Tender is the Knight by Kathryn Le Veque Page B

nodded.  “I am aware.”
    “Now St. Austell is within my grasp.”
    Thomas wasn’t quite following him. “What do you mean? It does not belong to you.”
    Richard stood up from behind his heavy oak desk, the one that had such marks on it for times when the earl raged and took out his fury on the indestructible piece of furniture.
    “There were many reasons for agreeing to a treaty between Launceston and St. Austell,” Richard said, almost casually. “Peace was not among them.  Conquest was. Years of warring cannot accomplish what Ryan can.”
    “I do not understand.”
    Richard wandered over to the long lancet window that overlooked the small inner bailey and the massive wall surrounding Launceston.  He couldn’t see much but somehow, his gaze reflected a good deal of vision.  There was something in his expression, an aged man with dreams of grandeur.
    “Where is Miguel el Mar Diablo this time of year?” he asked softly.
    Thomas looked surprised at the change of subject. “Miguel the Pirate?” he clarified.
    “Indeed.”
    Thomas was still surprised, now curious. “He is usually off the western coast of Cornwall or down near Penzance in the warmer current,” he replied.  “Or he could be at his home port in Spain because of the more temperate weather. Truthfully, I have not heard of his movements in months. Why do you ask?”
    Richard stared from the window, his wily mind pondering the truth he would tell Thomas.
    “He does not have a base in England,” he murmured.
    “Nay.”
    Richard turned to look at him. “Mayhap that will change,” he said. “I have been giving him a good deal of thought as of late.  Miguel has ravaged the coast of Cornwall for years and his men have traveled inland to accomplish their terrible deeds.  In spite of the fact that he is a pirate, Miguel has the reputation of a cunning and strong man.”
    Thomas was lost. “What is your meaning?”
    Richard’s focus returned to the window. “Simply this,” he said. “I have done a good deal of thinking since yesterday. I realize that Dennis d’ Vant has proposed an honorable peace, but peace is not something I wish with St. Austell.  Years of battling the d’ Vants is in my blood. It is a part of me. I cannot so easily discard it.”
    “No peace?” Thomas repeated, stunned. “But everything you said about the fact that Dennis is different from his forefathers… you did not mean it?”
    “I meant it,” Richard said. “But the fact remains he is a d’ Vant.  He may want peace, and we may have agreed to it, but that is ultimately not what I want.”
    “What do you want?”
    “St. Austell.”
    Thomas’ head was swimming with what Richard was suggesting. “What does any of this have to do with Miguel the Devil?”
    Richard smiled ironically. “Miguel is a mercenary; he does what he does for possession and money. Suppose I was to offer him our support against St. Austell in an attack.  Suppose I was to offer him the fortress as a reward for destroying the d’ Vants once and for all.  When it was all over, he would have a castle in a major port city to do with as he pleased and I would have him as a vassal.  We would share in the port tariffs and the d’ Vants would finally be a distant memory. All of Cornwall would belong to me.”
    Thomas was horrified. “You cannot support Miguel in an attack against St. Austell,” he said. “You are bound by treaty, and my daughter’s marriage, to support d’ Vant.”
    Richard was serious. “ D’ Vant would never know it was me who supported Miguel’s attack against his fortress,” he said. “There would be nothing linking us together other than I would provide him with my men disguised as pirates.  Miguel has many ships from what I am told; he can carry many men to the port of St. Austell and lay siege to the castle.  In the fortress’ weakened state, it should not take long to overcome it.”
    Thomas had moved beyond his horror to outrage and shock. “My