Choose the Sky: A Medieval Romance (Swordcross Knights Book 2) (28 page)

“Eventually, though, he sent his men away, to find shelter in town or elsewhere,” the steward explained. “I think Haldan told them that he’d open the gates from the inside…perhaps the next day.”

“But you did let him in?” Luc asked.

“I was afraid to deny him completely. We weren’t ready to fend off an immediate attack. Also, it was getting dark, and it began to snow. Haldan’s never liked to be uncomfortable. The promise of a warm fire and a warm drink was enough to sway him.”

“Even though his men would sleep in the cold,” Luc said.

Octavian commented, “He isn’t a very good general. That’s the sort of thing soldiers remember.”

“Good. Maybe they’ll desert by the end of the winter.” Luc turned back to the steward. “What happened after Haldan came in?”

“He demanded food and drink, and for a bedchamber to be prepared for him. Asked after one of the maids, as well. Lettie. Leticia.”

“His favorite?”

The steward nodded dourly. “She went to him after dinner.”

“I want to speak to her as well.”

“I’ll send for her,” the steward promised.

Lettie proved to be a slip of a thing, just five feet tall, with long pale hair in a braid curled around her head. “My lord?” she asked as she curtsied. She had a pretty, if somewhat pouty, air.

“You’re Haldan’s woman?” Luc asked.

Lettie’s expression went from polite to wary. “It wasn’t my fault,” she said.

“What wasn’t your fault?”

“I wouldn’t have said anything if I’d known it was a secret.”

“You told Haldan the steward knew he’d been sacked?”

“I asked if he had a gift for me this time. He always gives me a gift when he leaves, but if he had no money, how could he give me a trinket?”

“What did he say to that?”

“He was angry. Not at me—he’s never mean to me, for I know how to speak to him. But he thought he’d have a few days’ peace. He said he had to leave early now, to make sure he’d be able to keep his appointment.”

“With who?”

Lettie made a face. “He called the person Swan. I asked if it was a woman, because he likes to think he can make me jealous of his other women.”

“Did he say it was?”

“He only smiled when I pestered him. But later on, Haldan said ‘
He won’t wait, so I have to be there first
.’ That’s how I know Swan’s not a woman he’s chasing.”

“Useful. Did he mention anything else? Perhaps where he planned to go?”

Lettie shook her head. “Not this time.”

“Not this time? So he’s told you the names of other places in the past?”

“Well, a few times. Cinderford and Chepstow. But he didn’t confide in me. I was just here to warm his bed.”

“What sort of gifts did he give you for that, by the way?”

“Oh, ribbons for my hair. A chain to wear around my neck, and a pretty wooden bracelet. Only once he gave me coin, but I wasn’t offended because it wasn’t a real coin. It’s more like a little jewel to look at.”

“Not real?”

“Well, it hasn’t got a king’s head on it. It’s a swan swimming. I keep it by my bed.”

“May I buy it from you?” Luc asked.

“How much?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.

“Enough that you won’t mourn its loss,” he assured her.

So Lettie brought him another of the silver coins that seemed to appear wherever he sought Haldan. Luc pocketed it, and paid her well.

Octavian compared the new coin to its brethren. “Undoubtably from the same cache,” he said. “I bet Haldan wasn’t supposed to give it to her, if it was to be a signal for the conspirators to recognize each other.”

“Haldan rarely follows instructions,” Luc said. “His sloppiness will be what lets us catch him. On to Cinderford.”

* * * *

The next day the two men reached the town of Cinderford. Octavian said he’d watch over their horses and their things while Luc went in search of Haldan or someone who knew him.

Luc inquired after Haldan in the few shopfronts, describing the big blond man as an acquaintance. A shopkeeper’s wife directed him to the inn, saying she noticed a man of Haldan’s description staying there not long ago.

The inn was quiet during the early afternoon, and the keeper offered Luc a friendly, hopeful look. “Food or drink, sir? Room? All three?”

“News, actually. Of a man who stayed here. Name of Haldan.”

