The Gorgon (47 page)

“You are de Moray?” he asked.

“Aye, my lord.”

“The one they call The Gorgon?”

“Aye, my lord.”

“Why do they call you this?”

“Because I fly the Gorgon banner.”

“I will again ask why.”

Bose sighed faintly, although no
one could hear him. Still, there was some hesitance in his manner. “Because the
Gorgon is a fearsome female demon from mythology,” he said. “To me, it
represents my former mother in law. You see, my lord, the time when I was
beginning my career on the tournament circuit was a particularly vicious period
in my association with the woman. My wife had just died in childbirth and Margot
blamed me for her death. So I commissioned the Gorgon banner to represent her,
as the one who made every attempt to ruin my life. She is still trying. The
banner was meant as an insult but it has become my symbol.”

“You draw inspiration from such a
thing?”

“It reminds me daily to defeat the
obstacles that have been given me.”

In just those few sentences,
Eggardon could see that the prisoner was sane and strong. Oddly, he was
impressed by the man. After a moment, he gestured weakly.

"I will hear your side of
this, Sir Bose." It was a polite command.

In spite of having spent the past
six days in the dungeon, Bose was remarkably groomed and composed. Thanks to
his new brothers-in-law, one of whom had remained constantly by his side as he
wait trial within the bowels of Chaldon, he had been provided with a good deal
of comfort and luxuries - clean clothes, a fine bed, and his wife's constant
presence. The only reason Bose hadn't asked for Summer's permanent company was
because he could hardly stand to see her within the moss-ridden walls as it
was. Every time she left him, her sneezes threatened to overcome her and his
guilt was great for forcing her to endure his terrible conditions.

During this time, Bose had been
informed of the entire circumstance regarding Margot's influence on Edward's
change of heart and in truth, he wasn't surprised. There wasn't anything his
mother-in-law would not do to wreak havoc upon him and he did not even find it
remarkable that, somehow, she had aligned herself with Breck Kerry. A good deal
became clear regarding the motives behind Edward's change of mind as Bose came
to realize Margot's involvement.

But that did not matter to him
anymore. Nothing mattered any longer but the love of his new wife.  Facing Lord
Bruce, he found that he was eager to be done with the idiocy at hand.

"'Tis very simple, my
lord," his baritone voice was even. "I was given verbal permission to
marry the lady in the presence of a witness. Before I was able to put the
betrothal to paper, Breck Kerry used lies and coercion to convince Lord Edward
to change his mind. Even though Breck possesses a written betrothal, it is
invalid because the lady was already betrothed to me at the time. Claiming my
right, I proceeded to marry her."

Bruce sighed faintly, mulling
over the concise explanation. "You are saying, in fact, that Breck's
written permission was given after your verbal sanction?"

"Aye, my lord."

"And you have a witness that
will attest to this?"

"Aye, my lord. Sir Ian du
Bonne will testify on my behalf."

Seated beside Summer, Ian
immediately rose in support of Bose's claim but Lord Bruce gestured him to
remain seated for the moment. Currently, he was involved in the meat of the
prisoner's deposition and continued to focus on the massive knight.

"Even if this is true, Sir
Bose, you realize that a written contract is far more binding than a verbal
pledge."

Bose's expression did not waiver.
"Lord Edward gave his word. I consider that as valid as any written
pledge."

Bruce pondered the steady answer.
"But if you did not have your witness, it would simply be your word
against Lord Edward if he denies having given permission. Who is to say that
the tale of a verbal sanction wasn't something you and your alleged witness
invented simply to support your claim to an illegal marriage?"

The thought had never occurred to
Bose. For the first time, he tore his gaze away from the Marquis and focused on
Edward, seated next to Margot on an overstuffed chair. "Has the baron, in
fact, denied giving me his sanction, my lord?"

Bruce looked to Edward as well,
expecting an answer from the pale, overweight man. Edward, sensing that he had
become the focus of attention, shifted uncomfortably in his chair and Bose was
not overly astonished when Margot whispered in the man's ear encouragingly. In
truth, nothing the woman did surprised him any longer.

"My lord," Edward
cleared his throat, his gaze shifty as he struggled not to look at his
disgusted, angered sons. "As I indicated upon your arrival, I was quite
drunk on the night in question. Sir Bose... well, he says I gave permission.
And so does my son Ian. But, quite simply, I cannot remember for certain what,
in fact, happened."

Sighs of disbelief and concern
arose among the listening gallery, including a loud gasp from Summer herself.
Ian, his face taut with fury, rose to his feet once more and faced his father
across the dimly-lit room.

"I was there, Father,"
his teeth were clenched. "You most certainly gave your permission for Bose
to marry my sister."

Edward's expression was filled
with desperation. Clearly, he felt as if he were arguing with an enemy and not
a man whom he had sired. "So you say, Ian, but I was drunk that eve and...
truthfully, I can recall very little. I do not know if...."

"Then you are accusing me of
lying on Bose's behalf?"

"I did not say...!"

Ian let out a sharp hiss.
"For the love of God, Father, have the decency to admit that you verbally
pledged Summer to Bose. For once in your life, show your daughter a measure of
fatherly support and concern. Admit that you betrothed her to Sir Bose."

Edward, breathing heavily with
emotion, was genuinely distraught. "Ian... I cannot! I cannot
recall...!"

Ian abruptly turned away from his
father. Focusing on Lord Bruce, he endeavored to keep his manner controlled in
the face of his father's treachery.

"My lord, I fear that my
father is under the influence of Sir Breck and the elderly lady seated by his
side, both of whom are determined to see Sir Bose and my sister meet with
ruin,” he said with control. “Upon the Holy Bible, I swear that my father
sealed a verbal betrothal between Sir Bose and my sister well before his
contract with Breck Kerry."

