Chained (Chained Trilogy) (35 page)

Once their chalices were filled, Lord Theodric motioned for Caden to begin.
He stood, his eyes moving over every man seated at the table. He had chosen his clothing with care—he needed to be appear strong, as a knight, but remind them that he was also their future lord. His rich, velvet surcoat was without adornment saved for the golden thread creating a scrolling pattern across his torso. At his belt was an enameled buckle—the brown, white-capped mountain of Maignart. He wore a quilted doublet beneath that, also in black, and a simple golden chain at his throat, square disks with rubies set at their center.

They listened raptly as he told them all of it
: witnessing Asher’s death in Vor’shy, the things he’d seen in Heywick, his capture at the hands of Sir Brennus, the evidence Gwen had uncovered exonerating Asher. When he was finished, he told them of his suspicions.

“I believe that the Bainards are behind this,” he declared, watching as shock rippled over those gathered. “It makes sense,” he added quickly. “With one hand, they would use Dinasdale as a shield, with their fleet as a sword against us.
They would crush Daleraia, bringing us to our knees and under their subjection. This is no more than a plot for conquest, and by setting us against each other, King Henry has ensured that the whole of Alemere cannot rise up against him. With Dinasdale in his hands, he has unimaginable power.”

“And what of the lady?” asked Cedric Durville, stroking his chin. “She is to be wed to the Lerrothian prince, and she acted along with Sir Brennus Toustain to imprison you, further stirring the flames of strife between our families.”

“Lady Gwendolyn acted as her conscience dictated,” Caden answered. “She did what I would have done had Asher and Jarin disappeared without a trace, and the only clue to finding them was a band of Dinasdalians snooping about on my lands. She acted without the knowledge she has now, and to be fair to her, we were not treated poorly. In fact, the lady pointedly commanded her gaoler to treat us well, and even had her healers tend to the wounded. Not one of them perished of infection, malnourishment, or torture.”

“Methinks you defend the lady too
vehemently,” Jarin declared from beside him, his golden eyes burning with contempt.

“You will keep your tongue behind your teeth!” Caden thundered. “You speak in anger, and without sense. Did the lady murder Asher herself? No, it was a knight of Heywick, Sir Marcel Bauldry, working
under his own compulsions. Even his brother, Lord Humber, had no notion what Sir Marcel was about until it was too late. The actions of one man do not define the hearts of an entire kingdom.”

“Then what of this marriage to Prince Gaiwan Bainard?” Lord Alderan Goodwin challenged. “You claim that the Bainards seek to use the Toustains, but I submit to you that perhaps the Toustains are the ones using the Bainards. That family have always been a bunch of upstart snobs, constantly reminding us all of their royal blood. If anyone is thirsty for conquest, it is them.”

“I do not believe that is the way of it,” Caden declared. “The match King Henry’s idea, I was told this by a chambermaid of Seahaven herself. Lord Clarion’s true intention had been to secure an alliance with our house, not the Bainards. King Henry approached him with an offer to wed his son to Lady Gwendolyn and changed everything.”

“Now you take to gossiping with chambermaids,” Jarin scoffed. “Little wonder you sound like a woman prattling on about nothing. Dinasdale has committed a grievous offense against us, and must be punished.”

Caden’s jaw tightened to the point of snapping, and he turned to Jarin with fire in his eyes. “If you speak again, I will have you gagged.”

Jarin leapt to his feet, a hand on the hilt of his shortsword. “Try it and I’ll slit your throat!”

“Enough!” Lord Theodric thundered, on his feet now as well. “The two of you embarrass me, clucking like a couple of hens before our lords. You will conduct yourself as if you are worthy of calling yourselves my sons, or you will leave.”

“Worthy of the great Lord Theodric?” Jarin sneered. “As if we could ever be. You know, I think I will leave. Send for me when you all find your balls and this woman’s talk is over. While Caden defends the Toustain whore who would buy an alliance with her cunt,
the Bainards and Toustains are amassing a fleet at the docks of Seahaven.”

