Chapter Twenty-Three #3
Everyone turned to see Devlin entering the room.
He was carrying a massive chair with a leather cushion on it.
It was a chair confiscated in Black Sword’s raid three years before, and the back of the chair that had once been beautifully carved with the de Cleveley crest was now all hacked up.
Merradoc recognized the chair once stolen from de Noble as Devlin set it down.
“De Bermingham,” he gasped in disbelief. “You are alive!”
Devlin grinned weakly at the man. “Indeed I am,” he said. “Where is my wife?”
Again, Merradoc pointed to the floor above. “Sleeping in Lady Elyse’s solar,” he said, flabbergasted at the turn of events. He didn’t know what to say next, what to ask about, or what to comment on. His mind was whirling with surprise. He finally pointed at the chair. “Where did you find that?”
Beaten, worn, and thoroughly exhausted, Devlin gave the chair a good kick.
“De Noble wanted his chair back, but the O’Byrne had run off with it, and many more items of value from Black Castle,” he said.
“We spent two days chasing them before we finally caught up to them and were able to get my possessions back. De Noble saw his chair among the booty and demanded its return. As a generous man, I have graciously complied.”
Merradoc’s astonished gaze moved between de Noble and Devlin. “Your chair?” he asked. “In all of this battle, in the midst of death and destruction, all you could think of was a chair?”
De Noble frowned petulantly. “It’s my damn chair,” he declared. “De Bermingham took it three years ago. I wanted it back!”
Merradoc could hardly believe his ears. He started to laugh, joyfully and full of relief. The pain and uncertainty of the past twelve days was about to see a release; men had returned from battle, whole and sound, and there would be laughter once again at Glenteige. Happiness had come back.
“But what of Black Castle?” he wanted to know. “What has become of it?”
Devlin’s expression changed; his eyes lost their glimmer.
“My commander, Shain, is once again in command until I return,” he said.
“The O’Byrne had him, and about a hundred more of my men, shoved into the basement of the keep.
They had tried to escape through an old tunnel but it turned out the tunnel was blocked off and it thwarted their escape, so O’Byrne was able to capture them.
Right now, what is left of my army and about four hundred de Noble men are holding the castle secure.
I’ve sent word to the O’Conner and expect another eight hundred men by late tomorrow.
I’ve only come back to Glenteige to return de Noble’s chair and retrieve my wife.
We will be returning to Black Castle immediately on the morrow. ”
Merradoc was both surprised and thrilled to hear that the horrible battle Trevor had described had gone in de Bermingham’s favor. “And the O’Byrne?” he wanted to know. “Where are they?”
“Running,” de Noble said; he was pouring what was left of the brandywine into a cup.
“They are scattered and on the run. Once we secure Black Castle and strengthen her, we’re going after them.
We have plans to see this through until the end, and that includes the obliteration of the O’Byrne once and for all.
I will not see Wicklow suffer in fear any longer. It is time to end this.”
It was as good an answer as any he had heard.
Merradoc, accepting that the battle had ended for the moment and that good men had returned, scratched his head.
“Very well, then,” he said. “But do not continue this battle before you see Elyse and Emllyn. You’d better go wake them up and tell them the joyful news.
They’ll never forgive you if you do not. ”
Connaught was already out the door, heading up the narrow spiral stairs to the second floor. Devlin pushed de Noble’s chair out of the way before following Connaught’s path. When Merradoc went to follow, Victor stopped him.
“Nay, man,” he said. “Let the women see their lovers first. Give them that time alone. We shall follow shortly.”
“After we’ve had our well-deserved drink,” de Noble put in. Then he swirled the remaining liquid in the decanter as he peered at it. “It seems that someone has been into my brandywine.”
Merradoc was standing in the doorway of the solar. “It was the women,” he lied. “Terrible drunkards, both of them.”
As de Noble lifted his eyebrow dubiously, they could all hear a faint cry as Elyse and Connaught came together on the floor above. A few moments later, they could distinctly hear a much louder shriek as Emllyn caught sight of Devlin. They could even hear Devlin’s low laughter.
It was a good sound. Merradoc turned back for the solar, accepting a cup of brandywine from de Noble, who had also given one to Victor. Raymond lifted his cup to the two of them in a toast.
“To love,” he murmured.
Victor grinned as he lifted his cup as well. “To the future.”
Merradoc lifted his cup last. “To me!” He downed the drink in one gulp.
All was right in the world again.