A Year & a Day (9 page)
Authors: Virginia Henley
"Sire, we could not have trapped the Scottish army without the quick and decisive action of Robert Bruce." John de Warenne lifted his goblet to Robert, who stood at his shoulder. "I recommend that you reconfirm his lordship of Annandale immediately."
"If I remember correctly, I said I would consider that once Baliol was captured and deposed,"
Edward said coldly.
Robert Bruce looked the King of England straight in the 62
eye. "Once Baliol is deposed I shall put in my claim for the throne of Scotland, not just Annandale."
Silence hung in the air as Celtic black eyes stared into Plantagenet blue. "Do you think we have naught to do but win kingdoms for you?" the king demanded.
Sensing hostilities, Lynx stepped to the side of his friend Robert, while John de Warenne summoned all of his diplomatic skills and addressed the king.
"Majesty, your next strategic goal is the city of Edinburgh. We must force the surrender of every castle that lies before us, namely, Roxburgh, Jedburgh, Dumbarton, then Edinburgh. From there it is but a short distance to Stirling. I predict your triumphant progress through Aberdeen and Banff all the way to Elgin will be cluttered with Scots nobles hastening to offer their allegiance. The only danger is that the scattered army will regroup behind us and take back the southern and western marches as we move north."
Edward Plantagenet saw clearly that he could not afford to offend Robert Bruce. He needed the powerful earl to protect his back. "You are a great strategist, John, so I leave the matter entirely in your capable hands. And, as you suggest, we shall reconfirm the Bruce castles immediately. The western route between England and Scotland must be kept open to supply our armies."
As the king moved away, taking John de Warenne with him, Robert Bruce looked at Lynx and the two men had a hell of a time concealing their amusement.
"Christ, there's nothing like coming right out and asking for what you want!"
Robert gave Lynx a shove with his massive shoulder. Nodding in the direction of John de Warenne, Robert suggested, "Why don't you try it?"
Suddenly, Lynx knew exactly what he wanted. He raised his head, scanning the crowd for John.
When he located him, Lynx strode down the hall without hesitation. As he opened his mouth to speak, John de Warenne said, "I'm sorry, Lynx, but I'm afraid 63
you'll have to forgo bringing the rest of Scotland to heel. The king does not entirely trust Robert Bruce and wants a watchdog put on him. You are the only one who won't arouse the Bruce's suspicion.
There is a royal castle at Dumfries that will need a permanent garrison. Will you undertake the unrewarding task?"
His nephew answered with a great smile.
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men-at-arms. The rest of his men had been placed under the command of his cousin, Fitz-Waren. Lynx had put the matter to his men directly, asking for volunteers, knowing full well that most would prefer to be in the vanguard of the march to subdue Scotland.
When he suggested putting those who wished to remain under the command of his cousin, Fitz-Waren, there had been some dissension in the ranks, and Lynx realized with a shock that his Welshmen neither liked nor respected Roger Fitz-Waren. When Lynx discussed the situation with the two-dozen veteran knights who had chosen to stay and fight for the king, they assured him that John de Warenne kept a tight rein on his bastard son Fitz-Waren and that all would be well. The younger knights Lynx took with him could be used as couriers between Dumfries and the commander of the armies to keep him apprised of their progress.
The night before they arrived at Dumfries, Lynx de Warenne summoned all of his men together after they had made camp. He wanted no trouble once they arrived, and to that end laid down the rules making crystal clear what he expected of them.
"The people of Dumfries are not soldiers, they are castle keepers. We do not go to Dumfries as conquerors, crushing them beneath our heel, we go in peace. You will not make camp outside the walls; you will be housed in Dumfries Castle. We will all dine in the great hall, and at night, those who are not on guard duty 64
either at the castle or in the town will sleep there. The knights will have chambers, two per room.
"We are a garrison, a peacekeeping force who will help the Bruces patrol the western marches and keep open the main supply route from England to Scotland or, more specifically, between Carlisle and Edinburgh.
"Try to keep in mind that though the people of Dumfries are Scots, they are not to be considered the enemy. We want their cooperation, not their hostility." Lynx deepened his voice for emphasis. "All trouble will be reported to me. If you encounter treachery, as I am sure you will, no lives will be taken in retaliation. Once a week I will hold a court of law where punishments will be decided. At all times keep in mind that you are de Warenne men. I will tolerate no uncivilized behavior. You are free to fraternize and conjugate with the females of Dumfries, but no woman will be forced against her will."
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wait in the bailey until he had spoken privately with Dumfries' steward. Not one horse was to be stabled nor one wagon unloaded until the correct protocol had been observed.
De Warenne was gratified when the steward recognized him and addressed him by name. Lynx removed his leather gauntlet and extended his hand. "Jock Leslie, you have been steward here twenty years and I ask that you remain in that post." Lynx's shrewd eyes watched the steward's face closely.
When he detected no hint of hostility, he warmed to the man. "As you can see for yourself, I and my men have been sent to garrison Dumfries. I would like the integration to be as smooth as possible and I know for the most part that will depend on how you and I deal together." By getting Jock Leslie firmly on his side from the outset, Lynx hoped to reduce resentment against himself and his men.
"I am at yer service, Lord de Warenne."
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"From what I have seen here, I find little fault. You obviously do an excellent job with the people you command. I pride myself on doing the same. Nevertheless, there will have to be compromise. If there is something I don't like and want changed, I shall come directly to you, Jock. By the same token, if there is something you do not like, I expect you to come directly to me." The corner of Lynx's mouth lifted. "I won't guarantee that I'll change it; I'm reputed to be rather rigid. But I want you to feel free to discuss anything and everything with me."
