The Blue Falcon (50 page)

Authors: Robyn Carr

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #General, #Historical

Conan stood before his friend and teacher. His hair blew around his face and his eyes were moist. The bow was still in his hand.

“
I taught you to use the bow,” Theodoric said quietly.

Conan nodded and looked up at the aging knight.

“
I could not have thought I made your aim perfect for this.”

“
You taught me how to use the bow,” Conan said.
“
You taught me how and when to kill.”

“
He would have
--
”

“
I would not have let him slay you, my lord.”

“
You could have killed him long before now. You could have had your vengeance.”

“
Tedric would never have met me on equal ground, my lord. I could have killed him, but only in the same way he would have killed me, through trickery and lies. However profitable the victory, it means little if there is no honor.”

***

Sir Tedric was taken to the northern lands to take his final rest on his father’s lands. Chandra did not presume so much as to think herself welcome at that burial. Instead she went with Mallory and Thurwell to find her son.

Mallory felt the need to return Edythe quickly to her father and brother that all might see her well and content. Thurwell was left with the chore of escorting Chandra, Wynne and baby Hugh to Cordell. And in Cordell there was much to be done to see that village returned to the tidy and peaceful place it once had been. Thurwell’s helpful hand was put to good use. He was invited to stay on for as long as he desired. Thurwell worked hard every day, closely with William. He seemed to thrive in the little burgh, but Chandra soon understood that there was more of a reason for him to stay. The presence of her woman, Wynne, seemed to remove a season from his years with every shy smile he earned from her.

June brought a green to the land that made every heart glad, and the planting was done with great optimism. All those living in Cordell felt the freedom and joy, and the spring weddings and celebrations were more festive than ever before.

Chandra took great pleasure in the contentment she saw all around her, but her heart fought to maintain hope. Word came from Anselm that the family had returned to find Lady Udele dead and much of that village destroyed by fire. With so much destruction in both Cordell and Anselm, Chandra did not wonder that she received no word from Conan. She
s
truggled against doubt and decided that if she heard nothing from him for yet another fortnight she would send her own messenger to Anselm. She could not invite him to her bosom; he would have to come of his own free will. But she prayed that her missive would at least be answered in his own hand.

Late on a June night, as she sat on a stool near the hearth and brushed her hair, she heard a sound in the direction of the balcony. She smiled to herself as she remembered nights past when that same sound brought great changes. With soft, measured steps, she moved to her chamber door and threw the bolt
--
a lock replaced since the battle in her own bed
chamber. When she turned again toward the terrace, Conan stood in the open door, his hands on his hips and a sly smile on his face. She frowned at his mischief, but shortly it melted into a grin.

“
With all our troubles past, can you not beat your path to my front door and honorably ask for my hand?” she asked impishly.

“
It seemed too easy.” He shrugged.
“
I have become suspicious of a woman won easily.”

“
But, sir knight,” she replied in feigned hurt,
“
you com
promise my reputation. Surely my men know you have passed this way.”

“
Sir William is most helpful; but then he was the man to tell me I have a son.” He raise
d a brow and peered at her.
“
If
it pleases you, I shall leave by yon cliffs and ride in through your guard in the morning and plead my case before wit
nesses.”

She laughed softly and her eyes glowed.
“
I have seen that whatever we have shared, however innocent, has not been our secret. Indeed, your presence will be welcome here. And after all I have been through to have you, do you think I would allow you to climb those cliffs another time?”

“
I have grown fond of the act,” he said with a smile.

“
And I have not slept a night through without hearing phantom footfalls on my porch.”

He opened his arms and smiled.
“
Then come to me, lady. I have worked hard for this day. Show me some ease.”

Epilogue

King Richard’s release from Duke Leopold was a long time coming, and a bitter king returned to England. The English had been slow to pay his ransom and in fact had not raised the entire sum, forcing the king to leave behind several hostages to be held until the balance was paid. And if that insult was not enough, he returned to find his kingdom filled with strife and dissension: his brother, Count John,
had planned to take possession o
f the throne.

Richard returned from the Crusade a hardened man. He was still the recklessly brave and hot-tempered knight who had led so many into battle, but this already sturdy man was further toughened by four years of privations and imprison
ment. He was not likely to yield anything. And returning from a war in which precious few who fought for him were English, he did not greet the overfed lords and earls with much affection.

The king called a meeting of the great council in Notting
ham, in the center of Count John’s lands, and made his business short. He restrained his younger brother and de
manded the balance of his ransom. His right to rule was quickly reestablished.

King Richard was roughened and unforgiving, but in his heart there was still room for remembering loyalty and good service. When the council ended, there was time for paying courteous calls to his most ardent supporters: those who had fought for him without hesitation and who would support him now. Pleasure was not the order of the visits, but neither was he bent to business alone.