Caden let his fist fly this time, sneering in satisfaction as his knuckles connected with Jarin’s jaw. His brother staggered, but countered swiftly, lunging
at Caden with a snarl of rage. His fist found Caden’s stomach, knocking the wind from him, but he quickly countered by blackening Jarin’s eye. Jarin took him down to the stone floor and the two wrestled for a bit, trading blows, until two of Lord Alderan’s knights came forward to separate them. Jarin shrugged out of Sir Hector Urry’s hold, using the sleeve of his doublet to wipe away the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He spat a stream of red upon the stones and turned to leave.

“Bugger you, Caden,” he growled as his footfalls echoed throughout the solar. “I thought you would take my side in this.”

“I will take the side of justice,” Caden said to Jarin’s retreating back. “Whether or not we stand on different sides rests upon your shoulders, not mine.”

Jarin did not respond, and soon
he was gone, leaving Caden the center of attention. He smoothed his rumpled surcoat and turned back to the table, taking his place across from his father once more. He tried not to allow anyone to see how his tender ribs pained him after Jarin’s blows. As it was, he found his every breath brought pain. “What is this about a fleet?” he questioned once he’d taken a healthy swallow of wine. “I know nothing of this.”

“You would not,” his father answered. “The Lerrothian ships began arriving not long af
ter you escaped Seahaven, if our scouts can be believed. How did Prince Gaiwan know to send for them, if no one could know that the Toustain brothers would go missing, or that Sir Evrain would be executed? The journey from Lerrothe to Dinasdale takes weeks with a fair wind, and Sir Evrain has been dead for barely a fortnight.”

Caden lowered his eyes, his mind racing as he tried to puzzle it out.
No, he thought, that cannot be.
“You think Lady Gwendolyn had a part in this.”

Lord Theodric shrugged. “I cast no accusations on the lady, but her father and uncle are another matter. Men have long used their daughters to gain power and influence,
why should she be any different? The fact remains that a powerful fleet, comprised of Lerrothian and Dinasdalian warships, will soon set sail for the bays. They can flank us at the shore of Gythe and Brodernil, and we would be overtaken.”

“Then there is no time to waste!” Caden insisted. “We must ride for Dinasdale and put a stop to it. Lady Gwendolyn and Sir Leofred must be returned to Seahaven, it may be the only way to stop them from sailing against us.”

“I am inclined to disagree,” chimed Lord Cedric Durville. “We can use the lady and her brother as ransom for my brother, Sir Gareth, and the others imprisoned at Seahaven.”

Caden frowned. “Lord Orrick and Sir Brennus are not as patient or kind as Lady Gwendolyn. The arrival of Sir Evrain’s remains will likely kindle their hatred against us even more. They will strike, and strike hard in retaliation … we might be able to stay their hand if we offer Gwendolyn and Leofred in exchange for peace. Then, we could seal an alliance by offering Jarin to
one of their houses in marriage. Perhaps Sir Achart can be convinced to wed one of Lord Guyar’s daughters as well. If we bind our houses in marriage—”

“I would die before I saw my daughter married to one of those barbarians!” Lord Cedric thundered, rising to his feet.

Lord Thedoric placed a hand upon his shoulder. “Calm yourself, milord. The idea is a sound one, but only if the Toustains are as innocent as my son claims. I am still unconvinced. I am inclined to agree with you, the Toustain siblings make a fine pair of hostages. Arthur!”

The steward appeared from the corner of the room, where he’d been quietly listening. “Yes, milord.”

“Have the lady shackled and taken to the dungeon. She may share a cell with her brother.”

Caden felt panic overtaking them. “No!” he bellowed. “Father, do not do this, you will only make things worse.”

Lord Theodric’s face was grave. “We have no other choice, my son. I bear no ill will toward the lady, but I do not trust her family.”

“Then trust me,” he offered. “I would never seek to steer you wrong.
”

“I am sorry,” his father replied with a shake of his head. “Arthur—”

“Wait,” Caden said, halting the steward. “Let me do it.”

Lord Theodric frowned. “What does it matter who performs the task, so long as it is done?”

