Royal Feud

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The murmurs of the crowd grew to an excited hum. Delvin looked at the faces in front of him, noticing the pleased expressions and the relief that begun to brighten their despair. He turned to address Grentel, as the village spokesman.

"Are these conditions acceptable to you?" Delvin asked.

"Aye, milord, they are indeed," Grentel said with a grin. "Thank ye, milord." Murmurs of thanks turned to exuberant shouts of gratitude. Delvin smiled. After al

few moments, he raised his hand for silence and the crowd quieted.

"A parish church will be built here in Carleigh. A new cottage must be built for

Father Michael as well. I will supply the materials for these buildings, but I require each

of you to provide your labor to construct them."

Delvin paused and looked at Grentel..

"Aye, milord, we'll gladly build the church and the cottage," the headman responded on behalf of the village. Delvin nodded. "I would speak with your village leaders now. The rest of you are

free to return to your homes and your work." As the crowd dispersed, Delvin turned to Hermione and spoke quietly to her so they would not be overheard. "Shall I find a place for you to rest while I conduct the rest of my business?"

"Nay, milord." Hermione gave him a small smile. "I am fine. I would rather remain with you."

"Are you sure?"

"Aye."

The villagers wandered away, talking excitedly together, until seven men remained. Delvin walked toward the group of leaders. "I want to locate a site for the church and for Father Michael's cottage. Do any of

you have any suggestions?" "Aye, milord." A stocky, gray-haired man spoke.

Delvin looked at him, trying to remember his name. "Udell," Delvin said. When the man nodded, Delvin continued, "Where do you suggest we build?" "Milord, there's a level spot to the cast of the village that would be a good place for

the church."

The other men nodded in agreement.

"Let us go see the location, then," Delvin said.

He signaled for two of his men to accompany them, then took Hermione's arm and helped her navigate the uneven ground as they all followed Udell. There was general agreement that the place, close to the village but far enough away to give the priest some solitude for his prayers, would indeed be perfect. They decided to build the cottage first, so Father Michael would have a place to live since Mass could be celebrated outdoors until the church was constructed. Delvin questioned and probed until he was satisfied with the plans and the timetable the leaders agreed on.

When they walked back to the village, Grentel offered them the hospitality of his house, which Delvin gratefully accepted since Hermione seemed to be tiring. Grentel, with obvious pride, ushered them into the best-maintained cottage in the village. His wife quietly offered them hot cider and oatmeal cakes and efficiently served them. Over the refreshments, Delvin questioned Grentel about the villagers' needs. Grentel

offered Father Michael a bed in his own house until the priest's new cottage was

completed. Delvin was pleased that all matters had been satisfactorily resolved and that

Carleigh could now be left in the capable hands of Father Michael and Grentel.

"Milord," Grentel said when they had finished eating, "we be needin' ye to settle a dispute in the village. I've suggested several ways of resolving the mess, but none of 'em have been accepted by them that's involved."

"Tell me the facts of the case."

"Aye, milord." Grentel set down his cup and began his story. "Ye see, Falknor promised Juliana-that's his eldest daughter-to Sweting. He agreed to pay Sweting one pig as Juliana's dowry. Now Juliana doesn't want to marry Sweting, who's thirty years older than her. He's buried two wives already and has something like ten children. I don't know how many exactly, I've lost count, that I have.

"Anyway, Juliana's pregnant. She won't tell her father who the father of her babe is, even after he beat her. Swering's demanding the pig from Falknor as payment for the broken betrothal. Falknor said Sweting should take Juliana since the babe proves she's fertile. That Sweting will not even notice one more mouth to feed. Sweting'll not take

Juliana since she's no longer a virgin. And Falknor refuses to hand over the pig." "I want to talk with Falknor, Sweting, and Juliana," Delvin said. "Call them together in the town square, along with all the rest of the villagers." "Aye, milord." Grentel said, pushing back his chair. "Ye and yer lady wait here. I

will let ye know when everybody's ready." "Thank you. Grentel." After Grentel left. Delvin looked at Hermione. "How are you

doing, milady?" "I am fine, milord. This lovely warm cider and the delicious oat cake have revived

me.

"We can leave as soon as I settle this matter."

"Aye, milord."

