Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

A ndia was in a panic.

An hour since the king's arrival and she still hadn't seen Aeron, who had been outside the gates when Henry approached. Stefan had brought him inside the manse walls, but after that, no one seemed to know where he'd gone. At the moment, Torran and Stefan and a host of knights and advisors were down in the solar with Henry, but there was no sign of Aeron.

Andia was ready to burst.

Torran had told her to go to her chamber and lock the door, not to come out no matter what, so here she was, trying to look out every window in her chamber in the hope that she could see her brother down below in the ward.

But no Aeron.

And Henry was on their doorstep.

It was too bad, too. Andia would have loved nothing more than to have lingered on her encounter with Torran, to spend these moments reflecting on something that may never come again, but she couldn't. She was too terrified for her little brother to think of anything else, and that included herself, but after an hour of terror, her mind began to wander.

She couldn't help it.

It wandered to her time at Okehampton Castle when she'd let the captain of the army, an older knight who had been married before, kiss her chastely on the hand. He'd done that a couple of times until he graduated to kissing her on her cheek. Only once on the lips, and that had been a secretive and stolen kiss. The truth was that Andia wasn't like other young maidens. She wasn't shy and retiring, with a healthy fear of the male sex, and she had quickly discovered that she liked being kissed. That probably made her wicked, given that she had a propensity toward sins of the flesh, but she didn't much care. She liked being kissed and she liked what Torran had done to her earlier in the solar.

She liked it very much.

Settling down at the window seat and keeping an eye out for her brother in the bailey below, she couldn't help but think of Torran's touch. His kisses had been sweet but passionate, and his touch had left her boneless and weak with submission. She'd never thought much about her breasts one way or the other, but clearly, he had. She could still feel his mouth on her nipples, nursing on her like a starving child. She loved it when his big hands fondled her, squeezing and tugging at her.

And that was when the explosion had happened.

Whatever had occurred between her legs was something she'd never known before, but she certainly hoped she knew it again in the future. As many times as opportunity would allow. As she sat there and gazed out of the window, her hand moved to her breast and she slid it inside the shift, timidly touching a naked nipple. Instantly, her body seemed to jolt at the mere touch, and it was both exciting and naughty. She giggled, feeling positively wicked that she'd touched herself, but Torran had managed to make her feel as no one else ever had, and she was eager to relive his touch. That brief encounter with him had introduced her to another level of pleasure, and she was intrigued.

But darker thoughts plagued her as well.

The truth was that she didn't know him well. A sullen, quiet, dutiful knight who had come alive once he'd touched her. She could only hope he wasn't taking advantage of their situation, as her jailor and as a man who held power over her. Somehow, she didn't think so, but she had surrendered to him quite easily. Frankly, she didn't much care. He had made her happy, even for just a brief few moments, and she wasn't sorry in the least, but she would be sorry if that was the end of it now that Henry was here.

Her future was, once again, uncertain.

Torran had told her that she wasn't going to London, because a healthy hostage was better than a dead one, or words to that effect. But that had been before Henry arrived. She knew that Torran was dedicated to Henry, and if the king demanded that she and Aeron be sent to London, she was fairly certain Torran would have to obey. Not that she blamed him, because she understood that he served the king. He was obligated to obey the man's commands.

Therefore, she braced herself for the inevitable.

And she knew that, at some point, it would come.

*

"I received a missive from Daniel de Lohr that told me everything you just told me, but I wanted to hear about the hostages from you. Is the lady still ill?"

Henry III of England had asked the question. The man had been king since nine years of age, so he'd ruled England almost all of his life. He was surprisingly unaffected as kings went, a man of compassion and kindness when the mood struck him, but he also had fierce bursts of temper. He was approaching an age that was termed "elderly" and didn't travel much these days, but a journey from Westminster to Lockwood wasn't really travel. It had taken all of two hours in good weather.

But he'd come for a reason.

That reason had just been brought up.

"The lady's fever has abated, your grace, but she is still weak," Torran said. "I am certain that Jareth told you this, but I truly thought that it was best, given her condition at the time, to stop at Lockwood and seek help for her condition."

"And you found a physic?"

"I did, your grace," Torran said, nodding. "The physic tended her quite ably and has only just allowed her to get out of bed and walk a little, just to help her regain her strength."

