CHAPTER ELEVEN
Belvoir Castle, Lincolnshire
England
John Lackland, Prince of England and the surviving brother of Richard the Lionheart, was, in truth, a man of few words. Being the youngest in a family of aggressive loudmouths had left him a rather edgy and quiet man, not given to fine speeches or big demands. He simply gave orders to those around him, who moved heaven and earth to ensure that his wishes were met. Not because they loved the man. They did it because they were aggressive and full of ambition, and John had the power and wealth to ensure their dreams were achieved.
Simon de Corlet sat across the table from the prince. It was a gloomy day, the rain coming down in silver sheets and thunder clapping steadily. The solar of Belvoir Castle was moderately warm and well lit, considering John wasn’t fond of darkness. There was danger in darkness. The prince eyed de Corlet across the taper-lit table.
“Your tale is an amazing one, I must say,” John said slowly. “You have told me, in essence, that El-Hajidd presented the Christian armies with the Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus Christ as he was being put to death by the Romans? I am most eager to see this holy relic.”
Simon was nervous. Sometimes John heard only what he wanted to hear, not what had actually been said.
“It was a gift, Your Grace, to prove that he was sincere in his desire to seek peace with the Christian armies,” Simon replied evenly. “As I told you, the gift never made it to Richard. It is with Sir Kieran Hage and I do not know his whereabouts.”
John’s dark, droopy eyes gazed steadily at Simon. “You told my brother that Hage was a traitor. But one of your men told Richard that you had lied and that Hage was not a traitor at all.”
Simon could not hold the man’s gaze. “Aye, Your Grace.”
“So you fled home. Quickly, I might add.”
“I traveled as swiftly as I could in order that I might tell you what has transpired,” Simon’s head came up. “Kieran Hage has the relic. If he is able to present it to the king, then hostilities between the Muslims and Christians will cease. Victory will not be ours.”
“And my brother will be known as the king who brought peace to the Holy Land.”
“Aye, Your Grace,” Simon said honestly. “But more than that, he shall return home as a saint, acclaimed as the greatest king to have ever ruled England. Peace shall be known in The Levant but not victory.”
John’s expression darkened and he turned to his wine, drinking moodily. “I do not expect that all of the Christian kings will side with him,” he muttered. “Philip Augustus, Guy de Lusignan… they do not want peace. They want conquest and glory.”
Simon nodded. “Indeed they do, Your Grace,” he replied. “But your brother is persuasive. Even if he agrees to peace and pulls his armies out, there will still be those who will continue the fight. But Richard will be seen as the peacemaker and the people will love him.”
John’s pale features tightened. “If Richard returns home a saint, then my struggles against him will be more difficult.”
“The people will side with a saint and will look at you as evil for opposing him, Your Grace. Your cause will be ended.”
John’s jaw ticked and he pushed his bejeweled cup aside. He clawed at the tabletop a moment, his mind torn with thoughts of victory and defeat. He had been battling his brother for so long that he knew of no other way. He looked up at Simon.
“It is possible that Kieran Hage has already presented my brother with this gift?” he ventured.
Simon nodded. “It is possible, Your Grace,” he replied. “The last time I saw him was in Nahariya. I told him that he could not return to Richard. But when I was betrayed to the king, it is possible that Hage was able to present the gift. It is possible that Richard holds the Crown of Thorns already.”
John sat back in his chair, his dark eyes dull with uncertainty and anger. “The House of Hage is seated at Southwell Castle,” he muttered. “I know the family well. Jeffrey Hage served my father.”
Simon wasn’t sure what to say to that so he said nothing. He watched John rise from his cushioned chair, his skinny legs supporting a short and skinny body. The prince made his way to the lancet window that overlooked the bailey of Belvoir, watching the rain pound in the courtyard below. He clasped his hands behind his back, fidgeting with his spindly fingers.
“Perhaps I should pay a visit to Sir Jeffrey Hage,” John said slowly. “Perhaps he should know that his son is a traitor, having met with the Saracen armies in private in order to betray Richard.”
Simon wasn’t following the prince’s train of thought. “For what purpose, Your Grace?”
John wasn’t quite sure, either. But it seemed like a good plan. “The House of Hage is a very old, very proud family. To have a traitor in their midst… a son betraying a father… perhaps Sir Jeffrey will understand my resistance to my father. Perhaps he will understand my cause if he believes his son has become loyal to me.”
Simon’s eyebrows flew up. “Kieran loyal to you?” he scoffed. “Never would that man swear fealty to you. He hates you.” When John turned sharply to him, he added nervously. “Your Grace.”
