Chapter Nine #2
“So that Edward could have a man inside the rebellion,” Corbett replied. “Edward could have a man lead the Welsh to defeat. What better way to destroy the Welsh than from the inside?”
It was frightening to realize that it all made sense. Suddenly, Chris caught on to exactly what he was saying.
“An agent for Edward?” he breathed.
Corbett nodded. “That was my thought, my lord.”
Chris pondered that possibility. “But… but I saw William after James’ death. The man was genuinely distraught. I have never seen a father more grief-stricken.”
“It is possible Lord William does not know of his son’s mission,” Corbett insisted.
“It is possible no one does but Edward and James. Mayhap, it was James’ directive to fake his death and become someone else.
In any case, I know that I saw James de Wolfe.
He is alive, and he is leading a rebellion. ”
Chris could hardly believe it. He looked at Augustus, seeing the same astonishment reflecting in the man’s eyes. It was all so overwhelming he didn’t know what to think or where to start with any of it.
“Either way, the implications are staggering,” Chris finally said.
“If James is leading this rebellion and plans to destroy it from within, we cannot interfere. But if he is not an agent for Edward and he is, indeed, leading the rebellion as Blayth the Strong, calling himself the bastard of Llywelyn… I simply cannot comprehend why he would do it. None of it makes any sense.”
The mood between the three men plummeted. It was a dark and confusing time, with no one really knowing where to turn. They couldn’t contact Edward about it, especially if James was an agent, and they couldn’t risk reaching out to James in any fashion.
“What will you do, my lord?” Augustus asked quietly. “Surely you cannot keep this news from Lord William.”
Chris eyed his knight for a moment before turning away, shaking his head.
“Nay,” he muttered. “He must know. If my son had been found living years after I believed him to be dead, I would certainly want to know. I cannot withhold such information. But I am not sure how to tell him, either, especially since no one else but Corbett has seen him. Although I do not doubt the man’s word, a second opinion is needed, don’t you think? ”
Augustus nodded. “I knew James,” he said. “Would you have me go into Wales to see for myself?”
Chris cast him an odd look. “Surely you jest,” he said. “You? An English knight? They would kill you on sight.”
Augustus didn’t subscribe to the fact that he would be killed on sight, for he could defend himself, but he didn’t argue. “Then what will you do?”
Chris scratched his head in a thoughtful gesture. “There is someone who can get closer to him than we can,” he said. “Bhrodi de Shera.”
Augustus frowned. “But Bhrodi married James’ sister well after James was killed. He has never seen the man.”
Chris looked at him. “Nay, he has not,” he said. “But his wife has. Let her confirm that her brother is indeed alive and then we will send word to William. For certain, the man will want to know.”
It made sense. Augustus was ready to carry out any orders to that effect. “Rees should have already reached Bhrodi right now with the first message you sent,” he said. “Shall we send a second one?”
Chris nodded. “Indeed,” he said. “I will scribe one before the day is out. Prepare our fastest messenger for the journey. I am going to invite Bhrodi and his wife to Lioncross so that we may discuss this issue in person, for certainly, they will want to know about it. And Bhrodi’s counsel on the matter will be welcome, for I doubt his wife can be rational about it.
We will determine once and for all if James de Wolfe is alive or not. ”
“And if he is?” Augustus asked.
Chris exhaled slowly, with feeling. “If he is,” he said, “then William must know. But, as I said, we cannot interfere in anything James is doing if he is an agent for Edward. A faked death, five years of infiltrating the Welsh… we could ruin everything if we try to contact the man.”
“True,” Augustus said. “But what if he is not an agent for Edward? What if he has simply gone mad and is now calling himself Blayth the Strong, bastard of Llywelyn?”
Chris shook his head. “If that is the case, God help us all,” he said. “Because not only will he lead a rebellion, he will bring down everything the House of de Wolfe has stood for. He will ruin his father’s legacy.”
Augustus digested that statement. Then, he said what they were all thinking. “If he is not an agent for Edward, then surely William will not let him destroy his legacy and the legacy of his entire family,” he said. “Surely… surely the man will do something to prevent that.”
Chris looked at him. “He will not,” he said.
“But I will. My grandfather’s best friend in the world was Edward de Wolfe, William’s father.
Did you know that? Edward de Wolfe and my grandfather were very close, all their lives.
Even though we are not related by blood to the House of de Wolfe, they are still family, and family protects family.
If James has lost his mind and is actively trying to destroy his father’s legacy, then I shall do what needs to be done.
I will make sure James does not accomplish his goal.
William lost his son once before; he will have to stomach losing him again and this time, for good. ”
It was an ominous threat, but an understandable one. The Houses of de Lohr and de Wolfe were that intertwined, and very protective of each other. Even when it came to sons ruining fathers. Augustus knew that Chris meant every word of it.
Blayth would have to die.
Before the day was out, another rider was heading north into Wales, to Rhydilian Castle, the seat of Bhrodi de Shera.