Here Be Dragons - 1 Sharon Penman (paper ebook reader .TXT) 📖

to be Richard's heir Well, I, too, want that for you, am willing to do what I can to make it so "She sounded sincere, but John knew how little that meant, neither of his parents had ever held veracity to be a virtue "Why7" he said wanly "The soul of sentiment you're not Mother "She laughed "To your credit, neither are you I've always thought sentimentality to be one of the cardinal sins, second only to stupidity "That afforded John a certain ironic amusement, for it was his private conviction that his brother Richard was decidedly stupid, in all but kill-

54ing, at which he excelled. But he said nothing, let Eleanor lead him back to the settle."Richard's marriage is not working out. Unfortunately, the girl is as insipid as she is innocent, and so absurdly sweet-tempered that I suspect if you cut her, she'd bleed pure sugar. She and Richard . . . well, it's been like pairing a butterfly with a gerfalcon. I do not think it likely she'll give him a son.""And if she does not, that leaves only me ... or Geoffrey's son. Richard prefers the boy; why do you not, Madame?""Arthur is not yet five; you're twenty and four. That in itself would be reason enough to favor you. And you are my son; that's another. Lastly, Ithink you have it in you to be a better King than your past record would indicate. At least you're no fool, and most men are.""Even if you do favor me over Arthur, what of it? Richard has already made his choice.""No choice this side of the grave is irrevocable. Richard named Arthur as a means of keeping you in check whilst he was on crusade. Once he does return from the Holy Land, he may well reconsider, especially if I urge him to do so.I'm sure you'll agree that if there be one voice he heeds, it is mine. If Ispeak for you, he's like to listen. But it does cut both ways, John. If Ispeak against you, he's apt to listen then, too. So it is up to you.""What do you want me to do?""It is rather what I want you to refrain from doing. No intrigues with Philip.No pleasure jaunts to Paris. No conniving with the Welsh or the Scots." She paused, hazel eyes holding his own. Satisfied with what she saw in them, she rose, stifling a yawn. "I expect a bedchamber has been made ready for me by now, so I'll bid you good night. I'm glad we did reach an understanding. But Irather thought we would, Johnny.""Do not call me that!" John said sharply, startling himself even more thanEleanor. She stared at him, eyebrows arching, and he flushed."I'd almost forgotten," she said softly. "That was what Henry always called you, was it not?"John said nothing, and she moved toward the door, where she paused, turned to face him. "If you should happen to suffer a change of heart in the night, John, decide that Philip's offer is a better gamble than mine ... I think it only fair to tell you that, on the same day you sailed for France, I would personally give the command to seize all your lands, castles, and manors inEngland, confiscate them on behalf of the crown." And closing the door quietly behind her, she left him alone.

5GWYNEDD, WALES]anwry upjJ.HEY left Ha warden Castle in the early hours of a cloud-darkened dawn. A week of unrelenting rains had reduced the road to a mere memory, and as they headed west into Wales, they found themselves trudging through mud as thick and clinging as molasses. It spattered their legs and tunics, squished into their boots, made them fight for every footprint of ground gained. Exhaustion soon claimed Edwin; so, too, did disillusionment. Stumbling after his companions, blinded by gusts of wind-driven rain, chilled and utterly wretched, he could only wonder where the glory had gone.All of his eighteen years had been passed in the Cheshire village of Aldford.He had never even seen Chester, a mere five miles to the north. But three months ago his cousin Godfrey had come back to Aidford. Godfrey was a legend in their family, the youth who'd willingly abandoned home and hearth for the alien world waiting without. Godfrey was a solidarius, a man who fought for pay, and he told his awestruck kin that he was now being paid by no less a lord than Ralph de Montalt, Lord of Hawarden and Mold, Seneschal of Chester.And then he told them why he'd come back: for Edwin.There was no question of refusal; any village lad would have pledged his soul for such a chance. Much envied, Edwin had accompanied Godfrey back toHawarden, eager to learn about war and women and the world beckoning beyondAldford. But at Hawarden he'd found only long hours, loneliness, scant pleasure. Garrison guard duty was monotonous and dreary. But this was far worse, this was unmitigated misery, and as he tripped and sprawled into the mud, blistered and sore and soaked to the skin, Edwin wished fervently that he'd never even heard of Godfrey, that he'd never laid eyes upon HawardenCastle.Of their mission, he knew only that the young knight they were

56escorting had an urgent message for Davydd ab Owain, a Welsh Prince who had allied himself with the Normans. Godfrey had told him the Welsh Prince was encamped at Rhuddlan Castle, some twenty-five miles from Hawarden, and he wondered how long the journey would take. He wondered, too, why they were no longer following the coast, why they'd swung inland at Basingwerk Abbey."Godfrey?" He quickened his pace, caught his cousin's arm. "Godfrey, why did we change our route? Are we not more vulnerable to attack in the hills?""You'd bloody well better believe it!" Godfrey tripped, cursed as the mud sucked at one of his boots. "But our guide told de Hodnet that this is a quicker way, a road made long past by the Romans. And that Norman