Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Lioncross Abbey Castle

"W ho is here?"

"Mathis de Geld. Cheltenham's knight."

Christopher was in his solar, surrounded by several men who had attended Beckett's funeral and Roi's wedding, and had subsequently remained at Lioncross because Christopher requested it. Nearly everyone else had departed, including the de Shera brothers, but there was business to discuss, and the solar was full of some of the most elite knights in England. Therefore, the announcement of the arrival of Cheltenham's knight was not something Christopher had expected.

"What does he want?" he asked.

The young knight from the gatehouse, a member of the de Royans family, shook his head. "He would not say, my lord," he said. "Only that it is urgent."

Christopher's eyebrows lifted in surprise as he looked at his brother, seated next to him. David seemed rather surprised, too. Christopher returned his attention to the knight.

"Admit him," he said simply.

The knight departed the solar. When he was gone, Christopher stood up from the heavily cushioned seat he'd been planted in. His bones were old, his body worn, and comfort was something he dreamt of these days. He'd spent so many years on a hard saddle that all of the seats in his solar were heavily cushioned, as if a group of delicate ladies regularly sat about the place.

"I wonder what de Geld is doing here," Christopher muttered. "Did he not just leave with Robin a few days ago?"

David, who had been a stellar knight in his day, nodded. "Right before Roi and his new wife headed home," he said. "If de Geld is here, he must not have spent much time at Cicadia. Mayhap Cheltenham forgot something?"

There was no real concern in the tone of their conversation. An urgent message could mean many things. Christopher was moving for the wine at the table under the lancet windows, but his eldest grandson and namesake, Chris, stood up and waved him off.

"I will bring you a cup, Taid," he said. "Sit down. Uncle David, do you wish for some wine also?"

David nodded, and Chris began to pour. Other men came to the table, namely Magnus and Aeron, who were still there along with Tiegh. Curtis' other sons, William and Arthur, were in the chamber also. So was Daniel, lounging in a chair next to his father, as well as Peter and Andrew. In truth, they'd been discussing Anselm Marshal's failing health and how the man was literally on his deathbed. Christopher received regular communication from Farringdon House, the Marshal townhome in London, and the last information he'd received hadn't been good. It seemed that the control of the Executioner Knights was about to change hands, but further discussion would have to wait.

They had a visitor.

Mathis appeared in the doorway of Christopher's solar, looking worn and weary. He was sweaty and dirty, and the first thing he did was look around the room. He looked at every man's face, and an expression of concern suddenly rippled over his features.

He was missing someone.

"My Lord Hereford," he greeted Christopher. "Where is Roi?"

Christopher looked at the disheveled man, who was usually more composed than what he was seeing. Already, he was on his guard.

"He is back at Pembridge," he said. "Why?"

Mathis sighed heavily and dropped his chin into his chest, as if that wasn't an answer he wanted to hear. But after a brief and faltering moment, he lifted his head once again and looked Christopher in the eye.

"You must send him word right away, my lord," he said. "I thought I would find him here, still. I have information…"

He abruptly stopped, looking at the other men in the room, clearly reluctant to continue, but Christopher urged him on.

"Continue," he said. "These men are trustworthy, and the information will not go beyond these walls unless you want it to. What is so important to Roi?"

Mathis looked at Christopher, something painful flickering in his eyes. "He is not to go to Cheltenham or Cirencester under any circumstances," he said. "I have just come from Riggs Fairford, and the man proceeded to tell me that Lord Cheltenham has been plotting Roi's death."

"What?" Christopher nearly shouted. Suddenly, men were bolting from their seats and the mood of the room grew thick with tension. "What are you saying, de Geld? Slow yourself and tell me what has happened."

Mathis lifted a weary hand to remove his helm. "Cheltenham does not know I am here," he said. "In fact, he does not even know what Cirencester is planning. He only knows that something will be planned, as I was supposed to return to him with Cirencester's scheme. But I came here first because you must know what will happen, my lord."

"Then tell me what you know," Christopher demanded. "Tell me from the beginning."

Mathis took a deep breath to steady himself. "It all started, I believe, with a visit from Lord Cirencester," he said. "Riggs Fairford came to Cicadia Castle right before Roi and Lady Diara were married. I even told Roi about the visit, but I did not know the contents or the reason for Cirencester's visit. When I returned home with Lord Cheltenham after his daughter's marriage, he immediately sent me to Cirencester's seat to give the man a message."

Christopher was hanging on every word. "What message?"

"‘The time is now.'"

Christopher was expecting more. "Is that it?" he said. "What does that mean?"

