Archangel (22 page)

“That is my understanding.”

“Why, in God’s name?”

Kevin shook his head. “This I cannot know.” He eyed Gart, his good friend. “Do I want to know why you are here and why de Lohr has sent me with this message?”

“What did de Lohr tell you?”

“To help you if you need it.”

Gart gazed steadily at the man, finally emitting a weary sigh and turning away.  He thought on the irony of Kevin’s statement.
To help you if you need it.
  At the moment, he needed help; he’d never needed it more in his life.

“Is that all he told you?”

Kevin nodded, starting to feel great curiosity along with his fatigue. “Gart, what goes on?” he demanded softly. “Why are you here? Why was I told to make all haste to Dunster so I could warn you off of Buckland’s approach?”

Gart looked at him. “You would not believe me if I told you.”

“Tell me.”

Gart’s jaw ticked and he hung his head, running his hand across his stubbled, bald head, trying to think of a way to phrase what he had been feeling for the past seven weeks. So much had happened. He suddenly felt like a fool because only fools got themselves into this kind of trouble. He was about to confess his biggest weakness to a fellow knight. But, on the other hand, he had never felt more strong or whole.  It was an odd combination.

“You and I have been through much together, have we not?” he finally asked, looking up at his friend.

Kevin nodded. “I would trust my life to you a thousand times over.”

“And I to you.” Gart paused to collect his thoughts. “De Lohr and I came to Dunster two months ago because Buckland had requested de Lohr’s assistance in protecting the Queen’s lands in France.”

Kevin nodded. “I know,” he replied. “We are preparing to sail in three weeks, which I am also supposed to tell you.  De Lohr wants you in London as soon as possible.”

A second blow in as many minutes.  Gart struggled to stay on an even keel as he took a deep breath, digesting the news.   After a moment, he snorted ironically and stared up at the sky as if beseeching God for strength to do as he must.

“Buckland’s wife is the sister of Erik de Russe,” he took his eyes off the sky and looked at de Lara. “You remember de Russe, do you not?”

Kevin’s brow furrowed in distance remembrance. “Of course,” he said. “We fostered together.  As I recall, you and de Russe were as thick as thieves. So his sister is married to de Moyon?”

Gart nodded. “I have known Lady Emberley since she was a young girl,” he said quietly. “I had not seen her in years until two months ago.”

Kevin’s brow furrowed, appearing quite serious. “De Moyon is the Queen’s lover,” he lowered his voice. “The man is spouting it all over London.”

“I know,” Gart replied. “Which is why it makes no sense that he should want his family with him in London. Surely they will only be a burden to him and interfere with his affair with Isabella.  Have you heard anything about Buckland other than what de Lohr told you?”

Kevin shook his head. “Nothing other than the fact that the man is a pompous idiot,” he said, his serious gaze moving over Gart’s tight features. “What is this all about, Gart? You still have not told me why you are here.”

Gart looked at him, feeling as if he needed to confide in the man. He’d never felt like that in his life and the walls of self-protection began to crumble.

“What I tell you must not leave your lips,” he muttered. “If it does, many people will suffer.”

Kevin grew intent. “The information will die with me, I swear it.”

“I believe you,” Gart said, taking a deep breath for courage. “I told you that I have known Buckland’s wife since she was a child.”

“You did.”

“I love her,” his voice was a whisper, full of pain. “I am here because I love the woman and she loves me.  I intend to take her and the children out of this hellish place where Buckland can never find them.”

Kevin, surprisingly, didn’t react overly.  He remained intent, serious. “You… you intend to abduct her?”

“I will not abduct her.”

“She is agreeable to this, then?”

“She is.”

Kevin fell silent as he processed the news.  Then he said the first thing that came to mind, the obvious. “But she is married to Buckland,” he lifted an eyebrow, his reaction becoming evident. “You cannot simply take his wife.”

“I am not taking anything. We love each other and will be together.”

“But he can have you charged with thievery for stealing his family if you truly intend to do this. Stealing another man’s wife, particularly a nobleman’s wife, is very serious.”

Gart didn’t back down. “I realize that,” he said steadily. “But he has been beating Emberley since the day they married. When I first arrived here, he beat her so badly that she could not rise from bed for two days. The man is vile and horrible and treats her no better than an animal. Do you have an idea how it feels knowing that the woman you love is married to man who brutalizes her? You cannot comprehend the fury and pain I feel every time I think about it.”

De Lara’s expression darkened. “Nay, I cannot,” he agreed. “But the fact remains that she is Buckland’s wife and….”

“She carries my child.”

So much for composure. De Lara’s eyes widened and his jaw popped open, quickly shut. He stared at Gart for a long, painful moment.

“Are you serious?”

“I would not lie.”

“Then if what you say about Buckland is true, he will kill her when he finds out,” Kevin hissed. “He will also kill you.”

“I know.”

