Chapter Fourteen

One Week Later

Dordon Castle

When Rotri and Domnall returned to Dordon nearly a week later, they were in for a surprise.

Rotri was relieved to see the pale walls of Dordon Castle come into view. He felt as if he’d been away forever when the truth was that had only been a few months. When he had first received Dordon from his brother upon the death of their father, he had complained so much about it that everyone thought he hated it. The truth was that he loved the place.

He simply wasn’t satisfied with “only” Dordon.

Big dreams, big wants, big aspirations. That was everything Rotri was. But over the years, Dordon had grown on him, and as he watched his very own fortress come into view, he felt as if he was finally home. The entire journey back from London had been uncomfortable at best because they had spent most of their ready cash on bribes for Peregrine. That meant they had to save what money they had left so they could at least eat. Eating meant no money for beds, so they had found shelter in liveries or simply under the trees at the edge of a village. But now that they were home, Rotri was looking forward to sleeping in his own bed.

The creature comforts of home.

It was nearing sunset as they approached the drawbridge of Dordon Castle. The structure didn’t have a conventional gatehouse, but it had a drawbridge that was quite effective in keeping marauders and enemies at bay. There was a deep trench dug around most of the castle, a trench that the drawbridge spanned, but the entire north side of the castle was built on the edge of a cliff that overlooked a waterway that tended to fill up in the rainy season. The moat connected to the waterway, creating a seasonal lake surrounding the castle.

The result was that Dordon Castle was solidly protected on all sides. It was technically a Tamworth garrison against the Welsh who were known to venture this far into England, but Rhun had let his brother run the garrison as he saw fit. He never really imposed anything on Rotri, knowing that the man wanted to be in charge of his own domain.

Rhun had simply let him do as he pleased.

A domain that welcomed him back with open arms as the sun lay low in the west. The birds were gathering over the water way behind the castle, flocking up into the sky with their cries drifting upon the wind. But Rotri didn’t notice because he was completely focused on the drawbridge and his men who were waiting there to greet him. The small contingent from London traveled over the drawbridge and into the belly of Dordon Castle, welcomed as if they were kings.

But it was all an act.

The truth was that Rotri was not well liked by his people, but he expected them to welcome him with open arms, so they did. Men rushed out to meet the escort, helping to unload the wagon and taking the horses away to the stable. Everyone pretended they were glad to see him, but they weren’t. No one particularly cared. Rotri had left his major domo in charge when he left for London, and that man was one of the first people to meet him as he approached the small keep.

Rotri lifted a hand in greeting to the man.

“I see my castle is still standing, Duns,” he said, sounding as if he were a conqueror who had returned to his empire. “I trust that everything has been well here.”

Duns, a Scotsman with bushy white hair, an enormous beard, and foul-smelling breath, nodded. “Aye, m’lord,” he said in his thick accent. “All has been well. Welcome home.”

“Thank you,” Rotri said, raking a weary hand through his head. “But I must confess that I am exhausted. I want food and sleep and nothing more until tomorrow. Then we may discuss what has gone on in my absence.”

“Aye, m’lord,” Duns said, following Rotri as he headed for the keep. “But… we have visitors, m’lord.”

Rotri came to a halt, frowning at him. “What visitors?”

“Cristano de Lucera is here,” Duns said. “He is with his cousins and an old woman who wears the robes of a nun. He wants to speak with ye.”

“De Lucera?” Rotri said, puzzled. “Who is that?”

“A knight at Stafford Castle, my lord.”

Rotri knew he’d heard that name before but couldn’t place it. Now, he remembered at the mention of Stafford. “What does he want to talk about?” he asked.

“He would not tell me, m’lord.”

That made no sense to Rotri. His bed was calling him, but something made him pause. Stafford Castle. The man is from Stafford Castle. The fortress where Caledonia and Thor were at this very moment. At least, he assumed they were there, given they’d departed London for de Reyne’s new properties. Stafford was one. Therefore, he couldn’t imagine that this visit was a coincidence.

Something told him to talk to the man.

“Very well,” he said. “Where is he?”

“The great hall, m’lord.”

That had Rotri turning for the great hall, which was positioned across the bailey. It wasn’t a big hall—perhaps only able to seat seventy or eighty men—but it did the job. Rotri was focused on the old wooden entry doors when Domnall called to him.

“Where are you going?” his son yelled. “I thought you were exhausted!”

Rotri didn’t stop in his march toward the hall, but he lifted a hand to catch his son’s attention. “Come with me,” he said. “Hurry!”

That had Domnall breaking in his direction, across the dusty bailey to catch up with his father about the time he entered the dark and dank hall, with what windows there were placed high in the wall for ventilation and a firepit in the center of the room. Rotri entered with Domnall on his heels. Immediately, they caught sight of four people sitting near the firepit, which was lit at this time of night. The entire hall smelled of smoke. As Rotri approached the table, all of the men seated around it stood up.

