Kingmaker

King Edward #1

"So which one did you manage to get ahold of last night, gentlemen?" inquired Stafford, raising his head to the four men that had been to Warwick Castle during the night. "Ava" muttered one of the men, dropping his bloody gauntlet onto the table before the knights and their King Edward. "She's not dead. But I wouldn't count on her being able to fight for a few weeks. That's if she even survives the night" he snorted, folding his arms across his chestplate. He wished he'd taken his armour off; the stuff was heavy, warm, bloody and sweaty. After hours of riding to get back to where York had camped, he was more than ready to sleep.
King Edward took the gauntlet, gazing over it. Looking at the blood that was sticky against the spiked knuckles and fingers. His lips formed a thin line of displeasure. "Ava Woodville, correct?" he inquired, looking to the knights and the soldiers. "Ava Neville, Sire. She married Sir Richard Neville of Lancaster"replied one of the soldiers, watching. "And she defected from York, correct?" the King needed to gather the information that he had missed whilst in exile. It seemed a lot had happened during his absence. "Yes, Sire. She also had a child by Sir Richard. The child was killed by Sir John Howard. An old knife blade, thrown from afar. Two of Ava's soldiers were also killed at the time"
King Edward looked to the men. "You've done much to her. Even though she has betrayed York. In picking at one, you are angering many. I hear her army is a 2000 now. How many of these men have you seen, and taken down, Lord Stafford?" the King turned to Stafford, watching the knight. "None, Sire. This army is bigger than what we heard previously" "Ah, so you haven't been keeping track of their army growth? You said recently that we would beat them easily" replied the King, his voice taking on an annoyed tone now. "Sire, we have taken chances to get close and scout their armies" "Then clearly you are not gathering information Lord Stafford if that is all you can say" replied King Edward, watching the knight. Stafford snorted. "We watch their armies. We've seen what they can do. We've spoken to Ava. We know where she stands now" he muttered, speaking of Ava in spite. King Edward once more glared at the knight. "It is not all about Ava, Stafford. She will get what's coming to her in time. Focus on Lancaster as a whole. Not just an individual. LANCASTER. Are our enemy, Stafford. Ava is but one among thousands. She has high standing there, yes. But focus on her army aswell. They will be a barrier to the throne. As will the armies of Sir Richard and Sir George. All three of them and their armies are barriers and targets. Deal with them, and only then will we get close to the throne"
The men nodded in agreement before falling into silence. The soldiers that had conducted the attack had since left for their duties, leaving the knights with King Edward. They had much to discuss and were probably best left in silence.
With the return of King Edward, the House of York had become very powerful. The old King had brought an army of his own back from France where he had been exiled to, and was intent on getting his throne back in England. To get his throne back, he was prepared to go to many lengths. With power like his, he would be able to overthrow Henry, exile him, and have his armies bow to York. Without a King, soldiers and followers often wandered, and would jump at the chance of a new life under a new King. The Yorkist King had been loved, and hated all at the same time. It was no surprise really. He had ruled with an iron fist, and every Lancastrian that made it known of their 'love' for King Henry had been exiled, or if they stood against King Edward and his soldiers. They had been killed. It was a harsh ruling.
Under King Henry, the people had lived peacefully. Or, more peacefully than they had done under Edward. The people loved various Lancastrian knights and soldiers for their own reasons. Willow Lane loved Ava, though they hadn't seen her for some time. They had written to her, and she had tried to write back. Each time letters had been intercepted by York, the people being punished for trying to communicate with those outside of York territory. York had spun tales full of lies about Lancaster, about Ava and Sir Richard. About King Henry, and Sir George. Saying that the Lancastrians were corrupt and were only using the people for their own personal gain. There wasn't anything to gain, but in fear, the people accepted whatever they were told.
"Tell me, Stafford, John. What of Ava these days? You seem angry whenever her name is mentioned, and you always seem to talk of her. So what of her, Stafford? How does she look?" inquired King Edward, watching the knight now. It had been years since he had seen Ava, and he had hoped to return to York to see her. She was after all, one of his future knights at the time.
Stafford leaned back in his seat for a moment, before leaning forwards to rest his arms on the table. "She's 19 now, Sire. Her hair has darkened with the days. She's quite muscular, and doesn't seem to carry any baby weight. Even after the birth of her son. The Battle on The Moors left her scarred. Though she proved herself to be a decent swordsman. Cut down half of my men, lost half her own. Lancaster are fucking supplying her with an army and weapons to fight her own family" he growled, clenching his fists. Howard spoke now, glancing at Stafford. "Lancaster were bound to supply her with an army and weapons. Now that she's Sir Richard's wife, she'll get more men in her army" "What? Because she's fucking sleeping with him?" snapped Stafford. "Married, Stafford. They're married. What does it matter that she's getting weapons and an army? They weren't going to leave her with nothing" retorted Howard, directing his attention to King Edward. "She was also knighted by King Henry and is now also the countess of Warwick with Sir Richard being the Earl. King Henry saw it fit for them to both have significant standing in Warwick"
"What of Sir George Plantagenet?" inquired King Edward again, turning to Howard as he seemed to be the most level headed right now of the knights. "Still the Duke of Clarence, Sire" replied Howard as he tapped his fingers on the hilt of his sword. "Plantagenet was also the godfather to Ava and Sir Richard's son. They were stupid to have a child"
"Now, now John. Do not speak of what they did. It wasn't so much stupid as it was careless. But we won't dwell, nor will we speak of it again. As much as I dislike them, it is not right to speak in such a manner about a lost child. A first child at that" sighed King Edward, questioning in his mind whether it was his fault the child was dead. Had he gotten back sooner, would he have been able to stop the knights from their attack? Thus saving a Lancastrian child? Maybe.
"Gentlemen, the day is growing old. Seek out food, and rest, my friends. Take today to rest, and eat. We will leave Lancaster in peace for now. Let them think. And let them plan" sighed King Edward, standing from his seat. The two knights stared at him. "Sire. In letting them plan we-" started Stafford, only to be shushed by King Edward. "I said let them think. And let them plan, Stafford. Give them a rest. Look at yourself, man. You look like you haven't bathed or slept for weeks. Sort yourself out before you start thinking of others. What good is a tired and hungry man on the battlefield?"
With that, King Edward left, heading to grab some food and rest himself. He didn't care for what the knights thought right now. They seemed hellbent on destroying individuals within Lancaster. Whereas he had eyes on the bigger picture.
The throne of England.

[Authors Note: King Edward is quite different to Stafford and Howard, isn't he? Is he a man to be feared, or a man of logic? Keep reading!]