The Thunder Lord: The de Shera Brotherhood Book One (Lords of Thunder: The de Shera Brotherhood 1) by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

he had felt when Catheryn had passed away, he turned to his mother.
    “I will disband what is left of her father’s traveling party and stable the animals,” he said, rising to his feet. His manner was business-like. “Let her grieve and then take care of her. Ply her with wine and put her to bed. I will return when I have finished with her father’s party.”
    Honey grabbed hold of her son before he could get away. “Someone else can disband the party,” she told him, her voice low. “Have Max or Ty do it. Your place is here, with your betrothed. If her father passes, then you must be here to comfort her.”
    Gallus looked at her, his nostrils flaring with displeasure. “I did not agree to that,” he hissed. “ You did it. You stay with her.”
    Honey would not engage her angry son in any manner of confrontation, but her disapproval was evident in her expression. “You are correct,” she said quietly. “I did agree to the betrothal and there are many witnesses here who heard me do it. Will you shame me by refuting the bargain I made on your behalf?”
    She was backing him into a corner. Honey knew that Gallus would not show her disrespect by breaking a bargain she had brokered. She had accepted Gaerwen’s offer even if Gallus had not. Honey watched her son’s angry face, the veins throbbing in his temples. He had no choice in the matter and they both knew it. He had a wife whether or not he wanted one. When Gallus refused to respond to her question, mostly because there was nothing he could say, Honey patted him on the hand.
    “Send Max or Ty to settle the traveling party,” she said again, steadily. “You will stay here and comfort your betrothed, as it is your duty. You will not run off, Gal. You cannot always run from things you do not wish to face.”
    He frowned at his mother but he could not hold his anger for long. Where Honey was concerned, he never could. He ended up averting his eyes, looking away as the sounds of Jeniver’s weeping filled the entry. They were sounds he did not wish to hear.
    “Let me go,” he finally whispered, referring to her hold on his arm. “I do not want to listen to this. I cannot.”
    Honey knew why but she didn’t let go. Gallus couldn’t deal with his own grief for a wife dead this past year much less someone else’s. She sighed knowingly, easing her hold on his arm.
    “You cannot run from your sorrow forever,” she whispered. “Lady Jeniver has no one in the world to comfort her at this terrible time. At least you had your brothers and your daughters to give you a measure of solace. Lady Jeniver does not even have that. Mayhap you can help her.”
    His head snapped to her, almost challenging. “ Help her?” he repeated, incredulous. “How?”
    “Because you understand what she is going through,” Honey reminded him. She knew her eldest son and knew he had great compassion, something he didn’t like other people to see. But she knew the depths of the man’s feeling. She knew he might very well be the only one to help Lady Jeniver, essentially a complete stranger, because he could sympathize with her grief. She squeezed his arm. “Please, Gal, help the woman. She is in agony.”
    Gallus rolled his eyes miserably. “Mother....”
    Honey squeezed his arm again, harder. “Take her away and allow her to rest,” she whispered. “Max and Ty will tend to the man’s traveling party and I will go upstairs and see if I can help the surgeon. You must tend your betrothed.”
    Gallus couldn’t even respond. He was angry, distressed, and overwhelmed. He could have simply pulled away from his mother and marched away, but that wasn’t his nature. He was obedient to her and always had been, at least in most cases. He respected her greatly and he would not dream of showing the woman any measure of insolence. With a heavy sigh, he looked over his shoulder to see Maximus standing a few feet away.
    “Max,” he grumbled. “Where are my knights?”
    Maximus was