Choose the Sky: A Medieval Romance (Swordcross Knights Book 2) (6 page)

Luc countered, “Perhaps he’s gone through his ordinary coin.”

“That gets to the heart of the matter,” King Stephen said. “We do not know enough without speaking to Godfrey himself. Since he has not answered my summons, but sent his daughter instead, he must be playing some game.”

He looked hard at Luc. “This is my order. I command you to go to Trumwell Castle under the guise of looking at the strength of the castle and garrison. Visit the de Warewic family’s holdings as my emissary. Report what you find.”

“If Godfrey is a traitor…” said Luc.

“He’ll be executed.”

“And the lady?”

“If she is involved, so will she.” Stephen looked grim. He plainly didn’t like the idea of Domina’s head on a block. “For her sake, I pray she is not involved in her father’s plans.”

“Men have often used pretty faces to distract their enemies,” Drugo said. He sounded as if he’d never been swayed by such tricks.

“As well that you were not serious about the marriage, sire.” Luc shook his head. “I don’t know the extent of her family’s holdings…”

“Godfrey was given charge of Trumwell Castle as a reward for his military prowess,” Stephen said. “I admit that the castle has never been taken, and the lands around it have been peaceful for years. But all it takes is one bargain with the empress or her generals, and those castle gates may open.”

Luc thought about it. “I fear that my supposed mission will not allow me enough time to truly learn what’s going on. How long does it take to assess the castle’s preparedness? A few days at most.”

“True,” Drugo said. “We must not risk Godfrey discovering Luc’s real purpose.”

“Then have a marriage contract drawn up,” said Stephen. “Luc of Braecon and Domina de Warewic.”

Luc waited a moment for Stephen to laugh, then said in a low voice, “You cannot be serious.”

“A potential marriage will give you plenty of reason to linger,” said Drugo. “You will not carry it through, of course. It’s the threat that matters. Think of the facts. Godfrey has a daughter, yet she is so old and not wedded—perhaps he’s holding her as a promise to someone.”

“Or he’s not, and I’ll be married off with no way out of the contract,” Luc objected.

“In which case, you’ll have even more power there. Yes, a single night of marriage may be more effective than a year-long siege.”

“But the marriage isn’t for a single night,” said Luc. “If I recall, it’s until death.”

“Chances are you’ll never need to carry it out,” Stephen said. “If you do, well, enjoy her while you can. I’ll see the marriage is annulled later. You won’t be shackled to her. I’ll personally guarantee a suitable bride for you, Luc. An earl’s daughter. Expose a nest of vipers, and you’ll be rewarded for your act. I will not forget.”

“Thank you, sire.” Luc paused. “I will go to Trumwell Castle and discover the truth. Your grace can decide on a course of action once I find out about this woman’s true heart.”

“Well spoken, Luc.”

“Sire, I’ll need a man I can trust with me. I may need to send word that I can’t commit to paper. Or simply have someone to watch my back.”

“Who do you have in mind?”

“Sir Octavian.”

“The Levantine?” Drugo asked, his brows drawing together.

“We’ve fought together before. He is reliable.”

“Then it shall be done,” Stephen said. “Take him with you, and may God keep you both.”

Stephen bid Luc good night, and left, leaving the two men alone.

Drugo drummed his fingers on the table once again. The spymaster’s eyes held Luc’s. “You said earlier that she was beautiful.”

“The king asked my impression, and I gave it,” said Luc. “Domina’s certainly not ugly.”

“No.” The spy paused, then said, “As I said before, beauty can be a weapon. The devil has made use of it in the past. Be wary of the lady Domina. Don’t fall prey to beauty, and don’t trust anyone.”

“I’m not in the habit of trusting traitors, sir.”

“Good. Don’t make it a habit, for the king has no use for men whose loyalty is in question.”

“If the king doubted my loyalty, he wouldn’t have asked for me to carry out the mission.” Luc said nothing more as he turned and left. He didn’t care for the threat in the spymaster’s tone.

As he walked through the castle, Luc turned the conversation over in his mind. He knew what his father would say about it. This was an opportunity of a lifetime, and he recognized that the king was testing him, judging him.

So Luc would rise to the challenge. He’d go to Trumwell Castle, where he would discover every last secret within its walls. Then he’d return to the king and take his just reward. Marriage to an earl’s daughter, the king had said. That was tantalizingly close to the possibility of being named earl himself.

The memory of Domina’s face surfaced, disrupting his musing. Was she innocent of her father’s manipulations? Would she be destroyed, an unintended victim of this shadow war? Luc shook his head once. Drugo offered his warning for a good reason. However beautiful the lady was, she couldn’t stop him from carrying out his mission. He fought back a nasty feeling. Would he really sacrifice an innocent woman for his ambitions?

Or she wasn’t so innocent. Those cool eyes held such intelligence…perhaps Domina knew far more than she was telling.

He sought out Octavian and told him of the developments. He related nearly all he’d been told, only concealing the fact that he possessed a marriage contract. The pious Octavian would never approve of the idea of suggesting a marriage simply as a means to gain information. Luc needed a trustworthy companion at his side, and he couldn’t risk losing Tav. So he’d just keep the more unsavory tools of his mission to himself. In all likelihood, he wouldn’t even need to mention the contract, let alone use it. He didn’t want to be shackled to any woman who couldn’t help him advance. Even if she was more intriguing than any other woman he could think of.

He told Octavian that they’d leave within the week. “And be warned, I don’t know how long we’ll stay at Trumwell,” he said.

“As long as necessary to learn the truth,” Octavian returned, with the easy confidence of the innocent.

“God help us.”

Tav smiled. “I’m sure He will.”

Trumwell Castle fared well during
Domina’s short absence. Beatrice, the grey-haired maidservant who was most often at Godfrey’s side, reported that he was as comfortable as could be expected.

