Lord Brogan dismounted and looked around him; the camp was bustling with activity. He turned to the soldier who held the horse’s reign.
“Take me to Lord Rafe.”
“Forgive me, Master, but Lord Rafe is not here.”
Lord Brogan fixed the soldier with a clear, all seeing gaze.
“Then where is he?”
“He has followed Lord Kyule.”
“Where to?”
“I - I know not, Master,” stammered the soldier.
Lord Brogan thought for a moment.
“Then you had best take me to see Master Finan.”
“I am sorry, Master, but I do not think... that is, Master Finan has been hurt, and Lady Adele does not wish him to be disturbed.”
Lord Ramm, who had dismounted with some difficulty, owing to his rather generous frame, staggered to Lord Brogan’s side in time to overhear this last statement.
“Lady Adele?” he wheezed. “What is she doing here?”
The unfortunate soldier looked from one to the other of the men and lost his power of speech. He gasped and opened his mouth a few times but no words were forthcoming.
“I think it would be best then if I see Lady Adele,” returned Lord Brogan thoughtfully.
The soldier bowed, eager to have them off his hands, and beckoned that they should follow him. He took them to Rafe’s tent and left them with assurance that Lady Adele would be with them shortly.
Lord Brogan glanced around the tent. It contained a makeshift bed and he could see a few sprigs of holly had been placed around to brighten the otherwise sparse space. Lord Brogan reflected that, unless his son had developed an uncharacteristic interest in fauna, the quarters must have been delivered over to the ladies. His musings were interrupted by the arrival of Lady Adele. As she entered the tent she inclined her head toward the two men.
“My lords.”
Lord Brogan took in the thick plait of hair, large soft eyes, and smooth skin, before replying to her salutation.
“You are wondering what has happened to your son no doubt?” she asked.
Lord Brogan listened to the husky tones in appreciation.
“Yes, I had expected to find Rafe present. However, on my arrival I found not only that he had departed, but that also Finan is unavailable.”
A faint blush of colour stained Lady Adele’s cheeks.
“You must forgive me, my lord. Finan has been wounded and I asked that he might be given time to rest without disturbance. I never meant, of course, that you should be forbidden entry.”
Lord Brogan waved his hand in an airy gesture of dismissal.
“If Finan needs to rest then he must rest,” he replied. “Is his wound very serious?”
Adele heard genuine worry in his voice and relaxed a little.
“He is fine now, but still a little weak.”
Lord Brogan did not look like his son, Adele decided. His face betrayed nothing of his thoughts yet Rafe’s reflected his thoughts and feelings clearly. Lord Brogan was very still and restive, so completely opposite to his son’s impatient temperament. The only similarity Adele could make out was their dark eyes, smouldering with great vitality.
Lord Brogan, aware of Adele’s scrutiny, was in turn inspecting her. She seemed very self-possessed for one so young and, despite the fact that she knew neither himself nor Ramm, her attitude was unfailingly friendly. She looked the merest child, biddable and meek, her beautiful eyes stared out with a faintly dazed expression of wonder.
Delicate; that was how she looked. A dainty, cosy armful. That the exterior was misleading he had no doubt, something told him that this pretty little girl had a fiery core.
“Perhaps you would be so kind as to explain to me why my son is following Lord Kyule?” asked Lord Brogan, settling himself into a seat by the fire.
Lady Adele’s brow furrowed in concentration. Lord Brogan smiled appreciatively; Rafe was indeed a fortunate young man.
“’Tis all a little complicated. I am afraid I know very little of the problem, only that which Lord Leofric has told me…”
“Oh, so he is here is he? Where is that boy of mine?” Lord Ramm interrupted suddenly. “Is he off on this wild chase as well?”
Adele shook her head.
“No; Lord Leofric and Anlaf are practicing with the sword I believe.” Adele frowned again. “Or did they say dagger?” she asked herself musingly.
Lord Ramm let loose a foul expletive.
“Did you hear it!” he bellowed. “What ails the lad? The frippery, lazy, no good...”
“Such compliments, Father, and all at once; you unman me.”
Leofric entered the tent, Anlaf close behind him.
“Lord Brogan.” Leofric of Drogand bowed slightly. He had an amused light hearted smile on his face but Lord Brogan could see that it was a little brittle. “May I present Anlaf of Gradock to you.”
Anlaf bowed to Lord Brogan and inclined his head stiffly to Lord Ramm. Even before Anlaf had met Leofric of Drogand, he had respected his reputation of valour. Leofric’s skill with the sword was said to be matchless, and his prowess with a dagger almost as spectacular. His willingness to follow his friend into battle was spoken well of by everyone.
