Chapter Fourteen
Coven Castle
Five miles northwest of Stafford
De Bretagne’s party arrived at Coven Castle well after sunset, when the land was nearly pitch-black because of the sliver moon.
Diamantha had never seen darkness like this.
It was so dark that one could literally not see the hand in front of their face.
Diamantha sat in the wagon with Sophie sleeping against her, both of them bundled up against the cold.
The night was clear in direct contrast from the misty, wet morning, and there were a million stars strewn across the sky.
It was a quiet night, too, the only sounds coming from an occasional night bird as the column made its way down the dark and lonely road.
About an hour into the trek from the point they had taken the western road from Stafford, a faint glow could be seen in the distance, a soft point of light against the inky blackness of night.
Weary from the travel and lulled by the rocking of the wagon, Diamantha had placed her head back against the cushions with Sophie snuggled against her chest, and she had fallen asleep to the night sounds around her.
But her slumber soon ended when shouts could be heard, taken up by the soldiers.
There were also shouts in the distance, shouts from Coven Castle as Cortez’s party drew near.
Cortez had sent two soldiers as messengers on ahead, so his father was expecting them.
Men rode out from the castle to greet them, men bearing torches, and soon there were flickers of light everywhere, splashed against the blackness of the night.
Diamantha awoke to the shouts but Sophie did not, and she lay there with her arms around her daughter, listening to the chatter and seeing flickers of torches all around.
The wagon picked up pace and soon the road became rather bumpy as she braced herself so she wouldn’t bounce around.
The oiled tarp that protected her from the rain also prevented her from seeing much of what was going on around her, but she saw clearly when they entered through a low, dark gatehouse and spilled out into a bailey.
There were men all around with torches and as she tried to sit up, the oiled tarp was pulled back and Cortez appeared. He smiled wearily at her.
“We have arrived,” he said, holding out his arms. “Give me Sophie, sweetheart.”
Diamantha did, and Cortez handed her over to the waiting Merlin.
Then Cortez reached into the wagon and pulled Diamantha out, holding her steady as she gained her footing after the long ride.
Fearful of more hungry peasants, they had never stopped to rest and the nooning meal had been taken as they traveled.
Now, they had stopped, and Diamantha was desperate to stretch her numb legs.
“Are you well enough?” Cortez asked her as she rubbed at her stiff legs.
Diamantha nodded. “I am,” she said, sighing wearily as her gazed moved over the torch-lit bailey. “So this is Coven Castle? Is this where you were born?”
Cortez shook his head. “I was born in London at the home of my mother’s uncle,” he said. “Coven Castle is from my father’s side of the family. Andres was born here, however.”
As he tried to move her away from the wagon, she balked until he reached in and collected the cage with the animals in it. Diamantha clutched the cage as they made their way across the dark, rocky bailey towards the great hall on the north side of the complex.
Coven Castle had been built right after the Conquest by Sir Giles de Bretagne, using foundations from an old Roman fort upon which to construct his castle.
Since the land around it was very flat for the most part, the Romans had built a mound and planted a watchtower atop it.
The mound still remained but instead of a watchtower on the top, there was a box-shaped keep with three floors to it.
There was one room on each floor, the top floor being Gorsedd de Bretagne’s chamber.
Massive curtain walls surrounded the mound and keep, with a big gatehouse at the entry.
The bailey, a flat piece of land that wasn’t particularly large, housed a great hall and a secondary structure that held apartments on the top floor and a stable beneath it.
There were a few outbuildings, too, mostly for horses and trades, and all of it crammed into a rather small space.
It was a very busy space now with Cortez’s party settling down in the bailey.
Horses were being tended and the wagons were being taken over to one of the outbuildings to be housed for the night.
Holding the cage in her arms, Diamantha allowed Cortez to escort her towards the great hall but she kept glancing over her shoulder at Merlin, carrying the sleeping Sophie.
As they neared the hall, a man in leather and furs emerged, throwing open his arms when he saw Cortez.
