The Falls of Erith (39 page)

She
batted her eyelashes sweetly at him and he took her hand, leading her back into
the hall which was now completely empty. The dogs were snoring in the corner
and the hearth was snapping dully with a low fire. Dallas took her over by the
hearth and sat her down on the great table that had been strongly reinforced in
the past few days. 

“Sit
,” he commanded softly as he began to sweep. “Tell me how your day has been so
far.”

She
sat obediently and watched him sweep.”It has been well enough,” she told him.
“The cook and I inventoried the stores this morning. I fear we will be out of
white flour in a few days.”

He
glanced up at her as he swept the old rushes and food into the hearth. “We must
remedy that.”

“Can
we go to town?”

He
shook his head. “You will stay here,” he said. “I want you here where it is
safe.”

She
was disappointed, sitting somewhat dejected as he continued to sweep. “It is
not
that
safe here,” she said pointedly. “The walls are falling down and
if someone was truly intent on breaching this place, they could.”

His
eyebrows lifted. “Have you not seen the grounds lately?” he asked, incredulous.
“My soldiers have been repairing night and day. The walls are being rebuilt,
madam, along with everything else. Both portcullises are now working.  Erith is
returning to her former glory as we speak.”

She
made a face. “I have not been outside as of late,” she admitted. “I have spent
most of my days in the kitchen or here in the hall.  Have you seen how nice the
keep looks?”

He
could see that the rebuilding of the castle didn’t impress her nearly as much
as the living space that she was in charge of.  He smiled at her. “It is an
amazing transformation,” he assured her. “You have done an exceptional job.”

Brooke
smiled bashfully. “Do you think so?”

“I
do.”

Her
smile deepened. “Do you think it would be too much if we were to get some fine
chairs for the hall? And perhaps even rugs if we have enough money?”

He
nodded. “Perhaps,” he replied, sweeping briskly. “We shall have the finest keep
in all of Cumbria someday.”

She
looked down at her fingernails, picking at them. “I was hoping that… well,
hoping that….”

He
looked at her when she didn’t finish. “Hoping what?”

She
shrugged, suddenly looking uncomfortable. “Well, I was hoping we could go
shopping in town together to purchase flour and other fine things for our
keep,” she continued picking at her nails. “I do not see much of you while we
are at Erith. When we travel, it seems as if I see you a great deal.  You always
seem to be near me.”

He
paused after sweeping a pile of crumbs into the hearth.  “I am sorry,” he
suddenly didn’t feel like sweeping anymore and went over to sit next to her.
“Things are very busy at Erith these days. If I had a choice, I would certainly
not spend my time away from you. But it is necessary. The castle and her walls
must be fortified.”

She
gazed up at him, smiling faintly. “I know.”

He
lifted an eyebrow. “We must repair the fortress as much as possible before
Gloucester comes.”

She
suddenly looked fearful. “Will he really come?”

Dallas
shrugged, realizing he didn’t want to frighten her more than she probably
already was. “It is entirely possible. In any case, we must be prepared.”

She
looked up at him a moment longer before timidly laying her head against his
broad shoulder. Dallas dropped the broom and wrapped both arms around her
fiercely. He hadn’t even been married to her for a week yet he felt such
excitement and contentment when she was in his arms, it was as if he had been
dreaming of it all of his life.  Brooke’s innocence, her beauty, her sweetness
touched him like no one else ever had. The beautiful wild rose he had once
imagined her to be was taming admirably.  He still had trouble believing it.

“Do
not fret, love,” he murmured into the top of her blond head. “Erith will be
strong. Our fortress will not fall.”

She
responded by wrapping her arms around his waist, tightly. “I do not care about
Erith so much as I care about you,” she whispered. “I have never seen a battle
before until the day we returned from Milnthorpe.  I am afraid for you.”

He
smiled faintly, pulling her closer. “No need,” he said softly. “All will be
well.”

She
lifted her head and looked up at him. “But how do you know? Those men will be
trying to kill you.”

“Men
have been trying to kill me for five years. No one has yet succeeded.”

She
frowned at him, unhappy. “That does not mean that your luck will hold out
forever,” she was sorry she said it even as the words left her mouth. She
climbed onto the bench, her knees on the wood and her body pressed up against
her husband.   While she toyed with his shoulder-length hair, Dallas kept his
arms wrapped around her slender torso.

“I
just do not want anything to happen to you, ‘tis all,” she insisted softly. “I
am worried.”

He
sighed faintly as he rubbed her back affectionately. “I appreciate that, but
you must not worry,” he assured her. “I can do well for myself.”

She
smiled timidly, accepting his kiss by throwing her arms around his neck and
strangling him.  It was becoming quite a habit with her and he laughed softly
in his throat even as his lips fused to hers.

“Can
I please come to town with you?” she asked, her mouth against his.

“Nay,”
he murmured as his lips suckled hers.

“Why
not?”

He
was becoming upswept in the lust and passion that seemed to explode whenever he
took her in his arms.  He was in the process of tasting heavily of her when he
heard a soft cough behind him. Somewhat startled, he turned around swiftly to
see Braxton standing several feet behind him.

Braxton’s
expression was grave, a far cry from the jovial man from just a few minutes
prior. “I am sorry to intrude,” he said, looking at Dallas. “You will come with
me.”

Simply
by the man’s tone, Dallas didn’t ask questions; he went immediately to
Braxton’s side, followed by Brooke. But Braxton grasped her by the elbow before
she could follow them.

“Nay,
lady,” he said softly. “You remain here. I only require your husband.”