“Don’t know the name,” innkeeper said too quickly.

“I’m willing to pay for it.” He slid the coin over the table toward the other man.

The man picked it up, and saw the image stamped on it. He swallowed nervously. “Ah. Him. I…know who you can talk to about him. If you’ll wait?”

Luc nodded once. The barkeeper disappeared into the back part of the building. He was gone for such a long time Luc started to wonder if he was summoning a gang to haul Luc off. Or perhaps he’d simply run away.

Eventually, the man emerged from behind the curtain. “This way, sir.”

Luc followed him, making sure his dagger was loose in its sheath.

The barkeeper led him up a staircase and into a room that must sit exactly above the main dining hall. It was piled high with crates, barrels, and furniture in various states of disrepair. The few windows were shuttered, letting in only slivers of light that blinded Luc far more than they illuminated the room. At the far end, a candle burned on a desk, offering a bit more light.

The barkeeper was only a few steps ahead of Luc when a voice said, “Stop there.”

Luc halted. The barkeeper offered a rough bow to the unseen figure and said, “Here’s the man with the coin. I’ll…I’ll go back downstairs.” He fled without waiting for approval.

Luc stayed where he was, searching the shadows. He avoided looking at the candle itself, hoping his eyes would adjust to the dimness.

“What brings you here, friend?” the shadowed figure asked.

“Are we friends?” Luc asked.

“Good question. You come bearing a coin that’s not from the king’s mint.”

“It’s more appropriate for an empress,” Luc said.

The voice gave a snort of laughter. “Perhaps so. What’s your name?”

Luc made something up on the spot. The man wouldn’t expect a true name in any case.

“And what led you here?” the stranger asked.

“The lord I served was once a supporter of Henry. But he flew to Stephen all too quickly. I left his service—didn’t exactly ask. Since then I’ve been looking for a new situation. I can fight.”

“Fighters are easy to find.”

“But not always easy to keep, if they’re not skilled enough.”

“You want glorious battle?”

“Not if I can help it,” said Luc. “But if I fight, I want it to be for the one who’s going to win, and that will be the empress. I’ve heard about the forces she’s gathering. Robert of Gloucester is a leader who will win battles.”

“You heard this from who?”

“I was talking with a man named Haldan. He gave me the coin.”

“If Haldan gave you this, why did he not just hire you?”

“He said he would. But I had to attend to a few matters, and I missed him. You know where he is now? I can meet up with him there.”

The man in shadow said nothing for a moment. Luc waited him out. A nervous man would start chatting, and risk saying too much. Luc wasn’t nervous at all.

“Huh,” the man said at last. “What’s it matter to me? If Haldan doesn’t like seeing you, that’s between you and him.”

“So it is.”

“Mind you,” the man said, sounding slightly hesitant, “I don’t wish him to know that we spoke.”

“Then we didn’t speak,” Luc agreed easily.

“All right, then. Haldan has a brother who lives in Chepstow. It lies about twenty miles southeast. Whenever things go badly for Haldan—and in his life, that’s happened plenty, from what I’ve heard—he flees to his brother’s home to lay low for a while.”

“What’s the brother’s name?”

“Haldan’s never said. But I know he’s an innkeeper there. How many can there be in one village?”

Luc put his hand out, showing off two ordinary silver coins. “Two for one?”

The man leaned forward to slide the swan coin back across the wooden surface. The action put his face in the light. Two bright eyes peered out from a heavily bearded visage, but even all the growth couldn’t hide the disfigurement from a nasty burn.

He put a finger to his face. “Looks bad, doesn’t it?”

Luc nodded, not willing to lie.

“Truth is, this burn came courtesy of Haldan and his stupid schemes. Whatever your business with him is, remember that.”

Luc picked up the swan coin. “I won’t forget.”

When Luc returned to Octavian, he related all the news.

“Do we continue on the trail, then?” Tav asked.

“Not just yet,” Luc decided. “I want to return home first. We ought to rest, and plan for the next step. Also, it’s time I examine the source of these coins that keep turning up.”