Mathis nodded slowly. "I, too, wondered," he said. "I had no idea what those words would even mean to Cirencester, but Fairford thought I already knew. He thought that Cheltenham had already informed me of his scheme. According to Cirencester, he is to pillage some of Cheltenham's villages where his lands border Cheltenham. It is meant to look like a raid. Cheltenham will then send word to Roi, requesting his assistant, and then Cirencester is to set up an ambush and kill Roi. It is supposed to look like the man was simply killed in a skirmish."

Christopher was beside himself. "For what purpose?"

Mathis sighed heavily. "Because he wants to marry Lady Diara to Lord Cirencester's son," he said. "I do not know why, only that the two of them have come to some sort of agreement. They evidently want to be allied by marriage, and Roi stands in the way. I do not know any more than that, only that Roi is not to answer any such summons from Cheltenham for aid. It is a trap."

"How soon is this to happen, de Geld?"

"It is imminent, my lord," Mathis said. "Cirencester told me that he was moving his men to begin the raids in a couple of days, and that was over a day ago. I have ridden as hard as I could to get here, hoping Roi would be here so I could tell him personally."

"Christ," David muttered, turning to his brother. "If the raids are to take place in the next day or two, it is possible that Cheltenham has already sent Roi a request for aid."

Christopher looked sick. "And Roi would, of course, answer it."

Daniel was out of his chair, heading for the door as Curtis and his sons followed. But Curtis paused at the door as the others rushed past him. "I'll send the fastest messenger I have, Papa," he said. "I'll find Douglas and Westley, and we will ride for Pembridge immediately."

"Wait," Christopher said quickly. "If Roi has already mobilized and has left Pembridge, someone needs to intercept him. Send someone straight for Cirencester's lands to stop him."

"Colesborne," Mathis said. "That is where the raids will occur, where the ambush will be set."

Christopher nodded, swiftly returning his attention to Curtis. "Do you know where that is?"

Curtis nodded. "I think so," he said. "East of Gloucester, I believe."

"A moment, please," Mathis said, stopping the motion for the moment. "I know exactly where it is. More than that, I am supposed to be there to help with the ambush. I will ride for Colesborne. If Roi hasn't left Pembridge yet, then you must stop him."

"But what if he has left?" Curtis wanted to know.

"Then I will be there to intercept him," Mathis said. "I will find him before Cirencester does."

"Andrew and I will go with him," Peter said, stepping forth. "I'm also taking as many men as I can muster with me, men who can ride swiftly. Roi may need us."

Peter was a fine knight, even at his age, as was Andrew. But Christopher had to admit that he felt better with Andrew covering Peter's back. Peter may be a seasoned knight, but he was older. Reflexes tended to dull with age. But it gave Christopher great comfort to know Peter, Andrew, and Mathis were riding to intercept Roi, if necessary.

"Good," he said. "If Roi has already left Pembridge, it will be up to you three to stop him from reaching Colesborne. But if he has not left—if you do not find him—do not engage Cirencester or Cheltenham's men. Return here immediately."

They had a plan. The problem was having enough time to execute it. Christopher waved everyone on, with a sense of urgency nipping at their heels. Curtis, Daniel, and Curtis' sons were heading to Pembridge, while Peter, Andrew, and Mathis were heading for the horrible location of Colesborne. Everyone was moving, trying to save Roi's life. When the group filtered out, Christopher turned to David in complete bewilderment.

"Cheltenham bullies Roi into a marriage and when he finally agrees and marries the man's daughter, Cheltenham plans to kill him?" he said, aghast. "Only a madman would do such a thing. The question is why?"

David was at a loss. "I do not know," he said. "Mayhap he had planned that all along."

"Explain."

David shrugged. "We all know that Cheltenham is an ambitious man," he said. "I've never liked him, but fortunately, I've not had many dealings with him. However, now he is proving deadly to the House of de Lohr. His daughter would be Roi's widow, and she would inherit his wealth. She would take that into a marriage to Cirencester's son."

"And Cirencester's son becomes the next earl."

"That is reason enough to kill a man, isn't it?"

Christopher sat heavily in the nearest chair. The thought of a man he had wined and dined plotting to kill one of his sons was absolutely horrifying to him. It was also enraging. Once he overcame his shock, the fury began to take hold. The Christopher de Lohr of old was not a man who would take such a thing lying down. The Christopher de Lohr who served King Richard in the Levant, who actively fought against Richard's brother, John, and who had been one of the deadliest knights in England's history, wasn't going to take any of this lying down. As far as he was concerned, Cheltenham had committed an unforgiveable sin against him.

The man was going to pay.

His attention moved to the three knights who were still in the chamber. Magnus, Aeron, and Tiegh were Executioner Knights. They were spies and assassins, men who did the dirty work necessary to keep England strong.

Or avenge enemies.

