Chapter Seven #4
“So the son sides against the father,” Bose murmured.
“That move alone will weaken Henry’s ranks because now the dynamics will change within his power structure.
Henry has many close Savoyard relatives that advise him.
Edward was the only buffer between the French and his father.
Now, with Edward gone… it will be interesting to see what happens. ”
Interesting, but not in a good way, Gallus thought as he watched Bose lean against the post, fatigue and concern evident on his face. “What will you do now?” Gallus asked.
Bose shrugged his shoulders. “I am not entirely sure there is anything to be done,” he said. “I will simply continue along my same path.”
Gallus hesitated a moment before speaking. “De Moray, you are English,” he said. “Don’t you hate to see hordes of greedy French taking over prosperous and strategic English properties?”
Bose was nodding before Gallus even finished speaking. “Of course I do,” he said. “But it is the king’s privilege to do as he wishes with crown properties.”
“It is wrong.”
“He is our king and beyond our reproach.”
The last two sentences were spoken over one another, choppy and with passion.
It was clear that Gallus and Bose saw the situation two different ways.
Bose was a staunch supporter of the monarchy because he owed a life-debt to Henry for having saved his life once.
Had he not owed such a debt, things might have been different.
The fact remained, however, that the situation was irreversible for him, no matter how foolish or corrupt or careless Henry seemed to be.
Bose would support Henry until the death.
De Moray finally took a deep, long breath, struggling to clear his head.
“For now, my loyalties lie with Henry,” he said simply. “There is nothing more I can do about it, although I greatly appreciate your confidence in telling me. I will not repeat it, I swear.”
Gallus knew that. Men like Bose de Moray did not give their word lightly. “I know,” he said softly. “I just wanted you to be aware in case you have dealings with Edward. He is not allied with his father.”
The mood surrounding them was now somber, almost edgy.
The situation was changing rapidly and that made all of them uneasy.
The future, for now, was murky as loyalties shifted from one to the other, back and forth.
Soon, they would not know enemy from ally.
But one thing was certain. The strength between the House of de Shera and the House of de Moray would never change. Bose was grateful.
“You have been a true friend and ally, my lord,” Bose said sincerely. “We shall never forget what you have done for us. We owe you a great deal.”
Gallus smiled weakly. “You saved Max’s life on the battlefield,” he said. “It is we who are indebted to you.”
Bose’s lips twitched with a smile, remembering that moment in time Gallus spoke of.
As he thought on it, he looked over his shoulder to his son, knowing how hard all of this was on him.
Garran hated Henry and he hated Edward even more.
The only reason he was allied with his father was because the man had asked it of him.
Bose wanted to say a few things to Gallus without his son hanging about so he thought swiftly for an excuse to send Garran away.
“Garran,” he said, turning to the horse that was sporting a big wrapping on its right foreleg.
“Go and make sure your sister is settled in for the night and then go to the kitchen and have the cook make another mustard plaster. If we cannot settle the swelling in this animal’s leg by morning, we will have to leave this very expensive horse behind. ”
Tiberius is with Douglass, Gallus thought, feeling some panic at Bose’s directive to Garran.
He wanted very much to tell the knight not to go but to do so might look seriously odd, enough to put Bose and Garran on their guard.
They would question why Gallus did not want Garran to go and check on his sister.
And then they would look around and realize that Tiberius was missing.
A ruse. They would then know it was a ruse to allow Tiberius to get close to Lady Douglass with her father and brother occupied.
Therefore, Gallus had to keep his mouth shut and pray that Tiberius had been truthful when he said he had no plans for Lady Douglass to become another conquest. He had to have faith in his brother in that nothing unseemly was happening between him and the lady, because if it was and Garran discovered it, the situation might turn very bad indeed.
Still, he had to act as if nothing was amiss. He had to pretend all was well!
“Garran,” Gallus said casually. “If you happen to see Tiberius in your travels, please send him to me.”
Garran was already moving away. “If I know Tiberius, he is curled up with some wench on his lap,” he said, grinning. “I will check the common room. If I see him, I will send him to you.”
He is probably curled up with some wench on his lap. Gallus cringed as Garran said it, hoping that wench wasn’t Douglass. And if it was, he hoped Garran didn’t see it.
Please, Ty… for once in your life, do not be improper with a lady!