless.
As he gingerly mounted Satan and galloped through the gates, every bounce caused a new ache. He hurried, though, eager to leave the property.
But a part of him remained behind. With Kallen.
Kallen returned to her room, totally devoid of emotion. She remained dry-eyed, numb to all that had just occurred. She had pushed Griffith away as hard as she could. Now, she could only pray Nowland would keep his word to her and free him.
And if so, what would Griffith do? Would he believe she’d cut all ties with him? Kallen lost herself in prayer, silently chanting the same phrases over and over, begging God to be merciful and protect Griffith. He must be kept far away from her father’s evil.
A rap on her door startled her. She had no idea how much time had passed.
The earl entered with an air of confidence. “Your nobleman is gone, headed back to Mangeron. I hope you’re pleased.”
She deliberately let no emotion show on her face.
“You have no thoughts about returning there yourself, I hope?”
Kallen held her head high. “No. Why would you ask? I have thrown in my lot with you.”
“You have been sheltered your entire life. I want you to understand that the law makes you mine. I acknowledge you as my offspring. That means as your father, I control your every action.”
He gripped her arms tightly, his fingers digging into the soft flesh. She knew bruises would appear later, but she kept a bland expression on her face.
“We have a destiny, Kallen. Are you ready to follow me? To learn?”
She nodded, her eyes never leaving his face.
“Good.” He patted her cheek. “I so wish you could have met your grandmother. She would have enjoyed knowing you existed.”
“And talking of the auras? She saw them?”
Quentin released her. “Yes. She helped me so much.
She was afraid of what she saw. It frightened her ever since she was a child.
But I helped her to see ‘twas a special talent.” He began to pace about the room.
“She loved me so, much as she did my father. He provided her with all that she needed. I doubt you realize it, but Edward was the greatest king England has seen.”
His gaze was steady on her now. “I plan to follow in his footsteps. I may be a bastard son, but ‘tis royal blood that runs through my veins. Yours, as well. We will topple this weakling half-brother of mine from his throne, Kallen. I shall rule in his stead, with you by my side.”
Kallen wondered how much he would reveal to her. Already he admitted to treason, and she hoped she could eventually use this against him.
“How do you plan to accomplish this? I would think the younger Edward most powerful, with armies of men at his disposal. Surely he realizes you are a threat to him, Father? I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to have you killed.”
She decided to address him that way, hoping it would placate him and lull him into thinking she had feelings for him.
He chuckled. “Edward is too stupid and too wrapped up in Piers Gaveston to realize his kingdom crumbles all about him. Besides, I have a few men who recognize England weakens because of such a spineless monarch.”
“Who are these men that would risk being accused of treason?”
“We meet here tomorrow night. I sent word to them once I knew when you would arrive at Mangeron.” He came close and took a lock of her hair between his fingers, rubbing it back and forth. “You shall attend this meeting, my pet. You will judge who’s worthy to stand with me.
“Today, though, you shall meet a few of my underlings and get acquainted with your new home.” He clasped his hands together. “I want you to enjoy a certain freedom, Kallen. I want Nowland to become home to you. I can trust you, can’t I?”
Kallen placed her hands over his, willing herself not to shrink away in revulsion. She must gain his trust before she could sabotage his plans. Her efforts might cost her her life, but only emptiness and unhappiness stared back at her in a world without Griffith.
In a firm voice she replied, “Yes. I have made my choice, Father. I would be a part of all you plan.”