Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Three years later

Lioncross Abbey Castle

"I came as quickly as I could," Roi said. "What has happened?"

He had just entered the keep of Lioncross only to be met by his brother, Myles. He was like the rest of the de Lohr men—big, blond, well built—only Myles had luscious blond hair that fell past his shoulders, something every woman he met envied. His wife particularly liked it. He had his mother's hair because in her youth, she had a cascade of gold down her back, well past her buttocks. That wasn't where his similarities to his mother ended, because he was her son in every way, except for one.

Myles was a trained assassin.

Roi knew that his presence at Lioncross meant something serious.

"Steel yourself, man," Myles said, looking over Roi's shoulder at the woman in the bailey behind him, being greeted by their mother. "Many things are afoot. But why did you bring your wife? I told you that I would need your full attention."

Roi turned to look at Diara with a toddler in her arms and an enormously pregnant stomach. "Because she wanted to come," he said simply. "I will not leave her at Pembridge, not when she is due to deliver our son any day. Besides, she wants him born at Lioncross like I was and like his brother was. I could not, and would not, leave her behind, so you'll simply have to accept it."

Myles didn't look pleased. "I hope she does not become upset when we take all of your time."

"Diara is not like that, and you know it," Roi said. "She will let me do what needs to be done and not complain about it. Now, what's this all about?"

As if on cue, a blond toddler suddenly darted up the stairs, screaming because his grandmother was coming for him. Roi grabbed little Rex de Lohr before he could get away from him, kissing his son's cheeks loudly as the baby cried and tried to push away. Chuckling, Roi set him on his feet, and the first thing the child did was run straight into Christopher's solar. They could hear a faint cry go up as Christopher caught sight of his beloved grandson.

"You know Papa wants to see him," Roi said. "He's an old man, Myles. Let him enjoy his grandchildren while he can."

Myles knew it was futile to resist. He shook his head in resignation. "I know," he said. "And Rex is welcome, you know that. But I still laugh when I think of that name."

"What name?"

"Rex."

Roi stiffened. "And why not?" he said. "Roi means ‘king.' Rex also means king. It is well and good that a son be named after his father, and well you know it."

Myles held up his hands in surrender. "I know," he said. "But I had a dog named Rex. Now I have a nephew named Rex."

"Be very careful or I will name my next horse Myles and beat it constantly."

Myles started laughing. "You would, too."

"Of course I would."

At that point, they were interrupted by Diara as she entered the keep along with Dustin. Myles bent over to kiss his sister-in-law, a truly radiant beauty that had her husband more enamored with her every day, on the cheek. The entire family had seen Roi change from a serious, rather lonely man to a doting husband and father with the introduction of a wife he adored.

It had been good to see.

"Lady Cheltenham," Myles greeted Diara. "It is agreeable to see you again."

Diara lifted an eyebrow at her brother-in-law. The man wasn't much for pleasantries and probably didn't have a flattering bone in his body. She'd never once heard him give a compliment, which was something of a running joke with the family.

"Agreeable, am I?" she said. "Be careful with your sweet words, Myles de Lohr, or they will swell my head. Where is your wife?"

"Unable to come, my lady."

"I am sorry," Diara said, sobering. "She is well, is she not?"

"Very well," Myles said. "But I would not let her travel. Our child is due very soon as well. And what are you to name Roi's latest offspring? Queen? Prince? Peasant?"

Dustin, who had been standing next to Diara, swatted Myles from behind. "Cease your taunts," she said. "I will not let you harass her."

Diara chuckled at her protective mother-in-law. "Not to worry, Naina," she said, using the name for Dustin that her grandchildren had given her. "I'll have my revenge when he least expects it. And since you are asking so nicely, Myles, I will tell you that this son will bear the name of Beau, the name of a man who was a dear friend to us when we traveled to Lac du Lausanne before Rex was born. I am telling you this so that you will not give your child the same name. I will be furious if you do."

Myles shook his head. "I promise that I will not call my son by the same name," he said. "But what if it is a girl?"

