ismenin

This is a lovely pic I got off eBay, which I thought you might like. Feel free to snaffle it! :D

Right ho! Four o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the grandkids have just left clutching their Easter Egg money. So there is peace! :D

I am about to have a well-earned snoozette, so I thought I'd post this first. I trust you like it!

Thanks to

ladysunrope for beta, and for the idea of The Kiss scene, and for the bit at the end between Richard and Dom. They were smashing thoughts. Hugses. xxx

Part - 23

Three more times that day did Richard visit Elijah's chamber hoping to speak with his cousin, but each time he found Elijah, apparently peacefully asleep.

On the fourth occasion, just before the eighth hour past noon, by the second candle clock, Richard's patience snapped. He glanced once at Elijah, and then fixed his eyes upon John and Umar, both standing by the window, on the opposite side of the bed.

"It is not right that a recovering man should sleep for so long." His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "It seems to me that you are deliberately keeping him unconscious. Do you drug him?"

Elijah heard John's voice raised slightly in protest. "No, Beau Sire! I assure you that I have not needed to do such a thing for over a week!"

Richard's voice became more menacing. "Umar?"

Elijah thought it time that he woke. "I am thirsty," he said, trying to sound weak and fretful.

Richard was at his side in a moment. "What will you have, my Lij? Wine or mead?"

Elijah kept his eyes closed. "Some small beer, if you please. Wine and mead do not quench my thirst."

He had, unwittingly, said the wrong thing. Richard grew even more angry, his temper exacerbated by his need to talk to Elijah. "Why is there no beer here for his Grace when he needs it? This is outrageous! Umar, get some at once!"

Elijah sighed inwardly. If Richard ordered John out of the room, he would have to leave, he knew that.

"Is there anything else you would like? Something to eat? Some fruit? A little roast fowl?" Richard sounded hopeful, but Elijah dashed these hopes, by shaking his head then wincing. "My head aches. Richard, please do not speak so loud, it disturbs me."

Richard subsided. "I am sorry, Lij. I did not mean to do so."

Elijah kept his eyes firmly closed. "I know," he said.

Umar strode in with the beer and a goblet, and in moments Elijah felt the cup at his lips, and he drank deeply, for he was thirsty. He also needed to visit the garderobe, but he did not wish to do so at that moment. Richard was bound to demand to assist him, and the thought of the king's hands upon his body, however helpful he intended to be, made Elijah feel slightly nauseated.

"Your Grace," Umar's voice was low, but firm. "Surely you must see how pale he has again become? His lordship needs rest, tonight. Perhaps in the morning, he will feel stronger - more like talking."

Elijah knew he could not put off the dreaded moment for ever. "Yes," he murmured. "In the morning, after breakfast. That would be best."

Richard was so heartened by this promise of a definite meeting, he kissed Elijah's brow, and left immediately.

Elijah opened his eyes and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I need to piss. Umar, if you please, make sure he is not by."

Umar went to the door and glanced both ways down the corridor. He had excellent hearing, and could hear Richard talking to Vincent and the abbess in the Great Hall.

"Go, before you burst," the Saracen physician grinned, as he closed the door. "All is well."

Elijah stood in the garderobe, staring down the hole, and thought apprehensively of the morning and the meeting with Richard he could no longer avoid.

***

Dom's day had seemed longer than Elijah's. He looked through every cupboard and chest, and, whilst he found a stone bottle of ink, there were no quills. He tried to fashion one out of the materials to hand, but the tightly rolled-up strip of parchment fell apart by the time he had written the fourth word, and there was nothing else to use. He thought, momentarily of trying to snap a piece of wood off one of the cupboards, but he had nothing to prise it off with, nor anything to sharpen it. He was annoyed that he had left his knife in his bed-chamber. It was too late, now, to go upstairs and retrieve it.

As the day wore on, Dom wished he had given a little more thought to what preparations he should make when in hiding from Richard's maleficent gaze.

