Swords and Shields (Reign of the House of de Winter) Read Online Free Page A

floor was uneven in the dim light, lending to the sense of apprehension as Davyss walked along, slowly, sometimes off-balance due to the angle of the floor. But he kept going, his dark eyes alert to any movement in the depths. He was fairly certain Drake, if down here, wouldn’t harm him, but he wouldn’t put it past his son to ambush him, tie him up, and run. He wanted to avoid that if at all possible.
    “Drake?” he called out quietly. “If you can hear me, I beg you to reconsider before making any attempt against me. Your mother has sent me but I only wish to speak with you, lad. Do not be foolish and disable the only parent who is allied with you in this matter.”
    He was met with silence. Feeling somewhat frustrated, perhaps even desperate, Davyss took a few more steps into the dimness, timidly scanning the darkened recesses as he tried again.
    “Drake?” he called out, louder this time. “Please show yourself. I only wish to speak with you, I swear it. I could just as easily bring your mother down here to look for you but I do not think you want that.”
    It was a threat that worked to his advantage. A figure suddenly appeared in the darkness before him, several feet away. Davyss could see the outline of a very tall and very big man, a man with a sword in his hand. Davyss could see the sword quite clearly because he recognized it. It had belonged to him, once. He came to a halt, his eyes fixed on the figure in the distance.
    “Drake?” he asked softly.
    The figure took a couple of steps, coming forward into the light. As Drake de Winter finally came into view, he faced his father with barrels of grain and other stores between them. There was a brief pause as the men faced each other, sizing one another up; at four inches over six feet, Drake was a big man, taller than his father, with very broad shoulders and enormous hands. He had the de Winter dark hair, dark eyes, and granite-square jaw, but his features looked a good deal like his mother’s. His face had the shape of her eyes and nose, straight and true, and when he smiled, it was very much shaped liked Devereux’s smile. He also had her stubborn determination, something that had never been more evident before now. Davyss could see all of that powerful resistance rolled up into the man’s expression and he braced himself.
    “Father,” Drake greeted steadily. “I see you come fully armed to speak with me.”
    Davyss lifted his dark eyebrows. “And I see you come fully armed to respond.”
    “An odd conversation this shall be. Shall we use swords instead of words?”
    “That would not be my first choice.”
    “Nor mine.”
    Davyss sighed heavily, seeing how defensive his son was. He tried to ease the situation. “May we discuss this calmly before you try and cut my legs off so that I cannot run after you?”
    Drake smirked, without humor. “I do not need to cut your legs off,” he said. “You could not keep up with me should I decide to run.”
    That was true but Drake meant it as an insult. Davyss grunted both his displeasure and agreement. “Lad, I have a great problem I wish to discuss with you for I need your counsel,” he said. “Will you calmly hear me?”
    “I will always calmly hear you.”
    Davyss sighed again, this time more deeply. Weary, both physically and mentally, he planted himself on the nearest storage barrel that could support his weight. He sheathed his sword as he sat, bracing his hands against his knees and looking up at his tall, stubborn son. He was fairly certain that Drake knew what he was about to say so he immediately delved into the issue.
    “Let us say, for example, that there is a man,” he began. “A wealthy man of status. He has a wonderful wife and five children, including four sons, but his greatest pride has always been in his eldest son. He is a knight beyond compare and great things are expected of him. Now, the man’s wife has been determined to marry off all of their children to give them security