Shadows and Strongholds Read Free

thoughtful and sought for the meaning in FitzWarin's words. He had no doubt that Ralf, Richard and Warin would prove engaging lads, easy to train into manhood. However, a boy who needed to 'spread his wings' suggested one who was going to be more of a challenge. 'It is no small responsibility to raise your friend's heir,' he said.
    'I trust you.'
    'And you don't trust yourself?'
    FitzWarin glowered. 'I was sent away for training because I was a younger son, but it was the making of me… and provident too, since my older brother died and left me to inherit. Brunin is like me. He will have more opportunity to flourish in a different household, and I would like it to be yours.'
    Joscelin frowned. 'Have you discussed the matter with your wife?'
    'Eve will do as I say, and I will deal with my mother,' FitzWarin said brusquely.
    Joscelin thought of his own comfortable domestic situation and knew that, despite Eve FitzWarin's astonishing beauty, he would not change places with his friend for one minute of one day.
    'I'm buying Brunin a new pony,' FitzWarin added on a lighter note. 'Mark's taking him around the fair just now, but we're meeting at the horse market at the sext bell. If you want to see the boy, you are welcome to join us.'
    'So that I can look in his mouth too as if he were a colt for sale?'
    Joscelin's sarcasm was lost on FitzWarin. 'Well, yes, if you put it like that… After all, you wouldn't buy a horse without looking it over.'
    Joscelin was spared from making an answer as a worried-looking young man came hastening towards them from the thicket of cookstall booths. He was wearing the quilted tunic of a man-at-arms and his left hand rested on the hilt of a long hunting knife.
    'Mark?' FitzWarin's expression sharpened. 'Where's Brunin?'
    The young man bowed his head in deference and chagrin. 'I do not know, my lord.'
    FitzWarin's glare could have cut steel. 'You do not know?'
    The serjeant licked his lips. 'We became separated by the crowds, my lord. I was on my way to the horse market to see if he was there. He knew it was our meeting place and I thought…'
    'How in God's sweet name did you become separated?' FitzWarin's raised voice boded ill for his Serjeant.
    'I… One minute he was there, the next he was gone.'
    'He was where?' Joscelin asked. 'Where precisely did you lose him? At which booth?'
    The serjeant blenched. 'At one of the cookstalls, my lord.'
    FitzWarin's eyes flashed. 'I suppose you were drinking and filling your belly when you should have been watching the boy.'
    'I only looked away for a moment, I swear it.'
    'A moment is all it takes.' FitzWarin made a terse gesture with his clenched fist. 'I have no time for this now; I'll deal with you later. For the nonce, we had better find my son.'
    Joscelin cleared his throat. 'Doubtless your serjeant is right and the lad will make for the horse market. I suppose he has the sense?'
    FitzWarin glowered at Mark. 'Yes,' he muttered. 'He has the sense if he chooses to use it… more than this muttonwit here.'
    The men began making their way among the booths. FitzWarin sent Mark to fetch the other household knights and Serjeants and set them to searching. 'But don't alert the women,' he commanded. 'The last thing I need is panic in the hen house.'
    FitzWarin and Joscelin went straight to the horse fair, but although there were plenty of boys standing at bridles and helping the grooms, there was no sign of the one they sought. Small hand clasped in the protection of a toil-reddened fist, a son walked past the men with his father. The pair paused side by side to inspect a well-fed dappled pony. FitzWarin looked at the child's earnest, upturned face, then at the father's indulgent smile, and knew that God was punishing him. 'If anything has happened to Brunin, I will have my Serjeant's guts for hose bindings,' he muttered through clenched teeth.
    Joscelin's initial instinct was to murmur the platitude that the boy would turn up unharmed, but he bit his tongue.