Then he found he was very hungry indeed.

He was used to fasting. There had been little choice when John's rebel men had hijacked the keep's monies three months in a row, but these past months with Elijah had been filled with ample food, as well as being fed by love.

He discounted trying to sneak to the kitchens, for there were bound to be people about. The castle held the king's retinue, as well as the queen's, and although they both were travelling with a tithe of their normal courtiers and servants, that still made over a hundred extra souls, without Elijah's servants.

He would hardly remain unnoticed with so many people wandering about the castle.

He resigned himself to hunger, and, to pass the time, began to count the carvings on the wooden walls.
He was half way around the room, when he noticed something odd. He had always had keen eyes, but he would not have noticed this if he had not been particularly examining the walls.

There was a line of carved bosses shaped like flowers on top of the wooden panelling that reached half way up the cream-washed walls. All of the flowers - except one - had six petals. That one had five.

He went across the room to it, his hunger forgotten, and stared at it. It seemed to be no different from the others, except in this one detail. He tried pressing it, but nothing happened. Then he tried twisting it, first left, then right. Still nothing.

But he knew it meant something, so he began feeling the panelling below the boss, and pressed hard upon it. Then he had the notion of pressing the panel and the boss together, and he was rewarded by a loud click.

The small door in the panel had not been opened for many years, but even though it was stiff, Dom managed to prise it outwards. Then he heard a slight noise outside the door, and quickly closed it again, just as the door opened.

It was Astin, bearing a basket covered with a cloth. He came in quietly and put the basket upon the desk.

"Father Orlando said that his lordship had told him to tell me that you were here. I thought you would not have brought any food with you, so I..."

As Astin spoke, Dom realised the inadvisability of revealing the door in the wall. Of course he would tell Elijah, if he had the chance, later - but no-one else.

He was grateful to the man for bringing the food, but now excitement had taken over from his hunger. There was a secret compartment in the wall - and Dom wanted to explore it.

"...so I must go, sir. I advise you to slide the bolt to when I go. No-one, then, will come in by accident. There are a mortal number of courtiers wandering about, nosing into chambers and store-rooms."

He glanced about the room. "Not that there is anywhere to hide, in here, but I suppose you could jump from the window, into the lake. But all that would achieve is that you'll get wet, for they'd bound to catch you before you reached the bank."

The steward smiled. "But I doubt me if anyone would be interested in coming in here. There are so many more attractive doors that will open. I'll tap four times like this -" he demonstrated on the desk -" and you'll know it is me. Oh..." he went back outside and brought a thick wooden pail into the room. "You'll be needing this, sir."

Dom thanked him, gravely, for his thoughtfulness, and the steward left with a bow and a smile. Dom immediately shot the bolt, and, ignoring the basket, went back to the wall.

He opened it the second time with more ease than the first, and looked inside. The doorway came up a little higher than Dom's chest and was about twice his width across. Without hesitation, Dom stooped and went inside.

There was another chamber beyond, dusty and disused. Dom knew instinctively that this chamber had not been entered since Elijah's mother had died.

It was slightly smaller than the other room, and the only furniture within it was a small table, a chair and several chests lining the wall. There was a window, covered in cobwebs, that, when pushed out, opened onto the lake. Dom wondered why no-one had questioned a window that, supposedly, had no room behind it, but when he stuck his head out of it, he could see none of the other windows, for there was a thick stone pillar - one of many lining the outer walls of Beauvallet - on either side of the embrasure.

The window overlooked the back of the castle, and the room was also provided with an office of necessity. Dom was very glad that he would not have to use - if needed - the pail of Astin's providing.

He decided first to see what treasures the chests held. There was, to his immense surprise, enormous amounts of treasure to be found in them. Gold coin, silver, intricate jewellery, and gems by the hatful. Dom laughed. Elijah was a rich man - but he was now, even richer than he could have dreamt.

