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Authors: Kathryn Le Veque
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above all else.”
Dallan’s easy manner hardened somewhat as he gazed at Bretton. “You need not remind me,” he said. “My loyalty is yours for always. I swore fealty to you and that is not in question.”
Bretton’s gaze was deadly. “See that it is not,” he said, lingering on Dallan a moment just to make sure the man understood his message clearly. After a long pause, he turned his attention to the fourth commander at the table, sitting silently as the others conversed. “Teague, you have mentioned that Rhayder sits on an outcropping of jagged rocks and incorporates those into its defenses. When was the last time you visited Rhayder?”
Sir Teague de Lara was the last of the four commanders, the youngest at twenty years and four, and also the biggest. He was a big, silent, brooding man, long-limbed, with light brown hair and a granite-square jaw. Another knight from a fine family, the House of de Lara was one of the most powerful families on the Welsh Marches. Teague had fostered at Godric’s Castle on the Marches and had an intimate knowledge of the area, which is why Bretton had recruited him. He knew the families and the locations of much along the border, if not much in England, and had proven himself a valuable resource. Because of it, Bretton paid the man better than the others and treated him with more respect than most.
Teague was aware of his value but never made a show of it. Like the other men, he was in it for the money. The fifth son of a brother to the Lord of Trelystan, he would be inheriting little upon the death of his father. He saw his time with Bretton as a means to make his fortune and, so far, that had proven to be the case. At his young age, he was quite wealthy, and he listened carefully to Bretton’s question.
“Fifteen years ago, at least,” he replied. “I went there for a tournament when I was fostering at Godric’s. Because of the way Rhayder sits, the tournament was held on a field below while the castle sat up overhead like a great sentinel. I have told you that the rocks would be very difficult to scale and there is but one way in and out of the castle. Taking the gatehouse is the key.”
Bretton listened again to what he already knew for the most part. “At some point over the next few days, I should like to see Rhayder for myself,” he said. “Mayhap you and I can travel to the area and see the castle. In fact, I must see it in order to plan an effective assault.”
Teague nodded. “Aye, my lord,” he said, “but know that Rhayder will be one of the more difficult conquests. That castle and Four Crosses Castle are difficult simply because of the way they are built.”
Bretton nodded faintly. “That is why I am leaving Four Crosses until the end,” he said, his expression taking on a wistful hue before just as quickly vanishing. “I have not seen Four Crosses in twenty-five years but I still remember the manner in which she is perched atop a mountain. I also remember a postern gate and a secret path, which may work to our advantage.”
Teague, Dallan, and Olivier were watching him, listening to the man’s words reflect on a subject he very rarely spoke of. Teague was the first one to reply.
“I have never seen Four Crosses although I know where it is located,” he said. “What do you know of her gatehouse and defenses?”
Bretton thought back to the years of his childhood, inevitably remembering the last day he spent there without worry, remembering his father as the man had put him on a pony and allowed him to ride about in the stable yard. He could still hear the voice of Morgan de Llion telling him to sit up straight and keep his heels down. But he shook himself from further reflection, mostly because it still upset him after all these years. He focused on Teague’s question instead.
“Four Crosses has no gatehouse,” he told them. “The walls are circular, fifteen feet high in places, so the matter will be destroying the gate to gain access.
Dallan’s easy manner hardened somewhat as he gazed at Bretton. “You need not remind me,” he said. “My loyalty is yours for always. I swore fealty to you and that is not in question.”
Bretton’s gaze was deadly. “See that it is not,” he said, lingering on Dallan a moment just to make sure the man understood his message clearly. After a long pause, he turned his attention to the fourth commander at the table, sitting silently as the others conversed. “Teague, you have mentioned that Rhayder sits on an outcropping of jagged rocks and incorporates those into its defenses. When was the last time you visited Rhayder?”
Sir Teague de Lara was the last of the four commanders, the youngest at twenty years and four, and also the biggest. He was a big, silent, brooding man, long-limbed, with light brown hair and a granite-square jaw. Another knight from a fine family, the House of de Lara was one of the most powerful families on the Welsh Marches. Teague had fostered at Godric’s Castle on the Marches and had an intimate knowledge of the area, which is why Bretton had recruited him. He knew the families and the locations of much along the border, if not much in England, and had proven himself a valuable resource. Because of it, Bretton paid the man better than the others and treated him with more respect than most.
Teague was aware of his value but never made a show of it. Like the other men, he was in it for the money. The fifth son of a brother to the Lord of Trelystan, he would be inheriting little upon the death of his father. He saw his time with Bretton as a means to make his fortune and, so far, that had proven to be the case. At his young age, he was quite wealthy, and he listened carefully to Bretton’s question.
“Fifteen years ago, at least,” he replied. “I went there for a tournament when I was fostering at Godric’s. Because of the way Rhayder sits, the tournament was held on a field below while the castle sat up overhead like a great sentinel. I have told you that the rocks would be very difficult to scale and there is but one way in and out of the castle. Taking the gatehouse is the key.”
Bretton listened again to what he already knew for the most part. “At some point over the next few days, I should like to see Rhayder for myself,” he said. “Mayhap you and I can travel to the area and see the castle. In fact, I must see it in order to plan an effective assault.”
Teague nodded. “Aye, my lord,” he said, “but know that Rhayder will be one of the more difficult conquests. That castle and Four Crosses Castle are difficult simply because of the way they are built.”
Bretton nodded faintly. “That is why I am leaving Four Crosses until the end,” he said, his expression taking on a wistful hue before just as quickly vanishing. “I have not seen Four Crosses in twenty-five years but I still remember the manner in which she is perched atop a mountain. I also remember a postern gate and a secret path, which may work to our advantage.”
Teague, Dallan, and Olivier were watching him, listening to the man’s words reflect on a subject he very rarely spoke of. Teague was the first one to reply.
“I have never seen Four Crosses although I know where it is located,” he said. “What do you know of her gatehouse and defenses?”
Bretton thought back to the years of his childhood, inevitably remembering the last day he spent there without worry, remembering his father as the man had put him on a pony and allowed him to ride about in the stable yard. He could still hear the voice of Morgan de Llion telling him to sit up straight and keep his heels down. But he shook himself from further reflection, mostly because it still upset him after all these years. He focused on Teague’s question instead.
“Four Crosses has no gatehouse,” he told them. “The walls are circular, fifteen feet high in places, so the matter will be destroying the gate to gain access.
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