shall be complete.”
Grendel had known the Lady Aubrielle
di Witney for many years. She had studied under him, a voracious student of
learning. He thought of her, a delicate beauty with an iron will. He didn’t
doubt for a minute that she had taken the Scroll of Munsalvaesche. She had been
fascinated by it. King Titurel, Lord of Munsalvaesche Castle, had authored the
parchment during the Dark Ages, times long ago where man and beast roamed in
realms of witchcraft and mystery. St. Wenburgh possessed many such parchments
from kings and scholars long dead. Some were in languages lost to the ages.
The scroll spoke of the Holy
Grail, the priceless object used during the last supper and eventually used to
capture the blood of Christ as he was dying upon the cross. Lady Aubrielle had
been fascinated by the old Latin script, spending many long hours reading and
translating the contents. How the Order of the Dark Angel knew of the scroll,
he did not know. He was only aware that they knew of it, and that Lady Aubrielle
was in grave danger.
***
“You are positive?”
“There is no doubt. The physic
says he has been dead for several hours. He more than likely passed away some
time during the night.”
Kenneth exhaled slowly. The news
was devastating. It was dawn and Max had summoned him from the dungeon with no
hint of what he was about to fall privy to. Garson de Montgomery de Mortimer,
1st Earl of Wrexham, was dead. Kenneth felt as if the wind had been knocked out
of him.
Lucius knew the feeling well. He,
too, was stunned. Though the earl had been inordinately exhausted yesterday,
they had all assumed it had been because of the Lady Aubrielle’s escapades.
They hadn’t considered that it was something more serious. Now the reality was
upon them.
“You realize what this means?”
Lucius whispered.
Kenneth knew. “Lady Aubrielle is
his heiress. The castle and titles pass to her now.”
Lucius let out a hiss. He was
trying to keep his voice down so the household servants didn’t hear, but it was
difficult. “Christ, of all the…” he could hardly contain himself. “Kirk is far
too powerful for her to govern. The girl has been locked up in a monastery for
the majority of her life. What in the hell does she know about governing?”
“It doesn’t matter what she does,
or does not, know. She has now inherited the Wrexham earldom and whatever her
bidding, we must comply.”
Even more shocking than the
earl’s death, the thought of submitting to Lady Aubrielle’s commands was
horrifying. Lucius was beside himself.
“She is in no position to govern
this castle, nor this land,” Lucius countered. “I will send world to the king
immediately. He must know of the situation.”
Kenneth couldn’t argue, but
somehow, he felt as if he was betraying Lady Aubrielle by undermining her
inheritance. “It will take time for the king to assess our needs and send aid.
He may even come himself to evaluate the situation. Kirk governs a critical
portion of the Welsh Marches. She is strategic and strong.” He crossed his
arms, lifting an eyebrow at his captain. “So what do we do? We can no longer
keep her in the vault. She is our lady and must be informed of the situation.”
Everett, Reid and Bradley entered
the second floor at that moment. Lucius had summoned the knights and quickly, and
quietly, informed them of the earl’s passing. Their faces registered different
phases of shock as the gravity of the situation settled. Not only was the Earl
dead, but Kirk was a mighty castle with a mighty army, now without a leader.
There was an entire world of implication Wrexham’s death had opened the
floodgates to.
“What are we going to do?”
Everett directed the question more at Kenneth. “We have over one thousand
men-at-arms. Who will lead us now?”
“Lady Aubrielle has inherited the
earldom,” Kenneth replied steadily. “Kirk is now her holding.”
The knights were aware of the
logical confusion, but
Grendel had known the Lady Aubrielle
di Witney for many years. She had studied under him, a voracious student of
learning. He thought of her, a delicate beauty with an iron will. He didn’t
doubt for a minute that she had taken the Scroll of Munsalvaesche. She had been
fascinated by it. King Titurel, Lord of Munsalvaesche Castle, had authored the
parchment during the Dark Ages, times long ago where man and beast roamed in
realms of witchcraft and mystery. St. Wenburgh possessed many such parchments
from kings and scholars long dead. Some were in languages lost to the ages.
The scroll spoke of the Holy
Grail, the priceless object used during the last supper and eventually used to
capture the blood of Christ as he was dying upon the cross. Lady Aubrielle had
been fascinated by the old Latin script, spending many long hours reading and
translating the contents. How the Order of the Dark Angel knew of the scroll,
he did not know. He was only aware that they knew of it, and that Lady Aubrielle
was in grave danger.
***
“You are positive?”
“There is no doubt. The physic
says he has been dead for several hours. He more than likely passed away some
time during the night.”
Kenneth exhaled slowly. The news
was devastating. It was dawn and Max had summoned him from the dungeon with no
hint of what he was about to fall privy to. Garson de Montgomery de Mortimer,
1st Earl of Wrexham, was dead. Kenneth felt as if the wind had been knocked out
of him.
Lucius knew the feeling well. He,
too, was stunned. Though the earl had been inordinately exhausted yesterday,
they had all assumed it had been because of the Lady Aubrielle’s escapades.
They hadn’t considered that it was something more serious. Now the reality was
upon them.
“You realize what this means?”
Lucius whispered.
Kenneth knew. “Lady Aubrielle is
his heiress. The castle and titles pass to her now.”
Lucius let out a hiss. He was
trying to keep his voice down so the household servants didn’t hear, but it was
difficult. “Christ, of all the…” he could hardly contain himself. “Kirk is far
too powerful for her to govern. The girl has been locked up in a monastery for
the majority of her life. What in the hell does she know about governing?”
“It doesn’t matter what she does,
or does not, know. She has now inherited the Wrexham earldom and whatever her
bidding, we must comply.”
Even more shocking than the
earl’s death, the thought of submitting to Lady Aubrielle’s commands was
horrifying. Lucius was beside himself.
“She is in no position to govern
this castle, nor this land,” Lucius countered. “I will send world to the king
immediately. He must know of the situation.”
Kenneth couldn’t argue, but
somehow, he felt as if he was betraying Lady Aubrielle by undermining her
inheritance. “It will take time for the king to assess our needs and send aid.
He may even come himself to evaluate the situation. Kirk governs a critical
portion of the Welsh Marches. She is strategic and strong.” He crossed his
arms, lifting an eyebrow at his captain. “So what do we do? We can no longer
keep her in the vault. She is our lady and must be informed of the situation.”
Everett, Reid and Bradley entered
the second floor at that moment. Lucius had summoned the knights and quickly, and
quietly, informed them of the earl’s passing. Their faces registered different
phases of shock as the gravity of the situation settled. Not only was the Earl
dead, but Kirk was a mighty castle with a mighty army, now without a leader.
There was an entire world of implication Wrexham’s death had opened the
floodgates to.
“What are we going to do?”
Everett directed the question more at Kenneth. “We have over one thousand
men-at-arms. Who will lead us now?”
“Lady Aubrielle has inherited the
earldom,” Kenneth replied steadily. “Kirk is now her holding.”
The knights were aware of the
logical confusion, but
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