Men of Bone by David Penny

Author:David Penny [Penny, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: River Tree Print
Published: 2021-10-12T23:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-FOUR

Lady Margaret Pole drew Thomas to one side. “They cannot stay here.” Thomas’s family and friends were gathered around the three carts as if for protection. “There is no room, for a start, never mind the fact they are all strangers.”

“Not to me,” Thomas said. “But I agree they are strangers in this land. I need to see Pip, and then will come down and sort arrangements out. Two of the women need to come with me if allowed. I will vouch for their good behaviour.”

“Who is the girl who flung herself at you?”

“My daughter, Amal.”

Lady Margaret looked at Thomas. “But she is… her skin is so…”

“Her mother was a Moor. Amal is lighter-skinned than Lubna, but could be her twin. It hurts my heart every time I look at her, but also fills me with joy.”

“And the giant of a man with the blonde hair?”

“My son, Will.”

“I see. Not from the same mother?”

“I will regale you with my family history later if you wish, Lady Margaret. Right now Pip needs me, and I need Amal and Belia’s help.”

For a moment Thomas thought Lady Margaret might refuse him, then she offered a nod. “Tell the others they can stay within the outer bailey, but not the inner.”

Thomas walked across to the group. He touched Amal’s sweet face, then embraced his son. Will returned the hug, almost breaking Thomas’s ribs. He lifted his father off his feet and swung him around as if he was a child. Then Thomas went to Belia and kissed her on the mouth, the scent of her so familiar it hurt. He touched the heads of Belia and Jorge’s children, three of them now, including the girl Jorge had so wanted. Only then did he turn to the last figure.

Jorge faced Thomas, waiting. For what, Thomas did not know. It had been two months since he had last seen these people, but it seemed far longer. Something more than time held him back. This was his family, blood or not. The man standing in front of him was closer than a brother.

“You did well,” Thomas said.

Jorge smiled, and the smile broke Thomas’s shackles and he embraced the man. They held to each other for a long time, then Jorge gripped Thomas’s face in his hands and stared into his eyes.

“God’s teeth, Thomas, but you look awful!”

Then he kissed him on the mouth.

“I need to steal Belia from you for a while. I want Amal with me, too. You are to wait beyond the castle moat, but I suggest you do not go into town yet. I need to talk to you about what is going on here.”

“Again, Thomas?” said Jorge.

“It is not of my choosing.”

“It never is, but that does not stop trouble finding you like flies find carrion. You are fortunate we are here to save you from yourself. Take my wife and your daughter if you must. I will try for patience, but you know it is not something that comes easily to me.”

“Does anything?” Thomas moved away.

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