Henry listened intently. "Good," he said. "Do you think she will be able to make the journey to Westminster soon?"

Torran had expected that question. He knew that was why Henry had come. Jareth, Kent, Britt, Aidric, and Dirk had accompanied Henry from Westminster after informing him of the battle of Kennington, and they'd told the tale of a lovely young woman and her spoiled brother who were currently guests at Lockwood because of the lady's illness. That was all that Henry knew, and, being impatient, he'd had to come see for himself. But given what had happened with Andia in the solar not two hours earlier, Torran found himself in a bind. He didn't want her to go to Westminster but couldn't make it seem as if was for personal reasons.

This was a game he had to play very carefully.

There was too much at stake not to.

"I would say in a couple of days she should be well enough, your grace," he said after a moment. "My entire reason for stopping here so she could convalesce is because I am assuming you want a healthy hostage and not one on her deathbed. To bring her to Westminster in her condition would have been reckless."

Henry nodded. "I understand that and I appreciate your caution," he said. "In fact, I am grateful for it. It sounds as if you and the Six have been careful with the lady and her brother the entire time."

Torran nodded. "There was no reason to be anything less, your grace," he said. "I was told that she is your distant cousin and I will always, of course, be most respectful of anyone in your family."

Henry waved him off. "Pah," he said. "She is such a distant cousin that I forgot to tell you myself, but I am glad you were told. Who told you?"

"Riggs Penden, your grace."

Henry smiled. "Rochester?" he said. "I knew the man's father and grandfather. Good men, both of them. Did you stop at Rochester on your travels from Kennington?"

"For one night, your grace."

Henry continued to smile. "I hope Riggs is well, because I've not seen him in some time," he said. "But that is a conversation for another time. Let us focus on facts, and the fact remains that Anselm St. Albans betrayed me and now his children are my prisoners. There must be consequences for such a betrayal."

Torran struggled to remain neutral in the face of that declaration. "Seeing Kennington razed and Anselm St. Albans killed were indeed serious consequences, your grace," he said. "I will say that I have come to know the young boy a little, and the sister, and they do not have political inclinations. They do not seem particularly worldly, to be honest, so keep that in mind. I doubt either of them would be any threat. The boy is young and malleable, and the daughter is old enough to marry to a husband loyal to you."

"How old is she?"

"I would say at least eighteen or twenty years of age."

"Is she beautiful?"

"Quite."

That seemed to whet Henry's interest. "Is that so?" he said thoughtfully. "Mayhap a marriage would indeed be the solution. She can marry a man of my choosing, a loyal man, and I will breed the rebellion out of her bloodlines. Punishment enough for Anselm, wouldn't you say?"

Wars were won in such a way. To the victor went the spoils. Torran knew that all too well. He'd seen Henry operate in that manner for years. Although he was the one who had suggested a marriage for Andia, the truth was that he didn't like the idea of her marrying someone. Someone who could gaze at her beauty every day and touch that silken skin the way Torran had touched it. Someone who could treat her in a manner that his whims dictated, which could be good or it could be bad.

Nay… Torran didn't like that idea at all.

"Indeed, your grace," he said after a moment. "Punishment can come in many forms, including a marriage."

Henry was interrupted from replying as one of his courtiers handed him a cup of wine, which he took gratefully. After a long swallow, he smacked his lips and set the cup down.

"I should like to meet her," he said. "Do you think she is feeling well enough?"

Torran nodded. "I think so, your grace," he said. "Shall I fetch her?"

"Please."

Torran headed off without hesitation, which was his intention. He didn't want anyone, especially Henry and most especially his fellow Six, to see anything strange in his behavior when it came to Andia St. Albans. The truth was that he was trying to think of a way to keep her at Lockwood indefinitely, and he thought he had a good plan, but it would have to involve a bit of a deception. And only if she was willing, which he suspected she was. That was why he'd volunteered to fetch her.

He had to speak to her first.

"Bah!"

Torran was on the stairs, nearly to the top, when someone jumped out at him from the shadows. It was a small body, and it took him no time at all to realize that it was Aeron. He grabbed the boy before the child could knock him off balance and ended up throwing the lad over his shoulder as he took the last few stairs. Once he came to the landing, he put the child on his feet.

"What was that about?" he demanded.

