WolfeStrike (De Wolfe Pack Generations #2) - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,31
at Tor and Nat with a good deal of concern, clearly curious as to why they were here.
“De Wolfe?” he repeated. “Castle Questing?”
Tor shook his head. “Blackpool,” he said. “It is north of here.”
Fraser nodded. “I know,” he said. “We heard that de Wolfe now occupies it.”
“For eight years now.”
Fraser dipped his head politely. “Then it is an honor to finally make your acquaintance,” he said, but his attention returned to Gilbert. “My lord, I have just been told that Lady Isalyn has returned. How long has she been here?”
Gilbert held up a weary hand. He didn’t want to deal with his headstrong daughter’s behavior at the moment but was forced to by necessity.
“Not long,” he said. “She was in Haltwhistle. These good knights escorted her home.”
Fraser looked between Tor and Nat again, and it was apparent that he was fighting off a wicked surge of annoyance. But to his credit, he remained calm even though he had been out for hours, searching for the errant daughter of his liege. With a heavy sigh, he set his helm onto the table near Nat and began to remove his heavy gloves.
“I see,” he said, taking a deep breath. “I have been all over the countryside looking for her and she was in Haltwhistle all along?”
Gilbert nodded. “At least she did not go far this time.”
“It seems that all I have done since she arrived is chase her all over this valley, my lord.”
Gilbert had no energy to show any concern for that situation. “She will return to London soon and we shall no longer be concerned for her,” he said. “But, Fraser… these knights have come bearing news of Steffan.”
“What of him?”
“He is dead.”
Fraser’s eyes widened for a brief moment, but he controlled himself. His attention moved to Tor, sitting across from Gilbert.
“What happened?” he asked steadily.
Tor simply repeated what he’d told Gilbert. “He entered into a betrothal with a de Wolfe daughter,” he said. “He chose to flee the day of the wedding and when we caught up to him, he chose to fight rather than be forced into honoring his word. He lost the fight.”
Fraser didn’t seem surprised by that statement in the least, but he was shocked by the news. He ended up sitting in the nearest chair, trying not to appear as stunned as he felt. After a few moments, he finally shook his head.
“Far be it for me to speak ill of the dead, but this is not shocking news,” he said. “Steffan did as Steffan pleased.”
Gilbert looked over him. “Not now, Fraser.”
But Fraser ignored his plea. “My lord, Steffan made no secret of that fact,” he said. “He has shamed the de Featherstone name time and time again, now with the House of de Wolfe. God’s Bones, do you realize how powerful they are? They could destroy us with very little effort. And your son has affronted the house? Have you asked them what they wish for compensation?”
He wasn’t being belligerent, simply forthright. Tor took his question seriously.
“We have asked for no compensation,” he said. “We have not come to demand it. We have come to inform Lord de Featherstone that his son has been killed and that we have brought him home.”
Both Gilbert and Fraser looked at him sharply. “Home?” Gilbert said sharply. “Where is he?”
“On my horse.”
Gilbert’s mouth popped open again. “God’s Bones,” he muttered. “I came out into the bailey… I came because my daughter had been brought home… are you telling me that Steffan is on the back of your horse?”
“Aye, my lord.”
“I was that close to him?”
“Aye, my lord.”
He bolted up from his chair. “Then I must retrieve him at once. At once!”
Fraser was on his feet, as were Tor and Nat. Gilbert was muttering to himself, something about collecting his son, and began to scurry from the hall. Fraser was on his heels and because they were nearly running, Tor and Nat were nearly running as well. Everyone was nearly running at that point.
By the time they reached the entry door, they began to hear the screams.
CHAPTER FIVE
Damn the man for chasing her out of his hall.
True to form, Isalyn did not go to the kitchens or to her chamber as her father had instructed. She had spent many years away from her father and his commands, so she wasn’t going to start listening to him now. Instead, she had gone back the way she had come, out into the bailey with a blustery storm gathering overhead.