Anselm rested between Nottingham and London, and
Richard sent word to the lord of Anselm that he would pass through and spend a few nights. Many scurried about the huge keep to set every detail into perfection, and castellans and family traveled from afar to be present for the royal visit.

When the grand day finally arrived, the April sun shone brightly in the year 1194. Flags and banners flew from the bastions and baileys, and soldiers in their finest dress strode along the wall. Within the outer wall a carpet, a royal path, was run from the gatehouse through the courtyard.

The king and his men rode across the bridge, and Lord Conan of Anselm was there to greet him. Conan fell to one knee before his sovereign, and when he rose he stood equal in height to his king.
“
Welcome, my liege,” he said.

Richard extended his hand in friendship and Conan re
ceived it, grasping it in fondness.

Richard looked about the grand keep and noted the many visitors and spectators. He was not one to ignore blithely pageantry on his behalf, and he smiled in appreciation. Anselm was one of the largest and richest holdings in England.

“
Yea, this is a fine place,” Richard said.
“
I regret that I could not visit this holding while your father was alive.”

Conan laughed softly, a sentimental light shining in his eyes.
“
Though he is gone, Sire, I feel that he watches over this keep and guides my every move. He was your loyal servant to the end of his days.”

“
The de Corbneys have always been a strong family. I am certain they always shall be. And,” he said, looking over Conan’s shoulder and seeing those gathered near the door to the hall,
“
I see the family grows.”

Conan nodded and gestured with his arm for his king to precede him down the length of linen meant for his passage. With long strides, Richard moved toward the group of nobles and ladies that greeted him. He paused before the first man for Conan’s introduction.

“
Sire, my brother, Sir Galen. Stoddard Keep is his and he guards it well for the crown and our family. That is where our finest horses have been bred for many years.”

Galen fell to one knee before his king and Richard bade him rise, taking his hand in friendship.

“
Sir Mallory,” Conan said next.

Before Mallory could bow himself, Richard took his hand.

“
Greetings, friend,” he said with warmth. Both knew instant
ly that reminiscences of the Crusade would fill the night.

“
His wife, Lady Edythe, my sister.”

Edythe curtsied low before the king and upon rising could not resist her own introduction. S
he moved aside slightly and showed
a serving woman holding a squalling infant from hind her.
“
Our daughter, Sire. Eleanor.”

The king smiled in pleasure and ran a finger along the infant’s face.

“
Sir Mallory keeps Phalen Castle for the crown and our family,” Conan said.

Before Conan could introduce Thurwell, Richard took his hand in established camaraderie.
“
My wife, Sire. Lady Wynne,” Thurwell finally said.

“
Sir Thurwell serves the crown and our family by maintain
ing Cordell, a small but very important holding on our eastern coast.”

The king nodded his approval and moved along to the end of this line of noble guests. Conan then presented to him a woman of rare beauty.
“
Lady Chandra, Sire.” In spite of the heavy roundness of her belly, Chandra curtsied gracefully and found the king’s hand outstretched to aid her in rising. The warm beauty in the lady’s eyes melted Richard’s cold heart, and the king saw that Conan had done well for himself. Beside Chandra was a lad of nearly four years.
“
Master Hugh, Sire. My son,” Conan said.

In the blue of the boy’s eyes and the darkness of his hair, Richard could plainly see that he was Conan’s child. But the king knew that Conan had only just buried his wife before joining the Crusade. There was a twinkle in Richard’s eye when he turned to his host. He reasoned rumor, this once at least, was accurate.
“
You had more to return to than you knew,” the king said.

“
Yea, Sire,” Conan said proudly.
“
Much more than I knew.”

Richard looked at the boy again and he could see promise. He would be as strong and powerful as his father. For the first time since returning to England, the king felt some pride in his subjects. With only a few he would hold together his realm, if those few had the skill and honor of Sir Conan.

“
Come into my hall, Sire, and let us make you welcome.”

The king gave a sigh of genuine appreciation and offered
Conan’s wife his arm. She lightly laid her hand atop his.
“
If my eye does not deceive me, I may be in residence for another grand event,” he said, looking down at her swollen middle.

“
It is indeed possible, Sire,” she replied quietly.

“
Chandra?” he queried.
“
The
name is neither French nor English.”

“
Nay, Sire,” she answered.

“
I have heard the name in my travels. Do you know what it means?”

“
I know the meaning, Sire,” she replied somewhat shyly.

“
It fits you well,” he said.
“
Your beauty does shine brighter than the stars.” He stopped and looked down at her for a moment.
“
If your loyalty to your lord is as bright as your eyes, he is a lucky man.”

Chandra looked at her husband and then returned her gaze to her king.
“
If my eyes are bright, Sire, ‘tis for his loyalty to me.”

Be sure to check out Robyn
’
s other historical novels, including

THE TROUBADOUR’S ROMANCE