Rose Victory - Eagle Series (21 page)

“It’s perfect,
Sire,” Roydon took the wine cup from Stefan.  “Your statesmanship is unrivalled.  But promising an earldom to a
deserving
nine year old boy is a bit unusual.  Not that I am complaining.”

The
king frowned in displeasure at his vassal, but his grey eyes shone with suppressed glee as if he had been expecting just this comment.  “You think my daughter’s life, Princess Elizabeth’s life, is not worth an earldom, my lord?”  The arrogant challenge in the king’s voice was perfectly executed.

“There is no doubt about it,
Sire.  You have really outdone yourself this time.”  Roydon returned the smile that had broken across his liege’s face.  “It’s perfect.  No one could possibly disagree with that statement.”

“I know,” Henry
admitted without the least modesty.  “What’s more it’s true.  Your son’s bravery in saving my daughter was a true act of courage and the story is spreading,” his smile widened.  “I have seen to that.”

Roydon lost his smile.  Aguilus had been in real danger.  He shuddered to think what the horse could have done to him and the girl.

“Which thought, brings me to you, Sir Stefan.”

“Me,
Sire!” Wine spilt from the knight’s goblet as he started in surprise.  He glanced at the earl in alarm.

“Your loyalty to your lord, to your friend,” the
king amended, “was foolish, but brave and highly commendable. Your action in the stables no less courageous.  I am indebted to you, sir.”  Henry debated a moment.  “A small holding, I think.”

“Good Lord, no!”  Stefan looked appealingly at Roydon, but from the amused look on the earl’s face no help would be coming from that quarter.  “I am very grateful,
Sire, but I am perfectly happy as I am.  I mean no offence, Your Majesty,” he added quickly.  “But I am already having nightmares thinking that Roy will die before Aguilus reaches his majority and I would have to administer his holdings.”  Stefan swept a shaky hand through his hair.  “And I haven’t even been to sleep since I heard about it!”

Henry gave the knight a strange look, as if unable to understand why someone would turn down a chance at power, however small.  A look he shared with the earl.

“He likes a simple life,
Sire.”  Roydon shook his head, mimicking the king’s expression of incomprehension.

The
king laughed.  “So be it then, but you have my gratitude.  If there is anything I can do for you, you have but to ask.”

Stefan sighed in relief.  “Thank you,
Sire.”

“And you, Eagle?  Will you too refuse your new holding of
Rye?”

“It’s a troublesome holding, Your Majesty, but being the loyal vassal I am, I will gladly take it off your hands.  Just to spare you aggravation, you understand.”  The earl tried to keep a serious expression on his face.

“I understand perfectly, my lord,” the king turned to stare at Stefan, “unlike some.  Now that toast.  To your son, Eagle, that he may grow up to fulfil the potential that I saw in him yesterday.”

“In order to serve you,
Sire,” added Roydon, raising his cup and glancing at Stefan; sharing the pride he felt for his son, with his friend.

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“Father!” Aguilus run across the small room and stopped short on reaching the earl, who had just entered the room.  Suddenly shy and unsure of how to proceed, he looked up at his sire and controlled the urge to throw his arms around him.  “I am glad to see you, my lord.”  A lone tear escaped and meandered down his smooth cheek.  He lowered his head to hide it.  A squire did not cry, even with joy.  “I…I…missed you, sir.”

Roydon looked down at the boy, his heart in danger of bursting with love and pride.  He felt a hand on his shoulder and smiled at Stefan’s understanding and support.

“Happy to have you back, my lord.”  Sir Ivan stepped up to greet the earl.  It’s been a long three days, sir.”

“Thank you, Ivan.  It seemed much longer to me.”  Roydon nodded in unspoken understanding, at his former squire. 

“Ivan, I think we will go take a stroll in the courtyard.”

“A stroll, Sir Stefan
?  Now?”  Ivan looked in puzzled surprise at the older knight.

