To the Lady Born by Kathryn le Veque

Author:Kathryn le Veque
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing
Published: 2012-01-03T06:00:00+00:00

***

Weston had just made it down to the great hall when a soldier suddenly burst in through the entry, moving right to him. Weston paused, half-way to the banqueting table where his brother still sat, as the soldier came upon him. They had a few exchanged words and then the soldier quickly ran out the way he had come. Weston looked at Sutton and motioned to him.

“Come on with me,” he said to his brother. “We have apparently received a royal messenger.”

Sutton, feeling stuffed and lethargic from his meal, nonetheless bolted up from the bench.

“A royal messenger?” he repeated, confused. “Why would the king be sending you a missive?”

Weston shrugged as his brother joined him and they made their way to the forebuilding of the entry.

“I would not know,” he replied. “I have lived here for four years, in the castle of a man who is the king’s lover, and the king has never even acknowledged the fact that Bolingbroke has acquired Hedingham. I am, therefore, curious.”

They trotted down the stairs to the upper bailey. “Do you suppose the king is demanding you vacate the castle?”

“I suppose we shall find out.”

“What will you do?”

“I was leaving, anyway.”

The corner of Sutton’s mouth twitched. “When do we leave for Netherghyll?”

They emerged into the bright September day and headed for the gatehouse as Weston wriggled his eyebrows wryly. “Ahead of the king’s troops, who are probably heading in our direction as we speak.”

Sutton laughed softly as they crossed the bridge and continued into the lower bailey, which was busy at this hour. Peasants brought supplies, the blacksmith was shoeing an unhappy horse, and several dogs ran about and barked at people. It was the usual chaos on any given day. The gatehouse was already in view and they could see several soldiers milling about as they approached. As they drew near, Heath broke away from the group and jogged towards them, his mail and armor jingling.

“A messenger from Richard, West,” he said, flipping his long red hair out of his eyes. “I kept the man at the gatehouse. I did not know how comfortable you wished to make him so I held him there.”

Weston nodded as he continued towards the gate house with his brother, now with Heath in tow.

“A royal messenger?” he repeated.

“Aye.”

“Did the man say what his message was?”

Heath shook his head. “Nay,” he replied. “He said it was a message for Lady Amalie de Vere.”

Weston passed a glance at Heath, at his brother, wondering what message the king could possibly be sending to Amalie. As he reached the great stone gatehouse, the soldiers cleared away and the royal messenger came into view.

It was a knight in fine armor, a big man, young, with hazel eyes and a handsome face. He stood by the portcullis, relaxed and seemingly unconcerned with all of the Bolingbroke men milling around him. Weston walked up to him without delay.

“I am Sir Weston de Royans, Baron Cononley,” he used his title for the first time, feeling the satisfaction of it.

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