Chapter Nineteen #3
He turned away from Joselyn, his mind whirling with thought. He didn’t want her to see his expression, the gleam of an idea in his eye. He caught Kenneth’s attention and motioned the man to him.
“Send a messenger escort to Alnwick bearing my colors,” he snapped softly.
“Alnwick?” Kenneth repeated, confused. “Why would…?”
“Because Alexander Seton is being held prisoner there,” he whispered.
“I will send a missive to Henry Percy ordering him to release Seton and send him back to me at Berwick. Send another man back to Forestburn and summon my army. Have them arrive by tomorrow noon and we will begin the bombardment of Berwick. Perhaps if we distract the Scots enough, their attention will be diverted from Stephen’s execution and we’ll buy the man some time until Seton arrives. ”
Kenneth was following him but it was clear by his expression that he was not in total agreement. “Bombardment?” he repeated, incredulous. “I thought we agreed that this was not a job for an entire army.”
Tate fixed him in the eye. “It was not until Joselyn failed. I do not see where we have any choice now. Besides, you have already sent word to Edward, have you not? If I know the man, and I do, he shall bring his whole damn army, highly angered that Berwick is back in the hands of the Scots again. He is going to want the city back.”
Kenneth suspected he had a point. “True enough. He should already be on his way.” He crossed his big arms thoughtfully. “But what do you think Seton will be able to do. He is Berwick’s defeated commander. They will not listen to him over Moray.”
Tate held up a finger. “Perhaps not, but I am willing to wager on the fact that Seton will have the sympathy of every man at Berwick for what happened to his sons,” he said. “That could sway the situation in Stephen’s favor if Seton makes a plea on his behalf.”
“What makes you think he will?”
Tate’s gaze moved to Joselyn, who was standing with Kynan, listening as the man spoke quietly to her. Kenneth looked at her as well, understanding the implication, before puffing out his cheeks in a hissing sigh.
“Stephen told me what her father did to her,” he lowered his voice. “I can guarantee that he does not want Joselyn’s father near her. We will have to be very careful on the amount of contact we allow between them.”
Tate looked at him. “Stephen can thrash me for the rest of his life for my decision if, in fact, he survives the morrow,” he snapped softly. “We have made two decisions that Stephen will not agree with so I fully expect the man to ream me the moment he is released.”
Kenneth crossed his enormous arms, looking thoughtful. “I intend to run far, far away and hide.”
“I may not be far behind you.”
“Let us hope we are provided with that chance.”
Tate nodded faintly and turned away. Kenneth watched the man pace, his thoughts moving to Stephen and wondering what he would do if, in fact, they were unable to prevent tomorrow’s execution.
Then his gaze moved to Joselyn, pregnant with Stephen’s son.
It all seemed so horribly unfair, just when the man had found some happiness.
But Kenneth was not willing to give up, not yet.
He ordered four men south to Alnwick, about a day’s ride under normal circumstances, with instructions that they were not to stop until they reached Alnwick.
Once Seton was retrieved, they were to make all due haste returning.
He sent a second set of riders to Forestburn to collect Tate’s army with essentially the same instructions.
Ride straight through, return with all due haste.
With Kenneth barking orders and men on the move, Tate collected what remained of the escort he had brought from Forestburn and moved them well downriver, concealing them in trees and brush.
He gave Kynan some money with the instructions to take Joselyn to town and find her a good room and a decent meal, but after the battles in Berwick recently, he was not so sure something like that was possible.
It was made more difficult when Joselyn refused to go until he essentially forced her.
In tears, the woman did as she was told.
He then sent Kenneth back to the bridge with four men to watch the road and the castle for any activity.
But Kenneth couldn’t remain stationary, not when his best friend was fighting for his life inside the pale walls of Berwick Castle.
After a few hours of waiting near the bridge with his favored weapon, his crossbow, slung across his shoulders, he gave up the fight completely and took his men down to the river’s edge.
Very carefully, they made their way upriver, around the castle, and to the southeast side where the postern gate was lodged.
As he watched the castle at closer range, Kenneth was not at all sure he could wait for Seton’s arrival from Alnwick.
Every second that ticked away was a second closer to Stephen’s death.
As he hid in the tall river grass and watched the activity on the walls, he began to concoct a plan that would either save them all or see them all dead.
He hoped it was not the latter.