Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

Etchingham Castle, Sussex

Seat of Lord Dudwell

"K ennington fell. If ever Henry has provoked his enemies, this is the time."

The man speaking the words meant them intently. He was older, with hair that had mostly gone gray and skin that was nearly the same color as his hair. He had dark eyes with bags underneath them, as if he hadn't slept in days.

Which he hadn't.

Donnel de Meudon was a man in turmoil.

At the moment, he was in the great hall of Etchingham Castle, a long and narrow building with a high ceiling and a hearth that was taller than he was. Even now, servants were cleaning the ashes out after the night's feast as Donnel and a guest sat in the corner of the hall. The topic was the fall of Kennington Castle.

The man seated opposite him appeared uneasy.

"And you know this for certain?" he asked in a heavy French accent. "Who has told you?"

"Ashford men!" de Meudon exclaimed. "Soldiers escaping the carnage have come here because they know my sister was married to Ashford. It is true that Anselm and I have not spoken in years, but we are still family. The decision to cease communication was not mine, but his."

"Why?"

"Because he cheated me in a game of chance and would not admit it."

"I see," the Frenchman said. "Then he did not send to you for help when the castle was besieged?"

De Meudon shook his head firmly. "Nay," he said. "God curse the man for not sending for my help, because his stubbornness has led to his doom. I am told that Anselm is dead and Henry's men have taken my niece and nephew with them. Undoubtedly to London to face Henry's wrath."

The Frenchman grunted at the horror that thought provoked. "He would punish the children of his enemy?"

De Meudon threw up his hands in exasperation. "How am I to know?" he said. "Anselm sided with de Montfort. I told him not to do it, but he did. He was vocal about it. Do you know how I have kept my castle, Gaubert? By keeping my mouth shut. De Montfort had my money to raise armies, but I did not give him my men or anything more. That kept Henry away from me. I was smart. Anselm was not!"

Gaubert Chambery knew the situation. He was a relative of Henry's wife, Eleanor of Provence, and had been one of the Savoyard lords who received lands from Henry years ago, when he'd married Eleanor. Gaubert had been part of Eleanor's entourage. But like his neighbor, Donnel, Gaubert had kept a low profile as much as he was able. He hadn't angered any English warlords as far as he knew, so there were no complaints about a Savoyard with English lands. However, he had a connection to Simon de Montfort in that he and Simon had engaged in the Cathar Crusade together many years ago, when Gaubert had been a young squire and Simon a knight. Fate saw them become friends, but Gaubert had kept that relationship quiet because he wanted to keep his English lands.

That didn't stop him from funneling money to de Montfort, just like Donnel.

Anything to undermine Henry, a man he very much disliked.

But that was another story. The situation, at this moment, was that Henry had taken out his vengeance on a vocal supporter of Simon de Montfort and evidently reduced the man's property to rubble. More than that, the children of Anselm St. Albans were going to pay for the sins of their father. At least, that was what it sounded like.

And such a move would be very bad for Henry, indeed.

"Henry will make more enemies if he punishes Ashford's children," Gaubert said after a moment, watching Donnel fidget with anger. "I hope he simply intends to hold them hostage and nothing more."

Donnel shook his head. "I do not know what he intends," he said. "All I know is that my sister's children are being taken to London, to be passed judgment upon."

"Possibly not."

"Why else would Henry want them?"

Gaubert sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his thick gray hair. "I do not know what can be done about it," he said. "Henry has been punishing those who supported de Montfort ever since Evesham. Simon's death meant his supporters became Henry's targets, only it took him three years to go after Ashford."

Donnel grunted. "It wasn't only Henry's army," he said. "Ashford soldiers said that Canterbury and Radnor were there, also. That is Daniel de Lohr and Davyss de Winter. Between those two armies, they could probably conquer half of England if they wanted to. The truth is that Kennington never stood a chance. It was murder. The murder of an entire family."

Gaubert looked at him. "Tragic, indeed," he said. "Mayhap you should petition the king to assume your dead brother-in-law's property. You could also petition him to be the guardian of the children. You are not Henry's enemy, after all."

Donnel eyed him. "I have thought of that," he said. "But my nephew is still alive. At least, that is what the soldiers said. He is the Earl of Ashford now."

"Then petition the king to be his guardian."

Donnel snorted. "Not that lad," he said. "The last time I saw him was three or four years ago. He could do no wrong. No discipline, no manners. The boy would try a saint's patience."

Gaubert shrugged. "You would not tolerate him for control of Kennington?"

Donnel shook his head. "I would rather cut Henry's throat and be free of his rule than take on young Aeron."

Gaubert grunted. "You are looking at this all wrong," he said. "Teach the boy to hate the man who killed his father and convince him to cut Henry's throat. Our problem would be solved."

Donnel found some humor in that. "Sending a tiny assassin after Henry," he mused. "And Aeron would have a reason to kill him."

