Sunshine and Roses

It was a cold, slow drizzle, the kind that made November so uncomfortable. It had rained for days, day and night, steadily. Justin's men were chilled and soaked. . .and irritated. Even their tents were so damp, they slept shivering. Water droplets glimmered and gleamed in Justin's dark hair, to the leather and wool jerkin he wore. It glistened on the exposed areas of his white stallion.

Justin heard murmuring and sighed. He knew it was not only the downpour, but the fact that they had not been allowed to raid and pillage the villages, storm the castle. He had to give Sir Richard a chance to give in. 
King Henry the VIII had made Justin a duke and had then taken the castle from Richard the Hunter and given William Justin, the ex-mercenary, the castle and the lands in return for saving his life. It had been a fluke, his being there at the right time and place, but he had no intention of arguing with the king. Justin had never had a home of his own. To have lands and a castle. . . It was still unreal to him. 
If he could take the huge structure without damage, so much the better. His men, however were getting a little vexed at having to wait, but why should Justin spend the money to get the towns and this huge, grey edifice rebuilt if it were not necessary? That was not the only reasoning behind keeping the villages safe. 
Justin, the third son of a rich merchant, had himself been a soldier of fortune before coming back to his own country, but he, unlike so many others of his kind, did not believe in killing innocent people. 

A head appeared at the battlements. Justin sensed his men readying their weapons.
"I'll speak only to Sir Richard, " Justin yelled up at the wet, exhausted face. He was sure his own felt that way as well. "You have five minutes, or I swear by all that's holy, I'll order my men to attack!"
"Sir Richard is dead, " came the tired yell. "He died not more than an hour ago."
"I will see his body. Open the gates." A small rock tumbled from the battlements, scaring Justin's horse. He pulled on the reins, holding his frenzied animal. When the distant head remained where it was, the ex-mercenary demanded, "In the name of the King, open the gates! This land is ours now."
"William, " came a soft voice at his side. 
Without looking around, the muscular, dark haired man replied, "Yes, Robert?"
"Sir Richard had a son, adopted, but still his legal heir."
"Adopted? I thought he had a wife. Did they not have children?"
"Sir Richard did not sleep with her. He had. . .other lovers."
"Was there no bastard then to take over the command?"
"They were not female lovers, your lordship."
<Interesting, > Justin thought. "I had heard rumors."
"They were true. He extended an offer to me once."
"Did you accept?" Justin asked with a delighted half-smile.
"Nay! You know me better than that, Sir William. I like the plumpness of a bosom and now that of a backside."
"Yes." <But you do not know me at all.> The thought changed. <Does anyone? Will anyone?> He shook his head to clear it of unwanted thoughts. This was neither the time nor the place to think of such things.
"If his heir is within the castle. . ." He did not finish. He did not have to.
"Yes, Robert." It was said in disgust. "You speak truth."
"His name?"
"He was named Raymond at birth. I have heard he demanded to keep his father's surname."
"What? Of all the ungrateful. . ."
"He was past seven when Sir Richard claimed him, a child of John the Lowry, a blacksmith. He watched his parents die trying to save him when his village was raided and burned to the ground."
"His insistence at keeping his sire's surname is understand-able then."
"Oh, Yes, though I doubt it pleased Sir Richard overly much."
Justin nodded. He lifted his face, cried out in a loud voice, "I'll speak to his son, then! Open the bloody gates! Lower the drawbridge! I'm tired of waiting!"
There was hesitation, then, "He's. . .he's not within the walls. Sir Richard sent him elsewhere a fortnight ago."
"He lies, Sir William. We watched this castle carefully. No one but Richard's current lover, and the servants entered or left. We searched lover's carriage thoroughly." 
"Then he hides within." In a louder tone, he shouted up to the man above. "Open the gates or we will attack. King Henry the VIII has given me this land. You will all swear fealty to me or die."

In a choked voice, the man on the battlements announced, "We will open the gates. The land is yours."
"Its too easy, " Robert de Grippe said beneath his breath.
"Mayhap, but recall, Sir Richard had no army to speak of. All his men were older, past their prime. Who do they have to fight? Servants? The villagers? What good could they do without training? Nay, there is no one within. Besides, they do not want their villages raided, burned. We have sworn not to do this if they give in. We have kept our bargain and now they must keep theirs. . .or forfeit their right to our honor."
The massive gates slowly opened. The drawbridge over the slimy, low-watered moat lowered.
"At least let someone else enter first, Sir William. If it is an attempt at entrapment. . ."
"Then one of my men dies. I am not that kind of leader, Robert. You should know this by now."
"Yes, I know, but I had hoped, just this once, you would be a logical one as well."
"My men trust me. How long would that trust last if I play them false?"
"That is the truth." Sighing, he followed Justin onto the castle grounds. As they crossed over the drawbridge, the rain ceased. The wind died down.