CHAPTER SIXTEEN
One week later
Edinburgh
Edinburgh was bigger than Cathlina could have ever imagined. The largest city she had ever been to was Carlisle, and that seemed big enough, but Edinburgh was overwhelming in its size. Coming into the city from the south, they could see it spread out on the horizon like a great cloak of men, buildings, and animals. A faint haze of smoke hung in the sky above the city, indicative of its large population.
Astride a small brown palfrey that Mathias had purchase for his wife in Hawk, Cathlina had watched the approaching city with great awe. Riding with the friendly otter in a basket, now named Midgy and officially a part of their group, she had been very excited to realize they had come to one of their primary destinations. But Midgy kept jumping out of the basket and gleefully running up and down the road until Mathias would climb off his steed and dutifully chase the animal down.
Since nearly the moment she had met him, Cathlina had become very attached to little Midgy and when it came time to leave Langholm, Midgy had followed them down the road and Mathias knew he could not deny his wife her furry little friend. There was no use even trying. He had proven to be a cute little companion and had been hours of endless entertainment. For days they had simply let him run beside them as they traveled but coming close to the city as they were, Cathlina was afraid he would be stepped on or otherwise hurt, so she kept him in the basket as much as she could.
As Edinburgh loomed, Mathias and Sebastian and Justus seemed to view the city with less awe and more suspicion, since it was a city full of Scots and they were clearly not Scots. To most here, they were the enemy. But they had to pass through Edinburgh to not only locate Sir Stephen of Pembury but also to make their way to Henry de Beaumont’s fortress north of the city. Still, they had a lot of business to conduct in Edinburgh and Mathias wasted no time in his search for the Bucket and Barrel.
At the first inn they stopped at once they entered the city limits, the barkeep couldn’t tell them exactly where the Bucket and Barrel was but he thought it was perhaps near Edinburgh Castle. Unwilling to drag Cathlina all over the dirty streets of Edinburgh in search of the fabled Bucket and Barrel tavern, Mathias sought lodgings at the present inn but was directed to a man who had a bigger inn and more room.
This foray took them down the dirty and stone avenue that was literally awash with human excrement until they came to a very large inn called the Green Pony. Inside the rather vast structure, the owner was able to provide them with three very satisfactory rooms on the third level, two big sleeping chambers and a smaller sitting chamber that were all connected together. It was high above the common room and had a great view of the city. Mathias paid for a week’s lodging up front and slipped the otter into the rooms buried under heavy cloaks.
Cathlina was thrilled with the rooms. They were cozy and moderately clean, and she and Midgy could watch all of the comings and goings from her perch in the sitting room. At one point during their first day there, Sebastian stole a big copper tub from the nearby livery and brought it up to the rooms so they could have a place for Midgy to swim. The otter was happy as a lark in his big copper tub, swimming and frolicking, but he still barked when Sebastian came near him. Sebastian took up making faces at the animal every time he saw him. Sometimes he would even bark back.
On their second day in Edinburgh, Mathias and Sebastian had located the Bucket and Barrel Inn. It was a fairly large tavern and reasonably well kept, but Stephen of Pembury was not in residence. Day after day they returned to the tavern to sit and wait, with no luck, while Justus remained with Cathlina. To keep occupied, Cathlina had gone to the Street of Merchants early in their stay and had purchased several items including a knitting needle and yarn as well as a deck of lovely painted cards all the way from Rome. When Cathlina and Justus would grow tired of card games, he would sit and snore in his chair while she would work on a knitted tunic for Mathias. She was clever with the yarn and the garment was turning out beautifully.
The time with Justus had been well spent, however. Cathlina had come to know her father-in-law as a man with a vast amount of knowledge in many things. He was intelligent and wise, and it was very clear how much he loved his sons. They were everything to him. Cathlina would sit and knit, listening to him tell stories about Mathias and Sebastian when they were children and of the mischief they would get in to.
He told stories of them playing with sticks as very young lads and pretending they were swords, a game that seemed innocent enough until Mathias nearly blinded Sebastian. After that, their mother, the Lady Penelope, forbid them their swords but Justus would let the boys play when their mother wasn’t looking. It made for charming storytelling and Cathlina was coming to like Justus a great deal. In fact, she missed her own father less with Justus and his endless library of stories.
