Chapter Nineteen #4
The first patrol returning beneath the open portcullis was part of the same patrol that went out to the west on a daily basis.
Tristan had ridden with this patrol on the day he found Andromeda in the tavern in Ruabon.
There were four regular scouts, all of them dressed for travel and stealth, meaning they wore little by way of protection, mostly dirty clothing so they’d blend in with the landscape.
This was also the patrol that William had ridden with when he’d seen the buildup at Lord Gryffyn’s home.
Tristan, Andromeda, Addax, and William went to meet them.
“My lord.” The man leading the patrol was older, and he’d grown up on the marches so he knew the land well.
“I’ve taken the liberty of recalling all of the patrols because the castle must be secured.
The Welsh that were gathering at Lord Gryffyn’s home of Garth Hall have amassed overnight.
They are moving towards Wrexham as we speak. ”
No one was particularly surprised to hear the news.
In fact, Tristan felt a strange sense of relief.
He’d been expecting that very thing every single day, and now that the moment was here, he was relieved.
At least now he knew what was coming. The past year, living peacefully as they had, seemed unnatural given the volatility of the marches.
Nay, he wasn’t surprised in the least.
“How many men?” he asked.
The old man leaned forward on his saddle, wearily. “More than we keep here at Wrexham,” he said. “Enough to make ladders and scale the walls, if they can. They’ll try.”
“How long until they get here?”
“They’ll be in our lap by dawn.”
So it had come, the counterattack they’d been waiting for since the English had taken Wrexham back from the Welsh, and it sounded like a big one. But Tristan knew what they all knew—that the Welsh were going to have to fight to get it back because the English weren’t going to let it go easily.
They were going to be prepared.
“Thank you,” he said to the scout. “We’ll be gathering in the great hall in a short while to inform the men of what is happening and to discuss our plan of defense. I want you there to answer any questions.”
“Aye, my lord.”
“Be on your way.”
The scout and his men headed for the stable yard as Tristan turned to Addax and William.
“And it comes,” he said quietly. “William, go to the vault and tell the knights what has happened. They can leave the Irish rebel alone for now because I need them up here to organize defenses. We meet in the great hall in a half-hour for this purpose. Make sure they attend.”
William nodded and was gone, heading for the gatehouse amidst the bustle of the bailey and the returning patrols. Tristan then turned to Addax.
“I want everyone in the great hall,” he said. “We have known this day would come and we have a plan, so we must be prepared to execute it.”
Addax nodded smartly. “Aye, my lord,” he said.
With that, he dashed off, rushing toward the gatehouse. Tristan finally turned to Andromeda, who was watching Addax run away. When she caught Tristan looking at her, she smiled weakly.
“I’ve never seen a castle preparing for war before,” she said. “The last time I saw something like this, the Aingil Lochlainn was at the door and I was being sent away through the postern gate. I will admit that it brings back those feelings of uneasiness.”
She was trying to be brave. He could see it in her face. Surely the news was shocking, terrifying, even, but she was trying hard not to show it. He took her by the arm and walked her back toward the keep, removing her from the busy bailey.
“I can imagine,” he said softly. “But I have been thinking, Andie. Sherry was right. I do not want you in a compromised castle. Although this came much sooner than we anticipated, there is still time to move you to safety. I can ask Sherry to take you back with him to Wigmore.”
Andromeda came to a halt and pulled her arm from his grasp. “You think I would be so cowardly that I would flee when my husband is facing danger?” she said. “You will need me, Pat. I cannot leave.”
He was trying to be gentle with her. “You are not a coward,” he said firmly. “You are the bravest woman I have ever known, but the Welsh can be… determined.”
“So am I.”
“Sweetheart, if they get over the wall, there is a chance they may capture you,” he said, trying to be realistic with her.
“They may even kill you. I couldn’t live with that, Andie.
I cannot live without you. I would, therefore, consider it a great favor if you would go with Sherry. Please, my love. I am begging you.”
Andromeda was growing increasingly stubborn, though his gentle plea had her wavering. But she stood her ground.
“Nay,” she said flatly. “Where you go, I go, and if you face the Welsh, then so do I. We are together in this, Pat. If you stay, I stay. I could not leave you in your time of need.”
“But—”
She cut him off. “Would you leave me in mine?”
He was becoming frustrated that she was being so obstinate, but he was also immensely touched.
For a man who had never had the affection of a woman, someone who belonged only to him, her loyalty to him was staggering.
He tried not to let it cloud his judgment, because he knew she should leave, but damn…
what a wonderful thing it was to have a woman who was so dedicated to him.
It was the most wonderful thing in the world.
“I am going to beat you soundly if you do not go,” he threatened weakly.
“And I am going to kick you in the face if you try.”
He frowned, holding out for about two seconds before breaking down into laughter. “Would you really?”
“Are you truly going to beat me?”
“I am.”
“Then I will kick you. I will probably bite you also.”
“I believe you would.”
“Try me.”
He rolled his eyes, still laughing, before opening up his big arms and pulling her into his embrace.
“I love you dearly,” he murmured into her hair.
