Simon the Coldheart · Part I · Chapter 1 4 (2/2)

“All this will I make right betwixt us, my son. Let the past be buried, for indeed there is love in me now. Canst not forget the harm I have done thee by mine indifference?”

“Thou hast worked no harm on me. The past is naught, as shall be the present.”

“Simon, Simon, thou art unjust and cruel! Hadst thou come to me, three years ago, I would have taken thee to my bosom!”

The green-blue eyes narrowed.

“In me, my lord, is Malvallet blood. A Malvallet asks no favours. Hadst thou come to me three years ago, then indeed might things have been different. It was not then convenient to thee, or mayhap thou hadst forgotten that a baseborn child of thine was living. In those days I did fend for myself because it was not thy pleasure to seek me out. Now, when my need of help is dead, it has become thy pleasure. It is not mine.”

Malvallet heard him out in silence. He answered very low.

“Mayhap I do deserve thy scorn and thy hatred. But is thy hatred so great that it denies me the means to make amends?”

“I have told thee, my lord, that I feel no hatred for thee.”

“I had rather that than thine indifference!”

“If I cause thee pain, I do crave thy pardon. What else but indifference can I feel for one with whom I have never exchanged a word until today?”

Malvallet went nearer to him.

“Come with me now, Simon, and I will teach thee to care for me! Come away from the land of Montlice! Thou⁠—my son!⁠—canst not remain here!”

“Ay, that is what irks thee,” Simon answered. “I serve thine enemy, Montlice. Were I an hundred leagues from here thou hadst not come to me today, or ever. Thy pride is hurt.”

“I swear it is not so!”

Simon jerked his shoulder.

“No matter. Whate’er thy motive, mine answer remains the same. I owe my Lord Fulk allegiance, and I will break my word for no man.”

Then there fell another long silence. Malvallet made a hopeless gesture with his hands. He spoke dully.

“No argument will prevail with thee?”

“None.”

“Then we must part⁠—foes?”

“I bear no malice to thee or thine, my lord, and between thy son and me is friendship. But whiles I serve Montlice his enemies are mine. Tell Geoffrey he was ill-advised to send thee to me, but tell him also that one day he and I will meet again when there shall be naught of enmity betwixt us.”

“And betwixt thee and me?” Malvallet cried eagerly.

“Again naught. Neither love nor hatred. The past is dead and with it our kinship, but if ever we two shall meet again it will not be as foes.”

“Thou art⁠—generous,” Malvallet said slowly. “Think well before ye say me nay! Much can I do for thee, and very powerful can I make thee. Do these things count for naught?”

“My lord, it is my set purpose that I will take no honour, no power, no wealth, no title, that I have not earned by mine own endeavour. I like not thine easy road, but all these things will I acquire, either by toil, by skill, or by valour. I do thank thee for thine offer, but mine answer is nay.”

“Ay, thou art a man,” Malvallet sighed, “and my blood runs hot in thee. This is farewell, but before I go, wilt thou not lay thy hand in mine and tell me that my past neglect of thee is indeed forgiven?” He held out his hand, looking almost wistfully at his son.

Simon put his into it deliberately, and for a moment their fingers gripped.

“If wrong has been done to me I do readily forgive it, for thy neglect has made me what I am, and no cosseted stripling of the court.”

Malvallet still held his hand firmly.

“Promise me one thing, Simon! If ever thou shouldst have need of me, if ever thou shouldst wish to undo this day’s work, thou wilt put thy pride aside and come to me, for that will be thy condescension, not mine.”

Simon frowned.

“ ‘If ever I have need of thee’⁠—I can stand alone. ‘If ever I should wish to unsay my nay’⁠—that will be never. I will promise, my lord.”

Malvallet almost crushed his hand. Then quickly he released it, and looked at Simon with a queer, twisted smile.

“Thou son after mine own heart!” he said softly, and strode forth with never a word to Fulk, and never a backward glance.

There was silence for a long minute when he had gone. Fulk was looking at Simon with wonderment in his eyes.

“Is it to please thyself or me that thou hast said Malvallet nay?” he asked.

“Both, maybe,” Simon answered briefly, and swung out of the door.