John’s dark eyes glittered wickedly. He had been playing these games since he had been five years old. Thanks to his mother and father, he understood the games well.
“We shall see,” he said quietly.
*
Kieran and his party were a day out of Southwell. Traveling had been wet and wild, rain pounding one day and then windy and cold the next. Before leaving London, he had sent a messenger ahead to Southwell to announce his arrival and he had also purchased a larger wagon to accommodate Rory’s increasing collection of trunks. He gave the pony cart over to Bud and David completely and purchased an enclosed cab for Rory to travel in. It was a well-made carriage that came with a big, white horse to pull it. He hired a driver at the livery where he purchased it and in little time, they were heading north to Nottingham.
One more purchase they made before leaving was a horse for Yusef. He wasn’t fond of the big chargers, or even the Spanish Jennets, so Kieran had to go to three or four liveries before they found a horse that Yusef found acceptable. He was looking for an agile Arabian but settled for a long-legged Spanish Jennet, a lovely caramel color with a black mane and tail. Kieran assured Yusef that once they reached Southwell, the man could have his pick of the Arabians that Kieran had shipped home during the course of his three years in the Holy Land. He had something of a collection of the beautiful animals. Southwell stables had at least twelve of the horses and probably twice as many offspring of crossbreeds between Arabians and hearty English warmbloods. Kieran’s instructions to his father were to breed the beasts and sell them for a hefty profit which, Kieran was sure, his father had gleefully done.
On this cloudy, misty morning, Rory sat in her cab, wrapped up in heavy cloaks against the chill, teaching English to little David. He had learned many words and was starting to string them together in sentences. Kieran rode at the front of the group while Kaleef rode just behind him, driving the little pony cart. Rory’s cab came next with the hired driver followed by Bud driving the big wagon. Yusef rode alongside Bud, making sure the boy didn’t get into any trouble. It was an odd caravan but one that Kieran was extremely proud of. He was returning to Southwell with a wife, friends, servants, and a multitude of possessions. He always thought he would return at the head of his army, but that was not to be. Not that he was disappointed; quite the contrary. It was just not as he had expected.
Kaleef was behind him, singing softly as the ponies trudged over the muddy road. Kieran turned to look at the old man, who seemed truly happy in spite of the fact that he had been burned out of his home and forced to trek thousands of miles to a faraway enemy country. Kieran thought back to that time before, when history had taken another turn, the day when Simon’s assassins had wounded him and he had made his way to Kaleef, looking for help. They’d had a conversation while Kieran lay dying, something that Kieran remembered even now. I sense your work on this earth is not yet complete. Even then, the old man had been intuitive. Odd how he found the old man with him now and Kieran had to wonder if it wasn’t for some greater purpose. Kaleef was a great healer. Perhaps he would be needed again to heal Kieran in the future. Or even Rory.
Thinking of his wife made him rein his horse around to the cab she was riding in. He directed Liberator next to the cab, peering in to see her sitting huddled up with young David, both of them under heavy blankets. When Rory caught sight of Kieran, she smiled at him.
“Hello there,” she said brightly. “How’s it going?”
He flipped up his visor, returning her smile. “All is well,” he replied to her modern-day greeting. He had learned to figure them out. “How are you feeling?”
She shrugged. “Okay, I guess,” she said. “Just tired. How are you?”
His smiled broadened. “I am always well as long as I am with you.”
She smiled coyly, batting her eyelashes at him dramatically. “You always know the right thing to say, you smooth-tongued devil.”
He laughed. “I would sing to you as well if I knew how. But it would seem that you are the entertainer in our family.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant at first. But a split second later, she remembered her floor show at The Black Swan. Since that day, they’d not spoken of it and she figured it was better to let some things lie. That particular moment in time was a sore point for them both. But he had brought it up so she wriggled her eyebrows at him.
“Oh, yeah,” she sigh. “I’d almost forgotten about that.”
“I have not. But given the emotions of that night, I did not want to bring it up too soon and risk upsetting you.”
“Me upset?” she looked at him, surprised. “You’re the one that was yelling at me, not the other way around.”
He lifted an eyebrow at her. “This is a line of conversation that neither one of us can win, so I suggest that we not pursue it.” He pushed his helm back and scratched his forehead. “I did want to tell you how impressed I was with your singing ability, Libby. You are a woman of many talents.”
Her smile was back. “Thank you, but I really wouldn’t call that singing. I was just trying to create a distraction so you wouldn’t get gored.”
He wasn’t going to get into that subject with her again, so he continued to focus on her singing skill. “Sing something for me now.”
“Now?”
He nodded, his gem-clear brown eyes glittering at her. “I wish it.”
