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It was a strange experience, seeing her new home for the first time. When she had first seen Northwood, her reaction had been one of fear and uncertainty. The foremost emotion she was experiencing at this moment was awe.

Not even a half day’s ride from Northwood, Questing wasn’t nearly as tall as its ally, but it was spread out over a much wider area. It was formed like a misshapen “H”, with both inner and outer baileys, a massive moat that looked more like a lake, and something that could only be described as a manmade hill that surrounded the entire moat.

William explained to her that when enemy troops approached and attempted to get close to the fortress, they would march to the top of the rise and become easy targets for the soldiers inside. It was an amazing bit of protection.

Even Thomas commented on it, riding in a place of honor next to William and Jordan. He remarked that such a device would work well around Langton, and further commented that he was intent on putting in a moat as well. Langton didn’t have one. William promised to help him design and build one.

A good-sized village skirted the fortress, alive with peasants rushing to get out of the way. William’s troops were firmly established both inside and outside the fortress, and Jordan immediately noticed their presence. But her attention riveted to the huge yawning gates when they passed through them, studying her new home with pleasure.

The baileys were huge and well-kept, thanks to the hard work of William and his men while Jordan was laid up with her pregnancy. Of course, he had had ample time to repair and clean the place up for her arrival and she was not disappointed. It was magnificent.

Michael greeted them from the top of the inner wall, yelling his greeting to the arriving party. William waved back at him and the scramble began to unload and organize everything they had brought with them from Northwood.

William slid off his horse and pulled Jordan into his arms. She laughed happily as he carried her across the inner bailey, not letting her feet touch the ground until he carried her through the massive front door and into a cavernous grand hall.

He set her down and Jordan’s mouth was open in awe at the sheer sight of the hall before her. She stared in wonderment, looking up to the sheer ceiling and noticing the multiple balconies jutting out over the room from the second and third floors. The wood on the balconies was polished to a sheen and the stone floor was scrubbed spotless.

Jordan shook her head as her husband stood behind her.

“English, ’tis so magnificent,” she breathed. “Is it truly ours?”

He wrapped his arms around her, both of them turning when Kieran and Jemma, Michael, Roan and Marc filed noisily through the door. Deinwald and Aloria were close behind, followed by Thomas, Matthew, Cord, Ian, the children and their nurses. The room that had been silent a moment before was now filled with voices, children crying, and laughter. Questing had been empty so long that surely the sounds were awakening her spirit, calling her forth to protect a new baron and his family.

The knights and loved ones disbanded as they found their way to their rooms, admiring the castle as they went along. Jordan and William watched them go, hearing their voices fade.

William gave his wife a loving squeeze.

“Aye, love,” he said softly. “We are home.”

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

Jordan was terrified. She had heard the horns sound and when her husband had come to see her, he was in full battle armor down to the gauntlets. He bade her stay in their massive suite with the children, and would not say much else.

Kieran brought Jemma and their children to stay with Jordan, both men feeling better that the families stay together until they knew what was going on. William kissed his wife and was gone with his second.

The windows of their apartments gave them an unadulterated view of the baileys and the front gates. In the distance, Jordan and Jemma could see an approaching army, and down below, she could see William’s troops mobilizing. She wondered where her father and uncle and cousins were, wondering with growing horror if they were down below and assembling with the troops. After all, her father was a warlord, and her male kin were soldiers. But would William actually let them fight?

And fight whom?

She still didn’t know who the approaching horde were, and it angered and terrified her. Who would dare attack her beautiful Questing? The only possible answer horrified her, for the only possible answer could be Scots. She knew that news of William’s new seat had spread like wildfire throughout the border region, and that included the Scots. She wondered if they had banded together one last time to come and destroy him for good.

Strange, she could see banners flying, too. And knights on horseback. But whose knights? She simply could not see far enough to be sure of anything, and she was near crazed with anxiety.

Down below, she could see her husband and his men as they mounted. Why on earth were they mounted if they were to defend Questing from the inside? Something was strangely amiss, she could sense it, and her curiosity was overcoming her fear.

“This is madness,” she muttered.

Jemma, standing next to her, looked at her cousin. “War always is.”

Jordan shook her head. “No, I mean there are knights in armor riding up with the army. And they are flying banners, English banners, I think,” she pointed down into the outer bailey. “And why are William and Kieran mounted? They should be on the walls.”

Jemma shook her head slowly. “I dunna know. ’Tis most curious.”

Jordan pursed her lips. “Curious, indeed,” she said with a cocked brow. “I intend to find out what’s going on.”

Jemma shrugged, she was always up for disobeying her husband. He had told her to stay put in the rooms, and she would do the exact opposite. “I am coming.”

Leaving the children with the nurses, they left the master chamber and made their way down two huge flights of stairs to the massive front door. There was not a servant to be seen anywhere and no one to oppose them as they opened the front door and went out into the inner bailey.