The fifth chest contained books. Household ledgers, Dom discovered, turning the pages of one of the codices to find lists of goods and monies, and other financial information. But there were two volumes that were different. They were smaller in size, but thicker, and tied about with leather thongs.

Dom put them on the table, because, before he left, he wished to see if the door could be opened from within the room as there was no door out of it into the corridor. Satisfied that it could be opened from both sides, he picked up the books and returned through the connecting door to the other chamber, unpacked the food, and, munching upon a fine capon leg, began to read, hoping to discover what it was that Elijah's mother was so anxious - apart from the treasure - to keep hidden.

***

Bishop Anselm, Father Orlando and the Abbess Gertruda were ensconced in the solar, as the king and his mother were holding state within the Hall.

Orlando had told Gertruda that Dom was in hiding somewhere in the castle, but was unable to tell her exactly where he was.

"Lij told me to tell Astin - he knows where it is," Orlando offered softly. "He said he would take some food to him, and prepare another bed-chamber that was out of the common way. Forgive me for saying so, Lady - but if the king cannot find him, he cannot further molest him."

"Do not ask my forgiveness, Father," the abbess said, pressing a cup of watered wine into Orlando's hand. "The king's feelings - thanks be to God - are of little concern to me. It is what these feelings mean for Elijah that bothers me. I must stay here to watch over him, for Vincent has messengers come daily from Canterbury and from Hubert Walter in London. He has business to attend, but mine can be delegated a little while longer."

Here she hesitated, and bent her searching gaze upon Anselm's amiable countenance. "May I ask your Grace to help me by visiting the abbey to see if all goes well there? There has been no message sent to me hinting of troubles, but given the recent murders..."

Anselm beamed at her. "Of course we will go today, my Lady. We will spend a few days there, and check that all is well. Hold a mass for the sisters, ask a few questions. Also, as Jefroi St Aubin is there, we will speak with him, also."

"Thank you!" Gertruda said with real feeling. "I doubt me if our nearest priest has visited the abbey since the sickness fell. The sisters will be so gratified by your interest."

"There is no need to thank us, Lady" Orlando said, in his soft voice. "We are pleased to be able to help. But..." his voice grew softer..."are you certain you can ward Elijah without our assistance?"

Anselm, too, looked concerned as Orlando raised the point. "Indeed, I had not thought of it. You did well to recall it to my attention, Orlando."

The abbess continued in the same soft tone. The solar was a large room, but one never knew whose ears were listening behind the door. "The queen, my sister, has confided that she intends to take the king away with her, tomorrow. It seems that she, too, is concerned by his Grace's behaviour. He will be best seeing to his own business, and leaving both Dom and Elijah in peace."

Anselm bowed his head. "So you know, Venerable Lady, that Dominic and Elijah are..."

The abbess put up her hand, forestalling further comment. "What a man - or woman - does behind the closed doors of their bedchamber is between him, their chosen partner, and God. It is not for me to offer an opinion upon it despite what Holy Mother Church may insist."

"However," she remarked, seeing Orlando smile. "I see for myself the miraculous change that time - and Mortain - has wrought upon my nephew. He is softer, now, more accepting of love - and, because of that difference, so am I. I have warmed greatly to Mortain - he is a right excellent man!"

"Surely he is!" agreed Orlando, with a rare grin.

***

The right excellent man was reading. The volume he was perusing was the Duchess's personal journal, kept since her marriage to Elijah's father. Of a book containing details of her first marriage, there was no sign.

Yesterday, my dearest Wenna brought to me a sad youth whom she said was called Astin. He was the son of...

Dom was just about to turn the page when someone tapped on the door. It was Astin's signal. Quickly he bundled the books into the cloth that had covered the food, and thrust them through the secret panel, clicked it shut, and unbolted the door.

"Come, now, sir, whilst they are all at meat. I have prepared a room for you that is away from the common area. Quietly, now!"

