Chapter Seventeen
“Gallus!” Simon called as he dismounted his enormous blond, Belgian warmblood. “I am surprised to find you here!”
Gallus took a deep breath to brace himself and made his way over to Simon de Montfort.
A big man with dark, graying hair and piercing eyes, de Montfort was the heart of the movement against King Henry.
De Montfort had many barons, some more powerful than others, but he had very few people that he permitted close to him.
The de Shera brothers were some of the very few.
Therefore, de Montfort’s relationship with them was more on a personal level than a business level, but even that friendship could be tested.
As Gallus approached the man, he wondered if today would be one of those days that would see it fall to the test.
“Why would you be surprised to find us in our own home, my lord?” Gallus said, grasping the man’s outstretched hand.
Simon squeezed Gallus’ hand, studying the man a moment. There was something in his eyes as he looked at Gallus, something cold and judging. It was typical de Montfort.
“Because I told Edward the only way you would not immediately answer a summons is if you were in some manner of trouble or if you were dead,” he replied, the warmth fading from his expression. “You are not dead, so what manner of trouble are you in?”
It was more than a question. It was a command that instructed Gallus that some manner of trouble must be descending upon the House of de Shera.
It was the only excuse Simon would accept for the refusal to answer the summons.
Gallus kept his expression impassive but as Maximus walked up behind him to greet Simon, Gallus spoke softly.
“We have received some news about a relation of Max’s,” he said quietly. “It has kept us at Isenhall. Will you come inside so that we may speak of it?”
Simon’s expression went from suspicion to concern. “A relation of Max’s?” he repeated. “What does that mean?”
Maximus was catching up on the conversation and immediately realized what his brother was speaking of.
Evidently, Simon had demanded the reasons behind ignoring the summons sooner than they had expected.
It was clear that explanations were immediately in order or they would find themselves in a good deal of trouble very quickly.
“Come inside, my lord,” Maximus said softly. “I will tell you.”
Simon put his hand on Maximus’ arm. “Is it serious, Max?”
Maximus shook his head. “I will say that it has changed my life,” he said honestly, for the introduction of Cassius certainly had. “I am sorry we have not sent word to you yet but this… this situation has taken all of our time and focus.”
By now, Simon was very concerned and very serious, but he caught sight of movement out of the corner of his eye and noted that Prince Edward was rounding the horses and heading in his direction. He held out a hand to indicate the prince.
“Let us make all introductions first and then we shall retreat into the keep,” he said, lifting his voice when Edward came near. “Your Grace, this is Gallus de Shera, Earl of Coventry, and his brother, Maximus de Shera, Baron Allesley. My lords, meet His Grace, Edward, the next king of England.”
Both Gallus and Maximus had spent a good deal of time with de Montfort in his struggles against the king and they had, on many occasions, seen Edward.
They had never been formally introduced to him, however, so this was a first. It was an awkward moment but they tried to overlook that, instead, focusing on Edward.
He was a tall man, thin but powerfully built, and his blond hair had a reddish tint to it.
He wasn’t particularly handsome in feature, especially with one eye that drooped, but his dark eyes were intense.
There was fire behind them. Gallus remembered once that he had heard the man described as a “leopard”.
He could see, looking at him at close range, where that might be a reasonable description.
There was something about him, even at his young age, that was intimidating.
“Your Grace,” Gallus greeted him. “Welcome to Isenhall.”
Edward’s piercing gaze lingered on Gallus a moment before turning to look at the fortress around him. “It is rather small,” he said. “I have heard tale of Isenhall and had built it up so much in my mind that I expected golden walls and great pillars.”
Gallus’ eyes twinkled. “And I had built you up so much in my mind that I expected fire from your eyes and doom from your lips,” he said. “Although that still may happen. The day is young.”
Edward looked at him, suspecting an insult, but he ended up breaking down in a grin. “It is,” he said. “Watch, now, I still may shoot fire from my eyes and burn you to cinder simply to amuse myself.”
Gallus chuckled, glancing at Maximus, who was not grinning in the least. Maximus had never had any love for Edward or the man’s reputation so Gallus put himself between Edward and Maximus to avoid any immediate conflict, pointing to the keep.