Grentel came back a short time later. "Milord," he said from the open doorway,

"everybody's now here, just as ye ordered." Delvin led Hermione out of the cottage and escorted her down the street to the center of the village, where everyone had congregated. He released Hermione's hand, leaving her with his men, and walked forward.

"Are you Falknor?" he inquired when he saw a dark-haired girl next to the man.

"Aye, milord."

"And this is your daughter, Juliana?" "Aye, milord. 'Tis the slut."

Delvin stepped in front of Falknor, putting his face right in the villein's face. "Do not ever address her like that again. Understand?"

"Aye, aye, milord. I'm sorry." Falknor backed away from Delvin. Delvin moved to stand in front of the girl. He put his hand under her chin and gently raised her bowed head, examining the bruises marking her face. He nodded kindly to her before stepping back. He looked next at the older man standing alone in front of the quiet crowd.

"And you are Sweting?" Delvin asked.

"Aye, milord."

Delvin stepped back and addressed the villagers. He briefly recapped the situation

that Grentel had conveyed to him before turning to the principles in the dispute. "Falknor, do you agree that this account is correct?"

When Falknor gave his assent, Delvin turned to Sweting with the same question.

After he received Sweting's agreement, Delvin again addressed the crowd.

"Is there anyone else who would like to step forward with information relevant to this case, before I pronounce my judgment?" A slim young man pushed his way through the crowd. "Aye, milord," he shouted

defiantly. "I do. I'm the father of the babe Juliana's carrying." Shock and titillation rippled through the crowd as the man went to stand by Juliana's side.

"Nay, Everard," Juliana said to him. "Ye shouldn't do this." "Tis fine, Juliana," he said. "I can't stay away from ye any more. right." Everything'll be all

"Quiet!" Delvin shouted.

When the crowd complied, Delvin looked at Juliana with the same

demanding gue he used on his battle-hardened troops. "Answer me truthfully, Juliana. Is this man,

Everard, the father of your babe?"

"Aye, milord."

"Everard, do you have anything else to say to me?"

"Aye, milord." Everard stood tall and proud next to Juliana, his arm placed protectively around her waist. "I want to marry Juliana. I asked her father for permission to wed her, but he refused. I'll do whatever it takes to have Juliana as my wife.

Delvin searched the young man's face and saw the determination etched into his features. He looked at Juliana, who gazed up at Everard and leaned heavily against him. Falknor scowled, shooting daggers at his daughter and Everard. Sweting stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Here is my judgment, which will be fulfilled immediately," Delvin declared.

"Everard, you will marry Juliana here and now. You will pay to Sweting Juliana's dowry

of one pig. "Thank ye, milord," Everard answered. "I'll gladly pay the dowry. But I don't have it now. I'll pay Sweting as soon as I can."

"I will give the pig to Sweting." Delvin offered. "You will owe me double service for

the next five years to pay me back." "Aye, milord." Relief infused Everard's voice. "Thank ye, milord."

Delvin watched as the young couple embraced each other. He turned to the priest

standing next to him. "Father Michael, please assign to Everard two plots of land to

farm."

"Aye, milord." The priest nodded. "As for you, Falknor, I fine you one pig for the beating of your daughter."

"But, but..." Falknor's voice trailed off as Delvin continued to stare at him.

""Tis against the law of my demesne to beat or otherwise harm one's daughter or wife," Delvin announced in ringing tones to the crowd. "Any infraction thereof will be severely punished. Do I make myself clear?"

He scanned the faces of the men in the crowd, meeting each one's eyes, silently

demanding their nods of acceptance before moving along to the next. His eyes captured

Falknor's last. "Do I?"

"Aye, milord." Falknor hung his head.

"Father Michael-" Delvin turned to the priest-"seems you have a wedding to

perform today,"

"Aye, milord. That I do."

The priest gave Delvin a nod and walked to stand in front of Juliana and Everard to begin the ceremony. When the wedding was over, Everard leaned down and kissed Juliana. When Everard released her, she came toward Delvin and curtsied. "Milord, thank ye so much." Her voice was tremulous.

"You are welcome, Juliana." He gave her a smile. "Now go and be happy." "Aye, milord." She blushed and hurried back to her new husband.