“Oui?”
“Have you ever had a best friend?”
“William is my best friend.”
Tanon gave William her widest smile, pleased that her papa loved him almost as much as she did. “Wouldn’t you do anything to make certain no mean boys ever hurt him?”
Her papa nodded his head and then went to her chair and knelt in front of her. “Did mean boys tell you they were going to hurt Petunia?”
Tanon gasped.“Non!”She simply couldn’t believe how clever her papa was! How did he know she was talking about Petunia? Oh, she lamented, now her dear sweet Petunia would surely end up on Roger deCourtenay’s supper table. Huge tears welled up in her eyes, and her lower lip began to tremble. She looked at William because he had such a nice face and she needed to stop herself from crying so that her papa wouldn’t get angry and beat Roger deCourtenay’s hide.
“Your papa would do anything to keep me safe, my joy,” William told her, rising to his feet. That was all he did, but it brought an end to her papa’s questions. “Why, I would even call it a noble thing to tell a few untruths to protect someone, or something, you love.” He leaned over and kissed the top of Tanon’s head. “Oui, noble indeed. Don’t you agree, Brand?”
“I do.” Her papa smiled at her, and Tanon blew out an explosive breath. “Go find your mother and let her tidy your hair. And Tanon,” he called out when she bolted out of her chair and skipped toward the door. “No more climbing trees.”
She nodded, clearly disappointed, but didn’t argue as she left.
“She lied tome to protect a pig.” Brand poured two cups of ale and handed one to William before he sat down.
“Oui.” William grinned. He couldn’t have been more pleased if Hereward the Wake were found hanged in the courtyard outside. “’Tis rare to find such bravery and devotion in one so young, Brand. Brynna has done well raising her.”
Brand laughed softly, leaning back in his chair. “You’re a married man, William. When will you cease pining for my wife?”
“Never,” the king replied. He downed his drink and let out a long sigh.
“Wales?” Brand asked, knowing what prompted his longtime friend to begin pacing.
“Oui, Wales. They’re resilient bastards, the Welsh.Merde, Brand, they’re savage.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“I understand why the Mercian king, Offa, sought so forcefully to keep them out of England centuries ago. Their princes fight among themselves as fervently as they fight us. Fortunately for us, all their internal wars have left them weak. My marcher lords have been able to hold them off along the borders. Still, there is resistance to our occupancy. Herefordshire has sustained particularly high losses.”
“I know,” Brand said. “Hugh La Morte lost his entire garrison there last spring.”
“Oui.”William nodded and turned to stare into the flames of the crackling hearth. “Brand, I’ve recently met with a Welsh prince, Rhys ap Tewdwr, a descendent of King Rhodri, and the son of Tewdwr Mawr, who many years ago was king of Deheubarth in the south. Rival princes have challenged Prince Rhys’ inherited territorial rights, but I’ve no doubt he’ll someday rule all of southern Wales. I’ve yet to see any man fight as he does. He moves at the touch of a breeze.”
“Do you plan on helping him accomplish becoming king of the south, William?”
The king shrugged his shoulders, “Perhaps. He’s an intelligent man. I believe that if he’s able to take the throne in Deheubarth, we may be able to secure peace between our people. The marches along central Wales are almost secured. The fighting there against us has all but ceased. I wish the same for the south.”
Brand nodded, listening. He knew there was something more pressing on William’s mind.
“I’ve invited him to Winchester to meet you. He arrives in two days with his nephews.”
“To meet me?” Brand laughed softly. “Why?”
William’s charcoal eyes met Brand’s, and the regret in them caused Brand’s smile to fade. “Why, William?” he asked again, more serious this time.
“Because,mon ami, I’ve promised Tanon to Rhys’ nephew Cedric.”
Brand bolted to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief, then anger. “You would sacrifice my daughter to buy allegiance from savages?”
William looked away. “Non, I would secure the loyalty of a family with the power to end a resistance that could last another hundred years and cost more lives than you or I can comprehend. The marcher lords rule the land they inhabit by my own decree. What goes on there is almost completely out of my hands. But I must show my support for peace.”
“By pledging my daughter?”
“My goddaughter, my sun and moon and stars,” William reminded him in a somber tone. “Forgive me.” He placed his hand on Brand’s shoulder as he moved to pass him. “I am surrounded by enemies.”