“Let us go inside and speak,” he said. “Allow us to show you Isenhall’s hospitality.”
Edward and Simon moved for the keep with Gallus as Maximus moved a few feet behind them, and Edward began to look around as they mounted the steps to the keep.
“I seem to recall that there are three de Shera brothers,” he said. “Where is the third brother?”
“In London, Your Grace,” Maximus said before Gallus could speak. “He has business there.”
Simon turned to look at him curiously. “Oh?” he asked. “What business?”
“Tiberius hopes to secure a betrothal,” Gallus said, hoping he could cleave this line of conversation quickly with a simple explanation. “My youngest brother has decided he no longer wishes to remain unmarried now that Max and I have taken wives. He should be joining us very soon, so not to worry.”
Simon nodded although Edward didn’t care at all. Betrothals were not his concern. Still, Simon wanted more information.
“Tiberius? Married?” he snorted. “I never thought I would live to see the day. I hope he is not marrying into a good family. I would hate to explain away his behavior when he shames the woman by being unfaithful. I do not want to lose an ally because of him.”
Gallus lifted his eyebrows, a helpless gesture.
“If he does, then I suppose I will be the one doing the explaining,” he said.
They were just coming off the stairs and the entry door loomed ahead.
“Please come inside, now. We will have refreshments brought out. I am sure you are weary from your ride.”
Maximus entered the building first with Simon behind him.
Gallus and Edward brought up the rear and Gallus graciously allowed the prince to pass into the keep before him.
As Edward entered, Gallus turned to the bailey and spotted Scott.
He caught the man’s attention with a sharp whistle and indicated for the man and his brother to join them.
With Scott and Troy moving towards the keep as a second set of ears to the meeting with Edward, and leaving Stefan now in charge of the bailey, Gallus followed Edward inside.
It was cool and dark inside as the men moved into the small, vaulted-ceilinged solar just off the entry.
It was their most common gathering place, the place where they conducted their most important business or perhaps shared a family meal.
Those old walls had seen much over the years and now they were about to see a prince.
Maximus had already sent a servant running for Jeniver and Courtly so as the servant went off, the men began to settle around the table and fine wine, imported from Spain, was brought to the table.
It was sweet and dark and red, and Edward smacked his lips with satisfaction at the first pleasurable taste.
“Excellent wine,” he commented. “I would expect no less from the House of de Shera.”
Gallus dipped his head in thanks. The truth was that he was on-guard with the prince, both he and Maximus were.
For years, Edward was the right hand of Henry and now, he was here, pledging his loyalty to de Montfort.
Both Gallus and Maximus knew it was because he wanted something from Simon and they were equally sure that Simon knew that as well.
The man was no fool. Therefore, it was with absolutely no trust that they sat down with the prince to discuss whatever it was Simon was here to discuss.
The mood of the room was one of caution and doubt.
Simon wasn’t oblivious to that. He took a seat next to Edward as Gallus and Maximus sat across the table from them both.
The lines, invisibly, were drawn – it was Simon and Edward facing off against Gallus and Maximus.
When Scott and Troy entered the chamber, Simon indicated the twin brothers to Edward simply to divert the sense of suspicion that was filling the room.
Already, the meeting was unpleasant and he didn’t want things to grow worse.
“Sons of the mighty William de Wolfe,” de Montfort said to Edward.
“The blond beast is Scott and his dark counterpart is Troy. They have their father’s skill and cunning.
I have tried many times to convince them to swear fealty to me but, alas, they are attached to the de Shera brothers.
There is no accounting for their taste.”
It was meant as a joke. Gallus smiled weakly as he indicated for Scott and Troy to sit, which they did on the opposite side of Maximus. Now, it was four men against two. If Edward sensed that, which he surely must have, he didn’t acknowledge it. He was regarding the big de Wolfe brothers.
“William de Wolfe,” the prince said pensively. “I was raised on stories of the man’s valor. He and my father were quite close, years ago, but things have since changed. It is unfortunate.”
Gallus wasn’t sure if that was a statement directed at Scott or Troy, so he spoke for them. “Men change, Your Grace,” he said politely, his gaze fixed steadily on Edward. “Loyalties change, of which you are evidently living proof.”