Chapter Thirty-One

Meregate Castle

One Fortnight Later

R ichard was at his wits end. For the past fortnight, Earl Robert’s knights had laid siege to Annora’s home. Supplies had been cut off and Richard could only ponder how many provisions Meregate’s people still had left. Surely their food was running low by now. He worried that if this did not come to an end soon, the castle’s inhabitants and his lady’s son would all starve to death. And still, those inside showed no signs of surrendering. He and the earl needed to come up with a different plan since their efforts thus far had not worked.

Annora had become increasingly despondent. ’Twas hardly a surprise, considering her son was still being held captive. Richard could not blame her for worrying over her child, but this only made Richard feel useless when it came to offering any sort of aid. What else could they do? Perchance ’twas time to have a traction trebuchet built so that they could propel projectiles to wreck the most damage. ’Twas a common enough siege weapon, but Annora’s reluctance held Richard back, given that she had said—quite truthfully—that ’twould take years to repair the damage. He had no wish to destroy the home she loved so dearly, and yet Richard was beginning to run out of other options to advance their goals.

Kingsley stood at the opening to his tent. He stood there with a grin plastered on his face that was deeply annoying. After all, these were not happy times and their situation was nothing to smile like a jackal over. “I have a surprise for you,” he said chuckling.

Richard looked up from the plans of the castle with a raised brow. “I do not know what you think might be so amusing, but I am in no mood for whatever jest you might make on my behalf.”

“Step outside for but a moment,” Kingsley urged holding back the flap of his tent. “’Pon my honor, ’twill be worth the effort on your part and may offer you a much-needed reprieve of wracking your brain over how to gain access to Meregate.”

“Very well,” he mumbled thinking the fresh air might do him good. If nothing else, it might clear his head. He had just stepped out of his tent when a sight met his eyes that caused him to rock back on his heels. ’Twas the last thing he had ever expected to see.

“I think our job is done, brothers. We have left Richard Grancourt speechless,” Wymar Norwood declared from atop his brown steed Aris.

“There is a first time for everything, it appears,” Theobald Norwood laughed whole heartedly.

Reynard Norwood jumped down from his own horse and came up to Richard first. “Hopefully we are not too late to join in on the battle for the Empress.”

Richard clasped the younger man’s arm. “You are most welcome.”

Wymar dismounted as did Theobald and all four men formed a circle around one another in a show of the deep and abiding friendship that had begun when they were young children. “You have been missed, Richard,” Wymar said quietly before they clasped one another at their shoulders. They bent their heads forward in a silent gesture of camaraderie. Their childhood friendship had grown and strengthened into a deep brotherly bond, forged on bloody battlefields as they fought beside each other, shoulder to shoulder. Richard was touched at the emotions that filled him as he was once more amongst these fearless men.

“What the bloody hell are you all doing here? Do you not have your own lands and wives to see to?” Richard asked as he finally found his voice.

“Earl Robert sent a runner with a missive to join you here,” Theobald answered whilst looking between his two brothers. “Reynard joined me along the way, and we stopped at Brockenhurst for Wymar.”

Wymar nodded. “We brought what men we could spare as you can probably see from the mayhem that is adding to your camp. Our wives, on the other hand, were none too pleased that we were called back into action for our Empress.”

Reynard nodded. “Aye. My own Elysande complained until I reminded her that we were still at the beck and call of Empress Matilda whenever she might have need of the strength of our swords.”

Richard could only stare at the men before him. He shook his head in wonderment that they were really there. He looked at the youngest Norwood brother. “How goes your own repairs to Blackmore?”

“Slow but we are managing.” Reynard looked toward Meregate and waved a gloved hand at the gate. “I thought by now the door would have at least been breached.”

Richard ran his hand through his hair. “There is a problem,” he began before Wymar chuckled.

“There always is,” Wymar said knowingly. “And just what has caused your delay in taking this castle?”

“Lady Annora de Maris…” Richard answered whilst his eyes searched the field of people for her.

Theobald slapped Richard’s back. “A pretty woman has caught your eye! ’Tis long overdue. So, are you trying to rescue her from within?”

“’Tis a bit more complicated than rescuing a lady. Besides, much like your own ladies, Ceridwen and Ingrid, Annora can rescue herself.” Richard folded his arms over his chest and gave the men a smug grin.

Reynard laughed. “I am most thankful that my own lady has neither the need nor the desire to lift a sword to help protect our home.”

Wymar reached over to take hold of Richard’s forearm again. “Let us have speech, just you and I. Theobald and Reynard can see to our horses and get our men settled.”

Richard’s gaze went to Kingsley. “Find Lady Annora and ask her to join us when she has a moment,” he said with a nod.

Kingsley shrugged. “That request might take some time. I think our forces just doubled.”

Richard watched the other men leave to go about their business while Wymar followed him into his tent. He went to a small table and poured them each a goblet of wine. They raised their cups in a silent toast to one another and took a drink. When the two men were seated, Wymar set his goblet back down on the table. He leaned forward resting his forearms on his legs.

“You should have sent a missive yourself,” Wymar said in a scolding tone, as if Richard was a young cadet under his command who he thought should have had more sense.

Richard lifted one dark brow and then shrugged. “The three of you were enjoying wedded bliss. I saw no reason to send for you when you had your hands full with your own problems and lands.”

A low growl came from Wymar. “There is no problem that we have not been able to solve when we put our heads together. Now is no different simply because the Norwood brothers are now married.”

Richard swiped at the back of his neck. “It makes every bit of difference, and you know this is true. I was not about to be the one to possibly have to send a missive to your wives to tell them that you had died in battle on my behalf and would not make it home. I would have never forgiven myself.”

“Then ’tis a good thing the earl thought of asking us for himself. God’s wounds , Richard! You should have sent word the moment you left for Meregate,” Wymar complained bitterly.

“I did not wish to risk your life when this burden was my own to bear,” Richard replied honestly, “but I am glad to see you.”

A smirk of satisfaction lit his friend’s visage. “I should hope so. Now, tell me of your lady, for I have the notion you have found your mate.”

Richard began to weave his story from when he first encountered the lovely Annora on the battlefield of Winchester. The battle seemed like ages ago and for the next hour, he told his dearest friend all he had endured both on the Empress’s behalf and that of his lady. He continued to watch the entrance of his tent for signs of Annora and could only ponder what was taking Kingsley so long to find her. God help him if she had gotten herself into any trouble.