Chapter Twelve #3
The boy did as he was told with Albert by his side.
The old smithy had his arm around the boy’s big shoulders but it was clear that the lad was very nervous.
Although he met Maximus’ eye, there was apprehension in his face.
As the boy came to a halt in front of Maximus, for a moment, no one spoke.
They simply looked at each other. It was a moment filled with a million words, yet not one verbal sound came forth.
It was a moment when expressions spoke far louder than words ever could as father and son faced each other for the first time.
Maximus took a good look at what he truly believed to be his son, feeling emotions wash over him, feelings he never knew he had.
It was prideful and paternal. The boy was almost as tall as he was but he was still growing.
Maximus could only imagine how big the boy was going to get.
To think of this young man without food, without hope, and raised by a grandfather who lived in poverty nearly brought Maximus to his knees.
My blood, Maximus thought. He is my blood!
“Tell me your name, lad,” Maximus said, his throat tight with emotion.
The young man swallowed nervously, looking to his grandfather, who nodded his head. The lad then returned his attention to Maximus and swallowed hard once more before speaking.
“C-Cassius, m’lord,” he replied softly.
He has the smithy’s stutter, Maximus immediately thought.
No wonder the smithy hadn’t let anyone close to him!
To hear the boy’s stutter would have brought shame at the very least, an imperfect young man bearing the de Shera bloodlines.
But the lad had a beautiful, deep voice, very much reminiscent of Maximus’ tone, and in those short few words, Maximus knew without a doubt that he was looking at his very own son.
His heart soared and it was all he could do to keep the smile off his face, and he could feel his eyes stinging with tears of joy.
Something he had felt such apprehension over, the appearance of his bastard, now seemed silly in reflection.
Blinking away the tears, he focused on the nervous young man.
“Do you know who I am?” he asked hoarsely.
Cassius glanced at his grandfather before shaking his head. “N-Nay, m’lord.”
Maximus smiled faintly. “I am your father,” he said.
“My name is Maximus de Shera. I loved your mother very much, once. I am very sorry you have been kept from me, lad, but I understand why your grandfather did it. Now that you are here, however, I should like to come to know you. Are you agreeable to that?”
Cassius’ nervousness seemed to morph into something else. He stood a little taller now, his gaze peering seriously at Maximus. He was curious and interested, but he still held a glimmer of doubt. He looked at his grandfather again, for reassurance, before speaking.
“I-I didn’t know about y-y-you until a f-few months ago, m’lord,” Cassius said. “E-Even when I-I knew, I-I did not w-want to come to see you. I-I did not want anything f-from you but m-my grandfather insisted.”
Maximus’ brow furrowed. “But you are my son,” he said. “You are due all rights and privileges that the de Shera name can bring you.”
Cassius seemed to grow frustrated. “M-My grandfather and I do w-well enough,” he insisted. “He h-has taught me his t-trade and I am a good smithy.”
“He is one of the very b-best, m’lord,” Albert put in. “The l-lad has skill and s-strength beyond compare.”
Maximus’ smile grew. “I am proud to know that,” he said. “But he is a de Shera and should be a knight. That is his heritage.”
Cassius shook his head, almost violently, and moved away from the men. It was clear that he was agitated. “I-I cannot be a knight,” he said, pointing to his grandfather. “I-I told you I d-did not want this. I want to g-go home!”
Maximus looked at Albert with some confusion and concern as Gallus, who had been observing everything quite closely, moved around Maximus and took a few steps towards Cassius.
“Cassius,” he said evenly. “I am the Earl of Coventry and you are my nephew. Your father is my brother. Lad, you are the finest example of a de Shera I have ever seen. You are big, strong, and intelligent. I assure you that you can and will be a knight. I will ensure that you are trained by the best.”
Cassius looked at Gallus, stricken. “I c-cannot, m’lord.”
“Why not?”
Cassius was overwhelmed with what seemed to be embarrassment.
He didn’t want to answer Gallus but he knew that, out of respect, he had to.
He had to give the man an answer. “C-Can they teach me to s-speak without s-sounding like a f-fool, m’lord?
” he finally said, pain in his voice. “I-I cannot be a k-knight and shout o-orders like this. Nay, it is b-better to be a s-smithy.”
“Why?”
“B-Because I will shame the de S-Shera name, stuttering c-commands as men laugh.”