“I love you so much that it is making me physically ill to think of your being here when the Welsh attack. Is there anything I can say that will convince you to leave?”
She pressed against him, feeling his warmth and power filling her like blood in her veins. “Nothing,” she said, muffled against his chest. “Unless you go with me, I am not leaving.”
He didn’t want to fight with her. Not now. Perhaps after they’d met with the men in the great hall to discuss the attack and she could see just what they were facing, he would try again, but at the moment, he didn’t want an argument on his hands. For now, he’d let her have her way.
But time was passing.
Soon, it would be too late to safely remove her.
“Then if you intend to stay, you will make yourself useful,” he said.
“It will be important to lock down the keep. It will be important to move buckets of water to the roof in case the Welsh decide to throw flaming projectiles over the walls. It will be important to make the kitchen animals safe by bringing them into the vault. Move anything flammable away from the windows and cover them with cloth soaked in water. Make sure there is an adequate supply of food, and make sure the water supply is adequate. I know the well is in the kitchen, so we want to keep that secure. And most of all, we will need bandages for the wounded. It will be up to you to boil linens and tear them into bandages for the wounded. Will you do this?”
She was overwhelmed with all of the things he wanted her to do, but in a good way. She was ready.
“I will,” she said. “But I must hurry if I am to get all of that done, so I must go.”
“Not without a guard.”
“A guard?” she said. “Why?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Because Dermot is here, somewhere,” he said quietly. “I cannot be with you right now, and you will not walk about alone. Not until we find him.”
She understood. “Very well,” she said. “Send whomever you wish to watch over me, but I will put him to work.”
He gave her a half-grin. “Do as you must,” he said, catching sight of someone over near the stable entry and realizing it was the scout who had brought the news of the Welsh movements.
Emitting a whistle between his teeth, he caught the man’s attention and waved him over.
“I have the perfect man to watch out for you.”
Andromeda could see him coming, the older man who was rather tall, with big arms and a big head. “The scout?” she said. “I remember him from Ruabon on the day we met.”
“Indeed,” Tristan said. “He was with us on that day, and I trust him.”
Andromeda fell silent, thinking of everything she had to do, pleased he hadn’t put up more of a fight about letting her stay.
But she had a feeling that wasn’t the last she was going to hear of the subject.
Perhaps he’d been too distracted planning the coming defenses to make demands again, but she knew that he’d never forget about her safety.
The scout coming toward them was proof enough of that.
“My lady, this is Dolan,” Tristan said, introducing her to the scout. “Dolan, this is my wife, Lady de Royans. I realize that you’ve been out on patrol and haven’t heard the latest news from the castle, but I have a most important task for you.”
Dolan cocked his head curiously. “My lord?”
Tristan pointed to Andromeda. “Her safety,” he said simply.
“We have a rogue knight in Dermot mac Edan who is trying to harm her. With the approach of the Welsh, I have many things to attend to, and I do not want to leave her unprotected. That is why I am entrusting you with this task, Dolan. This is of the utmost importance to me. Will you do this?”
Dolan looked at Andromeda, who was shielding her eyes from the sun as she gazed up at him. “I will, my lord,” he said, nodding firmly. “I have a daughter about her age. I understand your fear.”
“Thank you,” Tristan said sincerely. “I will gather your patrol and have them join you. If Dermot tries to get near her, you have my permission to run him through. Are you armed?”
“Always, my lord.”
“Good,” Tristan said. He waved his hand in the direction of the keep.
“The lady has much to do, so stay by her side at all times. When the battle begins, she is to remain in the secured keep, and you will remain with her. I would prefer to have seasoned men in the castle with her in case your experience is needed.”
Dolan understood the implication. If the Welsh breach the castle, you will need to defend the keep and my wife.
“Aye, my lord,” he said quietly. “She will not be alone.”
Andromeda didn’t catch the nuances that were going back and forth between them, seasoned fighting men facing yet another battle.
They knew the stakes. They knew the possible outcome.
She lowered her hand from her eyes, looking to Tristan, oblivious to just how nervous he really was.
But perhaps that was a blessing. He was calm, so she was calm.
And that was the way Tristan wanted it.
“On your way,” he said, bending down to kiss her on the mouth. “Come to the hall shortly, because I will address the me. I want you to hear what I tell them.”
“I will,” she said.
He winked at her. “Go,” he said. “You have much to do, and your husband is demanding.”
With a grin, she gathered her skirts and fled toward the keep with Dolan on her heels.
Tristan watched them go, the smile fading from his face.
Was he doing the right thing by not forcing her to leave?
Was he being too weak? But there was more to his fears, something he wouldn’t admit to himself until this very moment.
Could he really lead this battle well enough to keep her, and everyone else, safe?
In all of his years as a knight, he had been the one following orders.
Of course, he knew how to command men and coordinate a battle, but this would be his first time as the commander of a castle under siege.
There was so much at stake, not the least of which was his wife, who would probably be here for the battle.
He had to force himself to admit that he would never convince her to leave.
If you stay, I stay.
War was on the horizon.
He could only pray that he was good enough, and strong enough, to win it.