WolfeBlade: de Wolfe Pack Generations by Kathryn Veque (reading an ebook txt) 📕

have come here to warn you about their plans, my lord,” he said. “I hope that I did not waste my breath. Your daughter and the child need your protection, not your apathy. Do you truly wish to see John de Soulis get his hands on your daughter and grandchild? You know his unsavory reputation. You know what the man is capable of.”

Merek simply nodded. “It does not matter,” he said. “She is gone and the child is gone. I thank you for your concern, Harman.”

Harman couldn’t help the disgust he was feeling as he looked at Merek. “My concern is for myself, too,” he said. “I will bring my wife to Falstone and you will protect us from de Soulis. The man intends to kill me because he has involved me in the situation. I know things that I should not know.”

“Then fetch your wife and return at another time. But for now, you will go.”

Harman was being dismissed. Baffled at the man’s reaction to the situation, he did as he was told and left Falstone Castle, wondering if fear of the strength of de Soulis was truly outweighing de Leia’s sense of responsibility to his daughter.

I have sent them both away so there is nothing to be concerned with.

That was only one concern of many in this dangerous situation. Sending his daughter away could have meant anything, anywhere, but he was clear that de Leia thought that would solve the entire problem. Was the man truly living in such denial? But Harman wasn’t going to try to figure him out. He’d done what he’d come to Falstone to do – the rest was up to Merek de Leia.

And God.

Harman made his way back to Deadwater on the little pony he’d had for twenty years. It had been a foal when he’d first come into possession of it, given to him by a man in payment for treatment Harman performed on the man’s wife. It was a sturdy little pony and Harman treated it like one of the family. The animal had its own room attached to Harman’s cottage where the little beast was kept warm and fed well.

Harman and his little pony made it home in time for supper.

Two days later, however, the door to his little cottage burst open at dawn.

Harman’s wife, who had been preparing a morning meal at the hearth, shrieked when the heavily armed men entered the little cottage. Harman was with his pony, feeding it, but he heard the commotion and came inside to see John sitting at his table while Nicholas had stolen the loaf of bread Harman’s wife had made for their meal. He was shoving it in his mouth when Harman entered the common room.

“My lords,” he greeted, clearly displeased at the chaos they were creating. “You are always welcome in my home. Will you break your fast with us?”

He was politely inviting them to a meal. As if he had any choice. John yawned, putting a leg on the table and scattering the utensils that were there, as Nicholas continued to stuff bread in his mouth.

“I was told you went to Falstone a couple of days ago,” John said casually. “Undoubtedly, you know my men are watching this village. And you. They knew you went to Falstone. Tell me what you discovered and mind you leave nothing out.”

Harman came to stand by his wife, who was very nervously cooking their meal. “I asked about the children born there during the spring, as you instructed,” he said. “I came away with some interesting news. It seems that Lord de Leia sent his daughter and the child away.”

Nicholas frowned. “Away?” he repeated. “Away where?”

Harman shook his head. “I asked, but no one could tell me,” he said. “I was only told that they had been sent away.”

Nicholas’ frown turned into a scowl as he looked at his father. “Why would he do that?” he demanded. “He was not supposed to send them away!”

John was far calmer than his son. In truth, he didn’t seem all that surprised. “So de Leia rids himself of his daughter and the bastard child,” he said thoughtfully. “To a nunnery, I wonder?”

“Or mayhap there is a grandmother, somewhere, to watch over them,” Harman suggested.

John looked at the old man. “And you know nothing about de Leia’s family or allies that might take in a daughter and her child?”

Harman shook his head. “I received the impression that Lord de Leia kept the girl… confined, shall we say,” he said. “She was not free to run about, probably kept locked in a chamber until the child was born. Once it was delivered, Lord de Leia sent them both away.”

John stroked his chin. “I wonder why,” he said after a moment. “A dutiful father would keep his child with him, protecting her.”

“Lord de Leia does not seem to have the protective instinct when it comes to his daughter,” Harman said, realizing he might have given away more than he intended. He didn’t want John to know he’d spoken directly to Merek. “At least, that seems to be the general opinion at Falstone.”

John mulled over the information for a few long moments before removing his leg from the table. “I do not suppose it would do any good to send you back there to find out where he has sent his daughter and the child,” he said. “De Leia has no reason to tell you. He would think you were trying to probe him for information and he might become suspicious.”

“That is true, my lord.”

John didn’t say anything more after that. He simply sat there as Nicholas, still unhappy, finished up the loaf of bread. Harman wasn’t sure what more he could tell the pair, but something told him this wasn’t finished. John and Nicholas had their answers, but not satisfactory ones.

“Well,” John finally said. “It seems to me that we must discover where they have gone and if Harman the Wise cannot discover that for us, then we must send