She had to chuckle at him; he was very decisive about his wishes. So she thought a moment, the smile on her face broadening as she sang the words softly.
“I made it through the wilderness; somehow I made it through…
Didn’t know how lost I was until I found you.
I was beat, incomplete
I’d been had, I was sad and blue…
But you made me feel
Yeah, you made me feel
Shiny and new…
Like a virgin, touched for the very first time; like a virgin, when your heart beats next to mine…”
Kieran was enjoying the sweet, gentle words in her seductive voice until she came to the last strain. Then his eyes flew open wide and his jaw went slack when he understood what, exactly, she was singing about. When Rory saw his reaction, she shut her mouth and began to giggle uncontrollably, falling back against the back of the cab. Kieran reined Liberator next to the cab and stuck a massive arm inside the open window.
“Come here, you naughty wench,” he growled. “I am going to blister your backside.”
She screamed with delight, scooting to the other side of the cab as he grabbed for her. Her giggling turned into loud laughter as he made another swipe at her through another window. David, inside the cab, tried not to get run over by Rory as she moved around. He sat against a corner and grinned.
“Kieran, stop!” she commanded after a good deal of chasing. “You’re scaring David.”
Kieran leaned low on Liberator, sticking his head in one of the windows to see if what she said was true. But David was grinning, squealing when he saw Kieran reaching for him. He grabbed the boy by the foot and David giggled hysterically, clutching at the seat to prevent being dragged out the window. Rory leapt to the rescue but the moment she came close, Kieran let go of David and grabbed her by the wrist.
“Ah ha!” he boomed. “Now I have you.”
“You cheated!” She beat at his hand. “Let me go!”
He shook his head. “I will not,” he said. “Kiss me and I may consider it.”
“I’m not going to be blackmailed into kissing you.”
“You have no choice. Do as you are told.”
“No!” she refused, even as he pulled her to the window and tried to kiss her. She put her free hand out and pushed his face away. “You’re not getting a kiss.”
Kieran was having a hard time keeping a straight face. When Liberator startled because of all of the struggling going on, he was forced to release Rory to regain control of his charger. She stuck her head out of the window as he was struggling with the horse and stuck her tongue out at him.
“Them baggy sweat pants and those Reeboks with the straps,” she taunted him with a fairly risqué rap song. “She turned around and gave dat big booty a smack! Hey! She hit the floor, next thing you know, Shawty got low, low, low.”
She made sure to turn around and slap her rump so he could see it. Then she started doing some crazy dance in the cab. David was laughing at her, as was Yusef; no matter what he thought of the bold and aggressive Lady Hage, she was quite funny even if he had no idea what she was singing about. Only Kaleef seemed to be oblivious to what was going on, driving his pony cart ahead of the group and singing to himself. When Kieran regained control of Liberator, he dismounted the charger and tied him to the back of the wagon. His wife was still inside, bopping around to a rap song, when he threw open the door and yanked her out.
Rory screamed as he threw her over his massive shoulder. He planted a trencher-sized hand on her backside and she howled, banging on him. He held her so her belly wasn’t against his hard armor, which made it rather awkward to maintain his hold on her once she started fighting back. He was about to smack her again when they heard sounds of distant thunder. The humor on his face abruptly vanished and, alert, he stopped the horseplay and turned in the direction of the coming sound.
Rory heard it, too, and slithered to the ground, still in his grasp. She looked up at him and, seeing his tight expression, began to feel some fear.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, pressing close against him. “Who is it?”
He shook his head. “I do not know.” He turned her around, quickly, for the cab. “Get inside and stay there.”
She resisted slightly. “But, Kieran, if it’s…”
He grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. “With God as my witness, if you argue with me about this, I will lock you up once we reach Southwell and throw away the key. You will listen to me and you will do what you are told for once in your life. Is this in any way unclear?”
She gazed up into his eyes, knowing that she needed to comply. The last time she resisted his attempts to get her to safety, he had been caught in a brutal fight. She knew that next time, he might not be so lucky. She needed to trust him and do what he told her to do so he was not distracted by arguing with her when people were out to kill him. So she fought down her natural instincts and nodded obediently, patting him on the cheek.
“It’s perfectly clear, baby,” she murmured. “I’ll get back in the cab and stay there.”
His hard expression wavered somewhat. “Thank you.”
She smiled at him and quickly scooted to the cab, jumping in and slamming the door. Kieran, rather shocked that he hadn’t had to bully her into submission, was better able to focus on the coming thunder. As he made his way back to Liberator, he could see many, many horses and men in armor approaching from the north.
He mounted Liberator and rode out to meet them.