As the days passed, she tried not to think of her family, now left behind and undoubtedly frantic over her disappearance. She thought perhaps to send them a missive once she and Mathias got settled in Henry de Beaumont’s ranks, but she hadn’t the nerve to ask her husband yet. Everything was so new and uncertain still. She even missed Roxane and she especially missed Abechail. Her baby sister was very heavy on her mind for she knew Abbie would have loved Midgy. She hoped she was able to introduce them one day.
Eight days after their arrival in Edinburgh, the day dawned misty and windy, and Mathias and Sebastian enjoyed a meal of bread with melted cheese and warmed cider in front of the fire before setting out for the Bucket and Barrel.
Midgy, having slept under Mathias and Cathlina’s bed, came slithering out of the shadows and sat on his hind legs, grunting for food. He ate fish, which wasn’t too difficult to come by in Edinburgh, and Mathias found a man who would deliver a bucket of fish to them daily but he usually came later in the morning. The innkeeper wasn’t suspicious, fortunately, because Mathias told him that his wife had a fish fetish and that was all she would eat. For someone who hated the smell and taste of fish, Cathlina put up with it for Midgy’s sake.
This morning, Midgy was impatient but didn’t want the bread and cheese the men were eating. Mathias finally gave him a smooth, round rock to occupy him, one of his favorite toys they had collected on the journey north, and Midgy ran back into the bedchamber with it. Mathias and Sebastian heard Cathlina shriek as the otter jumped on the bed and began burrowing.
“Midgy, no!” Cathlina said, her voice hoarse and sleepy. “Your nose is cold! Stop nibbling on my toes!”
Mathias and Sebastian grinned, listening to Cathlina as she scolded the otter and then evidently settled down with it. The bedchamber grew rather quiet. But then they began to hear signs of life coming forth as Cathlina got out of bed and went about dressing for the day. Midgy came rushing back out into the sitting chamber to jump in his half-filled copper tub and play with his rock.
Mathias finished the last of his cider and set his cup down. “I will bid my wife farewell before I go,” he said, grunting wearily. “Pembury had better make a show of it soon or we shall have to move on without him.”
Sebastian stood up and stretched his muscular body. “How long will you give him?”
Mathias paused by the bedchamber door. “Another week and then we leave,” he said. “I do not know what has become of the man but we cannot wait here forever. However, the armor we commissioned will not be ready for another week. We have to wait at least that long.”
Sebastian shrugged in agreement and went to finish his own cider as Mathias entered the bedchamber. There was a small fire burning in the hearth, peat that smoked a great deal. Since it was rather dark in the room, Cathlina had lit a couple of tapers as she moved about getting dressed for the day. Mathias found her bent over the basin, washing her face and neck with lavender soap.
“Sebastian and I will be leaving shortly,” he said, putting a gentle hand on her back. “I will see you this eve.”
Cathlina rinsed off her face and looked at him. “How much longer do you intend to wait for this Pembury?”
Mathias lifted his eyebrows. “Sebastian and I were just discussing that,” he said. “The new armor we commissioned will not be finished for another week, so I will give him at least that long. Then, we must move on.”
“Where?”
“To Henry de Beaumont’s lair,” he told her. “Remember I explained to you why we are here?”
She wiped off her neck. “Aye,” she replied. “You are going to pledge fealty to Henry de Beaumont and fight in his wars for the Scots crown.”
“Correct,” he said. “De Lara has sent Pembury to accompany me north but if the man does not show, then I will have no choice but to push north and find Henry without him.”
She looked at him seriously. “Do you think something has happened to him?”
Mathias shook his head firmly. “Pembury? Bloody unlikely. The man is invincible. I am sure he is on his way but if he does not come soon, he will have to catch up to us. I cannot wait much longer.”
Cathlina opened her mouth to say something but Sebastian was suddenly at the door, knocking swiftly. “Mat?” he hissed. “Someone is at the door.”
Mathias was on the move, unsheathing the big, sharp but unadorned broadsword that had accompanied him north. Telling Cathlina to bolt the bedchamber door, he shut it softly and moved for the door that opened up into the corridor outside. Sebastian had collected his broadsword and together, the two of them went to answer their caller.
“Who comes?” Mathias demanded.
“Open the door or I will break it down.”
Sebastian immediately tensed for a fight while Mathias cocked his head curiously. The voice was deep and booming, but there was something about it that he thought he recognized. The words didn’t frighten him at all because somehow, someway, he could sense mirth. Aye, he recognized the voice now. Yanking the door open, he lashed out a massive balled fist and made contact with some portion of a body. He wasn’t sure which part he hit. He struck out as hard as he could.
