Chapter Seven #2
It was a definitive declaration of loyalty, something William both approved of and appreciated.
“If there is time, I hope you will tell me about your homeland,” he said.
“It is a rare opportunity to learn such things. Northumberland tends to be either Scots or England. There is nothing else unless a Northman or two shows his face.”
“I have heard that has happened quite a bit in the past, my lord.”
“It happens still, but not as much as it used to,” William said, looking at War. “They do seem to favor Bamburgh, so if no one has told you to be on your guard from the sea, then I will tell you. If you see longships on the horizon, send word to Berwick and to me immediately. Do not wait.”
He said it seriously and War took it seriously. “When I first came to Berwick, some of the old soldiers spoke of seeing the Northmen when they were younger,” he said. “I’m told that no one has seen them in twenty years, so let us hope that trend continues.”
William couldn’t disagree. “Absolutely,” he said. “But vigilance is key. At Berwick, where my son, Patrick, is the garrison commander, the mouth of the River Tweed is wide enough for a longship. They are always vigilant there.”
“I shall be also,” War assured him. “Aside from the occasional Northmen, is Northumberland quiet for the most part? The Scots are not too terribly active these days?”
William shook his head. “Not these days,” he said. “Except, of course, the attack on Etal, but that was the first activity in quite some time on a larger scale. We have occasional raids into Coldstream or other villages, but those are usually reivers. Not organized clan attacks.”
“Then I have come at a quiet time.”
“Be careful, Herringthorpe. You do not want to rue the day you spoke those words.”
War grinned but as he went to drink from his cup, he caught sight of brilliant red-gold hair at the entry to the solar.
He was still drinking when he looked over to see Annaleigh standing there, looking for all the world as if an angel had just walked into their midst. He lowered the cup, staring at her because he couldn’t seem to look at anything else.
William, catching sight of her also, motioned her in.
“Come in, Annaleigh,” he said. “Let me introduce you to Castle Questing’s newest allies.
These are the men from Bamburgh Castle you’ve heard us speak of.
The man to my left is Sir Warwick Herringthorpe, the garrison commander.
War, this is my wife’s cousin, Lady Annaleigh Scott.
She is the daughter of the current chief of Clan Scott. ”
Now, War had a surname to go with that lovely first name.
In those few brief words, he learned exactly who she was and her relationship to de Wolfe.
Not only was she related to the great Wolfe of the Border, but she was a clan chief’s daughter.
Honestly, he could expect no less from so magnificent a woman.
But now they were at a tricky moment. They had both acknowledged that they recognized one another and had met before under less than desirable circumstances. But was she willing to admit it in front of witnesses?
Was he?
“My lady,” he greeted politely. “It is an honor to know you.”
Annaleigh was gazing up at him with her big, green eyes. “And ye, m’lord,” she said in her sweet lilt. He could have listened to it all day, but she sounded a bit nervous. “I’ve come tae make sure ye have all ye need. Is there anything else that’s wanting?”
Her last sentence was directed at William, who shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “We have all that we need, thank you.”
As Annaleigh dipped her head politely and quickly turned to leave the room, War set his cup down. “Wait,” he said. “Would it be possible to direct me to your facilities?”
Annaleigh cocked her head curiously. “M’lord?”
It was clear she had no idea what he meant, so he looked at William. “We have been riding since before dawn,” he said. “And now with this drink…”
He trailed off, but the hint was obvious. William immediately set his cup down, too. “I will show you.”
“Nay,” War said. “You are the lord of the castle. It is not your duty to show me where to go to… well, where to go, and you have guests here to attend to. I am certain Lady Annaleigh can direct me quite capably. A finger in the right direction will do.”
William conceded the point as he looked to any number of men in the room who could show the man where to empty his bladder. He wasn’t sure it was proper for a young lady to do so, but everyone seemed engaged in conversation, so he relented just this once.
He turned to Annaleigh.
“The garderobe, lass,” he said. “Show him.”
Annaleigh nodded quickly and scurried to the door. “This way, m’lord.”
War followed.
The keep of Castle Questing was quite vast. It had been built two centuries before as a single building but somehow, over the years, it grew in scope.
Another wing was added and at some point, a third and fourth floor were added.
The result was an enormous keep with forty or more rooms, chambers, and alcoves.
Given that two families had raised their children there – the de Wolfe and Hage families – it had served a greater purpose.
But War was positive he was about to become lost.
“How do you know where you’re going?” he asked Annaleigh. “I’ve never seen such a vast place.”
“’Tis not far, I promise.”
“I lied.”
She didn’t stop walking. “M’lord?”
“I lied. I do not need a moment of privacy.”
They’d crossed over into an area where there was a large common room, seemingly a small hall of some kind, and Annaleigh came to a halt and turned to him.
“You dunna need a moment of –?”
He shook his head, his eyes glimmering in the light of the torches on the walls. “Are we going to continue to pretend that we have never met before?” he asked softly. “I do not need you to show me to the garderobe. I simply wanted to speak with you alone.”
Her expression was guarded. “Why?”
He could see that she had no interest in speaking with him alone, and probably anything else, and he immediately felt embarrassed. Ridiculous, even. He didn’t even know why he wanted to speak with her alone, only that something was compelling him to.
There was one thing he very much wanted to say to her.