“My wife,” he said, gesturing to Alyx. “My son, my daughter, and my wife’s brother. I can only assume that’s who he means. How is he?”
The old physic shook his head. “Not long for this world,” he said. Then, he looked to two enormous knights sitting against the wall. “Are you two de Wolfe and de Norville?”
Sir William de Wolfe and Sir Paris de Norville stood up, their armor creaking with the movement.
“We are,” William said. He was tall, dark, extremely handsome, and sporting an eyepatch over his left eye. “I am from Castle Questing and de Norville is from Northwood Castle. We arrived earlier today at Great Caesar’s summons.”
“Good,” the physic nodded. “Go up with Torston and the others. He wants to see you two, also.”
The group began to filter out into the foyer and to the stairs leading to the second floor of the keep. Torston stopped to pick up his daughter, Alycia, because his heavily pregnant wife shouldn’t be carrying her. Dyl picked up Ryston, the little brother he’d never had, as the two had become inordinately close. With William and Paris bringing up the rear, they headed up the stairs.
“Great Caesar is a strong man,” William said, coming up behind Torston. “If these are truly his last moments on earth, I will be surprised.”
Torston shifted his daughter in his arms as he took the stairs. “The ailment he caught in the winter has not abated,” he said. “We’ve watched him grow weaker over the months that have passed. He simply cannot shake it, so I, for one, would like the man not to suffer any longer. He has suffered enough.”
William nodded his head. “I know,” he said. “He is a great ally. Lord de Longley considers him a very valuable ally, as do I, which is why Paris and I came immediately at the summons.”
Torston turned his head slightly, grinning at the pair. “How is it between you two now that you are not serving together in one army?” he said. “Paris has control of Northwood’s mighty army while you now have your own at Castle Questing. That must be odd considering how long you two served together.”
“It is a relief,” Paris said, the less reverent of the pair, although he didn’t mean a word of it. “William is no longer shouting orders in my ear all day long. Joy of joys!”
William cast Paris an impatient glance, which Paris ignored. The two were the best of friends and had been since their youth. William recently received a barony, bestowed upon him by the king for meritorious service, which meant he’d moved to his own fortress about eight miles from Northwood Castle, one of the mightiest castles in Northumberland and seat of the Earl of Teviot. There were those that thought Paris might be jealous of his oldest and dearest friend, but the truth was that Paris was very happy to be commanding his own army. He missed William, but he was glad to be rid of him.
In a good way.
To Paris’ comment, Torston laughed softly. “Admit it,” he said. “You miss him. I’m sure when you saw him here at The Lyceum, it was all you could do to keep from rushing into his arms.”
William snorted while Paris raised a disapproving eyebrow. By that time, they were at the top of the stairs, everyone heading toward Lionel’s bedchamber door. Torston put himself up at the front of the group, going in first with little Alycia in his arms. Lionel was especially fond of the dimple-cheeked angel and she of him.
Lionel’s chamber smelled heavily of rosemary and peppermint, thought to aid in healing afflictions of the lungs. Lionel’s breathing was coming in labored gasps as the chest infection weakened the man with every breath he took. Torston came around the side of the bed.
“Great Caesar?” he said softly. “We have arrived.”
Lionel’s eyes were closed, but he peeped an eye open, lifting a weak hand when he saw Alycia. “My cherub,” he breathed. “Give her to me.”
Carefully, Torston set Alycia down next to Lionel and she immediately grinned at the old man, talking baby talk to him. The first flash of a smile in a week rippled across his face.
“Torston,” he whispered. “Promise me.”
“Anything, Great Caesar.”
“My cherub is not meant for the Scots pups. Promise me.”
He meant Douglas Kerr’s sons. Michael was a bright, handsome lad but his baby brother, Malcolm, was barely a year old. He looked much like his mother, Nell, with his dark hair and eyes, and Douglas had been trying to hammer out a betrothal between Alycia and either one of his sons, as he’d given Torston the choice, since the girl had been born.