The man at the door fell back as Mathias made contact with his throat. Slamming back into the wall of the corridor, he didn’t try to fight back. He was too busy gasping for air because Mathias had hit him squarely on the Adam’s apple. As the man slumped against the wall, Mathias and Sebastian stood over him.
“How many times have I told you not to stand so close to a door when issuing threats?” Mathias scolded. “Next time, it could be more than a fist that comes out at you. It could be a broadsword.”
The man had his left hand wrapped around his neck, gazing up at Mathias and Sebastian with a mixture of irritation and humor. Clad in heavy and expensive battle armor, he was well prepared for any manner of armed offensive but a fist to the neck, where he only had a mail hauberk, had him reeling.
“You bastard,” the man rasped. “I shall get you for this, I swear it.”
Mathias just shook his head. It was readily evident that he knew the man, as did Sebastian. After several long seconds of pregnant and tense silence, the man against the wall suddenly burst out in chuckles, which caused Mathias and Sebastian to follow suit. Soon, the three of them were laughing uproariously.
“Pembury,” Mathias reached out a hand to pull the man off the wall. “Where in the hell have you been? I have been looking for you for a week.”
Stephen of Pembury took Mathias’ hand and pulled himself up. He was an enormously muscled man standing eight inches over six feet and was easily taller than even the tallest man. In fact, Pembury was a giant wherever he went. With his dark hair, chiseled features and cornflower blue eyes, he cut a striking figure of male virility and power, and had more than his share of female admirers. He was enormously strong, intelligent and obedient to a fault. He also happened to be Mathias’ closest friend and the two of them came together in a hug that reaffirmed the bonds of that friendship. Then Mathias pulled him inside the sitting room and shut the door.
“I have been at the Bucket and Barrel for two days,” Stephen said, still rubbing his throat. “The innkeeper told me that two men had been coming daily looking for me but I could not be sure it was you. I had to be careful, you know. Yesterday, I hid while I paid a man to follow you back here. When he described the men he had followed, I was certain it was you. And here I am.”
Mathias shook his head as Sebastian grinned. “Here you are,” Sebastian said, very happy to see him. “Where have you been keeping yourself for the past year? We heard you were with Edward in Scotland.”
Stephen nodded as he pulled off his helm and moved to make himself more comfortable. “Mostly in Newcastle and Berwick,” he said. “The Scots have been a handful, fighting each other for the throne and then battling the English for independence. I have hardly seen de Lara or St. Héver. How are they?”
“Well,” Mathias said. “We just left them, in fact.”
“That is good,” Stephen said as he set his helm on the nearest table. His cornflower blue gaze sought out Mathias. “And you? How have you been this year past?”
The last time Mathias and Stephen had seen each other was shortly after Mathias had been stripped of his titles. It had been a painful parting and, frankly, Mathias didn’t remember too much of it. All he had remembered clearly was the anguish.
“I have been well,” he said quietly. “My brother and father and I were living in Brampton, operating a rather successful smithy business. It has been a quiet year and one of reflection.”
Stephen nodded in understanding. “You were entitled to some much needed rest.”
“I received it.”
“And now you are ready to return to us?”
Mathias shrugged. “It is time to move on with my life and resume my chosen profession,” he said. “Edward will simply have to understand that. I cannot remain a smithy for the rest of my life.”
Pembury shook his head firmly. “You are too great for that,” he said, eyeing Mathias. “I have been waiting for this day, in fact. I knew it would come sooner rather than later. I have some things for you.”
Mathias looked at him. “What do you have?”
Stephen smiled faintly. “Your sword,” he said softly. “I have your sword, your equipment, and your charger. I brought them with me.”
Mathias’ features went slack with shock. “You did?” he asked, awed. “I… I had turned them over to the court’s magistrate. I had no idea where they had gone.”
“I took them,” Stephen said, his manner quiet. “I could not stand the thought of them falling into hands that were unworthy to hold them, so Tate acquired them from the magistrate and turned them over to me for safekeeping. He did not tell you that?”
Mathias shook his head, still stunned. “He did not.”
“Then mayhap he wanted to surprise you.”
Mathias chuckled as he realized with great joy that the possessions he valued above all else would be returned to him.
“I am surprised,” he agreed, grinning. He sobered. “You realize that all of you – Tate, Ken, and you – are going against the king’s directive. He stripped me of my titles and told me if I held a sword again that it would mean my life. Now all of you are helping me defy him.”