Bruce eyed the largest du Bonne
brother, inclined to believe the young man's sincere statement. But the fact
remained that Edward was apparently intent to deny he had ever give Bose verbal
permission to wed his daughter. The betrayal and confusion deepened.

"Please take your seat, sir
knight," he quietly bade Ian to sit, who did so with comforting assistance
from his sister. In fact, Ian seemed more disturbed than the lady at the moment
and Bruce watched the two siblings comfort one another before returning his
attention to Bose.

After a lengthy lull, he sighed
heavily. "Sir Bose," he began quietly. "Do you see the dilemma I
am faced with? 'Tis your word and Sir Ian's word against Baron Lulworth's.
Obviously, by the code of ethics and standards, I am forced to believe Lord
Edward over the two of you because of his elevated station."

For the first time since the
trial began, Bose emitted a heartfelt sigh of despair. Edward's denial was an
element he had not expected, but one he should have been prepared for
nonetheless. With Margot feeding her venom deep into the man's soul, there was
no limit to the betrayal involved. Margot must have convinced Edward to disavow
any knowledge of his permission to further bolster Breck's cause.

In spite of the unwelcome
fabrication, his tone was characteristically steady. "Be that as it may,
my lord, I have nonetheless married his daughter. And not even you have the
power to dissolve our union regardless of the charges or circumstances against
me."

It wasn't an arrogant
declaration, simply a statement of facts. Lord Bruce was experiencing more
fatigue by the moment as he removed his gaze from Bose, focusing his attention
on Breck. Immediately, his manner seemed to harden.

"And you? What do you have
to say to all of this?"

Breck, smug and vile, drew in a
deep breath before commencing his testimony. "My statement of the
situation will be simple as well, my lord. Whether or not Sir Bose has the
church or witnesses to support his cause, the fact remains that I alone hold
the legal documentation that gives the Lady Summer to me. A legal document that
permits me to charge Sir Bose with stealing my intended bride. In short, the
man is a thief and I want him properly punished."

Bruce's expression was critical.
"And are you aware of the punishment if he is found guilty?"

Breck nodded confidently.
"Death, my lord."

Between Stephan and Ian, Summer
whimpered softly as the tears she had been struggling to control suddenly
spilled forth. Immediately, her brothers turned to comfort her, sensing the
trial was heading for the worst possible verdict. The three brothers were
praying feverishly for the appearance of Duncan Kerry, bearing a missive of
absolution from Henry himself. For certain, it seemed as if the arrival of the
youngest Kerry brother was their only surviving hope and they clung to their
faith desperately.

Bruce was well aware of the
emotional turmoil within the du Bonne encampment but his gaze remained focused
on Breck. For lack of support toward de Moray's claim, he truly had no other
choice but to agree with Breck's assessment of the situation; according to the
law, Bose had indeed stolen what did not belong to him and by all accounts had
to be punished. But Bruce would not make that final decision before he had
viewed the very document upon which a man's very life hinged.

"Show me this
contract," he muttered. "I would see it for myself before we
continue."

Breck immediately gestured to a
Kerry servant, who fled the hall. Meanwhile, the trial was on hold and Bose
turned to Summer; lodged between her protective brothers and surrounded by his
own knights, she seemed terribly vulnerable and amply shielded all at the same
time. Without asking permission, he went to his wife.

Artur was holding her hand as he
approached, attempting to calm her fears. But the comfort of seven men and her
sympathetic sister-in-law could not compare to the loving arms of her husband
and Summer threw herself against Bose, weeping uncontrollably into his soft
linen tunic. Massive, warm arms calmed and weakened her at the same time.

"Calm yourself, love,"
he crooned, his voice hoarse. "'Tis merely argument at this point. Nothing
has been proven or decided."

She sobbed against his chest.
"B-But m-my father s-says he... h-h-he did not...."

He shushed her gently, kissing
the top of her head and glancing to the faithful men surrounding them; grim,
emotional, torn expressions met with his even gaze and he found himself growing
more despondent by the moment. He could not stand seeing his defeat in their
eyes.

"I am sorry about my father,
Bose," Ian's voice was faint with emotion.  "I truly had no idea he
would deny all recollection of his sanction."

Bose shrugged faintly, cradling
his hysterical wife. "It matters not in the overall scheme. But I
certainly wish Duncan would return from London soon; it would appear that time
is becoming of the essence."

Wiping at her eyes, Summer looked
up to her husband's rugged, scarred face. "H-He shall be here. He promised
S-Stephan he would return with Henry's absolution."

Bose smiled encouragingly.
"And he shall, love, he shall. But he had better hurry or I fear we shall
be on the run once again."

Genisa, in tears beside her
husband, touched his arm gently. "Should it come to that, you can steal
away on one of my father's merchant vessels. They travel all over the world and
Breck could never find you."

She had meant the suggestion
seriously and Bose smiled warmly at her. "I thank you, my lady. Your offer
shall be seriously considered if Duncan Kerry doesn't come through that door
within the next few minutes."

A strong hand gripped his arm and
he turned to Morgan's grim face. "We are all with you, Bose, wherever you
go. You know that."

Bose's smile faded. "Aye,
Morgan, I know that," his gaze was steady upon the man who had taken a
severe beating on his lord's behalf. "Ever my loyal friends through good
times and through bad, though it seems as of late we are mostly meeting with
bad."

"You’re cursed," Farl's
bushy mustache twitched with humor, sending the small group into light
laughter, including Summer.

As the mood lightened somewhat,
Tate suddenly caught movement from the massive doorway leading into the grand
hall and he nudged Morgan, who diverted his attention to see what was happening.
As his expression slackened, the entire group turned to the commotion going on
in the massive foyer beyond the gallery entrance.