Midnight Warrior Read Free Page A

full of wondrous treasures from the East.”
    “I’m a merchant and a trader. As your grace knows, I often journey to the Byzantine to acquire goods. Do you begrudge me a few comforts to ease my days?” He raised a brow. “Perhaps you sent for me to ask to share my baubles?”
    William gestured impatiently. It was not Dumont’s riches he needed. “Bellerieve is also said to possess the finest soldiers and archers in Normandy.”
    Gage Dumont’s expression hardened. “Your knights think a lowly merchant is fair game. It was necessary to make sure I had the means to discourage them.”
    “I realize my knights can be a little … boisterous.”
    “Acts of rape and pillage are considered by some to be a trifle more than boisterous.”
    “Knights are trained only for warfare. It is understandable that they grow restless in times of peace.”
    “So restless, they ravage the helpless countryside. That is why I hired mercenaries to make sure I was not equally helpless.”
    William decided it time to abandon a defensiveposition and attack. “You killed Jean of Brestain last year.”
    Wariness flickered in Gage’s expression. “True.”
    “It caused a great uproar among my barons. They do not like commoners interfering with their sport. They wanted me to raze your castle to the ground and take your head. Do you know why I did not?”
    “Kindness?”
    William ignored the sarcasm. “Because your Bellerieve guards my coast well and I knew you would no more permit an invader to breach your walls than you did my knights.”
    “I’m very grateful.”
    “You are not.” William met his gaze. “You are as arrogant and without respect as your father.”
    A flicker of expression crossed Dumont’s face. “I have no father. I’m a bastard.” He bowed slightly. “Like your grace.”
    “Your mother claimed that you were Hardraada’s son.”
    “And Hardraada refused her claim. The King of Norway has issue enough for his taste and needs no bastard to lay claim to his land. Particularly the son born of the daughter of a Norman merchant.”
    “He must have some fondness for you. He trained you in warfare and took you on several voyages with him.”
    Gage’s eyes narrowed on William’s face. “I find it curious that you know such a great deal about me.”
    “Why? Surely you expected me to keep an eye on you. Being a bastard myself, I know the hunger illegitimacy brings for power, the desire to take what’s yours by any means possible. Since Hardraada would not give you the position you deserved, there was the chance you might decide to take mine.” He smiled. “I was grateful that instead you chose to gain power by amassing thewealth of Solomon.” He raised his brows. “But wealth is not enough for you, is it?”
    He shrugged. “Gold can buy almost anything.”
    “Almost,” William said softly. “But not what Hardraada could have given you. Not what I can give you. Gold cannot let you take your place as a noble. It cannot clean the common dirt from your shoes.”
    Gage looked down at his shoes. “I see no dirt. I’m shocked you would think I’d enter your august presence besmirched.”
    “You know what I mean.”
    “You must be more clear. As a merchant, I’m used to firm language when bargaining. I take it, this is a bargain?” He leaned back against the balustrade and said bluntly, “You want my archers and my soldiers when you invade England. You probably also will want a goodly sum to feed and clothe them during the invasion. Is that correct?”
    “That is quite correct.”
    “And what do you offer me in return?”
    “I don’t have to offer you anything,” William said testily. “My army could sweep over Bellerieve on the way to England and take what I need.”
    “And come out of the siege weaker than you can afford to be. What do you offer me?”
    “To knight you for services rendered.”
    “Not enough.”
    “A barony,” he said reluctantly. He had been hoping the damned merchant would