Now Anlaf had met him his respect had increased, and been set in stone the second Leofric had demanded to see him wield his sword. Leofric had laughed, saying that it was well known that Stefan of Wrenlight never took on a pupil unless they showed unique aptitude.
Leofric had taken the time to study Anlaf’s skill, giving praise where praise was due, and had even taught him some few tricks that were helpful in difficult situations. Anlaf had been blissful at the chance to test his mettle against a master such as Leofric.
It was, therefore, with disgust that Anlaf heard Lord Ramm’s words to his son. With the unconcerned arrogance of a Gradock he allowed his distain to show to those present.
Lord Brogan looked the youth over. He was surprised even if his face did not betray it. What was a Gradock doing in Rafe’s camp?
“Where is Rafe, Leofric?”
“He took Kenric and Daegmund of Gradock and followed Lord Kyule.”
Lord Brogan was silent as he absorbed these facts.
“Perhaps, Leofric, it would be best if you tell me from the start what has happened?” asked Lord Brogan. Leofric nodded but, before he could open his mouth to speak, Rand entered the tent.
“Adele, Finan is trying to get up again. I do not think...” His voice trailed off as his eyes took in Lord Ramm and Lord Brogan’s presence. For a moment there was silence and then Lord Ramm lunged to his feet.
“Murderous fiend!” he roared, pulling his sword from its sheath.
Anlaf stepped forwards and his sword met Lord Ramm’s. With a deft movement he had removed the sword from the older man’s hand. Lord Ramm was left grasping his aching wrist and glaring at Anlaf.
“You are a receptive pupil, Anlaf,” murmured Leofric with a grin.
“Do you not know that he is a Targhe?” demanded Lord Ramm furiously.
His outburst went unnoticed by the rest of the room, and Lord Brogan’s eyes met Rand’s.
“’Tis a long time since last I saw you, Rand.”
“You look well, Lord Brogan.” Rand of Targhe bowed respectfully. Lord Brogan looked his lost foster son over slowly. He had changed little physically; taller of course, and broader, but instantly recognisable as the lad he had once been. The difference was in his determinedly proud bearing. His eyes seemed old, as though he had seen the worst side of humanity and been powerless before it.
To Rand Lord Brogan seemed no different. The same omniscient light shone in his eyes, heavily cloaked by an air of extreme weariness. As a boy he had thought Lord Brogan could read his mind; somehow his foster father had seen everything that had been done in secret. The same suspicion was still vague in his mind now. Lord Brogan turned and addressed Ramm.
“Perhaps, Ramm, it would be best to postpone hostilities for the moment?”
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Lord Ramm, still nursing his hand, growled and retreated to his seat.
“Now, Leofric; I believe you were on the verge of telling us what had befallen you all.”
Leofric’s eyes were bright with an amused admiration and he nodded.
“I fear that for the whole story you will have to apply to Rafe, but I will tell you all that I know,” he replied. “Rafe sent Finan here in his stead to pose as Rafe of Valrek. He sought to deflect attention from the fact that he was actually collecting Lady Adele. I believe he feared for her safety should his plans to retrieve her become common knowledge. His idea, from what I can gather from Finan, was that he should deliver her to Valrek, and then journey here to explain his actions to Lord Merrodon and Lord Coughly. However he, Lady Adele, and Lady Eda were attacked a day’s journey from the fort.
“Who is Lady Eda?” inquired Lord Brogan.
“The Lady Adele’s companion,” replied Leofric. “Rand saved them and together they journeyed here that they might have the protection of Valrek’s army on the return home.” He paused, feeling that his omission of certain facts was only wise. “After they arrived Finan was called to Merrodon in his guise as Rafe. On his arrival he was attacked on Lord Merrodon’s command. He suffered greatly from fever and did not recover until Lady Adele and Lady Eda managed to cool him. Somehow Lord Merrodon managed to find out that he had injured Finan rather than Rafe, and so he travelled to Gradock to implore Lord Daegmund’s help to finish that which he had started. Daegmund bound him and brought him here as a prisoner. He had discovered that Lord Merrodon was not acting of his own originality, but was under orders from Lord Kyule.”
Leofric had expected some surprise to be shown at this juncture by Lord Brogan, but he merely nodded his head grimly.
“It is as I thought.”
“Lord Kyule?” Lord Ramm slapped his hand against the arm of his chair. “Have I not always said that he were a devious knave?”