He was holding Aeron by the arm, and the boy was quite unhappy. "I thought you were Henry," he said. "I was hiding. I was going to knock him down the stairs!"

Rolling his eyes in disbelief, Torran dragged the boy over to Andia's chamber door. He knocked, frowning at Aeron as the child tried to break his hold, but when the door opened, he practically tossed the boy inside.

"Why did you let him out of the chamber?" he asked Andia.

She looked between Torran and Aeron in confusion. "He was never in the chamber with me," she said. "You told me not to leave the chamber, so I have been in here, looking from the windows and searching for him. Why? What has he done?"

"He was hiding on the stairs, trying to kill the king," he said. Then he pointed a finger at the boy. "I was unable to prevent you from killing the knight at Kennington, but I will prevent you from killing Henry if I have to toss you in the vault and lose the key."

Andia had been relieved to see her brother, but only until Torran told her what Aeron had been up to. At that point, she rushed at Aeron, grabbed him by the arm, and began swatting his bottom angrily.

"What is the matter with you?" she said as Aeron yelped. "You are going to get us both killed, you foolish whelp!"

Torran put himself between the pair, pulling them apart as Aeron tried to punch and kick his sister now that he was free of her grasp. But Torran stopped the thrashing hands and feet in Andia's direction, pointing to the bench seat under the window, and Aeron took the hint. He marched over to the seat and climbed on it, hanging out of the window and looking at the bailey below. Torran and Andia watched him for a moment, and when they were convinced he wasn't going to jump out, they turned to one another.

"Henry is in the solar," Torran said, lowering his voice. "I've been sent to fetch you."

Andia visibly paled. "Why does he want to see me?"

"Simply to talk to you."

"Did you tell him I have been ill?"

"I did."

"I do not feel very well at the moment, Torran. I cannot meet him."

He could see that she was starting to panic, so he reached out and took her hands, pulling her over to the bed. Forcing her to sit, he continued to hold one of her hands as he took a knee in front of her.

"Listen to me," he said quietly. "You are going to meet him, but we must have a plan."

She was eyeing him warily. "What do you mean? What plan?"

Torran cocked his head. "I think you should remain here, at Lockwood," he said. "I think it would be better for you and certainly better for that bully of a brother you have. It would be peaceful and safer than in London. Do you want to remain here?"

Her expression was becoming one of curiosity. "Rather than go to Westminster?" she said. "Of course I would rather stay here, but I cannot."

"Why not?"

She thought that was an odd question. "Because this is your family's home," she said as if the answer were obvious. "You took me from Kennington with the intention of taking me to the king, so why should I remain here? I am well enough to travel now. Or, at least, I will be."

"Then you do want to go to Westminster."

She shook her head. "Nay," she said. "I would rather go home. Sir Torran, why are you asking me these questions?"

He snorted softly, grinning. "When we are alone like this, please call me Torran," he said. "You need not be formal."

Andia was flattered by the request, thrilled even, but she still wasn't sure what he was driving at. "As you wish," she said. "But why are you asking me these questions?"

His smile faded. Then he shook his head and averted his gaze. "Because I am stupid," he said. "Stupid and reckless. I am taking a terrible chance."

"A terrible chance for what?"

He sighed heavily. "Because I do not think you should go to London," he said. "I think you should stay here."

Andia watched him, his body language, the tone of his voice, because she was trying to figure out what he wanted. "But… but Henry wants me as a hostage," she said. "You told me that yourself."

He sighed again, this time sharply. "I know what I told you," he said. "Andia, you must swear something to me."

"If you wish it, I will."

"Swear to me that what I say to you will never be repeated."

She nodded. "I would not repeat anything you tell me," she said. "But I do not understand…"

He put up a hand to silence her. "I am trying to tell you, but I am not doing a very good job," he said. "I want you to stay here, at Lockwood. I think it would be safer for you, and I… I would feel better if you did. I will not say more than that right now, but if you wish to remain here, then please tell me so. If not… if not, then I will take you to London on the morrow without further delay."

Andia studied him for a moment. "I would rather stay here, of course."

He seemed relieved. "Then you are going to have to tell Henry that you are still recovering from your illness," he said. "If Henry sees that your health has been restored, then there is nothing I can do. I must take you to Westminster as ordered. But if he thinks you are still ill… Do you understand?"

Andia nodded. "Aye," she said. "A deception?"

"A reprieve."

