Page 157

*

He very much wanted to give her

some joy in life….

*

“M ad,” Tobias hissed. “I would have never have guessed that was why they have been keeping Roald out of sight. Completely mad, you say?”

Jamison nodded his head. “Aye,” he replied.

“The man thought Havilland was his dead wife. He canna speak anything other than his dead wife’s name, apparently.

I spent a few minutes with the man tae see his state for meself and believe me when I say that it was enough.

’Tis not a man in that chamber but a vegetable.

Roald de Llion, as people knew him, no longer exists. ”

Tobias was nearly beside himself with astonishment. “And the three sisters have been commanding the fortress for the past two years by themselves? That is nothing short of remarkable.”

Again, Jamison nodded. “According tae Havilland, her father started showing signs of his madness a couple of years ago,” he said.

“As of last year, he could barely communicate so they keep him in a chamber with a servant tae tend his needs. The sisters have been trying tae keep the illusion alive that Roald is still in command. And they’ve been doing a damn fine job of it. ”

No one could argue with that. The truth about Roald de Llion was a startling revelation but, in hindsight, not a completely surprising one, at least for the de Lohr knights.

They had been dealing with Four Crosses and Roald de Llion far longer than Jamison had been and the man’s absence the past year had been a great mystery, as they had mentioned many times.

Now, they knew why. Jamison had been able to establish such trust with Havilland that she had told him the shocking truth.

A shocking truth with many far-reaching implications.

It was late in the night now, well after the evening meal and well after everyone had retired for the night.

Havilland and Amaline had retired together, sleeping in the same bed to lament what had become of Madeline, leaving Jamison and Tobias and Thad in the solar that had become home to them, discussing what had been a far too eventful day.

With Madeline’s treachery and now the truth about Roald revealed, there was quite a bit to absorb.

They were still trying to process it.

“My father is going to be very interested in what has happened around here,” Tobias said, thinking on how his father would react to the news of his old friend Roald.

“Not only does he have a decision to make about Madeline, but now he has to decide what to do with Four Crosses. He cannot leave Havilland in command.”

Jamison was sitting in front of the hearth, warming his thin blood. “Nay,” he said. “But he can leave me in command when I marry the woman.”

Tobias looked at him, quickly, as if he’d forgotten all about the fact that Jamison had proposed marriage to Havilland.

There was a flash of disappointment, again, that he quickly quelled, turning instead to fill his wine cup with that cheap French wine.

Like a bad dream, the subject had come up again and it wasn’t any easier the second time around.

“Is that what marrying her is about?” he asked. “Gaining command of Four Crosses?”

Jamison didn’t flare to what could have been construed as an insult. “Ye know me better than that,” he said. “This old fortress holds no beauty tae me and certainly not enough tae hunger for the command.”

Tobias did, indeed, know better but it was his disillusionment talking.

“With no father to ask permission, I suppose you had your way made simple in obtaining the lady’s hand,” he said, sipping at his wine.

“But if Roald is truly mad and Havilland has no other menfolk in her family, I believe the question of marriage should be proposed to my father. She is his vassal, after all.”

“Marriage?” Thad, who was stretched out on his bed in the corner, suddenly rolled over. “Lady Havilland and Jamison are getting married?”

Tobias frowned at him. “This does not concern you, little maggot,” he said, waving a hand at him. “Roll over and go back to sleep. Let the men talk.”

Thad, the youngest cousin of four boys, was used to being bullied but he didn’t like it. He was a knight, too, just like they all were and he didn’t take kindly to belittling. Tobias wasn’t usually so combative, which upset him.

“I am in command here, too,” he pointed out. “You needn’t get so nasty. I had not heard that Jamison and Lady Havilland were getting married. Is it true?”

“It ’tis,” Jamison said before Tobias could reply.

He eyed Tobias as he spoke. “I have asked the lady and she has agreed. Tobias, I know ye were sweet on the lass, but she belongs tae me now. I’ve told ye that.

I am trying tae be sympathetic tae yer disappointment but becoming belligerent wit’ me will only gain ye me fist tae yer face.

Am I making meself clear? And if ye harass Havilland about it, that will bring me wrath twice as fast.”

