Page 70 of Forgotten Secrets (Secrets of the Heart 4)

Chapter 23

“So, you see, I think I can get Whitmore to confess to all of this. And with you three hiding in the brush to hear it, we’ll be able to convict him.” Bedivere stood in the stables staring at the bastard triplets who stared back at him, not saying a word.

He had just explained everything to them hoping, if nothing else, it would ease Reed’s hatred toward him so he could still marry the man’s daughter.

“This is quite a story,” said Rowen, leaning against the gate of the stall, rolling a piece of straw in his fingers.

“And it’s all made up,” said Reed, still scowling at him over his shoulder. “The man is an assassin and he is no’ goin’ to marry Morag. I willna allow it.”

“Calm down, Brother,” said Rook, sitting on a wooden bench, shining an apple on his sleeve and taking a bite. “It could be true since we already know Whitmore has been scheming against King Richard.”

“You said Whitmore wanted you to kill us?” asked Rowen, throwing down the piece of straw and resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. “Why didn’t you?”

“I told you, I refused to do it since I knew the three of you would never betray your own blood.”

“We raided our own faither, ye fool,” spat Reed. “Or did ye forget about that?”

Bedivere had left out the part that he’d saved both Rook and Rowen’s lives. He also didn’t tell them about the other two assassins. It might have helped his case to tell them but, then again, these men had pride. They weren’t going to admit that they needed saving. That might only turn them against him in the end if they didn’t want to look weak in anyone’s eyes. Being saved by an assassin wasn’t something men would boast about.

“How do you plan on saving your mother?” Rook stretched out his legs and took another bite of the apple.”

“I’m not sure yet. I have a dilemma. If I kill Whitmore, his men have been ordered to kill my mother in return. And I don’t see that they are going to let me walk into the dungeon and just take her with me. Then again, if I don’t kill him, he’ll keep my mother imprisoned forever to keep me from telling Richard what he’s been doing these past two years.”

“Let me get this straight,” said Reed, turning and crossing his arms over his chest. “Ye were killin’ off innocent men? Or were they truly plottin’ against the king?”

“I’m . . . not really sure about that part. Yet,” said Bedivere. “But I hope to get the truth out of Whitmore once I talk with him in the woods. Now, will you three come with me or not?”

“How do we know this isn’t some kind of crazy plan to get us in the woods and kill us?” asked Rook suspiciously. “You could have a small army lying in wait and that’s why you want us away from the castle.” Rook threw the apple core over his shoulder, wiped his hands on his breeches and stood up. “Mayhap, Brothers, we should kill him now and not take the chance he’s planned an ambush for us.”

“I’m all for that.” Reed drew his sword and took a step toward Bedivere, but Rowen’s arm shot out to block him.

“Not so fast,” commanded Rowen. “If Bedivere can get Whitmore to confess and we are witnesses, Richard will be very grateful to us.”

“True,” said Rook. “We were planning on approaching the king about Whitmore even though we knew he wouldn’t believe us. This will prove to Richard that our intent is to help him and not harm him.”

“Richard has never trusted us since we raided his grandfather,” added Rowen.

“Will you do it?” asked Bedivere.

“Even if we agree, ye are still no’ marryin’ my daughter,” Reed reminded him.

“Bedivere, are you in here?” Percival entered the stable and stopped when he saw his brother talking to all three of the Legendary Bastards. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were busy.”

“What is it, Percival?” asked Bedivere.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but I thought you might want to know that Uncle Theobald thought he saw Whitmore leaving the castle and heading toward the woods a half-hour ago. Although with his eyesight going, he couldn’t be sure it was him so mayhap it is nothing.”

“I know about it,” said Bedivere. “I’m meeting him.”

“Do you think it’s safe?” asked Percival.

Bedivere raised his brows. “Brother, you do know my profession,” he reminded him. “And I’ll have the Legendary Bastards of the Crown along with me. So unless Uncle Theobald saw him leave with a small army, I think we can take care of ourselves.”

“Aye, I understand,” said Percival. “But that’s not what I meant. I just saw the Ladies Willow, Maira and Fia return to the castle and that young squire, Branton, told me they’d been to the woods.”

“Were they in a wagon?” asked Rowen.

“Nay. On horseback,” Percival told them.

---