Warrior's Ransom (The First Argentines #2) - Jeff Wheeler Page 0,8
a say? Is that not the way of her people?”
“A king always gets his way,” he said flippantly. “I just need to make it worth her while. There are plenty of other lasses I can offer you instead. Sir Simon will help you understand. Off you go.” He clapped Ransom on the back.
“May I at least send messages to her on occasion?” he persisted. “Not to court her, but because we have always been friends.”
The king was about to turn away, but he gave Ransom a shrewd look. “I’m sure one of the other heiresses will be tempting to you, Ransom. Why not at least see who they are?”
“I thank you for your generosity, my lord. But my mind is made up.”
The king shrugged. “You’re young still. I give you permission to send her letters to rekindle your friendship, but nothing more. If you abuse this privilege, it will be taken away.”
“We understand each other,” Ransom said. “Thank you.”
Ransom and Simon walked together down the corridor. “When did you start serving the king?” he asked, giving his friend a playful slap on his shoulder, which was instantly reciprocated.
“The previous steward suffered from gallstones. Do you remember Sir William Longsword?”
“I do.” He was the one who had paid Ransom his wages as a knight in the Younger King’s mesnie.
“He brought me on to help out and then became too incapacitated to serve.” He glanced at Ransom. “How was your journey?”
“Long and hot,” Ransom replied. He knew he was being vague, but at the moment the desert felt extremely far away, and he had no wish to discuss what had happened to him at the well. At least not while walking down a corridor in the castle. He smiled at his friend. “Rewarding too, but I’d prefer to discuss it at another time.”
“That’s fair,” Simon said with a nod. “I correspond with Lady Sibyl, your mother, you know. I’ve helped her on occasion with some of the problems she’s faced with your castle in Gison.”
Ransom gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Simon.”
Simon shrugged. “Being on the king’s council is an incredible privilege. He trusts all of us to act in his name.”
That earned another chuckle from Ransom. “I had no idea this would happen. I was planning to see Claire, if I could, and hoped to find a noble who’d give me a spot on his mesnie. I never dreamed of getting a spot on the king’s council, especially not so soon.”
“The king likes being unpredictable. No one else can think as fast as he can. Except Lady Deborah, perhaps. I think he listens to her the most.”
“So the king said you’re to give me a castle and a . . . wife?” Ransom asked with concern.
Simon grinned. “As I said, he likes keeping people off guard. You need a castle to pay for the additional expenses you will now have, although I should mention that your lady mother has managed your funds sensibly, and you have even more than when you left. Most knights are spendthrifts, always buying new clothes and entertaining people. The king has many lands he’s inherited after the owners died without heirs, and he also has wardship over many who are too young still to inherit.”
Ransom frowned.
Simon gave him another sidelong look. “I know you’re stuck on Lady Claire, Ransom, but that’s a concession you’ll not get. I’m surprised he agreed that you could write to her. Everyone knows she’s intended for Jon-Landon. Now, would you prefer a castle in the North, East, South, or West?”
“He has castles in all four quarters?”
“Of course! He’s a rich man. But I should think the West would be the most suitable. It puts you in the place of greatest hostility. King Estian is always stirring up trouble. And you’re the knight who dragged him off his horse in front of everyone at Chessy.” He grinned. “You didn’t think we’d forgotten, did you?”
Ransom tried not to smile, but he found himself doing so anyway. A flush came up his neck. “What is available in Westmarch, then? Can I have Averanche?”
“Sorry, that also belongs to Jon-Landon. The king has a castle on the border with Brythonica, however, that might suit you well, especially since you also own a manor in that duchy. It’s called Josselin castle. Smaller than Averanche, but I expect you’ll like it. They haven’t had a master there since Lord Rakestraw died. What do you think?”
“I think the king is very generous,” Ransom admitted.