Tobias met Jamison’s gaze for a moment, challengingly, as Thad watched the pair with some concern.

He could see, clearly, the trouble between Jamison and Tobias, surprising as it was.

He never thought a woman would cause hard feelings between the two and given that it was Lady Havilland had him quite surprised.

He didn’t know why he hadn’t sensed any of this before.

“Is there going to be a battle over this?” Thad wanted to know, looking at the glares between Tobias and Jamison.

“Tobias, we’ve all known you were fond of Lady Havilland but you never did a thing about it.

You cannot be angry because Jamison did.

Besides, if you two go to battle, my money is on Jamison.

He will mop the floor with you and toss you out with the water. ”

Jamison tried not to grin at the comment, turning his face away from an outraged Tobias as Thad laid back down on his bed and rolled over so he was facing the wall.

Infuriated, Tobias picked up the nearest object, which happened to be a cup, and threw it at Thad, hitting him in the buttocks.

As Thad yelped, rolled over, and threw the cup back at Tobias’ head, Jamison stood up.

“Enough,” he said, deftly catching the cup in mid-air.

“The situation is settled. Madeline is in the vault, Roald de Llion is mad, and Havilland and I shall be wed. Let us put the focus where it should be– on the events o’ the day.

Much has happened and I feel a good deal of pity for Havilland and Amaline. Their world was shaken today, badly.”

Tobias was still riled up, still focused on his petulant cousin and the loss of Havilland.

“It could not be helped,” he said. “Better we discover Madeline’s treachery now than in a day or week or even a month when the Welsh attack us again using her information.

And as far as Roald is concerned, they should have told us that long ago.

It was true, but it was a rather blunt statement.

Jamison was feeling a bit kinder than Tobias was.

“’Tis a terrible thing that Havilland and Amaline have suffered through today,” he said.

“Discovering their sister tae be a spy was a bloody dirty thing. As if they dunna have enough trouble with the Welsh without Madeline’s treachery, like havin’ yer heart cut tae shreds.

So much sorrow around this place as of late.

In fact, I thought today we might have a bit o’ light on their situation. ”

Tobias was pouring himself more wine, spilling it out of the cup in his agitation. “And what was that?”

Jamison shrugged. “As of this morning, the poor lasses thought they would be attendin’ a festival,” he said. “With everything that has happened, it wouldna be right tae go. But I was thinking….”

Tobias didn’t much care what Jamison had been thinking as he drank his wine, but Thad did. “What, Jamie?” he asked.

Jamison rubbed at his stubbled chin. “Well,” he said slowly, “’tis a fact that Havilland and her sisters were desperate tae attend Alis de Lara’s festival.

They pulled out their mother’s old trunks tae find something decent tae wear.

All women want tae go tae festivals, dunna they? Those three were no different.”

Thad shrugged. “And?”

Jamison sat down again, leaning back against the chair.

“I watched them this evening during the meal,” he said.

“Havilland and Amaline looked so… sad. And why shouldna they? A mad father, a sister who tried tae kill all of us… they’re too young tae know such heartache.

Neither one of them has even attended a festival or even a mass or a party because their father wouldna let them.

Havilland told me so. He never let them do anything that young ladies do.

So I was thinking… if we canna take them tae a festival, what if we had a festival here? ”

Thad sat up, his features alight with the suggestion. “A festival!” he said. “What did you have in mind?”

Jamison shrugged. “We canna have a real festival,” he said. “We’ve no musicians for dancing and we’ve no entertainment. But we could have games for the ladies tae watch. Contests and the like.”

By this time, even Tobias was listening.

“Games?” he repeated. “Jamie, the people of Four Crosses are trying to rebuild their castle. The threat of Welsh attacks is hanging over our head, every single day. Madeline de Llion is in the vault as a prisoner and Roald de Llion has been exposed as being mad… and you want to have games in the midst of this?”

Jamison knew his suggestion sounded rather foolish and frivolous, but the truth was that he’d been thinking of it for most of the evening, ever since Havilland realized they wouldn’t be going to Alis de Lara’s festival.