A smile spread across her lips. "I will agree under one condition."

"What?"

"That you tell me why you would feel better if I stayed."

He couldn't look at her. "I told you why," he said. "I feel it would be safer."

"Is that the only reason?"

"What other reason should there be?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, Torran," she scolded softly. "Are you going to make me pry it out of you? You kissed me quite passionately a short while ago and… and other things… but if you think to keep me here to toy with, I'll not stay. I'm not to be trifled with."

He bit off a smile, lifting his gaze to hers. "Nay," he said after a moment. "I do not believe you are. And you would be the last person I would toy with."

"Then tell me why you want me to stay."

"Because you need protecting, and I wish to protect you."

That wasn't the answer she had expected. "Protect me against Henry?" she said, suddenly serious. "Torran, you led the army that razed my family's home. You were commanded to bring my father to London to face the king, but in his absence, you took me and my brother. And now you want to protect me?"

He nodded weakly. "Aye, I do," he said. "Look me in the eye and tell me you do not hold to your father's politics and that you had nothing to do with de Montfort."

She waved him off irritably. "I care not for false kings, arrogant earls, or men who think they know better than anyone," she said. "All I know is that I want to live in a peaceful country. I want to play my music and sing for those who appreciate it. War… I do not understand it. I do not understand why men fight, and to be perfectly honest, the battle at Kennington frightened me to death. It was the worst thing I have ever experienced because I felt as if we were battling for our lives, every second. I've never had to do that before. And when your men finally broke into the inner ward…"

She stook her head, unable to continue, and averted her gaze. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You thought you were going to die?"

She nodded, looking at him. "I heard what you said to Aeron," she said. "About the knight we killed with the iron pot. You knew it was us?"

Torran nodded faintly. "I knew," he said. "Aeron told me the night that the battle ended, when I spanked him. That was partially why I did it."

"His confession?"

"His gleeful confession."

She cocked her head curiously. "Did you know the knight?"

"He was a very good friend."

Andia sighed with deep regret. "Forgive me for taking part in his death," she murmured. "I am sorry to have taken your friend away, but as I said, I thought we were going to be killed. We thought we were protecting ourselves."

Torran didn't want to get back onto the subject of Yancey. It was something he'd been trying to forget. He remembered well his sense of vengeance to punish those responsible, but now that time had passed and he'd come to understand the circumstances, that vengeance inside of him was at rest. Looking at Andia, he knew she had taken no pleasure in it.

Perhaps that was what cooled his vengeance the most.

He couldn't fathom punishing her now.

"I know you were," he said after a moment, stroking his thumb across the hand he was still holding. "But it is over and done with, so let us not speak of it again. At the moment, there is Henry to deal with, so simply tell him that you are feeling ill. I can delay your journey to Westminster if you are convincing enough."

His gentle caresses weren't lost on Andia. "But what good will that do?" she said. "I must go at some point."

"Or Henry will realize he is satisfied with the destruction of Kennington and forget about you," Torran said. "He has been known to do that. Out of sight, out of mind, as it were."

Andia understood that, sort of, but her gaze moved to Aeron, who was still hanging his head from the window, watching the activity in the bailey. "But what about my brother?" she asked. "He is the Earl of Ashford. Henry isn't simply going to forget about him."

Torran shook his head. "Probably not," he said. "But for now, he is safe. I will ask that he remain here with you, but I also think he needs to be sent away to foster. He's old enough, Andia. He must learn to be a man."

Andia was aware of that fact. "My father had already made arrangements to send him to Okehampton," she said. "They are expecting him at some point."

But Torran shook his head again. "Henry will want him sent to a very loyal ally," he said. "De Courtenay has been known to weaken his support from time to time. My guess is that he will send Aeron to Canterbury or Norwich Castle with de Winter."

Andia watched Aeron ball his fist and shake it at someone down in the bailey. "I suppose it would be good for him," she said. "Father spoiled him so, as you can tell. He needs discipline badly."

"You don't say?" Torran quipped, watching her grin. Then he stood up and pulled Andia off the bed. "Do we have a plan, then? You know what to do?"

Andia nodded confidently. "I know what to do."

"Good," Torran said, bringing her hand up for a tender kiss. "Then do it. And let us hope that Henry complies."