“My son!” he roared, moving swiftly for Cortez and throwing the man in a great embrace. He hugged him tightly before kissing his cheek. “Cortez, my shining star. I have missed you so very much.”
Cortez was grinning at his father, a man he resembled a good deal. “Father,” he said, as if reaffirming the man and the bonds. “You’ve not changed, not one bit.”
Gorsedd laughed loudly. “You have,” he said. “You have gotten older and….”
Suddenly, his gaze fell on Diamantha and he stopped himself mid-sentence. His eyes widened and his mouth seemed to pop open in surprise. Cortez, seeing where his father’s attention lie, grasped Diamantha’s hand and pulled her forward.
“Father,” he said with satisfaction in his voice. “This is my wife, Lady Diamantha Edlington de Bretagne. I have brought her to meet you.”
Gorsedd was beside himself. He went to Diamantha, his wide-eyed gaze devouring every line, every curve of her face, as if he could hardly believe what he was seeing.
“Your wife?” he repeated Cortez, just to make sure he had heard correctly. “You remarried and you did not think to send word to me?”
Cortez was grinning broadly as he put his big arm around Diamantha’s shoulders. “We were married not quite two weeks ago,” he said. “I am here to tell you in person. She is beautiful, is she not? I can hardly believe she belongs to me, but she does.”
Gorsedd reached out to take Diamantha’s hand, the one that wasn’t holding the animal cage, and he brought it to his lips, kissing it gently. He appeared genuinely emotional.
“My lady,” he greeted, his voice hoarse. “It is an honor and a privilege to meet you. Long have I prayed for this for my son. Long have I… well, it does not matter. You are his wife now and a part of our family. I am very glad you are here.”
Diamantha smiled at the man, seeing Cortez reflected in the color of the man’s black eyes and in the shape of his face. The resemblance was truly remarkable.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely. “I am very happy to know you.”
Gorsedd looked at Cortez as if surprised.
“Not only does she look like an angel, but she speaks like one, too,” he said, returning his attention to Diamantha.
He still held her hand. “Dearest lady, will you kindly accompany me into the hall? We assumed Cortez had not yet eaten and have a feast prepared in his honor. Now it is in your honor as well.”
Diamantha resisted slightly. “My lord, I would be more than happy to sup with you,” she said. “But, at the moment, I believe my daughter and I could both use a few moments to rest and refresh ourselves. We have been traveling a very long time.”
Gorsedd was nodding furiously even before the words left her mouth. “Of course,” he said quickly, turning to Cortez. “Take her into the keep. You may both have my chamber. Do you remember where it is, Cortez?”
Cortez nodded. “At the top.”
Gorsedd was still nodding, now gently pushing Diamantha in the direction of the keep.
“Go now, my lady,” he urged. “I will send servants with hot water so you may bathe if you wish. And your daughter? What a lovely child. I have another bed I can send up for her to sleep on. She will like her own bed, don’t you think? ”
Cortez took hold of Diamantha while his father began barking orders to the servants.
A tiny man with a big torch moved in front of them, leading the way through the darkened bailey to the mound and its steep steps.
Cortez took the animal cage as Diamantha collected her skirts and took the stairs carefully.
Merlin, still behind them bearing Sophie, followed them up the steps and into the big, intimidating keep.
The ground floor was a solar of some kind with a big desk, a table, a roaring fire, and four very big dogs.
When they saw the animal cage in Cortez’s hand, he had to hold the thing over his head so the dogs would leave it alone.
They smelled the cats. They were very interested in Diamantha, too, and she petted them timidly, but when they got to Merlin, he shoved the dogs out of the way with his feet.
There was a narrow spiral staircase that led to the first floor of the keep, which was used by the servants.
It had all manner of chairs, beds propped against the wall, and a big bathtub.
It was essentially a storage room and there were more dogs in there as well.
Continuing up the stairs to the top of the keep, they found themselves in an extremely cluttered chamber.