Dom silently followed the steward along the corridor and up the back stairs. The room Astin had chosen seemed to be half-way between the servant's quarters and the family chambers.

Dom found himself in a pleasant, light room, the air redolent of lavender.

"It was Wenna's chamber, Sir Dominic. I hope you don't mind being in here, but it is as safe as houses. Her Grace, the Duchess, always insisted that Wenna had the best. Should you need me at any time during the night - mine is the sixth door to your left. I brought you some wine, and a few bits from the Queen's banquet. I expect them to carry on down there for a while, yet. Good night to you, sir. I will contrive to tell his lordship where I have placed you."

Although it was not yet quite dark, there were two candles burning on the bedside table. Dom had wished he had thrust the book he was perusing into the wide sleeve of his tunic, for he had much to think about, apart from - being an inquisitive man - wishing to know more about the father of Astin.

There was a beautiful, white kid-covered prayer-book on a table under the window, and Dom decided that reading it would be better than trying to sleep before darkness fell.

He stripped off, donned his night-robe, and got into the large, comfortable bed.

The beautifully illustrated book held an inscription on the blank sheet of vellum opposite its title page which had been written, in tottering capitals, by a very young hand.

To Dame Rowenna, my dearest friend in all the whole world, a gift on Our Saviour's Natal day, the Year of Our Lord, 1172, from your loving boy, Elijah de Woode.

It brought tears to Dom's eyes. The thought of the little lad that was Elijah, struggling to write this - probably under his mother's supervision - his tongue gripped between his teeth, his brow furrowed. A gift to his best friend - his nurse.

It made Dom more than ever determined to find out who killed Wenna. Not only who, but why? What reason could any person have for wishing the harmless old lady dead?

He sighed, then applied himself, like any good Christian, to reading the book.

***

The next morning dawned bright and clear. Elijah stared out of the window, glaring at the sun, wishing that the stars would return, so that it would not already be morning. For morning meant breakfast, and after breakfast a meeting that could not be postponed. The threat of Richard loomed large.

Astin came in with food, and said he was pleased to see his lordship looking so much better.

Elijah could have told him that the slight flush upon his cheeks was caused by annoyance, not good health - for he knew he had to face Richard, and in no wise would Richard like what he was going to say.

Still, the food smelt good, and there was no point, he thought, in starving himself because Richard was going to lose his temper - again. At least Dom had a place to hide, and Astin had just informed him that he had already taken a basket of food to the little office, and Dom was waiting to be led there whilst all were eating in the Hall.

It was good to know his cousin would be leaving that day - his aunt, the queen had come herself to tell Elijah of it. She seemed as relieved as did he at the prospect.

He prayed that that would mean that Dom would then be safe.

***

But Richard proved impatient - he could not wait until breakfast had been served. He hastily consumed some bread and meat and, even before Vincent or his mother had descended into the Hall, he was disturbing Elijah over his bowl of frumenty.

All appetite deserted Elijah as the king walked into the room. There was no-one with him - no-one to shield him from the importunities of his lusty cousin.

Elijah handed Richard the bowl without a word, and the man put it on the table, his brow furrowed, obviously thinking, for once, before he spoke.

"Lij, why do you look so disturbed at my arrival? I mean you no harm, truly I do not. All I desire is that you come to me - to my bed - of your own free will."

Elijah let out a derisive laugh. "You do not mean that, Dick. Have I already not told you that I will come no more to your bed? Did you not hear me say it, firmly, at Acre and again, more recently? That was me, exercising my free will. I do not wish to be with you."

Richard grunted, his face beginning to redden with anger. "I suppose that traitor Mortain would not be repulsed so, if he came to you. It is obvious that you prefer him to me. He has poisoned your mind against me. But I will soon change all that..."

