Page 57 of Heart of the Hunter (Band of Bastards #3)
“Y ou keep interesting company, Lord Hawk,” Baron Payne said with an arrogant sneer as he looked from Red on Hawk’s right to Hunter who sat on his left.
It was fortunate for the baron that a wide plank table separated them because Hunter had the overwhelming urge to wrap his hands around Payne’s neck and squeeze until his beady eyes bulged from their sockets.
They were sitting under a tent in the field beyond the stables. Hawk had wisely chosen to have the meeting out in the open where they could see who was listening to the conversation. He apparently didn’t want the untrustworthy baron in or near his castle any more than was necessary either.
Baron Payne sat on a chair across the table from Hawk.
He was flanked by two of his soldiers, but Hunter doubted they were actually men of any consequence.
Neither of them looked like they were comfortable sitting at the table, and they’d not said a word since they sat down to face Lord Hawk at their commander’s side.
“I understand you’ve met Hunter,” Hawk drawled.
Payne nodded. “I wouldn’t recommend him as your representative in the future as he’s not very diplomatic.”
Hunter narrowed his eyes at the arrogant cur as Hawk said, “He’s not meant to be diplomatic.”
“What is he meant to be, then?”
“None of your business,” Hunter growled.
“And this one?” Payne asked with an arrogant flip of his hand toward Red.
Red bared his teeth and growled low in his throat. Hunter had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing. The rugged Viking could be as wild and dangerous as he looked, but in truth he was big-hearted and jovial.
“Why are you here, Payne,” Hawk demanded.
“I come with either an offering or a warning. Which one is dependent upon you,” Payne said with a smugness that belied his standing in the realm when compared to Hawk.
“Get to the point,” Hawk said, his irritation obvious.
“As Marcher lords, we hold power other lords in the realm only dream about. If the king tries to harness that power, it will start a war. With Wales conquered and the Welsh rebels tamed, there is talk that the king no longer wishes to recognize our autonomy.”
“We are autonomous,” Hawk agreed, “but I’ve heard no declaration from King Edward that he is going to change anything.”
“He does not need to make a declaration. It is only a matter of time before he feels threatened by us. We must be prepared.”
Hunter watched Hawk from the corner of his eye as he leaned forward to brace his forearms on the table. “And how do you suggest we prepare?” His voice was deceptively cool and even.
“An alliance,” Payne stated simply, but a bead of sweat rolled down his temple and he shifted in his chair.
“With you?” Hawk’s tone was thick with sarcasm.
“Aye,” he said, indignant. “And others.”
“Which others?” Hawk asked as he leaned back in his chair.
“I am not at liberty to say, but if you agree to an alliance and prove your worthiness to me, you will learn who the others are.” The corner of Payne’s lip curled up as though he had just bested Hawk in some way, but his face fell, and his cheeks reddened when Hawk’s booming laughter rang out.
“ You will determine my worthiness?”
Payne nodded his head. His confidence had slipped, and his ears appeared to burn with his anger. “I don’t think you know who you are dealing with. My family has held Castle Whyte for longer than you’ve been alive.”
“I know very well who I am dealing with,” Hawk said.
“I know you are meeting with Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, who is lacking in loyalty to the King Edward. I know you petitioned the king to be rewarded Hawkspur Castle as payment for your part in quelling the Welsh rebels and tried to take the demesne from my lady wife and me. And I know I don’t like you, Payne. ”
Payne’s lips were pressed into a hard line and his eyes blazed with hatred. “If that is the way of it, then there is no reason to continue this meeting.”
“Finally,” Hawk said in a flat voice. “Something we agree on.”
Hunter stood, along with the other men in the tent, and it took all of his restraint not to lunge across the table at Payne for the torment he’d inflicted on Anora and her father. He didn’t even try to hide his contempt for the deplorable man as they faced each other across the table.
Now his gaze locked with Hunter’s. “The woman, Anora. You tried to conceal her from me this morning, but I knew it was her.” Payne said. “Has she told you we have a history together? Her father has begged me to marry her as a favor to—”
Hunter’s restraint snapped and he lunged across the table at Payne, and both men tumbled to the ground as chairs toppled around them. His fingers were closing around the baron’s neck and the coward’s face was turning purple by the time Red pulled him off the odious man.
As Payne was being helped to his feet by his men, Hunter snarled through clenched teeth, “You fucking stay away from her and her family.”
“You will regret this,” Payne whined as he rubbed his neck.
Hunter made to lunge at him again, and the baron and his men practically ran from the tent.
“Escort them back to Montworth’s border,” Hawk ordered his men as Payne and his soldiers were mounting their horses. As they rode away, he turned to Hunter and said, “You may have started a war with the baron.”
“Do you care?” Hunter asked in a low, angry voice.
“No,” Hawk admitted.
Bard entered the tent, his typically handsome face as dark as thunder.
“What is it?” Hawk asked.
“The man we captured this morning leaving the fires confirmed what you expected.”
“Hired by Payne,” Hawk said.
“Aye,” Bard answered, though Hawk hadn’t stated it as a question. “He’s part of a larger band of hired thugs. They were told to do whatever it takes to make it seem you are not strong enough to hold a castle in the Marches.”
“Just the excuse Payne and Clare need to justify taking Hawkspur by force.” Hawk gritted his teeth then slammed his fist down on the table. He turned to Hunter. “Get the evidence you need, then do with him as you will.”