“So you want to go home to Braecon?” Tav asked, puzzled.

“Not Braecon,” Luc said, “I meant Trumwell.” For he realized that he thought of Trumwell as his home, because that was where Mina was.

Almost a week had passed
at Trumwell. Mina missed Luc keenly. The days were a little dreary without the extra commotion of Luc and his retinue in the castle. The nights were considerably colder, even though Constance shared her bed, just as she used to do before the marriage.

The two women spoke softly over those nights, the distinctions of class disappearing in the dark. Mina confided in her maid, who was likely the only person who would ever hear such whispers, as Mina asked how she might be sure to please Luc.

“Oh, my lady,” said Constance. “I can’t tell you much about that. It’s Margery who knows how to please a man in bed.”

“Not in bed,” Mina said. “I meant…in life.”

“You’re a perfect lady,” Constance said loyally. “He must know it. You’re beautiful as well. I wish I was.”

“Why do you wish that?” Mina asked, already knowing the answer. “Ban likes you just as you are.”

Constance sighed. “He says so. But he’s so…proper.”

“Is that a failing?” Mina asked.

“Well, Margery has so many tales of men and their behavior, and none of those sound the least bit like how Ban acts.”

“Margery seeks one thing from men,” Mina said, with a bit of censure in her tone. “And it’s not to be encouraged. If Ban treats you with more deference, it’s because he wants more than a night’s pleasure.”

“Or he’s not interested in me at all.”

“In that case, he’d court another. Why are you so worried?” Mina asked.

“I only wish he’d try to kiss me,” Constance said, miserably.

Mina put a hand out to comfort her maid. “Give him time.”

Privately, she remembered an early comment she’d made to Luc. She’d warned him that if any of his men took advantage of any of the women in the castle, Domina would retaliate. Luc must have passed the warning on. Perhaps Ban took it to heart, and was being overly cautious. She’d have to discuss the matter with Luc when he returned. She hated to think Constance would be hurt by Domina’s too-strict guidelines, especially if Ban truly cared for the maid. Constance deserved to find happiness.

* * * *

The next day, Luc did return. Mina looked up from the accounts when Luc entered the solar. She’d been working most of the afternoon, and she was more than ready for an excuse to put the troublesome papers aside.

“My goodness. Where have you been?” she asked, seeing Luc’s travel-worn clothing. “Or has Somerby lost all its launderers?”

“I went to Somerby.” He sat down in front of the small fire. “And a half-dozen more villages in the same area.”

“Was he at Somerby?” she asked.

“Haldan was there, though he’s not any more.” Luc sighed, then said, “It’s been difficult to track him.”

“You could leave word at each town where’s he’s been!” she suggested eagerly. “Anyone may get a reward if they tell you Haldan’s been there. Though I suppose that would also alert Haldan…”

Luc smiled. “We’re starting to think alike, Mina. I sent one of my men to each place he’d been or was known to frequent. They all know what Haldan looks like, and they’ll send word when he’s spotted.”

“But no one else will be alerted, unlike a publicly posted reward,” Mina concluded. “Clever. You’ll get him in no time.”

“I hope so. I didn’t expect him to have enough money and contacts to elude us for this long. Everywhere I chase him, there are clues that he’s definitely still in the area. He raised that little army to march against Trumwell—they didn’t march all the way from Wales. He’s somewhere much closer than that, probably within the shire.”

“Well, soon enough someone will catch his trail.”

“It’s not cheap to do what he’s doing,” Luc muttered. “Remaining hidden while paying fighters to take on a castle’s garrison.”

“Where is he getting that much money?” Mina asked.

Luc looked up from the fire, and his expression was serious. “That’s something I must ask, Mina. You need to show me the treasury.”

“I’d rather not,” she said hastily.

“I’d rather not have to ask,” he said. “I’d definitely prefer not to insist.”

“But you will.” Mina closed her eyes. It was amazing she’d been able to delay this long. It was proof of Luc’s distraction that he’d not already demanded the key. He was lord here. She could do nothing to resist him.