Chapter Six #2
War could see that Alexei was trying to reassure him that it didn’t matter that he wasn’t from Edmund’s loins, but that wasn’t the real issue. He held up his hand to silence the man.
“I know,” War said, his voice soft because Monty and Clement were nearby and he didn’t want them to hear him. “I know my father loved me. And he is my father, Alexei. No matter what the truth is, Edmund is the man who raised me. He is my father.”
Alexei heaved a sigh of relief that War saw it that way. “Indeed, he is,” he said. “But that surely must have been a shock to you.”
War nodded. “Shock?” he mused softly. “It was. Shock is a gentle term for what I felt. More importantly, it is who my real father is that shocks me the most.”
Alexei’s features flickered with concern. “Edmund knew who it was?”
“He told me.”
“Who?”
“William de Wolfe.”
Alexei could no longer keep the shock or concern or anything else off his face. His eyes widened. “De Wolfe?” he hissed. “The man we just saw in battle?”
“The same.”
“But how –?” Alexei stammered. “How did he… does he know you are his son?”
War shook his head. “He does not know,” he said.
“As Edmund told me, my mother loved de Wolfe before she ever met my father. She wanted very much to marry him, but her father would not permit her to marry a mere knight, which was what de Wolfe was back then. He was simply a young knight with no property, no titles yet. She was pregnant with the man’s child and unable to marry him because my grandfather betrothed her to Edmund, who had a title and was a slightly better prospect.
According to my father, de Wolfe never knew about the pregnancy. He never knew a thing.”
Alexei was filled with shock at the astonishing revelation, but he quickly saw the situation for what it was.
“And now you must reconcile yourself to the fact that not only was Edmund not your father, but a legendary knight is,” he said, reading War’s mind.
“Forgive me, War, but it was not fair of Edmund to tell you this, at least not on his deathbed. He should have told you sooner. You both could have reconciled this together.”
War sighed heavily. “I know,” he said. “But it is done. Now, my dilemma is this – my mother wrote de Wolfe a missive to be given to him, explaining about me. Edmund gave me the letter. He cautioned me against seeking any kind of vengeance or retribution against de Wolfe since the man did not know my mother was pregnant and I must say that I agree. But I feel as if I should tell him. If I do not, then I am as bad as my mother and Edmund for having withheld such a secret. If you were de Wolfe, would you want to know?”
Alexei scratched his head. “I think so,” he said. “I think I would want to know if I had any bastards about. Not to claim them as my son, but simply to know them, as my flesh and blood. To help them if they needed and wanted it. But de Wolfe has many sons – we met them.”
War nodded. “I am older than the two eldest sons.”
Alexei was watching him carefully. “Do you think to challenge them for your due?” he asked tentatively. “You cannot do that, War. They were born within a legal marriage and you were not.”
War held up a hand to silence him. “I realize that completely,” he said. “Nay, I do not wish to challenge them. But de Wolfe… I do not want another father, but I suppose it is his right to know.”
“I believe that is the right thing to do.”
War knew that. He just wanted to hear it from someone he trusted. Still, the entire situation had him in turmoil.
“I just lost the man I believed was my father by blood, a man I loved very much,” he said.
“Now, he is gone and I feel as if I have lost… something. Mayhap it was only an illusion, but I feel as if I have lost what I thought was my life. My entire life. I feel that Edmund’s confession has tainted every memory I ever had with him and certainly with my mother.
They withheld something from me that they should have told me when I became of age.
What else did they not tell me, Alexei? What other truths did they withhold? ”
“You’ve lost your trust,” Alexei said quietly. “That seems normal enough to me, but I do not believe they withheld anything else from you. Edmund did not have to tell you what he did, War. Remember that. I cannot imagine it was easy for him.”
“Nay, I’m sure it wasn’t.”
“You will regain your trust in him,” Alexei said. “You must give yourself time. And you must learn to forgive both of your parents.”
“Forgiveness? Is that what I need to do?”
“Aye,” Alexei said, almost gently. “Until you do that, you will always feel… lost.”
They were wise words. War was well aware of it. After a moment, he looked at Alexei and forced a smile, nodding his head. Alexei smiled in return before turning to the group as a whole and bellowing orders to return to the road.