The kiss sent bolts through her again, the same bolts his touch had caused earlier in the solar. It was difficult not to focus on them. But she knew she had work ahead of her, and she struggled to focus on that which she needed to accomplish. Releasing his hand, she went over to the satchel Lady Penden had given her to find the hairbrush. As she tidied herself up in the polished mirror that belonged to Torran's mother, Torran went over to the window and pulled Aeron inside. Andia could see him speaking to Aeron in the reflection of the mirror but couldn't hear what was being said. All she knew was that when Torran was finished speaking, Aeron plopped down on the window seat and simply sat there glumly.

He didn't move.

Torran headed back in her direction.

"Ready?" he asked.

Andia put the brush down and smoothed at her braid, straightening up her dress. "Aye," she said. "I am ready."

Torran took her by the arm and led her to the door. As they stepped through and he shut it behind them, she looked at him.

"What did you say to Aeron?" she said. "I was positive we were going to have a battle on our hands when we left to see Henry and he was not invited."

Torran grunted. "Simple," he said. "I told him that if he caused a fuss, I would spank him like I did before."

Andia giggled. "You have the power to soothe wild beasts, my lord."

Torran fought off a grin as they headed down the stairs. "The last thing I want is for Henry to talk to him," he said. "Aeron would try to kick him and the boy would end up in the vault, chained to the wall. I think that is something we would all like to avoid."

Andia couldn't disagree. "But Henry will want to meet him at some point, won't he?"

Torran nodded. "At some point," he said. "But not now. We still have time to condition Aeron to behave when it comes to Henry. We'll simply tell the king that Aeron has contracted your fever and it would be best not to expose anyone to it."

They were moving down the stairs at that point, and Andia grasped Torran's arm to steady herself. "You would lie to Henry?"

Torran shrugged. "We do not know for sure he has not contracted what you had," he said. "Mayhap it simply has not shown itself yet. It is enough of a reason to keep Aeron away from Henry… for now."

They reached the bottom of the steps and Andia could see the solar ahead. She wasn't hard pressed to admit that she was feeling her nerves.

"For now," she repeated softly. "Shall we go in?"

She dipped her head in the direction of the solar and he grasped her by the elbow. "Indeed, my lady," he said quietly. "The king awaits."

Andia swore that she had never heard more terrible words.

*

Henry had kicked him out.

In fact, he'd kicked everyone out of the chamber when Andia arrived in her bright red surcoat. She'd looked like an angel, and when Henry saw how pretty she was, he ordered everyone to leave.

Now, people were lingering in the entry of Lockwood, including the Six. The courtiers, advisors, and servants mostly had taken to wandering around, looking in chambers, as Torran, Jareth, Dirk, Aidric, Kent, and Britt remained near the solar door should Henry have need of them.

Now it was a waiting game.

Torran thanked God that he'd had the chance to speak with Andia before she had an audience with Henry. He was confident she would play the part of a lady still recovering from her illness, but the truth was that he didn't know what she would do. He didn't really know her at all. He didn't know if everything he'd seen over the past week had been an act on her part, pretending to be a woman of honor when she was more like her father—dishonorable, disloyal. In a sense, this would be their first test of trust. If she passed it, then she would remain here. But for how long, and to what purpose, was still a mystery to him.

Maybe not so much a mystery as it was the fact that he didn't want to acknowledge his intentions.

Deep down, Torran knew he was no good for her.

"I heard the lady became quite ill after we left," Jareth said, breaking into his thoughts. "Stefan said she was down for a few days."

Torran rubbed his eyes wearily. "It was the right decision to keep her here at Lockwood," he said. "There is no knowing if she would have even survived the next two hours to London. She was quite ill."

Jareth leaned against the wall, next to Torran, as the others began to gather around them. Aidric, Dirk, Britt, and Kent, all of them collecting in a group for the conversation.

"I heard she was ill," Kent said. "She looks much better than she did the last time I saw her."

Torran nodded. "She is healing," he said. "But she's not completely well. She's still quite weak."

"And the brother?" Aidric asked. "Did he come down with it, too?"

Torran shook his head. "Nay, though I wish he had," he said. "That boy is a tyrant to say the least. A strong fever would do him good. It might tame that wild streak."

Aidric gave him a half-grin. "The spanking you gave him did not ease him?"