Elijah interrupted the king's tirade, without ceremony. "I cannot make you behave as a king should, Richard. You may forcibly remove me from my home - no-one can stop you - not even Vincent. You may immure me in some remote fastness, and avail yourself of my body, by using your body's strength, for you are so much bigger than am I. But I swear to you, now, by God's precious blood, that you will never have me unless you do force me…"

"…and if you do, remember this. What we had, once, was pleasure and friendship. It was what it was, and no more. That was agreeable to both of us, but it ended at Outremer. So, if you cannot accept that, take me prisoner and ravish me, but speak one word to you, I will not. Not ever again, if you do this thing. Nor even look at you, nor touch you. The choice is yours. I can say no more."

Richard bounced off the bed in a fury. "I see who you prefer before me - it is plain to me. Well, little man, no-one bests me and gets away with it scot-free. I give you god-den," and the king stalked out in a fury just as Astin was coming up the stairs. Astin tried to flatten himself against the wall but it was too late.

"Here, you!" growled Richard, roughly grabbing the steward's arm. "Where is Mortain hiding? Don’t even think of lying to your king if you wish to live. Tell me!"

****

No sooner had Dom closed the door to the secret room, than a fist hammered on the outer door. Swiftly he re-opened the secret panel, and threw the bundle of books back inside.

"Mortain, come out, damn you!" a voice shouted. "I do not wish to break down the door!"

Dom closed the panel with a click, and straightening his tunic, slid the bolt open.

Six men rushed in, but Dom stood unarmed, and unresisting, waiting politely to hear what they wished him to do.

The captain in charge dared not touch the prisoner - for such Dom was if the king said he was - bring the prisoner to me! he had ordered - so the captain said, gruffly that Dom should follow him.

Dom raised his eyebrows, and exhibited a calm demeanour he was far from feeling. "Lead on, good fellow!" he said and stepped out among them.

***

For the second time in recent weeks Dom stood in the room in front of Elijah's desk, as the king stood behind it.

"Welcome, Sir Dominic," said the king, with false good-will exuding from every pore. "Pray, do you be seated." He indicated a chair to one side of the desk and Dom slowly sat down, unsure of the king’s mood.

Vincent came hurrying into the room, almost breathless, but Richard was not dismayed by the interruption in the least. His voice rang with false enthusiasm. "Sit down beside me, cousin Canterbury, and listen to me reward this fine, upstanding fellow for his loyalty and devotion to the crown, and to my kingdom."

Vincent cast a jaundiced eye upon Richard. He was not fooled for a moment, and, judging by Dom's expression of quiet desperation, neither was he.

"Today, messire, I go with my mother, the Queen, to Canterbury, and thence north to meet with my scapegrace brother, John.”

"We both wish you a safe journey," Vincent murmured and Dom nodded, even if in his head he thought otherwise.

"When we have finished our business with him, I am returning to Jerusalem to fight on in the name of God, and I will be taking with me the fine nobles of this land."

Dom struggled to keep his composure because he knew Richard was watching his reactions very carefully. It would not do to look too pleased at the fact that Richard was leaving the country.

“I have been most impressed with your tenacity, Mortain. You are a man who does not accept defeat – much as I, too, do not accept defeat. And so, I do believe that when I leave this kingdom for the Holy Land, you will be accompanying me…in truth, I command you to be amongst the forefront of my men, to lead by your example.”

Dom was breathless with horror. He was being ordered to go to war…to take him from Elijah. Doubtless, just as King David had arranged the slaying of Uriah, Bathsheba's husband, so he could keep her to himself, so Richard would order the same thing be done to him. He would have him placed in the front line of the battle, to be cut down. He could not refuse the royal command without being tainted as a traitor, and a punishment of exile, or worse. There was no way out, none.

Vincent rose to his feet, white with fury and began to speak - but this time, Richard would have none of it.