Brooke’s
big blue eyes followed her husband and Braxton from the keep. When they had quit
the keep, she reckoned it would not hurt if she were to go to the door and see
where they were going. So she moved to the open entry and stood there, watching
them as they disembarked the staircase and headed towards the inner
gatehouse.  

Brooke 
watched them move towards a cart that was parked just inside the gatehouse,
surrounded by several of Braxton’s men.  There was a buzz going about as more
men dropped what they were doing to come and view the contents of the cart. As
men moved aside to allow Braxton and Dallas access, Brooke suddenly saw what
had them so interested.

The
cart was full of dismembered body parts; arms, legs, torsos and heads.  It was
blood and carnage like she had never seen and Brook’s horror was full blown.

Dallas
heard her scream from the keep.

***

“What
do you plan to do, Braxton?” Gray’s voice was soft with concern.

Braxton
gazed down at his wife and daughter; Brooke was cradled against her mother’s
chest, sobbing softly. Gray was composed as she comforted her daughter but there
was fear in her expression.   She was remaining strong for Brooke’s sake; the
young woman was positively distraught and for good reason. Gloucester had sent
back the men who had escorted the bodies of Roger and William home back in
pieces. The mood surrounding Erith was now dark and somber; bad tidings were in
the air. What they had feared was upon them.

“You
will not like my answer,” Braxton sighed faintly. “Gloucester sent three of my
men back dead but left the fourth man alive to deliver a message. I am not
going to sit here and wait for Gloucester to come down around us.”

Gray
lowered her gaze, rocking her daughter gently as the great hall filled with
pregnant, horrible anticipation in the wake of Braxton’s statement. She could
hear men outside shouting and sounding extremely busy; she didn’t want to look
outside to see what they were doing. She had a suspicion. Braxton’s reply only
increased her anxiety.

“Tell
me what you are planning,” she begged quietly.

Braxton
heard footfalls entering the hall, glancing to Dallas as the man entered the
room in full battle armor. He turned back to his wife.

“I
ride for Elswick Castle, the seat of Roger de Clare,” he said quietly. “I will
lay siege and take the castle a prize.”

Gray
didn’t say anything; she simply closed her eyes and held her daughter tightly. 
She knew of Elwick Castle, the formidable bastion inhabited by the de Clares. 
As Dallas reached down to gently pull Brooke from her grasp, Gray stood up to
face Braxton.

“Braxton,”
she murmured.  “I would never dream of interfering in military matters, but you
surely know that an attack upon Elswick is a critical undertaking.”

He
put his arm around her, leading her away from where Dallas was comforting
Brooke. What he needed to say was for her ears alone.

“You
must understand something so there is no mistake,” he lowered his voice as they
made their way towards the keep entry. “The bodies of those men returned from
de Clare were only the beginning. Gloucester plans to attack and he will do to
every man and woman at Erith what he did to my soldiers. He will destroy us.”

By
this time, Gray had come to a stop, gazing at him with incredible fear.  She
was struggling to keep the tears at bay. “So you plan to attack them first?”
she hissed. “How will attacking Elswick make any difference?”

He
lifted an eyebrow. “It will make a difference because I intend to confiscate
Elswick and hold the remainder of Roger’s family hostage as a guarantee that
Gloucester will leave Erith alone.” As Gray watched, Braxton suddenly turned into
the calculating mercenary before her very eyes. She had never seen this side of
him, ever.  “I might return the wife at some point, but I will keep the
children as insurance against de Clare’s good behavior.”

She
stared at him. “Oh… Braxton,” she sighed heavily, feeling ill and saddened.
“You would do this? They are only children, after all.”

“Gloucester
would do the same and not give it any thought. The man will know the meaning of
what it is to be ruthless before I am finished with him.”

Gray
could see the cold blooded killer in his eyes and it frightened her; she’d only
known the man to be sweet, warm and generous. The transformation was shocking.
But upon reflection, she knew that Braxton was the most feared mercenary in
England. She was beginning to see why. After a moment, she sighed heavily and
looked away.

“I
will not tell you how to conduct your business, for these are matters of which
I know little,” she said quietly. “But I do ask that you remember the children
are innocent in all of this, just as Brooke and I are. War is a man’s domain. 
I would plead with you to deal mercifully with the children.”

Braxton
wasn’t oblivious to the way he sounded; he could see in her expression how
fearful and disappointed she was.  He was well aware she had never seen this
side of him, the battle-hardened and brutal warrior, because he had meant it
that way.  But now the time had come for her to see what he was capable of. He
took a couple of steps towards her, taking her hand in his and bringing it to
his lips.

“I
have always considered myself a merciful man when the situation called for it,”
he whispered as he kissed her fingers. “I realize this is distasteful to you
but you must understand that it is necessary.  I will kill, maim and destroy
whoever stands in my way in my quest to protect you and Brooke.  And that is
what this is about, Gray; protection and survival.  I intend that Erith and her
inhabitants will survive.”

She
looked at him, understanding what he was telling her.  But understanding
brought greater fright.  “Then you ride to battle,” she whispered.  “This is
all so new to me and I am not ashamed to admit that I am terrified for you.”

Braxton
could see the tears forming in her eyes. He put his arms around her, holding
her tightly and whispering soothingly in her ear.

“Shush,”
he murmured, rocking her gently. “Have you so little faith in my military
prowess?”

The
tears were coming now as she felt his warmth, his strength, against her and
struggled not to imagine what it would be like without him.

“Oh,
Braxton,” she whispered against his ear. “I have only just found you. I could
not bear it if you were taken away so swiftly. I could not live without you.”

He
took her face in his hands, kissing her cheeks. “You will not have to,” he
assured her softly. “But I must make a preemptive move against Gloucester. I
have no choice if we are to know a measure of peace.”