*
Kieran knew the identity of the army within the first few moments of his approach. Although they were well on the horizon, he could see the blue and gold as he drew closer. When three knights broke off from the cluster of mounted men and charged towards him, he knew his brothers on sight and his heart began to race. He actually had a lump in his throat. As the chargers drew near, he suddenly reined Liberator to a halt and bailed off. Dropping the reins, he began to walk, very quickly, towards the approaching trio.
In rapid succession, the knights pulled their chargers to a halt and began to jump off. The first man to reach Kieran threw him in such a bear hug that he nearly sent them both toppling. Suddenly, the other two knights were upon them and arms were going around everyone. They were hugging and slugging and somewhere in the middle of it was booming laughter.
Rory saw her husband being mugged by three other knights, not particularly concerned about it because no one seemed to be drawing weapons. They were slapping each other around and hugging, and she could hear the laughter as she approached. Yusef called a halt to their party when they drew close, watching Kieran from a short distance away as he was greeted by people he apparently knew. Kieran was suddenly ripping off his helm and his smile positively lit up the sky. Rory could see his joy from where she remained in the cab and it made her smile as well. But there was no way she was leaving the cab until he told her to.
Yet, in spite of his joy, he hadn’t forgotten about her. He grabbed the two nearest men and began dragging them over to the carriage. The third man followed, slapping Kieran and grabbing him around the neck joyfully. By the time the four of them reached the cab, Rory was smiling broadly. She had never seen Kieran so happy.
“Lib,” Kieran yanked open the door to the cab and nearly ripped it off its hinges in his excitement. “Come out, sweetheart. I want you to meet my brothers.”
Rory climbed out of the cab. Clad in a silky red surcoat and her hair in a couple of sweet-looking braids, she was utter eye candy for the Hage brothers. One by one, the helms came off and she found herself gazing back at men that, to varying degrees, looked like her husband. They were studying her quite intently and she tried not to look at anything other than their faces, although the lure to inspect their armor and weapons was nearly too much for her to take. She smiled at the curious, friendly and joyful faces.
Kieran went to her and put his massive arm around her shoulders, presenting her for inspection to his brothers. “Gentle knights,” he gazed down at her, relishing the particularly important moment. “This is my wife, the Lady Rory Elizabeth Hage. She will answer to Libby. Lib, meet my brothers; Christian, Sean and Andrew.”
He indicated right to left and Rory smiled broadly at the Hage brothers; Christian was a little taller than Kieran, rather slender as compared to the other three, and with a head of unruly bright red hair and Kieran’s brown eyes. Next to him was Sean; Sean was built like Kieran, extraordinarily handsome, with cropped light brown hair and clear brown eyes. The man was definitely a looker. Last was Andrew; he was stocky, broad, with nearly-shaved auburn hair.
“It’s wonderful to finally meet you,” she said. “Kieran has told me a lot about you.”
Her accent threw them for a loop. They looked at Kieran in surprise and he understood their silent questions.
“She is from the west of Ireland,” he told them, eyeing Rory. “She knows that she sounds odd. I am endeavoring to break her of the habit so she can speak normally.”
Rory scowled at him. “That’s a terrible thing to say in front of your brothers,” she hissed. “They just met me and you’re telling them I’m odd?”
He grinned at her, hugging her. “’Tis well enough that they learn it right away,” he said, winking at his brothers. “But they should also know that I worship and adore you, Lady Hage. You are most worthy to be part of this family and due all respect.”
Sean was the first one to push forward, taking her hand gently. “Welcome, Lady Hage,” he said. He had a wonderful, deep, soothing voice. “We are honored.”
Rory’s smile was back. Sean was an absolute doll and she liked him right away. He wasn’t nearly as tall as Kieran, perhaps three or four inches shorter, but he was big and muscular like his brother was. He also seemed genuinely sweet.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely.
He smiled at her and moved aside as Christian, the taller brother, stepped forward. Rory had to crane her neck back as she looked at the man. Kieran was six inches over six feet and Christian was taller than he was, so she guessed the man was somewhere around six feet eight inches. He was extraordinarily tall, with a rather lanky body, but he had that Hage square-jawed look. He smiled at Rory and dipped his head.
“Lady Hage.” He had the deepest voice she had ever heard. “It is a pleasure.”
Rory nodded in acknowledgment as the last brother approached. Andrew seemed to be quite a bit younger than the other three. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that he had very dark hazel eyes and pale skin with freckles on his face. He was a good looking man but when he smiled, she saw a big chip on his front tooth. He took her hand as Sean had done.