"No-one had better interfere with me in this, Canterbury," the king ordered, his tone implacable. "The man before me will receive his just reward, whatever men may say of it. I am granting him the Lordship of Mortain. Lord Dominic, the papers will be prepared for you, in London. You will be rewarded for your service thus, and, Vincent, you may stay here at Beauvallet, and comfort your brother, for he will be in sore need..."

The door opened and Elijah came into the room, firmer on his feet than might be expected of one so recently ill. He was dressed in his night-robe, and a hastily donned silk outer robe, and it was seen that he trembled slightly from the exertion of descending the stairs.

He stood at the side of Dom’s chair, pressing his hand on Dom's shoulders to keep him from rising. "What evil scheme are you planning, Dick? I know you full well..."

"Silence!" Richard erupted, hot with fury and jealousy. "I am taking Mortain - Lord Dominic Mortain - with me today, to fight for God in the Holy Land, and no-one, little coz, can prevent me. I desire his company there…"

Elijah said nothing for a long while, but searched Richard’s face for a sign that this could be settled any other way. Even the small smile of triumph Richard tried hard to disguise, which caused a small sound of disgust from Vincent, did not move Elijah to any reaction.

"Very well, your Grace. If that be the case, and you are determined in this wise, may I take my leave of his Lordship? I doubt me if I shall see him again in this life."

Richard shrugged and waved a condescending hand in the air. He could afford magnanimity in the face of so comprehensive a victory.

Offering his unsteady hand, Elijah drew Dom to his feet. "God be with you, my Amis," he said, softly, touching Dom’s face with his fingers, "I would give you a gift to take to the Holy Land so you may remember this - my heart lives and dies with you." Quietly, he took Dom within his arms, and kissed him.

The silence was complete. Elijah deepened the kiss, and Dom responded in spite of his feelings of desperation. Wrapped in each other’s arms, there was no-one else in the room that mattered.

"You have the might and power of a king, but you should not do this…by all that’s Holy, look at them!" Vincent hissed, greatly affected by the thought of the utmost misery that would follow Richard’s callous act.

Richard, though, was mesmerised, watching how, even at the end of the most loving kiss he had witnessed, the two men had only eyes for each other.

Then Elijah released his chosen lover, slowly and reluctantly – his fingers tracing down Dom’s arms until they reached the tips of Dom’s fingers and then they were parted. He stared at his cousin, the fire of love dying out of his eyes, to be replaced there by cold ice.

"Sunder our bodies you can, Beau Sire - but never our hearts. Nothing you do can change this."

Richard sat down suddenly as one who had received a mortal blow. He could not even speak. He was defeated, and he knew it full well. He would never win this battle - never, for he saw it, now, at last, plain in Elijah's eyes.

The door opened once more, and Richard looked up quickly as if to remonstrate with the person about to disturb them, but as soon as he saw his mother standing in the doorway, he looked away, seemingly uncomfortable.

She gave them all a quick, intelligent glance, and nodded briskly. "Get Elijah back to his bed, Sir Dominic. He needs to rest. I will bid you both farewell, now, as we are leaving within the hour. May God bless you always, my dear lad!"

She kissed Lij on both cheeks, bowed her head to Dom, who returned to her a deeper salutation, then she closed the door into the room which held her defeated son.

Umar stood transfixed, a few feet from the doorway, listening carefully to the last words of this exchange. Within minutes he was riding as fast as his sleek horse would take him, to the abbey. If they were to leave that soon, he had to speak with Orlando first. It was imperative, if he was ever to have peace in this life, or hope of Paradise, in the next.

He smiled as the warm breeze blew his hair. Dear Orlando, he thought, as he sped on.

***

Dom, his arm about Elijah's waist, led him back to his bed, and quietly closed the chamber door behind him. Elijah turned within the shelter of his guiding arm, and kissed him again.

"Come, lie beside me until he is gone, for I am indeed weary, and must rest," Elijah managed, his whole frame trembling with exhaustion.