Gaubert nodded faintly. "It would certainly be just vengeance for Henry's attack on Kennington," he said. "It would also be justice for every man who has been wronged by the king."

Donnel liked that idea. He seemed to be calmer now, pondering a world in which Henry was not his king. "It does not need to be Aeron, truthfully," he said. "Henry would not suspect a child, but a skilled assassin would do just as well. Better, probably. One man could accomplish with de Montfort's army could not. I do not suppose you happen to know an assassin who could get close to Henry, do you?"

Gaubert shrugged. "I am Eleanor's cousin," he said thoughtfully. "Henry and I have always been friendly. I could get very close to him."

Donnel looked at him, his eyes widening when he realized what the man was inferring. " You ?" he said, suddenly electrified again. "Would you be willing to do it?"

Gaubert was amused. "That seems to excite you a great deal."

"Because it is entirely plausible!" Donnel said enthusiastically. "Why have you not thought of this before?"

Gaubert shrugged. "Because I live quietly on my lands and I give no man a reason to oppose me," he said. "I am not a warrior any longer, Donnel. I raise my sheep, I gamble when I feel like it, and I even like my wife. Why would I want to put myself in a position of killing a king?"

Donnel's dark eyes were intense. "Because I know a dozen warlords who would all pay you handsomely for a job well done."

Gaubert grinned. "They would have to pay me quite a bit of money," he said. "More than they would be willing to pay, I am certain."

"How much?"

"Are you serious?"

"Verily."

Gaubert wasn't sure how serious he was because he was a man who didn't like to take chances with his own life. At least, not in his old age, but in his younger years, he had been a stellar warrior with a brutal reputation.

He had the chops for an assassination job.

But it would have to be worth it.

"A thousand pounds," he finally said. "If you and your warlords can pay me a thousand pounds, I will do it."

There was joy in Donnel's eyes. Astonishment, but also joy. He shook his head with awe. "What mighty armies could not accomplish, one man can," he muttered. "You. You can succeed where de Montfort failed."

"De Montfort did not have my greed."

"Is that what this is about? The money?"

"What else would it be for?" Gaubert said. "Oh… and you will also give me Kennington."

Donnel's delight faded. "That belongs to my nephew."

"Then what else can you give me?"

Donnel cocked his head in thought. "I am not certain," he said. "But there are many enemies of Henry who, I am certain, will be happy to reward you for a job well done."

"Then you will find them for me."

"Gaubert… are you truly serious about this?"

Gaubert shrugged. "I have nothing to lose and everything to gain," he said. "Once, I was a warrior beyond compare. I can do exactly what I say I can do, but if you do not pay me and ensure I am well rewarded, I will kill you, too. That is the bargain, Donnel."

Donnel was coming to think this deal was beginning to veer out of his control. "You'll have to give me some time to send word to men I know who would be willing to pay," he said. "I must have their pledge to pay you."

Gaubert lifted his eyebrows. "Ten men to pay one hundred pounds each," he said. "It is not so difficult."

Donnel knew it wasn't as easy as all that. In fact, he was starting to regret having this conversation altogether, and he certainly didn't like that Gaubert seemed to have the upper hand.

He wanted to change that.

"I will work on it," he said. "But until I can get their agreement, I will make you a counteroffer."

"What is that?"

"I worry for the safety of my niece and nephew," Donnel said. "I know my sister would be frantic with worry. Get them back for me and I will see that you are paid revenue from Kennington for years to come. I cannot give you the property, but I can ensure that you gain some wealth from it. With Anselm gone, the new earl will need my help in managing his estate. I am his uncle, after all. I will make sure the man who released him from Henry's clutches is well compensated."

Gaubert was interested. "Oh?" he said. " How well compensated?"

"A quarter of everything Kennington earns for the next ten years."

"And how much would that be?"

Donnel's eyebrows lifted as he thought on the question. "Kennington has cattle," he said. "Good cattle on good lands. It is possible that you would get your one thousand pounds and more quite easily."

Gaubert liked that estimate. "A pleasing prospect," he said. "In fact… if there is truly money to be had in this, it might be more efficient if I were to hire a skilled assassin and gain him entry to Henry's quarters."

"What good would that do? You are the one who can get close to him."

"True," Gaubert said. "But it would be easier if someone else were to do the job while I had an alibi. Think about it, Donnel—if I have access to Henry and Henry is killed, whom do you think they will suspect?"

That made sense to Donnel. "So you would facilitate his death, but not actually kill him?"

"That might be better for all of us, don't you think?" Gaubert said. "Especially if you want me to free your niece and nephew. I cannot do that if I have half the palace chasing after me because Henry is dead."

Donnel nodded as he understood the logic. What they were talking about was an enormous undertaking because the more the conversation progressed, the more things were coming to light.

The more devilment entered the scheme.

But to be rid of Henry, it would be well worth it.

"I think you and I have some planning to do," Donnel said quietly.

Gaubert's dark eyes glimmered. "Bring me your finest wine and we shall do precisely that."

Donnel did.