Medieval Ever After Read Free Page A

hoped the man was not truly upset.
    “You deserve nothing less,” Edward replied. “I hope that you will be able to inspect your holdings sometime in the very near future, Baron Lamberton.”
    Stephen genuinely smiled at the sound of his new title. “I know the lay of the land in that area somewhat and it is a rich and populated region.”
    Edward nodded, the warmth of the moment fading as the unspoken subject of the betrothal hung in the air. Edward cleared his throat softly and plunged into the topic.
    “I presume that Tate told you of your new wife,” he lowered his voice.
    Stephen nodded, but not without a cocked eyebrow. “He did.”
    “I would have you marry her this night. The Scots must know we mean to dominate them in every way. Rebellion will not be tolerated.”
    Stephen didn’t argue and he didn’t question; it would be of no use. It would not change the way of things.
    “Does she know yet, Sire?”
    “She does not. Nor does her father.”
    “I presume you will tell them both?”
    Edward’s reply was to motion to one of the lesser knights standing nearby. When the man came close, the king quietly ordered him to find a priest. Stephen watched the knight jog off, his armor and mail jingling a crazy tune. He looked back at Edward to find the young king staring at him.
    “I will tell the father but you tell the girl,” he told him quietly. “She is to be your wife, after all. You may as well start to know her immediately.”
    Stephen almost rolled his eyes but caught himself. Still, the square jaw was ticking with displeasure and Edward was sure he heard a low growl at some point. But the knight nodded obediently.
    “The dark haired lass, I presume?” he dipped his head in the direction of the huddling family.
    Edward turned around, eyeing the group; along with Seton and his eldest daughter, there was apparently a mother, a grandmother, and two other elderly men in mail and dirty tartan. It was an odd family group. Not so odd, however, when one considered that Seton had lost all three sons in the siege of Berwick. Women and old folk were all he had left, which was something of a tragedy.
    “Take the girl somewhere and explain things to her,” Edward hissed the order as they turned for the group. “I will keep the family at bay. Once the priest arrives, you will marry her and consummate the marriage immediately. I want no room for error.”
    It was a harsh command but Stephen didn’t flinch. “Aye, Sire.”
    “Oh… and Stephen?”
    “My lord?”
    “Congratulations. She is a beautiful woman.”
    Stephen found a great deal of irony in that statement. He repressed the urge to roll his eyes again. Marching behind the king as they reached the tattered group of rebels, he came to a halt when the king did, a massively silent sentinel bigger than any man any of them had ever seen. He crossed his arms, appendages the size of tree branches.
    “This is Sir Stephen of Pembury,” Edward announced to the group. “He is Guardian Protector of the City of Berwick, Commander of the King’s Forces and a knight unlike any you have ever seen. He is cunning, experienced and possesses strength that would put Samson to shame. If you value your lives, you will obey this man as you obey me. Is this in any way unclear?”
    Seton was gazing up at Stephen with a baleful expression; even in defeat, the old man had courage. He had been through hell and lost nearly everything, but still, his inherent defiance had not left him.
    “What is to become of my family and me?” his gaze moved back and forth between Stephen and the king. “Are we to hang as Thomas did?”
    Stephen returned the hateful stare without emotion; there was no reason to respond to the challenge of a prisoner. But he looked to the king for the reply.
    “You will be my guests for the time being.” Edward didn’t like the way the man was glaring at them. “Your new home will be Alnwick Castle until I can think of a more suitable place. But your