Stephen’s good humor faded. “What happened to you could have happened to any of us,” he said softly. “You had your reasons for siding with Mortimer, Mat. We all knew that. What happened at the end… Edward stripped you in order to save your life. We had to do it even though it was a travesty. But now this… they can take away your titles but it does not diminish who you are as a man and a warrior. We knew your time would come again and we are here to ensure that it happens.”
Surely no better friends in the world had ever existed. The bonds they all shared ran deeper than blood or kings. It ran deep into the heart. Mathias was touched and humbled by the show of support.
“Thank you, my friend,” he said quietly. “I cannot thank you enough for your thoughtfulness.”
Pembury smiled in return, his big teeth straight and white. “You would have done the same for me,” he said. “Now, what is this I hear? We are to swear fealty to Henry de Beaumont and fight for his foolish cause?”
Mathias nodded. “We are,” he said as he eyed the man, “but I am not entirely sure how you are going to swear fealty to him if you are already quite sworn to Edward?”
Stephen shrugged. “Tate has sent Edward a missive asking for my leave,” he said. “You know that Edward cannot deny Tate anything. He worships the man.”
“Tate is his uncle; indeed he does.”
“Therefore,” Pembury continued as he grabbed around for a cup to fill with the remainder of the warmed cider, “you and I are bound for our Scots adventure. Oh, and Sebastian, too.”
Sebastian, standing near the hearth, sneered at him. “You should be so fortunate to have me on your side, Pembury.”
Stephen lifted a cup in agreement. “I certainly would not wish to fight against Sebastian the Red. Those Scots had better run if they know what is good for them.”
He drank deeply of his cup as Midgy decided to venture forth from his copper tub and make an appearance. As Stephen began to pick at the bread still left on the table, the otter raised up on his hind legs next to him and began grunting, begging for food. Stephen nearly bolted out of his chair at the sight and only by sheer courage managed to keep calm. His eyes were wide on the furry creature.
“God’s Bones,” he exclaimed. “What in the hell is that?”
Mathias caught sight of Midgy and grinned. “My wife’s pet.”
Now Stephen was truly astonished. “Your wife?”
Mathias nodded as he headed to the bedchamber door and rapped softly. “Cathlina?” he called. “Open the door, love.”
They could hear the iron bolt being thrown and the door quietly opened. A woman of astonishing beauty stood in the doorway, her sweet face both curious and apprehensive as she looked at the men in the chamber. Mathias put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her out into the light.
“This is the man we have been waiting for,” he told her. “This is Sir Stephen of Pembury.”
Cathlina’s face relaxed into a smile as she gazed upon the massive man with the bright blue eyes. “My lord,” she said, dipping in a polite curtsy. “It is good to finally meet you.”
Stephen was still wrestling with his astonishment that Mathias had not only taken a wife, but that he had brought her along. He bowed his head in her direction.
“Lady de Reyne,” he said. “It is indeed a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I had no idea Mathias had married.”
She grinned as she looked at her husband. “Ask him to tell you how it came about,” she said. “It is a rather sordid tale.”
Stephen smiled just as she did. He looked at Mathias. “I can already tell she is far too good for you.”
Mathias bowed his head in agreement. “You would be correct,” he said. “Now that you have met her, you should know that she will be traveling with us. I could not leave her behind for reasons I will explain to you at another time.”
Stephen accepted his statement without another word. He went to reclaim his cup but saw that the otter had it, now rolling it around on the floor. As he hunted around for another cup, Justus emerged from the second bedchamber and greeted him like a long-lost son. Pembury was thrilled to see the old man, tougher than most men half his age. He had fought with three kings, starting with Edward I. Stephen greatly admired Justus de Reyne.
As he and Justus sat down to conversation, the otter was running amuck because it was hungry and Lady de Reyne was trying to pacify the animal. Sebastian wasn’t paying much attention to her but Mathias was, and Stephen could see in those brief few moments how enamored the man was with his wife. Not that he blamed him, for she was a lovely little thing, but he had to admit he was concerned.
They would be traveling into enemy territory for the purpose of swearing fealty to a man who was fighting for the Scottish throne. This was a serious endeavor, as much as any of the wars between Edward and Mortimer, but now Mathias was bringing his wife along with him who would only be a distraction. Stephen wondered just how effective Mathias would be with his attention divided.
He prayed the distraction would not be deadly.