They had a journey to complete.
*
Bamburgh’s contingent had been sighted.
Castle Questing was abuzz with news that a small contingent from Bamburgh had been sighted within its territory.
William had constant patrols all over his lands so that any invasion would be quickly seen, so the messenger that had delivered the Bamburgh news was breathless because he’d ridden so hard and so fast to convey the information.
William thanked him and sent him to rest. Then he put the fortress on alert and notified his wife.
Guests are imminent.
Even now, Jordan was overseeing the preparation of the room that Herringthorpe would stay in while Jemma and Annaleigh were in the hall and kitchens, respectively.
Annaleigh was seeing to the refreshments for Herringthorpe and his men upon arrival while Jemma was making sure the hall was properly cleaned.
If she didn’t like the way the servants were cleaning it, then she’d snatch a broom and sweep it herself.
There was a flurry of activity going on.
Of course, Annaleigh had no idea that having her greet the travelers in William’s solar was all part of Jordan and Jemma’s plan to introduce her to Herringthorpe.
They didn’t even know if the man was married or spoken for, but if not, they wanted him to get a good look at Annaleigh.
William was oblivious to their plans, though he shouldn’t have been given the conversation they’d had earlier.
While he was in the bailey with Kieran as the men made housing preparations for the small escort, Jordan and Jemma were putting their scheme into action.
Perhaps Annaleigh should have wondered why Jordan asked her to put on a pretty frock, but she didn’t.
She put on one of her best garments, assuming Jordan wanted her to dress nicely for their prestigious guest, who was a high-caliber knight named Herringthorpe.
Annaleigh heard all about how Herringthorpe was trained at Blackchurch before swearing fealty to the king himself.
He’d evidently earned a name for himself before being granted the position of garrison commander of Bamburgh Castle, a massive fortress in Northumberland.
Jordan told Annaleigh everything she knew about the man and Annaleigh never dreamed it was because Jordan was trying to create a sense of awe before the man even appeared.
It worked.
By the time Bamburgh’s contingent arrived, Annaleigh was suitably nervous.
The refreshments were laid out in William’s solar with artistic precision.
There were several pitchers of fine wine and the food dishes upon the table were things warmed over by the cook, but also leftover meals that had been repurposed.
There were small beef and egg pies that had prunes and dates in them, along with stuffed eggs, baked apples, copious amounts of bread with fruit and butter.
Annaleigh had sliced the cheese herself, creating suns and other patterns out of them as they were placed upon wooden platters.
It was quite decorative and she was proud of it.
Then the guests arrived.
She could hear the commotion in the bailey as the contingent from Bamburgh came through the gates.
William, Kieran, Talus, Anthony, and William’s son, Troy, were there to greet them.
Troy, usually stationed at Wark Castle, had been at Castle Questing to speak with his father about a situation in the nearby village of Coldstream when news of Bamburgh’s approach had been announced so he decided to remain.
Annaleigh made her way to the keep entry, straining to see what she could about the new arrivals, when she caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye.
Penelope was heading for the bailey.
And she was armed.
Curious, Annaleigh came out of the keep and headed in Penelope’s direction, but she could see that Penelope was being followed by little Rose Hage, her little brother, Nathaniel, and finally her own brother, Thomas.
They were all following her, telling her to come away.
Nathaniel began to cry because they were all heading for the bailey and they knew that they weren’t allowed out there.
The last time he’d set foot in the bailey without permission, his mother, Jemma, had smacked his bottom.
He didn’t like being smacked. So he began to cry, causing Rose to stop to comfort her little brother.
Then, it was up to Thomas to do what evidently needed to be done.
Stop Penelope.
He did by grabbing her arm and yanking the sword from her hand. She began to scream as only Penelope was capable of screaming, which brought Annaleigh on the run. By the time she got there, Penelope was in a furious tug-of-war with Thomas and the sword.
“Here, here,” Annaleigh said, separating the two by pulling Penelope away. “Yer father has an important guest and ye’re causing a ruckus. Go back tae the kitchen yard immediately!”
Penelope was wailing. “I want the sword!”