Dom carefully helped Elijah into the bed, and as his breathing returned to normal, he drifted off into healing sleep. But until he fell asleep also, now free of care, Dom's gaze never, for one moment, left his beloved's face.

Elijah had faced down the might of a king and in front of the two most powerful men in England, this most private man had shown his deepest feelings.

Never would he forget what Elijah had done this day.

My Amiloun!

However, as soon as he was certain that Elijah would not wake if he rose, Dom carefully slid off the bed, and pulling on his shoes, left the room as stealthily as a cat. He had a plan - and if it was the only way he could ensure Elijah's safety, then he would implement it, never mind how much it would break his heart in two.

He reached the bottom of the stairs just as the queen, followed by Richard and Vincent were crossing the Hall to the door.

The queen, seeing Dom striding purposefully towards her son, carried on, but Dom was now kneeling in Richard's path. The king was not about to stop for him, Dom could see that, so, impetuous as ever, he cried out, "Beau Sire, I will come with you, and do as you command!"

That stopped Richard in his tracks. He walked back to face Dom, still kneeling on the flagstones. "You will come with me? What means this?"

Dom bowed his head. "It is as I said, your Grace. I will come with you to the Holy Land, if..."

Richard put his hands on his hips and laughed, but it was not a pleasant sound. "Ah! So there is an if is there? It interests me to find what a little man could demand of his liege lord and king in the matter of an if. Speak, you!"

Dom stared at the king's feet. "If Elijah be left in peace, to live his life as he sees fit, and to be free from all let or hindrance, I will come."

Then Dom raised his head, and looked for the first time at his king, and Vincent, standing near, saw such sorrow and entreaty in his gaze, he held his breath.

Richard's gaze did not soften towards the kneeling man, but his eyes lost their anger.

"That is all you wish? No promises or concessions for yourself? No guarantee of future safety or preferments? Nothing?"

Dom continued to stare at the king. "No, my Lord King, nothing for myself."

Vincent saw an odd look in Richard's expression - as if, he thought, his cousin had suddenly discovered the gulf - the difference that lived in a man's heart - between lust and love.

The king let out a loud sigh, and gestured for Dom to rise. Then he beckoned Vincent forward. "Come, Canterbury, and witness and swear to my word which I give this day!"

Dom continued to fix his gaze on Richard's face, but as the king spoke, he could not help but shiver as the words fixed in his mind.

"I absolve you from all duty to accompany me to the Holy Land. You may stay here, and do as your heart desires, in safety, free from all fear or constraints."

"I give you the Lordship of Mortain as previously granted, together with the three farmsteads in its demesnes. They are for your absolute use, without tithe or demand from the crown. The rest of the County of Mortain belongs, still, to my brother, the Prince John. No doubt he will cavil at the loss of income from your manor, but I am sure he will be pleased to accept some other, more desirable land as part of his fiefdom."

Here Richard grew pale, and failed to meet Dom's eyes. "Tell his Grace of Stanford that I leave him in peace, he shall never see my face more. I will devote myself to bringing the Holy Land back under Christ's yoke, or die in the attempt. Tell him...tell him that I hope he has a long and happy life. This is my gift and promise, witnessed here this day. May God strike me dead if I do not keep it as it has been spoken. Amen."

Richard turned abruptly on his heel and left, and Vincent smiled and nodded quickly at Dom, and hurried after his cousin to the waiting horses.

Dom could see, from where he stood almost rooted to the spot by relief, John Barebone rushing across the bailey with Umar's satchels as the physician, his horse sweating slightly, rode into the compound. A minute later, with a blast of trumpets, the cavalcade left Beauvallet for Canterbury, never - for Dom believed the king's promise - never to return.

He walked slowly up the stairs and lay himself down, once again, at Elijah's side. The sleeping man stirred, but it was only to reach out and draw Dom's hand across his slim body, and hold it tight.

Dom sighed deeply, and pressing his head into Elijah's shoulder, quietly wept for joy.