Torran shrugged. "It did," he said. "But Ashford spoiled that lad so badly that he thinks the entire world should submit to him. Worse still, it seems that he subscribes to the idea that his father could do no wrong, meaning he views Henry as the enemy. I am going to suggest to Henry that he send the boy away to foster with either de Lohr or de Winter, someone who is loyal to the Crown. Whoever he fosters with is going to have a task ahead of him to change the child's way of thinking."

"Canterbury is still at Kennington," Jareth said. "At least, he was. He sent Henry a detailed missive with one of his knights, who gave Henry a full report of the battle, and Henry is giving Kennington to de Lohr. It will be his property."

Torran looked at Jareth in surprise. "What about the Ashford earldom?"

"He's stripping it from the family," Jareth said quietly. "The boy is no longer the Earl of Ashford and he has no property to speak of. That is Henry's decision."

Torran didn't appear overly concerned. "He is not the first earl to lose his lands, especially in this de Montfort mess," he said. "But Henry was allowing some warlords to keep their lands by paying enormous fines. Not Ashford?"

"Do they have anything to pay with?"

"I would not know."

Jareth shrugged. "In any case, Ashford's titles belong to Henry and the lands belong to de Lohr," he said. "I'm sure the boy will be trained as a knight, and if he is smart, he'll serve in Henry's ranks and show his loyalty. Henry might be persuaded to return his title and lands in that case."

Torran didn't have much to say to that. Given how spoiled and ill-mannered Aeron was, the loss of the title might teach him some humility.

"Well," he said, yawning to convey the fact that the subject bored him so no one would suspect the opposite. "I would say the situation is none of our affair. I am eager to return to my regular duties. What is the latest from London?"

Aidric spoke up. "Henry is convening a conclave of some of his most loyal followers," he said. "They should be gathering at Westminster in the next few days."

"Why?"

"It seems that Prince Edward is going on crusade," Aidric said with some irony. "He is expecting knights and armies and money from his father, who has none to give because of the wars with de Montfort."

Torran shook his head with disapproval. "Edward knows that," he muttered. "Henry's finances are not very strong. More than that, Henry is not very strong. Edward has been assuming much of his father's duties because of it. And now he wants to leave on crusade and return the burden of England's rule to his elderly father?"

"Henry isn't happy about it," Jareth said. "He is speaking of raising taxes, and you know that will go badly for him."

Torran understood the situation. "So he is convening his warlords and begging for money and men from them," he said with disgust. "He should not have to be doing that. It should be Edward's responsibility to raise the money."

"They will both be looking for revenue by any source," Jareth said. Ever the shrewd politician, he understood how these things worked. "In fact, it is possible that Henry sees Ashford's daughter as revenue. He could sell her to a rich lord. The highest bidder, mayhap. Enough to add to Edward's war chest."

Torran tried not to look too shocked by that suggestion. "I cannot imagine she'll bring a significant amount," he said. "She's a beauty, but she has no dowry. Her only source of income was killed several days ago."

"Then she'll be at the mercy of whomever Henry solicits for her hand," Jareth said. "Not an ideal future for a young woman, but in her situation, the best she can do. In any case, we have a conclave to prepare for. I hear the de Shera brothers have been invited."

Torran couldn't help his surprise then. "The Lords of Thunder?" he said. "God's Bones, is it possible?"

Jareth smirked. "Not only possible, but probable," he said. "Alas, the lads who sided with de Montfort, the lads with more noble and royal blood in them than almost anyone in England, have been invited, but I believe there is a self-serving motive for Henry."

Torran frowned. "Of course there is," he said wryly. "But what is it?"

Jareth tapped his head to indicate the smart move on Henry's part. "Gallus de Shera, Earl of Coventry, has married into the Welsh royal house," he said. "The man married the heiress to the Earldom of Anglesey and his young son is the hereditary king of Anglesey, through his mother's father. Henry needs allies like that."

"Then it is about money and control."

"When is it ever about anything else?"

That was the truth. Torran knew Gallus, Maximus, and Tiberius de Shera. Every fighting man in England did. They were honorable, honest, and powerful warlords in their own right, and they'd all married well over the years. Gallus and Tiberius in particular. But they'd sided with de Montfort in the conflict with Henry because they believed in some of the man's ideals of a government ruled by the people, for the people. However, with their connections, not the least of which was the House of de Lohr, Henry was willing to forgive them and bring them back into his fold. Torran had heard a couple of years ago that the price for that forgiveness was half of the de Shera wealth. Whatever the case, the coming conclave would be interesting with the de Shera brothers in attendance.

