The Lion of the North Read Online Free PDF Page A

our mother.”
    Warenne was watching Atticus closely, with great regret. He could see that the man was off-balance, stunned. “Of course, Atticus,” he agreed softly. “Shall I send a messenger to Wolfe’s Lair to inform Solomon de Wolfe of his son’s passing?”
    Atticus didn’t respond for a moment, seemingly lost in his own world of grief and turmoil. He was trying very hard to think clearly, to plan what needed to be done. Anything to stave off the sorrow of Titus’ death. At the moment, he was pretending it never happened. He was ignoring it, hoping the anguish of it would leave him alone, at least for a while. Stay strong!
    “Nay,” he said. “I will inform my father personally when I deliver Titus home. For now, my first task will be to return to Alnwick Castle to inform my brother’s wife, Lady de Wolfe, of her husband’s passing. I can make it to Alnwick in four or five days, but I will need a good mount. I lost my horse in battle this morning.”
    Warenne put a hand on him, stopping him from charging right out of the tent and jumping on the nearest horse to ride to Alnwick Castle. “Wait, Atticus,” he said. “With our defeat, Northumberland’s army must all return to Alnwick immediately and reinforce her against an onslaught by Edward’s forces. I realize you want to return at this moment, but look around you; with Henry Percy dead, Northumberland is in need of leadership. With Titus gone, that unfortunately falls to you. You need to secure the men and organize them for their return to Alnwick where you may then inform Lady de Wolfe of her husband’s passing.”
    Atticus looked at Warenne, his expression torn between Titus’ death and the immediate plans for Northumberland’s survival. With their defeat at Towton, everything was in question now. That is, everything but one particular point.
    “There are other Northumberland knights to assist with that,” he said, his jaw flexing. “There is le Bec, Wellesbourne, and both de Russe knights. There is even Lady de Wolfe’s brother. There are at least five excellent knights to organize the men to return home, but for me, there are things I must do.”
    Warenne didn’t like the rather deadly look in the man’s eye. “I have not seen Lady de Wolfe’s brother for hours,” he said. “Le Bec, Wellesbourne, and both de Russe knights are already out assessing the damage. You are needed very badly, Atticus. You must organize the breakdown of Northumberland’s encampment and make sure the wounded are separated for the return home. You must also ensure that the earl himself makes it back to Alnwick and to his family. We have a new Earl of Northumberland now, you know. A twelve-year-old lad must now helm a mighty empire.”
    Atticus’ hazel eyes were riveted to Warenne, the deadly gleam evident. He didn’t seem swayed by the fact that a child was now his liege. “I cannot help, Ren,” he said. “You will forgive me, but there are things I must now do that do not include Northumberland’s future.”
    Atticus had never disobeyed an order in his life so his answer surprised Warenne. Technically, he wasn’t Atticus’ liege but he was his superior. Atticus was bound to obey him. But, then again, men suffering the pangs of grief could behave oddly.
    “Atticus, please,” Warenne begged quietly. “You will have all the time you need to tend to the things you must do but for the next few hours, will you please take charge of Northumberland’s troops and move them away from this place? You cannot walk away when you are needed most.”
    Atticus’ expression hardened. “I must find de la Londe and de Troiu,” he said, his tone a growl. “There is no negotiation on this. I must find these men and I must kill them.”
    Warenne knew that; he’d known the moment Atticus had entered his tent and had been told of the treachery against his brother that Atticus would seek out those who had betrayed Titus. He also knew there was no way he could stop him;