“He asked after you a few times, my lady,” she added. “I told him you’d be home soon.”

Mina smiled, pleased that her father remembered her without her face being right there to remind him. Perhaps there was hope after all, as Joscelin promised.

The countryside had been quiet, Haldan reported when Domina returned. He’d surely enjoyed the fortnight when he could pretend the castle was his to command, though he also sounded relieved that nothing actually caused him to leave the warmth of the fireside. He fancied himself a commander, but he had the temperament of a lackey. He never thought for himself, at least not beyond his next mug of ale.

She stopped in her father’s room, but found him sleeping, so she slipped out again. She’d have to warn all the servants to keep guests away from the building. In fact, they’d have to avoid all mention of it, or her father.

* * * *

A few days later, Domina walked down a spiraling staircase to a tiny chamber in the base of the massive stone structure. She unlocked a wooden door on the back wall. She pulled it open and sighed when she saw the emptiness inside.

Somehow, she always hoped the next time she opened this door, the treasury would be full again. But it was always empty. The few shelves were bare, when they’d once held boxes of coin and valuable goods. The floor in the center of the closet was bare stone. Mina wished that the heavy wooden chest she remembered from her childhood would reappear, but all her wishes were for naught. The chest was gone.

How was it possible that the greatest part of the de Warewic fortune vanished in the night, without a clue as to who spirited it away? The castle had never been taken by force, and if it had been such an enemy, they surely would have known! Domina found it difficult to believe that a thief could have infiltrated the grounds, but what other possibility was there?

Only one. Her father must have done something with the treasure—those gold ingots and silver coins all struck with the symbol of the swan. Had he moved the chest somewhere else? Had he concealed it for a reason only he knew? Perhaps he’d done it just before his illness struck. Unfortunately, the location of the chest was now locked away in his own mind, a better lock than any iron device a blacksmith could forge.

Several months ago, Godfrey had rallied for a time, and Mina actually asked him where the money was. He’d answered in an indignant way —of course the money was safe in the treasury, where else would it be? Mina didn’t press the matter, fearing that any excitement would hurt him. Indeed, she blamed herself for his subsequent relapse, even though Joscelin, who was at Trumwell at the time, told her that it wasn’t her fault.

Now, Mina withdrew the tiny pouch of silver coins that Joscelin had given her, and placed it on a shelf. It looked so pathetic, sitting there. It was hardly worth keeping in the treasury, but it represented most of what she had. She’d sold nearly all her jewelry to pay the wages of the garrison. She’d sold some of the more valuable objects owned by the family to pay for grain and meat that could not be grown or hunted. Yet, every quarter the money dwindled further.

What can I do?
she asked silently. What else could she do, other than keep a tight rein on expenses, and pray for her father’s recovery?

She turned away before the tears clouding her eyes could fall. She would
not
cry.

Mina locked the door, and took a few deep breaths to steady herself.

When she walked into the great hall, a servant dashed over to her. “My lady, a runner has just come. The guests you mentioned will be here by this afternoon.”

None of her prayers would be heard, it seemed. She had prayed most fervently for the irritating Luc of Braecon to be diverted to another path. “Tell the kitchens to cook a meal suitable for a noble guest. The chambers are prepared?”

“Yes, my lady. All is as you instructed.”

She nodded. She’d be damned if her poverty would be revealed to visitors. She’d show every courtesy to her guests, no matter what the expense. “Very well. I’ll be in my chamber. Alert me when the lord’s retinue is sighted.”

All too soon, news of her visitor came.

Domina patted down the skirts of her gown. The gown was not nearly as fancy as what she wore to court. This was only a plain woolen dress, the blue color somewhat faded as the dyes ran out with each washing. Constance had redone the trim with new ribbon purchased in London, and Mina felt the dress would pass, especially among men who would not notice a thing like the tiny patches at the hem. She wryly surveyed her reflection in a hammered mirror. They would notice the neckline, not the fabric.

She walked to the front entrance of the keep, waiting patiently for the retinue to enter the castle gates. The cold air bit at her exposed skin.

“Do you not want your cloak, my lady?” Constance whispered.

Mina gave one short shake of her head.

The sound of hooves echoed, and then the retinue rode in, not unlike an invading army. It was smaller than Mina feared. She’d assumed the lord Luc would have a string of servants with him, not to mention numerous horses and mules who would all require room and board.

Fewer than ten people rode in. Luc was the most visible, riding at the front, the hood of his cloak down so he could look about. He was followed by another man whose face was concealed because his cowl was up, though the heavy cloak couldn’t hide the broad shoulders of a knight. Three more men followed, probably men-at-arms. Behind them, four squires rode, each managing a few pack animals.

Luc rode all the way up to the steps of the keep before reining in his horse and dismounting. Something in Mina hoped he’d show discomfort after a day of riding, but he looked quite comfortable, almost as if he were returning home after a short jaunt.

“My lord, you are welcome to Trumwell Castle,” she said formally.

“I thank you, my lady Domina.” Luc bowed, very properly, then turned to where he’d been joined by the cowled rider, who pulled off his hood at the last moment.

Mina blinked in surprise, seeing a man with sepia brown skin, a shade she’d never seen before.

“My companion is also a knight in the king’s service,” said Luc.

The stranger bowed. “Octavian de Levant, at your service.”

Domina offered him a curtsey, which she belatedly realized she’d neglected to do for Luc. She smiled, not wishing to blame this knight for the annoyance Luc brought to her life. “You are most welcome, Sir Octavian. I trust your visit will be a pleasant one.”
And a short one
, she added silently. The sooner these men left her castle, the happier she’d be.

“Please come within. My people will care for the animals.” Domina made a gesture, and her servants leapt to obey.