But Lionel, as much as his mind was gone, seemed oddly sane when it came to Alycia and knew very well about Douglas’ offer. Therefore, Torston fought off a grin as he answered.
“She will have to marry sometime, Great Caesar,” he said. “I will not promise to make her a spinster. Douglas and Nell have been great allies of The Lyceum and they are honored friends.”
Lionel coughed, a horrible wet sound. “Not the Scots,” he repeated. Then, he looked to Alyx with her big belly. “This child will be a son. I am to be his godfather.”
Alyx nodded, hand on her belly. “Of course, Great Caesar. We are honored.”
Lionel coughed again and motioned to Jess, who was standing on the other side of the bed. Since Morley’s death, Jess had filled in as majordomo because there had been a great need and, strangely, had done an excellent job of helping administer The Lyceum as Lionel deteriorated. Therefore, Jess produced a large piece of vellum, rolled up and tied off in a sheep’s skin.
“Great Caesar wants me to read this to you in his presence,” Jess said. “Where is Lance? Did he not come?”
Torston shook his head. “Lance is at Makendon,” he said. “It seems that his daughter has a marriage offer so he is meeting with the family. He sends his regrets for not being able to attend Great Caesar’s summons.”
“I see,” Jess said. “It is unfortunate that he cannot be here, but we will press on. This is Great Caesar’s will and he wants it read in front of witnesses, which is why de Wolfe and de Norville are here. They can attest to the validity of it.”
Torston looked at Jess curiously. “When was this written, Jess?”
“Most of it, about six years ago before his mental state deteriorated too badly,” he said. “But there are portions that were recently added. Not to worry, Torston. Those portions are not crucial.”
Torston nodded, looking to William and Paris, who were standing at the end of the bed. They, too, nodded, understanding the validity of the document.
“Go on,” Torston told Jess.
Jess untied the cord that bound the vellum, carefully unrolling the document that really didn’t have much to it. He began to read.
“It begins with Great Caesar bequeathing his soul to the gods,” he said.
Torston glanced at his wife, who appeared equally confused. “The gods?” Torston said. “Multiple gods?”
Jess nodded, wriggling his eyebrows to indicate that he, too, thought it strange, but he continued. “He wishes to be cremated and his ashes spread over The Lyceum’s moat.”
That was a very odd request. Torston didn’t dare look at de Wolfe and de Norville, who were probably thinking the same thing. Lionel was quite eccentric, even in the best of times, so in the grand scheme of things, this was nothing particularly odd. It was Lionel, after all. Torston nodded to the old man’s wish.
“If that is what he wants,” he said. “Is there anything else?”
Jess nodded. “There is,” he said. “Great Caesar wants Dyl de Ameland to have his white stallion, Zeus.”
That was Lionel’s prized possession and Alyx turned to her brother, smiling, only to see that Dyl was equally pleased. He loved pretty animals.
“He also wants Dyl to have the statue of Pan, the one in his solar.”
That was a naked statue of a nymph with an enormous, and erect, manhood. Dyl didn’t look too pleased about that and Alyx tried very hard not to laugh. She grimaced at her husband, who was trying hard not to smile as well. Jess continued.
“He bequeaths
the goats in the lower yard to young Ryston de Royans,” he said. “The lad can start his own goat empire if he so chooses.”
Ryston and Dyl looked at each other, wildly happy that they had been given animals. Ryston already had his loyal puppy, Petey, but he was thrilled with the addition of the goats. As Torston grinned at the joy of two new livestock owners, Jess went on.
“Lastly, having no heirs, The Lyceum and all of Great Caesar’s wealth and property is to be given to you, Torston,” he said, looking up at the man. “He considers you his family and you are to be the next lord and master of The Lyceum.”
“Long live the new Caesar,” Lionel coughed and sputtered from his bed.