Torran was almost looking forward to it.

"Well," he finally said, "it seems there is a good deal to do in my future, and part of that means leaving Lockwood empty once again. Stefan can return to his father at Kennington. Where is Stefan, by the way? Has anyone seen him?"

Britt was the one to answer. "He's outside, Torran," he said with some hesitation. "He had a conversation with Henry when the king arrived and couldn't quite hear what was being asked of him, so Henry got angry and walked away."

Torran rolled his eyes, putting his head down and rubbing at his forehead as if to rub away the callousness of the king's behavior. "Why?" he demanded quietly. "Henry knows the man cannot hear well. Why become angry?"

"Because Stefan didn't hear him initially and Henry thought he was being ignored."

"Christ," Torran muttered. "That had better not get back to Daniel. He will not like that in the least."

"I was thinking," Aidric said. "Stefan's performance at Kennington was exceptional and he worked well with us in battle. I know that Stefan does not usually follow the pattern of those of us who serve Henry as his personal guard, but he is an astonishingly good knight. He is also a bit of a misfit, like the rest of us, so in that case, he is exactly what we are—he is different. He is a man with flaws. What if we were to invite him to be part of us?"

Everyone looked at him. "I would welcome him," Torran said. "But it is not up to us. Not only would Canterbury have to approve, but so would Henry."

"You would subject Stefan to Henry's behavior on a daily basis?" Jareth said, frowning. "That is a cruel thing to do, Aidric."

But Aidric shook his head. "Think on it," he said. "Stefan deserves a prestigious post but, because of his hearing, Daniel keeps him close. To invite Stefan to be part of the Six is a prestigious invitation, one that would flatter Daniel, and Henry would have a de Lohr as a personal guard. That would please him. Even if Stefan couldn't hear Henry's commands, we would be around him and be able to communicate with him. I think it's something to consider."

Torran pondered that for a moment. "As I said, I would welcome him," he said. "I think he would make an excellent addition to our group. But at this moment, I feel as if I should make sure he is not too terribly upset by a callous old man."

"I'll go with you," Aidric said.

Torran pushed himself off the wall, glancing at Jareth as he did so. "Send for me if Henry is finished with the lady before I return," he said. "And under no circumstances bring the boy to him before I've had a chance to speak with the lad. The child has a tongue that will get him into trouble if he is not careful."

Jareth smirked, conveying his thoughts on the mouthy young boy who was in more trouble than he knew. As Torran started to move toward the entry with Aidric in tow, the door to the solar flew open and Henry appeared.

"Quickly," he said, waving his hands at the solar frantically. "Help the lady. She has fainted."

Torran rushed into the solar to find Andia lying on the floor, out cold. He dropped to his knees beside her, running his hands gently on the back of her head to see if she'd hurt herself when she fell.

"What happened, your grace?" he asked.

Henry was still at the door, unwilling to enter in case the lady's terrible fever had not entirely abated. He didn't want to catch it.

"I do not know," he said. "We were speaking of her accompanying me to London and, suddenly, she fainted. Do something!"

Torran leaned over Andia, lifting up an eyelid only to see her squint at him. He released the lid quickly and she opened the eye again, looking at him, before closing it.

That told him all he needed to know.

Carefully, he picked the faking fainter off the floor and turned to the king. "I told you she was weak, your grace," he said. "Mayhap the discussion was too much for her."

Henry was looking at her fearfully as Torran carried her out of the chamber. "Then put her to bed and do not let her get out until she is well," he called after the man. "I do not want her, or her brother, in London until she is completely well because if this fever is contagious, he might have it as well. I do not need either of them starting an epidemic in London. Do you hear me?"

Torran was nearly to the stairs. "Aye, your grace."

"We are leaving for London within the hour, Torran, and you are going with me."

"With pleasure, your grace."

Torran carried Andia up the stairs, trying not to hit her head on the walls as he went. In fact, he wasn't even upset that he'd be leaving Lockwood before the day was out. He had what he wanted. Andia and her brother were remaining.

He considered Henry's visit a victory.

But what he didn't realize was that the truly difficult days were yet to come.