“Lady Hage.” He actually kissed her fingers. “I wish you and my brother much happiness.”
Rory smiled at the man. “Thank you,” she said, looking around the group. “I’m very happy to be here.”
They were staring at her, inspecting her, as new family members often do. Christian finally snorted and turned to his brother. “She is far too good for you.” He slugged Kieran on the arm. “I will make it my goal in life to steal her from you.”
Sean pushed himself in between Christian and Kieran, taking Rory by the hand and tucking it into the crook of his elbow.
“If you barbarians are going to start fighting, I’d better remove the lady,” he said, leading her out of the line of fire. “Please give this woman a demonstration on the idiocy of this family. Well? Go ahead and brutalize each other.”
Kieran’s brow furrowed as Sean took Rory a few feet away. He followed and reclaimed her. “Give her back to me,” he scolded lightly. “You are already married.”
Sean laughed. Rory watched him, sensing that he was a very gentle, low-key man. “Is your wife at Southwell?” she asked him.
He nodded. “My wife and my daughter,” he replied, watching Kieran’s face light up with surprise. “The child was born last year. She’s beautiful, Kieran. We named her Eleanor, after mother.”
Kieran clapped his brother on the shoulder in sincere congratulations. “Well done,” he murmured, his eyes glimmering with warmth. “She will have a cousin join her this fall.”
The news sent the brothers into a flurry of congratulatory hugs and slugs for Kieran. Then they turned on Rory and she was rather startled when they all descended on her with happy kisses to the cheek. Christian nearly knocked her over in his enthusiasm. Kieran shoved his tall brother back by the head.
“Back, you animal,” he growled good-naturedly. As Christian grinned, Kieran indicated the others in his party. “I want you to meet my Saracen friends. These men have risked their lives for me so that I might return home and I want you to give them all due respect. Look not to their skin color; look to their character and heart, for I would not be here if it were not for them.”
The smiles and joviality began to fade as the Hage brothers beheld Yusef. Up until this point, they had been focused on Kieran and his wife. Now they gazed at Yusef, who dismounted his caramel-colored horse and stood there, allowing the knights to become used to the sight of him. There was no animosity sensed, only varied degrees of curiosity. Sean was the first one, as usual, to approach him.
“My lord,” he greeted, unsure what more to say. “If my brother holds you in such high regard, then I will as well. You are welcome at Southwell.”
Yusef nodded at the square-jawed brother who looked a good deal like Kieran. Christian and Andrew greeted him as well, with more confusion than anything else, but they were polite. They were all big, white, well-fed men. No one bothered to greet Kaleef at all, for the old man still sat upon the pony cart, watching the situation warily. Lacking any more to say, Kieran gestured at the cab.
“Let us escort my wife back to the safety of Southwell,” he said. “I am sure she is anxious to stop traveling.”
The brothers went to collect their horses, who were wandering around the area, nibbling on foliage. Kieran lifted Rory into the carriage, kissing her sweetly. She clutched his hand before he walked away.
“Your brothers seem really sweet,” she said quietly.
He smirked at her. “Perhaps to you,” he said. “But I assure you, they are ferocious in battle.”
She lifted her eyebrows and sat back in her seat. “I have no doubt.”
He winked at her and shut the door. Rory watched Kieran and his brothers rally the army as her little party fell in somewhere in the middle of it. It was a big mass of mounted men and Rory found great interest in the horses, tack and what the soldiers were wearing. Yusef ended up riding next to her, inside the swarm of white soldiers, and she looked up at him, concerned for the dark man in a land of white people. Although the Hage brothers seemed to have accepted him right away, Rory knew a little of prejudice given that she grew up in Southern California. There were a multitude of races and she had heard and seen something of discrimination in her life. She suddenly felt very protective of Yusef, the man who risked everything to save a man he knew by reputation only.
“Yusef?” she called to him.
He paused and smiled politely at her. “How may I serve you, Lady Hage?”
She looked up at him through the cab window, not sure how to voice what she was thinking. “Are… are you all right?”
He cocked his head curiously. “What do you mean?”
“Are you well? Do you feel well? Happy? At ease?”
His expression rippled with confusion. “I am well. Why do you ask?”
She gazed up at him, thinking he had no idea what she was talking about. Perhaps she should just let it go.
“I just wanted to make sure,” she said. “You’re in a strange country with people who are technically your enemy, so I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Some of the smile returned to his face. He began to understand what she meant and he was oddly touched. “It is kind of you to ask, Lady Hage,” he said. “I am well.”
Rory let the subject go, sitting back in the cab and pulling David onto her lap. The little boy fell asleep against her for the rest of the afternoon. She slept with him.