Dark Deceptions: A Regency and Medieval Collection of Dark Romances(129)

Keller shook his head. “Nay,” he replied. “I will have her brought to you. You two may remain together, in your chamber, until we sort this through.”

“But what about my father?”

“I will question him personally.”

Although still apprehensive, Chrystobel was satisfied by his answers enough so that she willingly took the narrow stairs to the next level where her bower was. Keller followed her into the chamber, one he had been in a scant hour before. The bed was still messy and the bowl of water and linen rag that Izlyn had been using to tend her sister’s bloodied mouth were still on the table.

Keller looked around the room, noting the small size of the bed. He couldn’t help but think that it would make consummating their marriage a bit tricky, for he wasn’t entirely sure they could both fit on the bed side by side. He might have to spend all night lying on top of her, which wasn’t an entirely terrible thought. A soft body against his rough flesh was something he’d not felt in years. The mere thought was enough to cause him to break into a sweat.

But he shook those visions from his mind, as tempting as they were, to focus on the moment at hand. Chrystobel was over by the hearth now, stoking it, to ward off the chill of the room.

“My lady,” Keller said, meeting her gaze when she turned to look at him. “I asked you a question today, twice, which you refused to answer, but hear me now: I will ask you this question and you will not avoid it. You will not lie to me, either. I expect nothing less than total truth from you or we will have a very difficult relationship from this moment forward. Is this in any way unclear to you?”

Chrystobel was looking at him with a mixture of fear and dread. “It is clear, my lord.”

Keller’s gaze lingered on her. “Very well,” he said after a moment. “You will tell me if you believe your brother is behind the arrow that injured my knight.”

Chrystobel hesitated. “If you are asking me if I believe him capable of such a thing, then the answer is yes,” she replied. “He is indeed capable of the action.”

“Do you believe he did it?”

She shrugged unsteadily. “That is difficult to say,” she said carefully, not wanting to anger or provoke him. “He might have had someone else do it for him. At times, Gryffyn likes to bully others into carrying out his unsavory tasks. Other times, he will simply do it himself. It mostly depends on what kind of mood he is in.”

“Does he have men at Nether who serve him directly?”

Chrystobel shook her head. Somehow, she didn’t feel much like defending her brother against this latest onslaught. If she did, it would go badly for her, she could tell. She struggled not to think herself a traitor for divulging what she could.

“He does not have men who serve him directly, but there are men who will only listen to him,” she said quietly. “There are at least six of them – Dewey, Glyn, Owain, Hwyel, Moeig, and Meustyn. They are soldiers, not knights, and they will do my brother’s bidding without hesitation.”

“Where are these men now?”

“More than likely in Tower Day in their quarters.”

Keller was somewhat pleased that she was being forthcoming with information about her brother even though the sensible part of him, the professional knight, told him not to trust her completely. They were still, in many ways, enemies and although he didn’t believe she would deliberately mislead him, it would be prudent of him to at least be somewhat cautious of her information.

“Does your father have any knights?” he asked.

“Two,” she replied. “Older men. They will not be much trouble to you.”

“What are their names?”

“Sir Wynne and Sir Rhun.”

“And where are they?”

She shrugged. “More than likely in bed,” she said. “They are old, as I mentioned, and tend to retire at sunset. You would find them in Tower Twilight.”

Keller digested the information. It was the most forthcoming and talkative she had been since their introduction. He still couldn’t decide how much to trust or believe her, but at this point he was willing to take a little on faith. He had little choice.

“I thank you for conveying your knowledge,” he finally said. “Now you will tell me where you think your brother is. A lair where he would hide, mayhap?”

Chrystobel nodded. “The top level of Tower Twilight,” she said. “It is his private domain.”

“Tower Twilight is where George was injured.”

“I know.”

Keller’s gaze lingered on her a moment but she met his eyes without reserve. It gave him more confidence, knowing that liars usually had difficulty making eye contact. She had not looked him in the eye when she had given him the weak explanation of her injuries earlier. That fact alone told him that, this time, she was telling the truth. He was quickly coming to see that his wife could not easily lie, which was something of a relief. With a nod of his head, to thank her for her truthfulness, he turned for the door.

“Remain here,” he told her. “Do not leave this room for any reason. Is that clear?”

“It is, my lord.”

“I will return your sister to you.”

“My thanks, my lord.” Keller was nearly through the door when she called out to him. “My lord?”