Warwolfe (de Wolfe Pack Book 0)(36)
William eyed him a moment before going to the pewter pitcher of wine and pouring two cups. He brought one over to Gaetan, all the while pondering the situation and what needed to be done. Truth be told, he knew he couldn’t deny Gaetan’s wish to save Kristoph de Lohr from Alary of Mercia’s clutches. Gaetan and Kristoph were like brothers and to deny Gaetan would only incite rage in the man. He didn’t need his Warwolfe directing hatred against him. Therefore, he had to be clever about this so they could both get what they wanted out of the situation. He had to make this work for them both.
“You know I do not want you to leave me, not now,” he said, grasping at the last vestiges of resistance. “I have great need of you, Gate. But I understand that you must rescue Kristoph. I understand that all too well, for Kristoph is a great knight and a loyal friend. I have tremendous respect for him. What if I wish for you to leave du Reims and de Russe here?”
“They will want to go.”
“But I have great need of them. If I cannot have you, then at least leave them with me.”
“I must respectfully refuse, my lord.”
William frowned. “Then let us say I deny your request to go at all. What would you do then?”
Gaetan took a drink of the sweet red wine. “If you were in my position, what would you do, my lord?”
William’s frown turned into a sly grin, knowing that Gaetan had him cornered. “I would disobey.”
“So would I.”
William laughed softly. “That would not do for either of us,” he said. “I am far too fond of you to punish you if that were to happen, so I suppose that it is best that I do not deny you. Are you sure I cannot change your mind?”
“Alas, my lord, you cannot.”
“Then I will, therefore, give you permission to go, but you will do something for me when you do.”
“Anything, my lord.”
William’s dark eyes glittered. The man was a grand opportunist. Since he couldn’t hold Gaetan back, he knew he had to make the best of it. If Gaetan wanted something from him, then he wanted something from Gaetan.
“Take a quarter of my army with you and subdue Mercia and the Midlands when you go,” he said. “After you find Kristoph, you will begin the conquest of the heart of England. I intend to remain to the south to claim what I can before moving on London, but you… you will go into the heart of England and you will subdue it. With my army claiming the south, including Winchester where the royal treasury is situated, and you in the heart of England to bring it under Norman control, we can bring the Saxons to their knees. Think on it, Gate – we shall have this entire country subdued within the year.”
It was an enormous responsibility and an enormous honor William was asking of Gaetan. It was a task that only a commander of Gaetan’s caliber would be capable of and Gaetan didn’t take the responsibility lightly. He knew this was the kind of directive that would have a man leaving a great mark on his legacy – beyond his Warwolfe persona, beyond his great reputation as a knight, lay a man who hoped to leave a legacy for his children one day that didn’t involve memories or reputations one couldn’t use to buy food or clothe men. His children, when they came, would need something tangible for that.
This was the opportunity to get it.
“I am grateful for your trust, my lord,” Gaetan finally said. “When I do this thing, what shall be my reward?”
William snorted at his ever-shrewd Warwolfe; they thought very much alike, indeed. “As great a reward as I can give you,” he said. “There are great riches to the north, you know. I have studied this country and I know her well. There is an area north towards Chester called the Black Country, as it is rich with coal and other elements that can make a man extremely wealthy. The largest town is called Hamtun where there is a large abbey, I am told. The town deals in coal and sheep. Do what I ask of you and I shall make you the Earl of Hamtun and all of the riches that belong to her. I want my Warwolfe to be happy.”
Gaetan liked the sound of that. In fact, it was extremely generous. “No man will know it is my town unless we call it Wolfeshamtun,” he said, unable to let go of his pride, not even for a moment. “If I am going to rule, then let all men know who rules.”
William nodded, seeing the gleam of satisfaction in Gaetan’s eye. “Agreed,” he said. “Call it Wolfeshamtun or Wolverhamtun, or whatever you wish. It shall be your domain, Warwolfe. Go north and conquer.”
Gaetan was feeling increasingly eager to get on with what needed to be done, now fueled by a substantial reward from the man who would be king. Sensing that their conversation was coming to a close or, at the very least, wanting it to come to a close, he bowed his head respectfully to William before turning for the tent opening.
“I will need to depart today, as quickly as possible, my lord,” he said. “If you are agreeable, I will have du Reims and de Reyne select men from the army to accompany us. I have been so involved in Kristoph’s disappearance that I am ashamed to say that I do not even know the strength of our remaining army other than my own men.”
William watched him as he walked away, a very busy man, indeed. “And how many of your men survived?”
Gaetan paused by the tent opening. “I brought two thousand men with me,” he said. “I have lost nearly two hundred with nearly the same number wounded.”