Lynx moved on quickly. "I have twenty knights, all arrogant young devils, but they will have no authority over the running of this castle. You are in charge, Jock Leslie, and have no authority to answer to, save me." Again the corner of Lynx's mouth lifted. "You might as well get on with your rat killing."
When Jock didn't quite take his meaning, Lynx waved his hand toward the bailey. "Start issuing your orders immediately. Tell my men where you want their horses and the supplies from the wagons.
Tomorrow will be soon enough for you to show me the working of Dumfries."
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by getting a good look at the men who had been sent to garrison the castle. At first they were filled with trepidation. After all, these men were English and tales of the cruelties the English had committed at Berwick had spread to Dumfries. But when they saw that the commander was the man who had accompanied Robert Bruce, some of their fears were laid to rest.
Word spread quickly that Jock Leslie was to remain as steward with full authority to run the castle as he always had, and the people of Dumfries heaved a collective sigh of relief and realized their good fortune.
Jane Leslie was one of the few exceptions. She did not set foot in either the castle or the bailey.
She had spent the last two 66
days with her brother Ben's wife while she gave birth to her fourth bairn. Judith always had long, difficult labors, but Jane's voice and hands soothed her, allaying her fears and easing a great deal of her pain. Jane's gentle touch was like magic and the soft songs she crooned lulled Judith to sleep between her bouts of labored contractions.
Ben had been careful to keep the news that Dumfries had a new overlord and garrison from his wife, thinking she had enough fears to overcome. And as a result, Jane too was blissfully unaware that the castle was now garrisoned by the English.
The baby made his appearance into the world just as the sun began its early morning climb up the sky. Jane bathed the child and put him to suckle at his mother's breast. Judith closed her eyes in well-deserved rest just as Megotta arrived to inspect her new great-grandson.
Jane slipped from the stone house and lifted her face to the warm April sun. Although she'd taken scant rest in the last two days, the miracle of birth was such a stimulating experience that the last thing Jane wanted to do was sleep. She took the path across the meadow and into the trees. Her forest pool was a good two miles from Ben's house, but Jane's step was light, her thoughts all happy as she listened to the birdsong and kept a watchful eye out for the creatures who dwelled among the deep green shadows. The hour was so early, there was a chance she might see her magnificent lynx.
As Jane stepped from beneath the trees' dark canopy into the clearing, a tiny owl landed on her shoulder and rearranged his feathers so that the edge of his wing touched her cheek. His soundless arrival always brought Jane untold pleasure.
Then she spotted her favorite little green heron, the shyest of all waterbirds. He flew to a low branch close-by and stretched his neck down to the water beneath in search of a minnow. "I see you, Crabby Bill," Jane called, watching his head cock to one side when he heard his name. She'd first seen him on the mudflats where the river Nith opened into the sea. The small green heron 67
had been picking up crustaceans and she had immediately named him Crabby Bill. Jane sat down beside the pool and closed her eyes in contentment.
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saddled his horse so that he could ride over the demesne alone. He knew that later in the morning Jock Leslie, the steward, would give him the grand tour, but first he wanted to familiarize himself with every acre of land that belonged to Dumfries.
As Lynx rode out across the meadows, hills, and dales, he noticed the paucity of sheep and lambs, noted the lack of milk and beef cattle herds, and saw that no horses grazed in the fields. He silently cursed Comyn for taking Dumfries' livestock. Lynx was well aware that an army must be fed, but it was shortsighted lunacy to kill off an entire herd.
He wondered if pigs were kept in Dumfries' forests as they were in England and urged his mount into the dense woods. Lynx saw no evidence of swine, but the forest teemed with game, both large and small, and he felt a measure of deep satisfaction that Dumfries was not hunted out. When he came to a clearing he dismounted and cast the small falcon, watching it climb high, preparatory to its swift descent.
A piercing scream rent the air, and de Warenne was knocked to the ground as a body hurled itself against him in an unexpected attack. In a flash, Lynx had his assailant by the throat and had rolled over so that his attacker was pinned to the ground. The soft body beneath him immediately told Lynx that his captive was a female and the long, flaming hair identified her as the girl who had annoyed him so much on his first visit to Dumfries.
Jane's brows lifted in shock and surprise as she recognized the man looming above her. She stared into the fierce green eyes and shuddered involuntarily, sensing his savage masculine fire, imagining that at any moment he would start to lick her. She 68
realized almost immediately he was not going to do anything as gentle as lick her. He was angry, prompting fear to rise up in her. "I ... I pushed you so that the falcon would not kill the birds."
"Pushed me?" he repeated incredulously. "You flew at me like a wild animal!"
"The creatures who come to this pond are my friends. It's a sanctuary; I don't allow hunting here."0
"Youdon't allow? Who the devil do you think you are?"
She was reluctant to give him her name and struggled to free herself. But she was pinned between his muscular thighs. As her hands pushed against his chest, her fingers splayed across sleek, rippling muscles. She knew he was the largest man she had ever encountered, and as she lay beneath him the thought of his size and his power overwhelmed her. He could snap her neck with his bare hands. Her breasts rose and fell as she tried to hide her fear. "What are you doing here?" she gasped.
Her luscious breasts were so tempting, Lynx's palms itched to cup and fondle them. His anger melted away and was replaced by hot desire. He grinned down at her. "Anything I wish. I am the new overlord of Dumfries." The erotic possibilities of what he could do to her were endless. At the thought of her soft body imprisoned beneath him, his shafthardened and lengthened in rampant need.
"That is impossible—you are
English!
" She said the word as if it were an abomination.
"And you are a Celt, I seem to recall from the last time we met. What is your name?"
"Sironi," she said defiantly, using the Celtic name of a goddess that Megotta sometimes called her.