Gallus was heartbroken at the lad’s attitude. What a horrible opinion the young man had of himself because of his stuttering speech. But he suspected the lad had suffered a lifetime of ridicule because of it and he knew nothing else. It was heartbreaking, indeed.
“No one will laugh at a de Shera, I assure you,” Gallus said.
“But I will hire the finest teachers to help you with your speech and I will hire the finest knights to teach you how to become what you were born to be. Cassius, it is a much better life that you will have this way and so will your grandfather. We will take care of him as well. Don’t you understand what this means?
You and your grandfather will never go hungry again.
You will be part of the House of de Shera and you will be given all honors to that regard.
Your father is the greatest warrior England has ever seen and I have no doubt that you will be a fine warrior as well.
Already, you honor us. Let us show you how much. ”
Cassius stared at Gallus, overcome by the man’s impassioned speech. After a moment, his features twisted somewhat into an expression of pain. “B-But…,” he stammered. “B-But t-this was not my wish. It was my grandfather’s.”
“I understand,” Gallus said. “But you must give us time to at least show you what it means to be a de Shera. I am pleased that you did not come here expecting anything. That shows true humility. But you are a part of the House of de Shera whether or not you want to be. It is your birthright and a right that many men would love to have. Spend some time with Maximus. At least understand what it is you will be turning down before you refuse it completely.”
Cassius pondered the words a moment before nodding his head reluctantly. “I… I- I will do that, m’lord,” he said, his gaze moving to Maximus. “I-I will come to know my father, as t-that is what my g-grandfather wishes.”
Maximus smiled at the young man. He was coming to see that Cassius was very confused, and very humble, and the idea that he was part of a greater family clearly overwhelmed him.
It had only been him and Albert for so long and now he was being introduced to a father who was a great warrior and an uncle who was an earl.
For the young man of simple upbringing, it was too much for him.
Maximus was coming to see that Albert hadn’t been hiding the boy as much as the boy was probably hiding himself.
The stutter in his speech and being very large in size had a hand in his wish to remain hidden from the world. Therefore, Maximus proceeded carefully.
“I have a few duties to attend around the castle,” Maximus said to Cassius. “You may accompany me if you wish or you may remain here. It is your choice.”
Cassius appeared rather dubious, looking to his grandfather as if the old man could tell him what to do. Albert, however, simply lifted his shoulders. He had brought Cassius this far and it was time for Cassius to make some decisions on his own. Brow furrowed, Cassius turned back to Maximus.
“I w-will remain with my grandfather, m’lord,” he said. “I-I do not want to l-leave him alone.”
Maximus didn’t argue with him. He simply nodded his head. “Very well,” he said, looking between Cassius and Albert. “I do hope you will both join us in the hall this evening for supper. I should like you both to meet my wife and the rest of the de Shera family.”
Cassius merely nodded, watching as Gallus and Maximus turned for the door. Gallus went through first, out into the daylight beyond, and as Maximus was moving through the door after his brother, Cassius suddenly spoke up.
“M’lord,” he said, watching Maximus turn around to face him. “I-If you w-want me to come, I… I-I suppose I will. I-If you still w-want for me to, that is.”
Maximus was very glad that Cassius was at least showing some interest. A few moments ago, he was feeling deeply disappointed that Cassius didn’t seem to want anything to do with him.
Now, there was a bit of hope. Even though Cassius still seemed indecisive, nervous still, at least he was showing some interest. At the moment, that was enough.
“I will always want you to come with me, Cassius,” Maximus said.
Cassius eyed Albert, who gave the boy a shove forward in Maximus’ direction.
Cassius made his way to Maximus, looking the man timidly in the eye, giving him a quick and humorless smile, before heading out into the sunlight.
Maximus lingered in the doorway a moment, watching the boy as Gallus began speaking to him.
Then, he turned to Albert. His gaze was moist as he looked at the old man.
“Rose would have been very proud,” Maximus whispered. “He is a fine boy.”
With that, he proceeded out to where Cassius and Gallus were speaking, or mostly Gallus was speaking, and together the three of them continued on across the bailey, heading towards the armory on the other side. From the doorway of the knights’ quarters, Albert watched with tears in his eyes.
Aye, Sir Maximus, he thought to himself. Rose would have been very proud, indeed.