Warwolfe (de Wolfe Pack Book 0)(35)
Would Ghislaine feel any remorse that she had instigated her brother’s demise? About as much remorse as he would feel if the situation was reversed. But one thing was certain; Alary had to die soon or the Norman knight’s life would be forfeit.
So would hers if Alary realized what she had done.
CHAPTER SEVEN
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Go Forth and Conquer
“He has taken Kristoph and headed north,” Gaetan said. “My lord, you know that I cannot let him go. I must retrieve him.”
It was nearing noon on the day after the battle north of Hastings that saw Harold Godwinson killed. Unlike the previous day, which had been wrought with inclement weather as the battle was fought, this day was clearing up and the sun was shining, warming that land. But that also meant the bodies of the dead were heating up. The stench at midday was nearly unbearable as scores of Normans hurried to clear up their dead while, to the north, Saxon dead continued to lay spread out over the ground. Rumor had it that Beddingham Priory had sent most of their priests and servants over to clear the Saxon dead, but from the Norman encampment, there seemed to be very little movement.
Yet, it was of no consequence, at least to Gaetan. He stood in the spacious tent of the Duke of Normandy, alone because he’d asked for privacy, and was even now addressing the man. After explaining what had happened to Kristoph and the subsequent attempt to rescue him, Gaetan was now further explaining to the duke that he and his men intended to follow Alary of Mercia to regain their lost man. Unfortunately for Gaetan, or the duke, or both, the duke didn’t seem to be apt to readily agree.
A potential problem was looming.
“Alary of Mercia,” William of Normandy rolled the name over his tongue thoughtfully. “I know of him. I’ve not had direct dealing with him, of course, but I know of him. His reputation is rather unsavory.”
Gaetan nodded. “According to the man’s sister, unsavory is a kind way of putting it, my lord,” he said. “Surely you can understand my need to remove Kristoph from his custody as soon as possible.”
“And this sister has been the only one to bring you news of Kristoph’s disappearance?”
“Aye, my lord.”
“Is she telling the truth?”
Gaetan sighed heavily. “I have wondered the very same thing. But in the absence of any other eyewitness to Kristoph’s disappearance, I have no choice but to trust her,” he said. “However, when Jathan accompanied her to the Saxon encampment, he heard her men speak of the Norman knight that Alary held prisoner. That seems to prove that she was telling the truth.”
William lifted his eyebrows in reluctant agreement. A large, muscular man with bushy auburn hair and dark eyes, he was a larger-than-life commander with a temperament to match. He was an exacting master and a skilled one, and he lavished praise and rewards upon his favorites. But he was also very selfish. He wanted his subordinates’ attention on him and his needs.
To hear that his great Warwolfe was focused on retrieving a lost man had him somewhat unhappy at the moment. He understood very well that the Anges de Guerre were a close-knit group and the loss of one of them was disturbing for all, but he was very reluctant to allow Gaetan to leave him now when he needed him the most.
There was the conquest of a country at stake.
“Then it would seem she has been truthful thus far,” he replied belatedly. “But there is no guarantee that she is not leading you into a trap, Gate.”
“That is very true, but Kristoph is clearly with her brother. We have no choice but to follow him.”
“But why risk all of your men? I do not believe you are thinking clearly.”
Gaetan knew that William was reluctant to let him go and he knew why; the duke was inherently selfish. He didn’t like that Gaetan wanted to do something other than contribute to the glory of the conquest. Warwolfe, as far as William was concerned, belonged to him and so did his wants and ambitions. Anything that went against what William wanted was met with resistance. Therefore, Gaetan was very careful in his reply.
“I am thinking clearly enough, my lord,” he said steadily. “The longer we discuss it, the further away Alary of Mercia travels and the longer it will take me to retrieve Kristoph. You must look at it this way – when I catch up to Alary, he will be the first man to fall under my sword. For abducting Kristoph, make no mistake – I will kill the man. With this brother gone, Edwin and Morcar and the others will be, mayhap, more willing to negotiate with you or even support you rather than resist because they realize their lives will be at stake. Alary’s death will send a definitive message to those nobles who choose to resist. So, in a sense, I will be sending a message of Norman dominance to the entire country.”
It was a manipulative statement but the duke seemed to agree, reluctant as that agreement was. “That is true,” he admitted. “Sending my Anges de Guerre to blaze the trail before me will, indeed, send a message.”
“Aye, it will, my lord.”
“But I do not want all of you to go.”
Gaetan cocked an eyebrow. His patience was growing thin. “You know that we travel as a unit,” he said. “We work as a unit. If I must choose to leave some behind, you will have extremely unhappy men on your hands. Besides… you have plenty of knights and more than enough support for a further incursion into the country. You do not need me and my men at the moment. We must bring back one of our own, my lord. Surely you understand that.”