Page 58 of The Sword and the Damsel

“My family,” Victor continued, echoing Brother Stephen’s emphasis, “would be very grateful for any assistance you provide locating my cousin. The Earl of Winchelsea and Lord de Vere will undoubtedly also be…grateful.” He was mentally calculating how grateful he could afford to be. While the Templars individually pledged to live a life of poverty, collectively they never missed an opportunity to enrich the order. The castlewhere they sat, and the labor of the tenants that farmed the land, were a gift from a grateful noblewoman some thirty years before.

“I see,” Brother Stephen answered, not quite hiding the mercenary gleam in his eye. “Of course, we’ll help you. I’ll send someone at once to notify the tenants to be on the lookout, and I can help you organize a search party to look for her. Take your ease. I’ll be back shortly.”

As Victor sat, the full weight of his exhaustion began to press down on him. He’d barely slept on his wedding night and hadn’t slept during the night while hunting for Robert. But he couldn’t afford to rest yet. Alais needed him.

Victor closed his eyes and imagined holding her in his arms, her shape, her scent, her warmth. Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes, full of renewed determination to find her, no matter the cost. If he had to promise the Templars Guestling to get her back, he would do it, though he didn’t think it would come to that.

Whatever happened, though, he needed money. When he’d left home, it didn’t occur to him to bring any. He wasn’t expecting this chase to extend into the next day. Now the Templars would want a guarantee of his gratitude payment. He would have to write his father. Daniel and his father-in-law should also be informed of what had happened, and, depending on how much gratitude he was expected to show, he might need to ask them for contributions as well. Perhaps Brother Stephen might be willing to lend him some coin to continue his pursuit, if needed, with a promise of repayment from the sum his father would send.

Brother Stephen returned and sat beside him. “I’ve sent out word to be on watch for your cousin. I have six knights ready to join you in your search for your wife this morning.”

“Thank you, Brother Stephen.”

“I imagine you must have received a handsome dowry for such a marriage. Certainly, one-tenth of the dowry would not be too much to part with, in gratitude for aid in finding her.”

Victor offered a wry smile. It was a hefty sum but far less than he was willing to sacrifice if needed. “Thank you for your help. You will have my gratitude within the week if you will lend me parchment and a quill to send a note to Guestling.”

“Of course, my lord.”

“I would also like to send a message to the Earl of Winchelsea. I’m sure he will also be grateful once he hears.”

“No trouble at all, my lord.” Brother Stephen came back swiftly with parchment, a quill, ink, and a blotter.

“One more thing. I left home without any coin. Would it be possible to borrow 20 silver pieces and add them to the amount my father is sending from Guestling?”

Brother Stephen narrowed his eyes. “We don’t lend coin. But we know and trust you, and we know that your father or the earl will make good on your debt in the end, if you are unable for some reason. And your aunt has long been a generous donor. Given your extreme need for haste, I will agree to it this once.”

“Thank you,” Victor said, clapping Brother Stephen on the shoulder. Then he turned to writing his letters.

Father,

I chased Robert to the woods just south of Westfield last night. He doesn’t have Alais with him, but I’m certain he knows where she is. The good knights at Westfield are helping me in my search. I wish to donate 100 gold and 20 silver pieces to their cause in gratitude for their assistance. Please send as soon as you are able. I suspect Robert left Alais in Hastings. If you find him before I do, send word to Westfield.

He paused, his quill hovering above the parchment. A drop of ink dripped from the nib, leaving a mark beside his writing. He dabbed at it with a blotter to keep it from smearing before adding to his final sentence.

…and give her my love. My heart is hers no matter what Robert may have done.

Your loving son,

Victor

Next, he had to pen his letter to Winchelsea. He took a deep breath. If he was a praying man, he would pray for inspiration. Was there a graceful way to tell your wife’s family that she’d been abducted?

To the Earl of Winchelsea and Lord Martin de Vere,

It is with deep sadness and anger that I must share the news that my cousin, Robert, abducted Alais while we were visiting my father at Guestling, paying our respects the day after our wedding. I pursued Robert to woods just south of Westfield where I lost him. She was not with him, and I am certain he stowed her elsewhere before heading out to meet me on the road. My father is searching for her near Guestling. If you can send anyone to aid him, I would be most grateful. I have enlisted the help of the good knights at Westfield to search for her in Hastings. I’m trying to keep my aunt out of this, if at all possible, given the strained relations between your families. My deepest apologies for failing in my sacred duty to keep Alais safe. I will find her, and I will bring Robert to justice.

Your humble servant,

Victor

When both letters were sealed with wax and stamped with his signet ring, he handed them both to Brother Stephen to convey to messengers. “I would like to move out as quickly as possible. Can you show me to the men that are going to help me?”

Brother Stephen nodded and led him out to the stables where six knights were saddling their horses, their breath fogging the air in the morning chill. While the men varied greatly in age and appearance, something about the economy and precision of their movements along with a certain look in their eyes told Victor at a glance that they were all veterans. They were all in fighting form, lean and strong, and they moved in concert as if long accustomed to each other from training and campaigning together. He paid dearly for their assistance, but he could not imagine a group of men better suited to aid him in his task.

“Brothers, this is Sir Victor of Guestling. He’ll be leading today’s search. I’ll let him share the details. I have urgent messages to send out.” With that, Brother Stephen bowed his head and took his leave.

Victor asked a groom to saddle a horse for him, since Socorro was injured, then addressed the men. “Thank you for your assistance today. I am honored by your company. I can see that you are experienced campaigners. That will be useful as we attempt to rescue my wife from my cousin, who kidnapped her. He and I both fought together overseas on behalf of Lord Amalric of Wessex. Robert is a capable fighter and a clever foe. Wherever my wife is, I am certain she is well-defended. We’re going to start our search at Robert’s house in Hastings. Questions?”

---