Lord Brogan could remember many epithets that Lord Ramm had bestowed upon Lord Kyule over the years, but these had always been of a belittling nature. He did not think that this was the best time to argue the point.
“Continue, Leofric.”
“With this foreknowledge we set a trap for Lord Kyule, who was journeying to Merrodon that he might see Rafe’s body as proof that Lord Merrodon had accomplished his task. It was decided that Lord Merrodon would lure him into the great Hall with the promise of inspecting Rafe’s body. He was met instead with Daegmund, Kenric, and a very much alive Rafe. Meanwhile outside our combined armies had surrounded Lord Kyule’s. However Lord Merrodon betrayed us and hid some of his men that they might come through a concealed back door and rescue Lord Kyule. In the fight that ensued Lord Kyule managed to escape, and it took a while for us to regain control and set out after him. Rafe commanded that Rand and I stay here to look after Finan and the ladies, whilst making sure that the men kept Merrodon in order.”
Brogan nodded abruptly.
“I see.” He turned to Rand. “It seems I owe you much, Rand; both my son and a daughter.”
Relief entered Rand’s eyes and he took Lord Brogan’s outstretched hand eagerly.
“I am only happy that I was there to help.”
“I too. Incidentally; why were you there?” asked Lord Brogan serenely.
Rand’s expression froze.
Still the same Lord Brogan, he reflected wryly. There was something uncanny about the way he could lull a person into a false sense of security, only to destroy them with a single blow. Lord Brogan waited in silence, his very assurance that his question would be answered making it impossible to ignore.
“I was following them, I wished to see that they arrived safely at their destination.”
“I see.” Lord Brogan glanced around the tent unhurriedly. “Is there anything you want to tell me, Rand?” he queried.
Suddenly Rand was eleven years old again, standing before Lord Brogan after having committed some heinous crime of Rafe’s instigation, listening to those selfsame words, said in that selfsame way, as all the while Lord Brogan’s knowing eyes rested unwaveringly upon him. He had always cracked, they all had; even Rafe could not stand before that all seeing gaze.
It was no different this time.
“I have known Adele since she was seven,” Rand blurted out after a shamefully brief attempt at concealment.
“I see.”
Rand squirmed, Lord Brogan could say a great deal with those two words.
“I searched for three years. I wanted… that is, I wished to let her know that I was sorry; to tell her that I would do anything in my power to make recompense,” he paused. “At first I did not tell her who I was; I didn’t want her to be afraid of me. Over time we were able to become friends first and she learnt to trust me.”
For the first time a smile lightened Lord Brogan’s face.
“You lived too long with Rafe, Rand,” he chuckled. “I fear you will never recover from the experience.”
For a moment Rand wondered what he could mean and then he realised. He and Rafe had chosen the same path with regard to Adele; to first deceive and befriend her, and then to risk all by telling her the truth.
“Rand? What is amiss with Finan?” broke in Adele.
For a moment Rand stared at her in confusion and then his eyes cleared.
“He says he wishes to question Lord Merrodon himself.”
“Why?” asked Leofric.
Rand made an impatient gesture.
“He said he wishes to be sure that Lord Merrodon speaks the truth and does not lie.”
“Then we had better stop him before he injures himself,” stated Leofric resignedly.
“Tell him that I wish to speak with him in his tent, Leofric. It might make your task easier,” instructed Lord Brogan.
“It will indeed help, sir, thank you,” replied Leofric, bowing.
“Leofric?”
“Yes sir?”
“I think it would be best if you could take your father somewhere where he will be comfortable, and you should find him sustenance.”
Leofric bowed his acceptance of the task, wondering what Lord Brogan was about. Generally he tried to keep father and son apart, that there might be as little friction between them as possible. He never pushed them together. Lord Ramm stood and stretched.
“Aye, I need some food in my stomach,” he sighed as he followed his son from the tent. Anlaf moved after them along with Rand. Adele hesitated, not wishing to leave Lord Brogan alone.
“I wish to speak with you, Lady Adele,” smiled Lord Brogan, gesturing to a chair across from his.
“Of course, my lord,” replied Lady Adele, seating herself. She did not like to admit it but the calm and dignified man before her made her nervous. She could not tell what he was thinking. Lord Brogan took a look at her face and saw that, although her gaze was unfocused and innocent, she was closed and guarded against him.
“Were you happy at the fort, Lady Adele?” he questioned softly.
Adele seemed a little taken aback.
“Yes, I was very happy there.”