Shocked, Torston looked at Lionel as the man lay there with his eyes closed. Torston already had Makendon Castle, having inherited it when he married Alyx, but The Lyceum… he was genuinely and truly shocked.
“Let me see that,” he said, holding out a hand to Jess.
Jess handed over the document and Torston read it through completely. He was, indeed, designated as Lionel’s heir. Not only that, the document bore the stamp of the local magistrate in Alnwick.
It was legal.
Struggling with his shock, Torston handed it to William and Paris, who both reviewed it carefully. When they both looked up at Torston, smiling with approval, Torston picked up his daughter and handed her over to Alyx.
“I must speak with Caesar, alone,” he said quietly.
The room cleared out, with Dyl and Ryston rushing out to see their horses and goats as everyone else retreated to the solar again. In the meantime, Torston cleared Jess out of the chamber and sat down next to the bed, looking at Lionel as the man dozed, breathing loudly.
Gently, he put a hand on Lionel’s fragile fingers.
“Great Caesar,” he said. “I do not know if you can hear me, but I cannot thank you enough for your generosity. I shall not fail you, my lord. I shall ensure that The Lyceum continues to be a great strength in the north and we shall remember the man who has made us so strong – you.”
Lionel didn’t respond. It seemed to Torston that he tried to but didn’t have the strength any longer. Perhaps the last words out of Lionel’s mouth would, indeed, be his last.
Long live the new Caesar.
Torston sat with him, holding Lionel’s hand, until the physic quietly entered the chamber and bent over Lionel, lifting an eyelid and listening to his breathing. When he looked at Torston and shook his head, Torston realized that Lionel’s time was coming to an end.
It was time to send the man off right.
“All Hail, Great Caesar,” he whispered, his throat tight with emotion. “Look to the green fields of Elysium, my lord. The legions will be waiting to welcome you, for here on earth, you will become legend. Fear not; The Lyceum and all within her are in good hands. The gods are calling to you now. Go to them.”
Torston continued to sit with Lionel as the old man’s breathing became shallow and erratic, as the tired old body finally began to give out. When it stopped altogether, a single tear dropped from Torston’s eye. It was the end of an era. Bending over, he whispered in Lionel’s ear.
“Find your heaven, Great Caesar,” he murmured. “For certainly, I have already found mine.”
With that, he kissed Lionel on the forehead and stood up, feeling as if he’d just lost his father all over again. But a new day, and a new command, awaited him.
His family awaited him.
The love of his life awaited him.
The Centurion had found his own particular corner of Elysium.
And he embraced it.
Invicta
“Unconquered” The Lyceum/new de Royans Motto
* THE END *
Children of Torston and Alyx
Triston
Alycia
Alyanna
Dalton
Finton “Fin”
Alys
About Kathryn Le Veque
Medieval Just Got Real.
KATHRYN LE VEQUE is a USA TODAY Bestselling author, an Amazon All-Star author, and a #1 bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author in Medieval Historical Romance and Historical Fiction. She has been featured in the NEW YORK TIMES and on USA TODAY’s HEA blog. In March 2015, Kathryn was the featured cover story for the March issue of InD’Tale Magazine, the premier Indie author magazine. She was also a quadruple nominee (a record!) for the prestigious RONE awards for 2015.
Kathryn’s Medieval Romance novels have been called ‘detailed’, ‘highly romantic’, and ‘character-rich’. She crafts great adventures of love, battles, passion, and romance in the High Middle Ages. More than that, she writes for both women AND men – an unusual crossover for a romance author – and Kathryn has many male readers who enjoy her stories because of the male perspective, the action, and the adventure.
Kathryn loves to hear from her readers. Please find Kathryn on Facebook at Kathryn Le Veque, Author, or join her on Twitter @kathrynleveque, and don’t forget to visit her website and sign up for her blog at www.kathrynleveque.com.
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The Centurion Page 36