Stefan jerked his head at Aguilus, who still stood with bowed head, surreptitiously trying to brush away his tears.  “We need to talk.”

“Of course, Sir Stefan.”  Ivan made haste to follow his fellow knight out of the room, an indulgent smile on his face.

Roydon used a finger under
his chin to lift Aguilus’ head so that he could look him straight in the eye.  “I liked your first greeting much better, son,” he whispered and then opened his arms to the boy.

“Father!”  Aguilus wrapped his
arms round the earl in a fierce hug, while he felt his father’s strong arms holding him securely.  He had never felt as safe and happy as he did at that moment.  He never wanted to let go.

“Aguilus?  I need to breathe, son.”

The boy jumped back self-consciously, but relaxed when he saw the amused look on the earl’s face.  “You are not…going away again, sir?”

“No, my
…misunderstanding with the king has been sorted out.”  Roydon did not go into specifics.  “But I do need to talk to you.”  The earl drew Aguilus towards a chair, his demeanour totally serious as he sat and stood the boy before him.

Aguilus felt
his world cave in.  Obviously his father had heard about the incident in the stable.  Not only had he disobeyed a direct order from his lord, he had also been discourteous to the king.  He hung his head, unwilling to see the condemnation in his father’s eyes.  “I am sorry,” he whispered.  “I did not mean to disobey you when I went into Black’s stall…but I…and my insolence to the king was…”

“That is not what I wanted to speak to you about,” the earl interrupted.  “But since you have brought it up
…  Tell me, why did you do it Aguilus?”

The boy met his father’s gaze, entreaty in his eyes.  “I
…I couldn’t let the boy…girl get trampled, sir.  She is only a little girl.  Black would have hurt her badly.”

“He could have hurt you too.”

“I was only going to distract Black so that the page could get out.”

“Black is a warhorse, son.  He is trained to do just that.”  Roydon suppress
ed a shudder; he couldn’t even bear to think of what the outcome could have been.

“I’m sorry.”

“Are you?”  An intense look appeared in the earl’s eyes.  “Tell me truly.  Would you do it again?”

“I
…I…”  Aguilus had not wanted to disobey his father but neither could he have allowed the girl to get hurt.  He remembered the terror he had felt when the horse had come at him, but also the satisfaction when the girl had pulled her tongue out at him later.

The boy squared his shoulders and looked decisively up at his father.  “Yes I would, sir.”  He would take whatever punishment his lord deemed necessary for his defiance but he would not lie.  
“I am sorry that I disobeyed you, but I would not let the girl be trampled if I could prevent it.”

“My orders, Aguilus, as indeed are those of Sir Stefan and even Ivan’s, are to be obeyed immediately and without question,
as are my instructions.  Your life, as well as that of others, could depend on your actions.”

Aguilus felt saddened by his father’s implied displeasure, but he stood his ground.  He had meant what he said and he would not say otherwise, but on the other hand he also understood what his lord was saying.  Blind obedience from a squire to those in authority was an integral part of the training.  In a battle there could be no hesitation, as the incident in the forest had demonstrated.  He nodded his head slowly, but confusion now suffused his gaze.

“However,” Roydon saw the distress in the boy’s eyes and laid a hand on his shoulder, “there are times when a man must decide for himself.  A time when he stands alone and only he can decide if he follows the safe path of obedience or the dictates of his heart and conscience.  Always remember that you will live, or die, with the consequences of those actions, so do not plunge in without thought, ever.”

The squire’s distress had gradually dissipated at his sire’s words, to be replaced by
a growing sense of relief.  His father had practically called him a man and he did not seem to be angry.

“I understand, sir.”

“Did you think before you jumped into that stall?”

Aguilus nodded, his face set and determined.  “There was nothing else I could do, sir.  There was no time and I thought I could distract Black long enough for the girl to get away.”

