Chapter Fifteen #5
Devlin thought back to those days leading up to Glenteige.
“On our trip south to the settlement, we were set upon by raiders and Emllyn was injured,” he said.
“By the time we got to Glenteige, she was very ill and unable to speak for herself, so I had to think of a suitable story to explain my presence. I told de Noble, the commander of the settlement, that I was a farmer who had found the lady washed up on shore after the defeat of Kildare’s armada.
Somehow in our discussions, Black Castle came up and I told him I had been there before to sell my produce.
Much as I used Trevor against Emllyn to ensure her cooperation, de Noble has used Emllyn against me to ensure mine.
He believes that Black Sword is planning an attack on Glenteige and has sent me to gather information to that effect. ”
Victor’s eyebrows lifted in surprise as he digested what he was told. “So… you are essentially spying on Black Sword?”
“Aye.”
“But you are Black Sword.”
Devlin nodded. “De Noble has assured me that I could see Emllyn upon my return to Glenteige, provided that I bring him crucial information.”
“Does he believe you in love with her?”
Devlin shrugged. “I spoke of her enough and asked repeatedly to see her after we arrived,” he said. “I am sure he figured it out without me saying so.”
Victor fell silent; he was reeling as much as Devlin was, about all of it.
It was madness, all of it, but in truth he wasn’t surprised.
Cate had always had a knack for inviting trouble, but this time, she’d invited more than she could possibly handle…
if, in fact, Emllyn’s imposter was indeed his daughter. But all signs pointed to her.
“Then why am I here?” he finally asked Devlin. He gestured to the men now heading to the table to be fed. “Why are we all here? What do you want of us?”
Devlin eyed the men approaching as well.
“One of my commanders has become an untrustworthy rogue,” he said, lowering his voice.
“He knows of my plans with Emllyn and de Cleveley – that she is there to gather information on the English plans against Black Castle. It is my belief that he has gone to Glenteige with the purpose of betraying me and, consequently, Emllyn. If he does this, she will be in great danger. I realize we are bitter enemies, St. John, but in this case, we must forget all of that. We must help each other in order for all of us to survive. It is my intention to exchange thirty-three English prisoners for Emllyn should that now be the situation.”
Victor stared at him a moment before rolling his eyes miserably. “Dear God,” he breathed. “Is it truly possible?”
“It is.”
“But why would he do this?”
“The man is bitter and ambitious. He tried to kill me and when he realized he was unsuccessful, he fled. There is more to it than that simple explanation, but that is the gist of it. Mayhap he will side with the English because of his in-depth knowledge of me and of Black Castle. Mayhap he hopes to destroy me once and for all with the help of de Cleveley.”
Victor was studying his hands despondently. “And you are sure he has gone to de Cleveley’s settlement?”
“It is as viable a possibility as any,” Devlin replied. “In any case, I need Emllyn returned to me.”
Victor’s head came up. “What if she had not gathered sufficient information about the English plans towards you?”
“It does not matter. I simply want her back.”
Victor fell silent as the English soldiers crowded up to the table, taking seats and grabbing at food and drink.
They were starving and helped themselves to whatever was offered but at the end of the table where Devlin and Victor sat, it was a quiet and morose atmosphere.
It was as if the two of them were in their own little world.
“If the woman you know as Emllyn is my daughter…,” Victor ventured.
“If she is your daughter, then I will ask permission to marry her,” Devlin cut him off. “Make no mistake; she belongs to me already. The marriage is simply a formality.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I do not believe you will.”
“But if I do?”
Devlin’s features hardened. “Must I answer that?”
Victor met his gaze and, after a moment of seeing death and destruction in the man’s dark blue eyes, he shook his head and looked away. He knew this was a battle he could not win.
“You do not,” he said quietly. “But you will promise me something.”
“What?”
“Be good to her,” he said, his eyes welling with tears. “She is stubborn and willful, but she is also the sweetest and most glorious creature that God has ever created.”
Devlin was touched by the man’s obvious adoration for his daughter. Devlin leaned into him so no one else would hear.
“I vow upon my life that I will treat her only with the greatest respect,” he muttered. “And I will love her more than my own life until the day I die. She will be my queen, I swear it.”
“Black Sword’s queen.”
“Aye,” he whispered with a surprising show of reverence. “Black Sword’s queen.”
The English slept in the great hall that night and before sunrise the next morning, they were well on their way to Glenteige.