“It must have been hard to leave.”
“ Yes... in a way.” Adele paused. “However I had always known that one day I would leave. Mistress Ardith made sure that I was prepared.”
Lord Brogan nodded.
“From what Leofric told me it seems as though your journey here was thwart with hardship.”
Adele smiled and Lord Brogan noticed a soft light entering her eyes that emphasized the dreamy quality that they already held.
“Rafe protected us from the worst; it was actually rather fun.”
Lord Brogan raised his eyebrows.
“Perhaps you might tell me of it?”
“There is not so very much to tell. At first I was under the impression that his name was Finn. He did not tell us much about the journey we would take, and we had not realised that we would be camping out. I had never ridden before and was a littl
e stiff, but Lord Rafe was very kind even though it slowed our progress for the next few days.” Adele’s eyes had taken on a faraway look and her lips were touched with a reminiscent smile. “He cooked us pork over the campfire.”
“Rafe has always been adept at living out of doors.” Lord Brogan paused. “When did he tell you the truth?”
Adele turned from him and gazed into the fire.
“Here, in fact, in this very tent,” she answered. Lord Brogan thought he could hear a tinge of bashful confusion in her voice.
Lord Brogan hid a smile; it seemed that Rafe was not so backward in the matters of a man and a maid as he had supposed.
“It must have been difficult for you to accept.”
Adele was silent, unsure how to answer.
“I think that it was difficult for us both at first,” she ventured at last.
For a time there was silence as Lord Brogan studied her face, and then he sat back in his chair.
“You know; I remember the first time I saw you.”
His words startled Adele, they were so far removed from that which had gone before.
“I was sitting in my tent, trying to forget the bloody mess that existed outside. It was the evening after the battle for Calis, I remember that I had just managed to induce Rafe to rest…” Lord Brogan’s eyes clouded. “He had sustained some wounds but it was not their pain that kept him from sleeping; it was Evoric’s death.” Lord Brogan paused, seemingly lost in his reverie.
As silence stretched out between them, Adele felt emboldened to ask a question.
“Lord Rafe told me once that he had lost one of his greatest friends in the first battle in which he ever fought.” Her eyes widened in horror. “Was Calis was his first battle?”
Lord Brogan nodded sadly, his eyes filled with grief.
“Evoric of Gournay, he was Finan’s youngest brother.”
Adele covered her mouth with her hand, her throat tightening with emotion.
“I managed to make Rafe rest,” continued Lord Brogan sadly. “Then I returned to my own tent. That was when one of my men brought a young woman before me. She had the prettiest little girl with her; big blue eyes and hair touched with sunshine.” He smiled.
Adele fingered the thick plait that lay over her shoulder, a regretful look on her face.
“’Tis much darker now.”
“Yes; you look very much like your mother.”
Adele’s startled eyes met his.
“You knew my mother?”
“And your father; we were good friends. I knew him from youth. They were so very proud of you, the only daughter they had.”
Adele nodded, eagerly leaning forward.
“But I had three older brothers.”
“Osric, Rice, and Perry,” nodded Lord Brogan, he reached out his hand and covered hers. “I am sorry for your loss.”
Adele blinked back the tears that gathered in her eyes.
“Of all people, Lord Valrek, you have done a great deal for me, and have nothing to be sorry to me for. Why did you care for me? I am of course grateful but…” She broke off, tears tightening her throat. “To sacrifice your son that I might have a home...”
Adele did not look at him, but Lord Brogan did not need her to. Her voice, as well as her words, had told him all he needed to know.
“You are very fond of my son, are you not, my dear?” asked Lord Brogan softly.
Adele turned to him, forcing her eyes to meet his, and saw that his gaze was tender.
“Yes.”
“I had always hoped that such a thing might happen,” continued Lord Brogan. “I did not like to think of you forced into a course because none other was open to you.” Lord Brogan squeezed her hand. “You will make Rafe a good wife, I think. Of all men he most deserves it. On his side all I can promise you is that he will make you an interesting husband. He is kind and generous, and will do everything in his power to keep you safe and happy. He is a little fearsome sometimes, prone to an alarming exuberance, and possessed of an unpredictability that can catch a person somewhat off guard. However, he has a good heart and always seeks to stay true to it.”
Adele nodded, the flush on her face refusing to be quelled.
Lord Brogan took pity upon her embarrassment.
“And now I think that we had best visit Finan.” He rose from his chair, offering Adele his arm. They were both smiling as they walked to Finan’s tent.
Chapter Thirty Two