Chapter Fifteen #2
Edward didn’t even let Antoninus speak. “Tatius de Shera is in trouble,” he said. “Let us sit and discuss this. This is something we are all going to want to hear.”
Although Christopher could have easily sent them away, he didn’t. Something in Edward’s voice told him not to. Therefore, he nodded, indicating a place at the end of the table for Antoninus. Edward sat across the table from Christopher as the man indicated the other men sitting at the table.
“This is Sir Jeffrey Kessler and Sir Max de Velt,” he said, gesturing to a big man with piercing eyes and auburn hair, and then a second man with bulging muscles and shoulder-length, dark hair.
“They have served me for many years and are trustworthy. What is so important that it could not wait, young de Shera?”
Antoninus looked at the blond man. “And you, my lord?” he said. “Are you Hereford?”
Christopher’s lips twitched. “I am sorry that was not made clear to you,” he said. “Aye, I am Hereford. Tell me why you are here and do not waste my time.”
Antoninus immediately launched into his tale again, helped along by Edward. By the time he reached the end of his message, with the Rebels of Rhos, led by Nesta and her daughter, the Countess of Ellesmere, Christopher was looking at him with a mixture of concern and disbelief.
In fact, he glanced at Edward with an expression that suggested it was quite an outlandish tale, but Edward wasn’t of the same mindset. He could see Christopher’s doubt and hastened to assure him that, if true, this was a serious situation, indeed.
“Being down here in the southern end of the Marches, you would not understand the mentality of those in the north,” he said.
“Rhos, Tegeingl, Pengwern were all absorbed by Gwynedd and the family of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth. I can remember even as a young man hearing rumors of rebellion from ancient kingdoms against Gwynedd, so what young Antoninus is telling us is not beyond the realm of possibility, Chris. A child born of the descendants of Rhos and Pengwern would be quite an inspiration for a rebellion against Gwynedd and also against John.”
Christopher sighed doubtfully. “But pulling de Shera into it?” he said. “They are loyal to England and have been for centuries.”
“But if Tatius has lost control of the armies, that will not matter,” Edward said. “If Atilius and Fabius are in command, and they look at this as a chance to gain lands for themselves, they could draw the de Shera armies into a rebellion against their own king.”
Christopher scratched his scalp pensively.
“I know Atilius and Fabius,” he said. “I will admit that the only reason there is any believability to this tale is because those two are vipers. I have fought alongside them in a few battles, and while loyal, they do not follow orders very well. They do not like it when someone else receives glory. They have a reputation of being selfish and unpredictable.”
“Exactly,” Edward pointed out. “And if they are offered riches and lands to support a Welsh rebellion, they would do it.”
“There is something I forgot to mention,” Antoninus interrupted, watching all eyes turn in his direction.
“Tatius’ mother was Welsh, from the ancient kingdom of Rhos.
He is half-Welsh, which is why Nesta approached him in the first place.
I do not think she expected him to be so resistant, so she spoke to the greed of Atilius and Fabius.
They resent Tatius the earldom and believe they are deserving of riches, too.
That is why I fear for Tatius… Atilius and Fabius would have no issue with killing him if they felt he was standing in their way and it is they who have pushed him into this betrothal.
As long as Tatius cooperates, he is moderately safe, but he will not cooperate forever.
That is why he sent me to Lioncross. He said you needed to know what was happening in the north. ”
That changed the situation quite a bit. Christopher looked at Edward for a moment before emitting another sigh and rising from his seat.
It was clear that he was contemplating what he’d been told, lost in thought as he paced over to the hearth that was as tall as he was.
He stood there a moment, looking into the embers, a thousand thoughts whirling through his mind.
“I would assume that William Marshal knows none of this,” he said quietly.
Edward looked at Antoninus, who shook his head. “Nay, my lord,” he said. “William Marshal is the guardian of Nesta’s daughter. I am sure he would not have sent her to marry Tatius if he knew what he was really sending her to.”
Christopher leaned against the hearth. “Nay, he would not have,” he muttered. “You said that Nesta’s daughter is due to arrive any day at The Paladin?”
“Aye, my lord.”
“She could be there now for all we know.”
“Aye, my lord,” Antoninus said. “Once she reaches The Paladin, she will be escorted into Wales to a fortress called Mountain Dark, where the wedding will take place.”
Christopher turned to look at him. “Mountain Dark?” he repeated. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“It is the fortress of the Kings of Rhos,” Antoninus said. “It is where the lady was born, I am told. It has special significance to the rebellion. A mystical place, I’ve heard.”
Christopher looked at Edward. “Well?” he said.
“What do you suggest? I am not exactly thrilled to be marching my army up to Chester. It will take weeks at best and we do not have such time if the princess has already arrived and the wedding has already taken place. That rebellion will be tearing up the north before we realize it.”
Edward nodded. “Then let us take a light brigade,” he said. “We will move far more swiftly.”
Christopher thought on that. “It would be easier than moving my army north,” he said.
“What about Stephan de Lara? The Lord of the Trilateral Castles should be aware of what is going on because his lands are very close to all of this, straddling the Marches up near Shrewsbury. I know he has not seen a great deal of hostility for years, but the de Lara army is still strong. Small, but strong.”
Edward nodded. “He should be notified as well,” he said. “He is closer to Powys, and subsequently Gwynedd, than most. Where are Sean and Kevin now?”
He was speaking of de Lara’s sons, powerful knights who also served William Marshal in senior capacities.
“Sean is with John, as you know,” Christopher said.
“He is the king’s shadow and bodyguard in all things.
Kevin is serving my brother in Canterbury at the moment.
We cannot summon either one of them in time for what needs to be done.
I cannot even summon my brother; he would have to come all the way from Canterbury.
We will have to move without any of them, but word should be sent to The Marshal at the very least. He must know what is going on, or at least what could potentially happen. ”
Edward was already on the move. “I will send word to him today,” he said. “I will also send word to de Lara to ensure that the man is on alert. If this rebellion gains traction…”
He trailed off but Christopher knew exactly what he was thinking.
“If this rebellion finds fuel in the marriage of Tatius de Shera to Nesta’s daughter, and Tatius loses control of his army to this Welsh rebellion, then it is going to tear up the north.
And any rebellion up there can easily move to the south. ”
“My thoughts exactly.”
As Edward rushed off to send the necessary missives and Christopher engaged in conversation with Jeffrey and Max, Antoninus sat at the end of the table feeling an inordinate amount of relief. Tatius had been right to send word to de Lohr, even though the man had needed some convincing.
Still, something was going to be done about this. Men who had far more experience and savvy than Antoninus did were in charge now. God help them; perhaps they could indeed save Tatius from what was about to happen.
Perhaps they could save the north from the wildfire of rage and rebellion that was about to consume it.
Antoninus could only pray.