“My lord,” de Lucera said. “I do not know if you remember me, but I am Cristano de Lucera. I was the captain to the Earl of Stafford, Robert de Tosni, when he was alive. Your niece, Lady de Tosni, is his widow.”

“I remember you,” Rotri said, but there was great suspicion in his expression. “It has been a long time, but I remember you.”

“I am honored, my lord,” Cristano said. “We have been here for a few days, waiting for your return. I hope that does not displease you.”

Rotri shook his head. “It does not,” he said. “I was told you wished to speak with me. It must be important if you have waited for days.”

Cristano nodded. “It is, my lord,” he said. Then he indicated the two younger knights standing next to him. “These are my cousins, Adan and Benedicto.”

Rotri didn’t care about them. He brushed off the two dark, rather dirty younger men because he only cared about what Cristano had to say. “Well?” he said. “Why are you here? Why aren’t you at Stafford?”

Cristano indicated for Rotri to sit. “You must be weary, my lord,” he said. “Sit and we will send for food.”

Rotri was at the end of his patience. “I do not want food,” he said, slapping the tabletop. “I want to know why you are here, and you will answer me. Why aren’t you at Stafford?”

So much for pleasantries. It was clear that Cristano had been trying to create some kind of social atmosphere, but Rotri was having none of it. Cristano eyed his cousins apprehensively before continuing.

“Because I no longer serve there, my lord,” he said frankly. “That is why I have come. I hope it is not too much of an imposition to inquire if you are looking for the service of strong knights. If so, my cousins and I would like to submit our experience for your consideration. We are excellent knights, my lord. We are seeking a liege, and I thought—since Dordon is part of Tamworth—that you could use knights who are familiar with Stafford and the surrounding area. We would like to remain where we know the land and the politics, my lord, and it seemed logical to come to you since we had nowhere else to go. Will you consider it?”

That statement made no sense to Rotri. “No longer serve at…?” he repeated, baffled. “But you have been a Stafford for years.”

“Several, my lord.”

“And you have been dismissed?”

“Aye, my lord.”

“But why?”

Cristano’s jaw twitched with emotion. “Because the new Earl of Stafford and Tamworth brought his own knights,” Cristano said. “He has bitterly and without cause exiled us from a castle we have taken great care of for many years. Two of those years have been since the death of Lord Robert. But still, we were given no consideration. We were dismissed as if our service did not matter in the least. We beg you to consider our fealty.”

Rotri was struggling to process it all. He looked at Domnall, who seemed equally surprised. “Is that why you have come?” he said. “Because de Reyne threw you out?”

“Aye, my lord. Most unfairly, I might add.”

Oh, but this was a surprising bit of news. When Rotri had entered the hall, he hadn’t expected this. So Thor de Reyne had taken possession of Stafford Castle and dismissed de Tosni’s knights, had he? That was an extremely interesting development, but it was also fortuitous one.

Veryfortuitous.

For the entire journey from London back to Dordon Castle, Rotri and Domnall had been discussing how they could create a situation that would see Thor fall into their hands. If they wanted to ransom the man, they had to get their hands on him, and as Rotri looked at the three knights in front of him, he could only see men that had been wronged by de Reyne. Slandered, even. They were clearly bitter about it.

Perhaps they were men who would jump at the chance to get even.

That brought about Rotri’s ideas that he and Domnall had come up with on the journey north. They’d had nothing but time on their hands to scheme. After much discussion, they had decided to carry out a raid to draw Thor out of the castle, which was most important if they wanted to get a clear shot at him. If Thor remained holed up in that fortified castle, there was no way they would ever be able to get to him. No way they could touch him. But if they were able to draw him out in some kind of skirmish, that might be their only opportunity to abduct him. But now, with the appearance of de Lucera and his cousins, it was as if God was confirming his scheme by way of these cast-out Stafford knights.

He couldn’t believe his luck.

“You say that you were unfairly dismissed?” Rotri said.

Cristano nodded. “We were not even allowed to take our possessions,” he said. “I had to leave most of my expensive weaponry behind, along with my money. My cousins, too. This woman was cast out without anything at all, and she tended the de Tosni children since birth. We are all victims of de Reyne’s greed and unjust ways. Will you not help us, my lord?”

He was indicating the woman sitting next to him, wrapped up in brown robes, but Rotri didn’t give her a glance. “Of course I will,” he said, trying not to sound too eager. “It just so happens that de Reyne has been unfair to us, also. In fact, my son and I have been discussing ways to exact justice on the man. Now that I hear your story, I would assume you might be interested in the same, eh?”

Cristano didn’t even seem surprised by the suggestion. It seemed to perk him up. “Justice against de Reyne?” he said. “Those are sweet words, my lord. What did you have in mind?”

Rotri told him.