De Lara grabbed him by the arm and began yanking him towards the keep. “We stand here chewing words as if we have all the time in the world when the truth is that time is slipping through our fingers,” he said urgently. “You must leave immediately and take your lady with you. There is no time to waste with Buckland’s men on my tail. No wonder de Lohr sent me ahead to warn you.”

Gart let him pull. “We have nowhere to go.”

“Ridiculous,” de Lara spat. “You will go to my father in Wales until you decide what needs to be done. You will be safe there.”

Gart was greatly relieved yet greatly concerned. “You should not involve yourself in this, Kevin.  If you send me to your father, you involve him as well.”

Kevin didn’t seem particularly concerned. “My father hates John, Isabella and everything about them,” he said. “He is an old man with a good deal of power.  He will consider assisting you a victory against the king and his vile queen.  You have heard of the Trinity castles on the Welsh marches, have you not?”

Gart nodded as they mounted the steps to the keep. “Trelystan, Hyssington and Caradoc Castles.  They are great Marcher castles.”

“They are my father’s holdings as Viscount Trelystan.”

“I recall,” Gart said thoughtfully. “But I had nearly forgotten. You do not speak much of your father.”

Kevin shrugged. “I do not speak much of my family in general,” he replied as he pulled Gart to the top of the stairs. “Gather the lady and your possessions. Meet me in the bailey as quickly as you can.”

Gart just stared at him, having one of the weakest and most indecisive moments of his life. He was so grateful for the help but he didn’t want to involve Kevin and his family in something so serious.  The consequences, for the de Laras, could be as bad as the consequences for Gart. He looked helplessly at his friend.  It was clear he didn’t know what to say.

“And then what?” he asked quietly. “It will not end there, Kevin.  I must still….”

Kevin waved a big hand towards the keep. “It will end right here if you do not get moving,” he told him. “You can make decisions once you reach my father’s castle, but until then, you can….”

He was cut off by a shout from the wall.  Both Kevin and Gart strained to catch a glimpse of what the sentries were pointing at.  From their vantage point at the top of the stairs, they could see some of the countryside beyond the walls but not much.  Gart shouted up to the battlement.

“What do you see?”

One of his men answered. “Buckland colors, my lord!”

Gart and Kevin looked at each other, stricken. “He is already here,” Kevin hissed. “You must go now if there is any hope for survival.  Go to Trelystan Castle near Welshpool and I will meet you there.”

Gart didn’t waste any time. He raced into the keep and on into the great hall, watching as Emberley and the children looked up from their meal at him.  He was barreling at frightening speed and Emberley shot to her feet, immediately on her guard.

“What is wrong?” she asked. “Why are you…?”

He grabbed her by the arms, pulling her away from the table so the children couldn’t hear him. But the children were sharp and they could see his agitated manner. Gart was a man always in control, especially around them, and his demeanor roused their concern. Gart didn’t look at the children as he focused on Emberley, taking a deep breath and struggling for calm.

“Buckland has come to escort you to London,” he told her quietly, quickly. “We must escape now or all will be lost.”

Emberley’s eyes widened with shock. “Julian is here?”

He shook his head; there was no time for explanations. “Please,” he begged softly. “Just do as I say. We must escape. You know this castle – how may we escape unseen?”

Emberley’s big eyes filled with tears, overflowing as he watched.  She was struggling not to fly into full-blown panic. “There… there is a postern gate by the kitchen yard.”

“Is it locked?”

She shook her head. “During the day it remains unlocked for those who would pass through to do business with the cook.”

“Is that the only way out?”

“Other than the gatehouse, it is the only gate in the wall.”

Gart nodded swiftly. “Then we take the gate,” he went to the table, scooping Lacy into his arms.  The little girl threw his head in a bear hug and began to slobber on his cheek. “Get the boys and follow me.”

Terrified, Emberley did as she was told, grabbing little hands and pulling them along. But the boys didn’t understand and they began whining for their toy swords.  Just as Gart reached the narrow stairs that led down to the kitchen on the floor below them, Kevin darted in through the keep entry.  Gart threw open the door to the stairs as Kevin raced into the great hall.

“Gart,” he was trying not to shout. “Buckland’s men are upon us, at least sixty or seventy of them.  They are spreading out around the fortress wall as a small party approaches the gate. You cannot make it out of here in time with all of this baggage.”

He was referring to the children, who were already dragging their feet and complaining loudly. Emberley looked at the strange knight, confused by his appearance, and then to Gart with such fear that he could physically feel it like knives stabbing his heart.   He didn’t want to acknowledge that de Lara was right but he knew, deep down, that the man had a point. They could not escape with four screaming children.  They would be a target, and a very slow one at that.

“If they find you here, they will kill you,” Emberley whispered, tears filling her eyes. “Those men are loyal to Julian and if they see you….”

He cut her off, his face a mask of anguish. “I will not let them take you to London.”

She grabbed his arm. “And I cannot stand by while they kill you,” she begged, tears streaming down her face. “Please, Gart. Hide somewhere.  I have faith that you will come for us but for now, my priority is keeping you safe from Julian’s men. Please.”