So Speaks the Heart Read Free Page B

father wanted to tie me to home as if I were a swaddled babe. It was too much for me to bear.”
    â€œBut your fight with Luthor was no worse than any other,” Gui replied. “He beat you, as he always beat you, hand to hand.”
    Rowland’s dark blue eyes grew darker. “Yes, you saw that, but you did not hear the words spoken afterward. I was as much to blame, I admit it, for he provoked me with his smug assurance that he would never lose a match to me, not even when he approached his grave. If he had not bragged about that before his wife and daughters, then I would not have said I would leave without his permission and probably never return. But I said so in anger, and he said, ‘Do so and be damned! I will never call you back.’”
    â€œI never knew it had come to that. But that was six years ago, Rowland, and words spoken in anger should not be remembered forever.”
    â€œYet he said it, and my father does not back down. Even when the man is wrong and knows full well he is wrong, he will not back down.”
    His friend frowned. “I am sorry, Rowland. I didn’t know the extent of your quarrel. You left, and I knew you had fought with Luthor, but he would not talk of it after you went away. I understand now why he was never sure whether you would come home or not. But I know the old warrior has missed you. I’m sure he would have sent for you sooner if he had known of a way to do so without losing face. You know Luthor. He’s all pride.”
    â€œYou have yet to tell me the reason my banishment has been lifted.”
    â€œYour father wants you near to claim his fief if he dies,” Gui said abruptly.
    The color drained slowly from Rowland’s face. “Luthor is dying?”
    â€œNo! I did not mean to imply that. But there is trouble brewing. Your stepsister Brenda has married.”
    â€œSo the hag found a mate at last.” Rowland chuckled. “The fellow must be a dullard and hideous to look at.”
    â€œNo, Rowland, she married Thurston of Mezidon.
    â€œRoger’s brother!” Rowland cried.
    â€œThe same.”
    â€œWhy? Thurston was a handsome fellow, and the ladies liked him very much. Why would he want Brenda? Not only is she a shrew like her mother, but she’s homely as well.”
    â€œI believe her dower drew him,” Gui offered hesitantly.
    â€œBut her marriage portion was not large.”
    â€œI have heard she led him to believe otherwise, so enamored of him was she. It is also said he nearly beat her to death on their wedding night, after he found her dower was less than half what he had expected.”
    â€œIt was no more than she deserved, I suppose,” Rowland said offhandedly.
    It was no secret that there was no love between Rowland and his two older stepsisters. He had suffered cruelly at their hands from earliest childhood, with no one to protect him. He truly had no feelings for them now, not even pity.
    â€œAnd my sister Ilse,” Rowland continued. “Do she and her husband still live with Luthor?”
    â€œOh, yes. Geoffrey would never leave his cups long enough to build a manor on his small fief,” Gui said contemptuously. “But there is one important change. Geoffrey has suddenly developed a close friendship with Thurston.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œIt bodes ill for Luthor. He has one son-in-law who is furious over Brenda’s marriage portion and who wants more of Montville. His other son-in-law lives under his roof and is friendly with Thurston. Luthor feels he must guard his back now, as his two sons-in-law are probably allied against him.”
    â€œWhat has Luthor to fear? He has men enough.”
    â€œDo not underestimate Thurston. He has enough ambition and greed for two men. He plunders in Brittany and Maine, and he has amassed quite a large army, large enough that Luthor strengthened Montville because of him. Open warfare is certain if Luthor is not