“It matters,” Caden insisted. “I promised the lady when I brought her here that no one would harm her. Now you want me to break that promise. I owe it to her to explain why.”

Lord Theodric nodded. “
No one will harm her, you have my word. A stay in a cell will hardly kill her. I want it done now, this night.”

Caden bowed to his father, left with no choice but to obey him.
Mayhap, Lord Theodric was right, he decided as he left the room, heading straight for Gwen’s chamber. His attraction to Gwen might just have blinded him to the truth. Perhaps this was for the best.

Still, he was not looking forward to what he was going to have to do. While he’d always known she could never be a permanent part of his life, Caden would never have wished for her to hate him.

***

Gwen held her taper aloft as she made her way past the
great hall and toward the staircase she’d watched Caden ascend just that afternoon with his lover, Lady Esa. The young squire who had delivered the message insisted that Caden wished to speak with her immediately. She’d wondered why he would send for her when he’d said he would be the one to come to her, but Gwen decided it did not matter. Her only thoughts were of what had been decided in Lord Theodric’s solar. That, and Leofred. He’d been brought to her as promised, in chains, but otherwise unharmed. He’d been beaten, she could see, likely for information, or even just for spite, but Gwen could not see that he’d been tortured or ill-used. He’d been angry to find her within Minas Bothe, when he’d thought her safe at Seahaven.

“What have you done?” he railed at her. “It would kill father to lose you as well. Gwen, you must go home.”

“I will,” she’d assured him, “once I am certain that war has been averted.” She smiled. “And not until you are free to come with me. I will not abandon you, Leofred.”

There had not been much time for talking, when the guards had hardly allowed him to remain for ten minutes, but it did her heart good to see him.
Achart, Leofred, and Jorin, all safe and sound,
she thought,
but for how long?

Gwen
supposed it would all depend upon what had been decided tonight, so she hastened to the west tower. The squire had told her where to go, and she found Caden’s door easily, knocking softly. Thankfully, the entire castle was asleep and no one had witnessed her walk across the keep. The squire opened the door and ushered her inside before disappearing through it himself, leaving them alone. She found Caden standing near his massive bed, his shoulder resting against one of the large, carved oak posters stretching up toward the ceiling. He was devastatingly handsome in black velvet, the surcoat tailored to hug his torso before falling away to his knees. She forgot her earlier dismay over coming face to face with his lover as heat spread in her middle, reminding her of just how badly she wanted him for herself. Candles burned from brass sconces and in candelabras upon several surfaces, enveloping them in a soft, yellow glow. Braziers and a roaring stone fireplace warmed the room.

“I’m glad you’ve come,
” he said softly. He came toward her, his hands reaching out. Gwen went to him without protest, resting her head upon his chest. He held her and his body sagged, as if with relief; his sigh ruffled the hair at her crown.

“Tell me,” she said, staring up at him, her hands resting on his chest. “Do not hold anything back.”

His face was grim, his eyes turbulent. “I believe the Bainards wish to set our realms against each other.”

Gwen frowned. “The Bainards, but why?”

“Conquest,” he declared. “It is my belief that King Henry approached your father and asked for your hand for Gaiwan so that they could control Dinasdale through you.”

She gasped. “
Of course,” she whispered. “Why else would a prince wish to marry me? Gods, my parents were so foolish.”

“Not foolish, merely hopeful. Besides, why would a prince not desire you?”

“You seek to flatter me. Will your lover not be angry to know that I am here so late?”

He
quieted her with a swift kiss. “Silence, wench. Lady Esa was my lover once, but no longer. My mother has beseeched me to take a wife, and I must do my duty to Minas Bothe, to Daleraia. I have set her aside.”

The confession did not make Gwen feel any better, not when she could never be the one he took for his bride. “If you are setting all others aside in search of a wife, then why are you kissing me now, Caden? Why are you holding me?”

His arms tightened around her and he kissed her again, deeper this time, and longer. “Because you are here, and I cannot help myself,” he said. “But we must cease kissing and talk, Gwen. Ah, this is difficult. I do not know how to tell you.”