He hated to see her so disappointed. The woman had so little happiness in her life and with the event of her sister’s capture and the revelation of her father’s health, he felt compelled to bring something happy to her. Something to make her smile.

He very much wanted to give her some joy in a life that had been rife with darkness.

“The wall is mostly repaired,” he said to Tobias’ statement.

“The gatehouse is strong; everything about the castle is strong. Tobias, these people have been suffering months of Welsh attacks and terrible threats. For one day, mayhap they’d like tae forget all of that.

I’m sure Havilland and Amaline would. So we take the entire east side of the bailey, where the troop house is, and we arrange spectacles– wrestling, hammer-throwing, archery– and we let the men compete and enjoy themselves.

And we let Havilland and Amaline dress in their mother’s clothing and, for once in their lives, feel like ladies.

They can be the queens of their own festival.

It would lift their spirits at the very least.”

Thad slapped his thigh. “I think it is a perfectly marvelous suggestion,” he said. “What is the harm, Tobias? We will be inside the fortress the entire time. And wouldn’t you like to beat Jamie at something?”

Tobias was actually quite attracted to the idea but didn’t want to show just how much he was. He frowned at Thad before looking to Jamison. “Of course I would like to beat him,” he said, “but I think this suggestion is in poor taste.”

Jamison knew that but he just couldn’t get past the hope of cheering Havilland up. It was all he could think of. “Mayhap,” he said. “But it would be a good way for the men tae feel some relaxation and relief as well. It would lift morale.”

Thad nodded eagerly. “It would definitely lift morale,” he said, looking at his cousin. “What do you say, Tobias? I think this is an excellent idea.”

Tobias sighed faintly, looking at Thad and how excited his young cousin was. He knew it would be a good opportunity to lift the men’s spirits after some terrible struggles. But he couldn’t agree completely, not just yet.

“Mayhap,” he said after a moment. “But one thing is certain; no matter if I am victorious against Jamie, and I will be, it seems that he already has the best prize in the house.”

He meant Havilland. Jamison gave him a half-grin. He wasn’t going to let Tobias beat him down about the situation any longer. The man was going to have to face facts.

“So compete tae carry Amaline’s favor,” he said. “Do ye know what a thrill ye’d give the girl? She’d remember it the rest o’ her life.”

Thad completely agreed. “That is true, she would.”

Jamison looked to the young knight with a smile on his face before returning his focus to Tobias. “Well?” he said. “What say ye, man?”

Tobias looked at the pair, seeing the enthusiasm in their eyes.

Truth be told, he was enthusiastic for it, too.

He loved competition and a good game or two, and it was well known he was a sportsman.

Tobias had a great competitive streak in him which was why he wasn’t so willing to graciously concede defeat with Havilland.

In fact, he was coming to think that if he impressed Havilland enough at a sporting event or two, she might reconsider her commitment to Jamison.

It was a hope, anyway.

“Who will organize it?” he asked.

Jamison extended a hand to him. “I was thinking ye would, Tobias. Ye’re good at that sort of thing.”

That put a new spin on the situation. Tobias would be in charge of the games, which he liked.

He could pick the best opponents for himself.

What he didn’t realize, however, was that Jamison had purposely asked the man to arrange things, hoping that would bring Tobias out of his funk and give him something of a distraction.

It worked; Tobias was already focused on what was coming but for different reasons than what Jamison thought.

Tobias was going to try to win himself a wife.

“Then we will start right away,” he said. “I will gather some of the off watch soldiers and clear out the bailey by torch light. We should be able to designate an arena and even build a viewing platform for Havilland and Amaline to watch from.”

Jamison lifted his eyebrows. “Ye’ll start tonight?”

Tobias shrugged. “Why not?” he said. “I have the night watch. I can be doing something else with my time other than watch the mists form over the hills.”

“Ye’re supposed tae be watching for Welsh.”

“I’ll have hundreds of pairs of eyes on the wall that can do that while I go about other tasks.”

Jamison didn’t argue with him. He’d put the man in charge of the games, after all, and if he wanted to get started right away, all the better.

Perhaps by morning, they’d have something to show for it and, perhaps in some small way, Havilland might find a bit of joy from it all. At least, that was the hope.

Let the games begin.