“Then the land is yours, and I have paid my debt to you. Ye shall not wait long for my mandate, I promise.” He held out his hand, and Simon knelt.
“I do thank you, sire,” he said sincerely.
“Nay, ’tis I thank you,” Henry answered. “I need have little fear of risings near Beauvallet now. This gift is to mine own advantage, for ye will hold the peace under me in your barony. May you prosper, my Lord of Beauvallet.”
When Simon told Charles of Granmere what had befallen him, Granmere clapped him heartily upon the back, delighted at his protégé’s good fortune.
“Why, it is excellent, Simon! The King must have conceived as great a liking for thee as have I!”
“Have you a liking for me?” inquired Simon, rather taken aback.
“That have I! Have I been so cold in my bearing that thou shouldst doubt it?”
“Nay, but kindness may mean naught. It is curious how many people call me friend, who call friend so few.”
“Well, I do trust I merit that title,” Granmere said.
“Oh, yes,” Simon answered. “Thou and my half-brother, Geoffrey of Malvallet, and my Lord of Montlice. Alan, too, I suppose, although he would rather be my slave.”
“Thou hast not many,” Granmere commented.
“Nay, for I can find few whom I desire to call friend.”
“Yet you count my cousin amongst these few? He is not most men’s choice.”
“My Lord Fulk and I have dwelt amicably enough together for three years and more. Were there not friendship between us we had not done that.”
“I do not think so indeed!” Granmere said, and laughed. “What will he have to say concerning thy sudden elevation?”
“He is like to say much,” Simon answered placidly. “He knows that I go mine own road.”
“Holy Virgin, what fights thou must have had!”
“Oh, no,” said Simon. “We understand each other very fairly.”
“Do ye so? Well, ye are a fitting pair!” Then he burst out laughing again. “Thou and Fulk!” he gasped. “I would give much to see it!”
“Well, so thou mayst,” Simon said, watching him gravely. “Come with me to Montlice, and pay my lord a visit.”
Granmere checked his mirth.
“By God, I believe I will come! Why it is seven years since I set eyes on Fulk! We will ride together, Lord of Beauvallet.”
VIII
How He Returned to Montlice
A week later, Charles of Granmere and Simon of Beauvallet rode through Montlice towards the castle, their squires behind them. Word flew round that Sir Simon was back, and all along the road men came out to cheer him, and women dropped him shy curtseys. He acknowledged all with his curt nod, and sometimes he hailed a man by name and asked after his wife or his children.
“Why, thou art beloved here!” Granmere exclaimed. “What hast done to make them cheer thee so?”
“I know them, and they know me. Some fought at Shrewsbury with me. That makes a bond.”
They arrived at the drawbridge and went over, saluted by some half-dozen men-at-arms, who one and all gave Simon welcome. And so they rode up to the castle door, and dismounted there. A lackey saw them from an upper window and cried the news abroad. Out came Alan, full tilt, with Fulk hobbling after him.
“Simon, Simon, thou art alive and safe! Ah, God be thanked! We knew not what to think! Simon, I swear thou hast grown!” Impetuously Alan flung himself upon Simon, only to be put gently aside, as Simon stepped forward to meet my lord.
Fulk came roaring.
“Hey, Simon lad! Hey, thou rascally, turbulent, naughty knave! How darest thou stay away all these weeks! Hast no regard for me at all, cub? Praise be to God, no harm has come to thee! Holy Virgin, I would they had clapped thee up for a mad rogue! I might have known thou’dst return to enrage me further, small thanks to thee for doing it! Lord, Lord, thou’rt broader still! And had no one the sense to break thy head?” For once Fulk’s reserve deserted him. He discarded his stick and caught Simon in a large embrace, kissing him loudly on both cheeks. “Thou self-willed puppy! I thought I was rid of thee at last! But no! Back thou comest, with not a hair out of place, as cool as ever thou wert! Now as God’s my life, I’ve a mind to send thee about thy business! We do well enough without thee, Master Stiff-Neck. Think not that we missed thee, thou conceited boy! Oh, Simon, Simon, let me get hold on thy hands!” And thereupon he seized both Simon’s hands in his, and gripped them as though he would never let go.
Simon was a little flushed at this excited welcome, and his voice was deeper than ever as he answered Fulk, and strangely moved.
“Thou couldst not shake me off, my lord. And glad I am to be here again with thee. Thy gout is no better?”
“Better! How should it be better when I have to take thy place here and work myself to a shred all for a silly boy’s whim? Hey, hey, who’s here?”
Granmere, who had been such an amused spectator, came forward.
“Hast also a welcome for me, cousin?”
Fulk released Simon and surged to meet his kinsman.
“Ay, that have I! God’s Body, it’s a dozen years since I set eyes on thy countenance, Charles! Didst bring my rascal Simon home?” He proceeded to embrace Granmere.
“Nay, he brought me,” Granmere answered.
“Ay, ay, he would!” chuckled Fulk. “Come within, lad, come within! Simon, Simon! Where goest thou, pray?”
Simon paused. He was walking away from the castle with Alan at his side.
“I go to look to my men, my lord. Hast need of me?”
Fulk exploded into a mighty bellow.
“He goes to look to his men! Beshrew me, was there ever such another? Come thou here, sirrah, this instant! Have I need of thee, forsooth! Thou quittest my side for a month, wandering God knows where, and as soon as thou art back,
