Secret Song (Medieval Song 4)

“They were both after revenge,” Rolfe said, shaking his head at the wickedness.

“I’ll take both of them to Roland. Then my debt to Daria is paid.”

Rolfe grinned over the rim of his goblet. “Don’t forget your lady, my lord. She’ll ride beside you, proud as a little peahen, for she did catch the Earl of Clare. She now considers her debt paid as well. Did you know that Clare has the reddest hair I’ve ever seen on a man?” Rolfe shook his head, continuing when his master remained silent, “And neither knows the other is here. Do they know of each other, I wonder?”

“Indeed they do. They’re mortal enemies, from what Roland told me.”

“Now, that’s interesting. What will Roland de Tournay do with two earls?”

“If he’s wise, he’ll kill them both. But knowing Roland, I venture to think he’ll devise a punishment that will make both of them howl into eternity. He’s got a devious mind, Rolfe.”

“Like your wife’s, my lord?”

Graelam gave him a sour look. “Aye, just like my damned wife’s.” He rose to his feet and stretched. The smell of the sea was sharp tonight and the wind was rising. Dark clouds scuttled across the sky, covering the three-quarter moon, then leaving it to shine brilliantly. Graelam breathed in deeply, bade Rolfe and his other men good night, and strode back to his tent.

His wife was waiting for him, just as he’d ordered her to, only she was quite naked and lying in his narrow cot.

He heard her giggle even as he stripped off his bedrobe.

23

Kassia de Moreton gave her husband a wounded look. “You didn’t tell me they knew each other, Graelam.”

“Villains usually do,” Graelam said.

“I wonder what would happen if we simply left them alone together.”

“They’d probably kill each other. Roland told me that there is bone-deep hatred between them. Evidently Damon Le Mark killed Edmond of Clare’s brother some years ago. I know not more. Mayhap Roland will tell us what is between them.”

The two earls stood separated by the width of Chantry Hall’s inner bailey, each surrounded by both Graelam and Roland’s men. As for Roland, he and Daria were staring from Graelam to his small wife, who stood by his side, straight and proud and tousled in her boy’s clothes. What was left of her braids was still tucked up under her cap.

Roland shook his head, still looking dazed. “I know no more than that, Graelam.”

Beside him, Daria said, her voice bewildered, “You mean each of you captured one of them to pay back your debt to me?” At Kassia’s pleased nod, Daria said, “But there is no debt. If I made you think you were ever indebted to me, I should be hung up by my toes and flayed—”

“Hush, Daria,” Graelam said. “It is done. The two men were here in Cornwall, and each was up to no good. They are evil, and they deserve whatever punishment Roland decides to mete out to them. My wife and I, well, we simply eased matters for your husband here. Nothing more.”

Lady Katherine stood behind her daughter, her eyes on Damon Le Mark. Just seeing him again brought back the pain, the fear. Daria could feel her mother’s rigidity. She turned and said quickly, her voice low and soothing, “Mother, nay, don’t be frightened of him. Damon can’t hurt either of us, ever again. He’s bound, Mother. Look at him.”

Katherine heard her daughter’s voice as if from afar. “He was coming here to kill you and your husband. Doubt it not, Daria.”

“Of course he was,” Roland said cheerfully. “He failed, Katherine. Do as Daria says—look at him. Isn’t he a pathetic specimen? A man like him who’s been stripped of all his fine power has nothing much left. Power gave him the illusion of substance. Now he’s of no importance at all. Believe me, Katherine, and don’t fear him ever again.”

Daria was staring at her husband with wonder. She saw her mother draw a very deep breath, and the dreadful gray pallor began to leave her cheeks. She saw Sir Thomas take her hand into his gnarled one and lightly squeeze it. To her delight, her mother turned and smiled up at Sir Thomas.

Roland nodded. “Now, come inside, all of you. Aye, Graelam, bring even that ragged boy there with all the hair. I should like to hear why you appear so bewitched with a skinny lad who hasn’t even the years to grow a beard yet.”

“The little lad only appears skinny in these absurd garments,” Graelam said. “Without them, it’s a very different lad. And with the proper encouragement, why, it’s a lad with much promise.”

“That’s quite enough,” Kassia said. “Ho, Daria.”

Daria shook her first in the air. Roland called out, “Come into the hall and tell us how all this comes about.”

“Will I hear counsel to tell me to thrash the little one here?” Graelam asked.

“There are better things to do to a wife,” Roland said. He clasped Daria’s fingers more and pulled her close.

Graelam looked at them thoughtfully. It took only his departure to bring the two of them together? He’d been the one standing in the path? It was a lowering thought. He saw that Kassia was also remarking this new closeness with the same surprise.