And that gave Christopher an idea.

"Good knights," he said in a voice that was a little more than a growl. "It is possible that I require your services."

Tiegh stood up. "My lord?"

Christopher sat back in his chair, letting the rage of revenge fill his veins. To keep his family safe, he would do anything.

Anything.

"As you have heard, the Earl of Cheltenham has plotted the death of my son," he said. "I am an old man. I have seen many things. I have tolerated many things. But the one thing I will not tolerate is a man who plots to destroy those I love. Robin le Bec is a poor excuse for a warrior and an even poorer excuse for an earl. Now, he threatens my family. This I cannot abide."

"How may we be of service, my lord?" Tiegh said.

"He must be dealt with."

"How, my lord?"

"I think you know."

Now, the knights were catching on. Magnus, who had been standing by the windows, watching the activity in the bailey, came away from the window and moved in Christopher's direction. He was sharp, like his father, but more than that, he was deadly as well. Maxton of Loxbeare would kill on command with complete ease. No questions, no mess, no conscience. He was one of the finest assassins to bear the Executioner Knights moniker.

And Magnus was like his father in every way.

"Even if you thwart his attempt to kill Roi this time, there will be a next time, my lord," Magnus said. "Roi will live the rest of his life fearful that his wife's father will eventually succeed in killing him."

"Exactly my thoughts, Magnus."

"That is no way for a man to live, my lord."

"Indeed, it is not."

"For Roi's health and happiness, you must protect your son."

"Any way I can."

"Give the word, my lord, and it will be our honor to protect Roi for you."

That was what Christopher had been waiting to hear. All three of them were standing in front of him, their expressions serious as well as composed. There was a serenity to them, suggesting that they knew exactly what was coming and were relishing the opportunity to have a hand in it.

That was what the Executioner Knights did.

This was their battlefield.

"It is my suspicion that Cheltenham will not lead his army into a skirmish," he said. "If he is not present at Roi's death, he can say with a clear conscience that he was at Cicadia Castle when Roi was killed. That eliminates him as a suspect."

"It gives him plausible deniability, my lord."

"Precisely," Christopher said. "Therefore, I believe you can find Robin le Bec at Cheltenham. If he is not there, of course, you know where to find him—near Colesborne. But I would go to Cicadia first."

Magnus nodded sharply. "How far is it?"

Christopher pointed to the road outside the walls of Lioncross. "Take the road all the way to Gloucester," he said. "Cheltenham is just beyond Gloucester, to the east. You will not arrive until tomorrow at the earliest."

"Understood, my lord."

Christopher lingered on the trio for a moment before averting his gaze. "Go forth," he finally whispered. "No trace."

The three knights slipped from the chamber, heading out to collect their horses and ride to Cicadia Castle. Knowing that he had just sighed Cheltenham's death warrant didn't bother Christopher in the least. If it was between Roi's life and Robin le Bec's, there was only one choice Christopher could make.

Only one choice he would make.

He turned to David.

"God help us if Roi has already left for Cirencester's ambush," he muttered.

David sighed faintly. "Let us pray he has not," he said. "The lads… they will get to him in time. I would not worry."

Christopher rolled his eyes. "That is an impossible bit of advice," he said. "Of course I am going to worry. But I will tell you one thing, David."

"What?"

"I do not regret sending Loxbeare and de Dere to eliminate the root of the problem."

David snorted softly. "If you had not asked them to do it, I was going to do it myself."

Christopher looked at him, his eyes glimmering dully. "Don't you think you're a little old?"

David pursed his lips wryly. "I would not be so smug if I were you," he said. "I'm still younger than you are."

"At our age, that means nothing."

They started to laugh at one another, an unexpected moment of levity in a situation that had them both on edge. But as the laughter died away, Christopher fixed on his brother.

"It's not just Cheltenham, you know," he said quietly. "Cirencester is a threat as well. He may be moving on Cheltenham's orders, but he is most definitely a threat. His son is the one who would benefit the most from Roi's death."

David thought on that before standing up and moving for the door. Christopher watched him go.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

David looked at him. "To tell the other Executioner Knight that very good point," he said. "Let the Loxbeare brothers and de Dere handle Cheltenham. I would say Peter might be interested in taking care of Cirencester himself. For his brother."

Christopher nodded faintly, feeling sick and saddened by the entire situation. "For his brother," he whispered. "And David?"

"What is it?"

"Do not tell Dustin," he said quietly. "If one of us must shoulder the burden of worry before we have any news, let it be me."

David understood. He left the solar to speak with Peter and the others, and everyone who was bound for Cicadia, Pembridge, or other points east was cleared out of the bailey within the hour.

The long wait, for Christopher, had begun.