The earl stared at the boy for a moment in silence and then he nodded.  “Very well, I will accept your decision and your actions this time.  But do not for a moment think that this gives you leave to disregard my orders in future.  Do you understand me?”

Again the squire nodded, his relief now full blown, though his
face remained serious.  “Yes, my lord.”

“Good.
  Now let me just add that though I tremble to think of what might have happened, I am very proud of you, son.”  An expression of pride settled on the earl’s face.  “It was an unbelievably brave thing you did.” 

“You do not fear anything, Father.”  Aguilus’ beautiful, golden eyes shone with the knowledge that his sire trusted and was proud of him.

“You are mistaken, Aguilus.”  The earl leaned forward and ruffled the boy’s hair.  “I fear daily for the well-being of my children, all my children.”

This time Aguilus did not hesitate.  He walked into his father’s arms.  After an incredibly satisfying hug, the boy stepped back.

“As regards your words to the king, we will not go into that.”  Roydon smiled ruefully.  “I too have erred in that respect and am the last person to bring you to task for it.  Did you apologise?”

“
Yes, sir.” The squire stated emphatically.

“As did I.”  The earl raised an inquiring eyebrow.  “Suffice it to say that we will never do it again?”

“Yes, my lord,” Aguilus agreed.  “Besides I liked the king, he was nice to me.”

Roydon had never heard Henry described as ‘nice’ before, but he
only nodded seriously.  “Henry is our king and we owe him our loyalty and our respect.”

“I liked Princess Elizabeth too.  She has long, black hair that she stuffed under a cap and then she pretended to be a boy so that she could go to the s
tables.”  Aguilus grinned, “She is brave too. She also jumped into Black’s stall.”

“That’s not brave, Aguilus.  That’s stupid.”

“Maybe she didn’t realise how dangerous Black is?” the boy defended the Princess.

“Maybe,” the earl
conceded.  “But enough of this, there is something I wish to speak to you about.”  Roydon paused for a moment, unsure how to proceed.  “By the king’s command, I will be getting married tomorrow,” he said at last, unable to find an easier way to tell the boy his news.

Aguilus stared blankly at his
father for a moment.  “Married?” he murmured in shock.  “Married?” he repeated, alarm in his voice as old, vicious taunts suddenly rose up to haunt him.

“It is a political alliance arran
ged by the king,” the earl explained quietly, noting the boy’s pale face.  “The lady will come to live at Eagle Rock.”  Roydon looked steadily at his suddenly ashen faced son.  “What worries you, Aguilus?”

“Will I have to go away?”
  There was pain and uncertainty in the boy’s voice.

“Of course not!”  The sincerity in his father
’s voice calmed the boy somewhat.  “What gave you that idea?”

“The kitchen boys said that no lady would allow their husband’s bastard to live in her home.” 

“That is unfortunately true.  Some men are weak willed enough to be ruled by their wives.”  The earl cocked his head to the side, his expression one of mock anger and outrage.  “You think me
weak
and
feeble
?  That I am
unable
to rule in my own home? 
Unable
to protect those I love?”

Aguilus laughed at the earl’s threatening expression, his fears put to rest by his father’s words.  He should never have doubted him, but all this was so new. 

“Answer me, boy!”  Roydon intensified his frown but his dark eyes were laughing along with his son’s giggles.

“No, my lord!”  Aguilus managed at last, catching his breath.  “I think you are the strongest and best father in the whole world.”

The boy’s golden eyes, so like his mother’s, shone up at Roydon with complete trust. For a moment the earl wished with all his might that he could see his Eagle Lady again, wished that she could see the beautiful child that they had created together.  They were mates, made for each other and yet apparently fated to live apart.

Would the emptiness in his heart never be filled?  Never again feel the solace of her arms?  His lady had felt so near lately, even now he felt a shadow of her presence
…  Roydon shook his head.  It was just his imagination, probably due to Aguilus’ golden eyes, eyes that were looking at him now in perplexity, due to his long silence.