"How can it be a girl if I am to name him Beau?"

Myles looked at Roi, who simply shrugged. Such was the logic of a pregnant woman. Inside the solar, they could hear Rex laughing loudly about something, which drew the women. As they followed the sounds of the happy baby, Myles prevented Roi from going after them. When Roi looked at him curiously, he shook his head faintly.

"Not yet," he said softly. "There are things to discuss before you go in there."

"For example?"

"Papa is no longer in command of the Executioner Knights," Myles said softly. "He has turned that duty over to Peter. Peter not only controls everything now, but Anselm Marshal willed Farringdon House to Papa before he died. Papa has given it over to Peter."

Those were some serious changes. "Farringdon House has been a Marshal property for over fifty years," Roi said. "That is the heart of the Executioner Knight operation."

Myles nodded. "I know," he said. "But no one knows that it is a de Lohr property yet, so given that you spend a good deal of time in London with Henry, you should be aware."

"Absolutely. Henry must not know, for he's not said a word."

Myles shrugged. "I suppose it does not matter who the townhome belongs to, at least to Henry," he said. "But it is a valuable property and Peter will be there frequently. He's in the solar, Roi. He wants to ask you to consider returning to the Executioner Knights."

"As an operative?"

Myles merely nodded, leaving Roi to consider the possibilities. But that was short-lived because he had news of his own.

"I am too old," he finally said. "Moreover, there is something you should know. Henry has offered me the appointment of chief justiciar, Myles. You know what that means."

Myles' eyes widened. "He has?" he said, astounded. "Roi, that's astonishing. You'll have more power than the king in a position like that. Head of the judiciary system and the laws."

"I know."

"Your word will be law."

"I am well aware."

"You'll have your own court and counselors."

"I will, indeed."

Myles was clearly impressed. "Will you accept?"

Roi grinned. "Of course I will," he said. "How else do you think I will be able to work in concert with Peter and the Executioner Knights, making sure England remains safe and secure for all of us? If there is a problem that laws cannot fix, then the Executioner Knights can."

Myles, who wasn't one to easily smile, was nearly beaming at his brother. "Chief justiciar," he repeated in awe. "God's Bones, Roi. Papa will be so proud."

Roi sobered, humbled by his brother's praise. "I've had a different path than most of you," he said. "I'm a knight, and a skilled one, but I'm not a warlord. I've been more of a scholar, and I always wondered if Papa was somehow disappointed by that."

Myles frowned. "Are you mad?" he said. "You are a better knight than any of us. And as for Papa being disappointed… go in there and tell him what you just told me. The man will be beside himself with glee."

"I hope so," Roi said. "I feel that I can do England—and our family—much more good as justiciar than as an Executioner Knight. We all have our roles to play in life, and this is mine."

"Agreed," Myles said. "When will you assume the role officially?"

Roi lifted his eyebrows. "After Adalia's wedding," he said. "That is coming this summer, after the baby is born. But with Iris marrying Kyne a few months ago, Adalia has a serious case of wedding fever, and she can hardly wait. Mathis is at Pembridge more than he is at Cicadia, and he is excited, too, though he will not admit it."

"You still have not officially moved into Cicadia?"

Roi shook his head. "It is my seat, but I prefer Pembridge," he said. "Diara prefers it there, too. She said that she never had a happy childhood at Cicadia, so she wants to raise our children at Pembridge. Adalia will make a fine chatelaine at Cicadia when she marries Mathis, so let her make her own good memories there."

"And Dorian?"

Roi chuckled. "She has her eye on Eddard de Vahn," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "He serves me at Cicadia, you know. Have you met him? He's difficult to miss. Smells like a stable. I think that is why she is fond of him."

Myles started laughing. "I think I have met the man," he said. "Hair the color of straw?"

"That is him."

"Is there any way you can keep downwind of him?"

Roi put his hand over his face, snorting. "The problem is that he is an excellent knight," he said. "But I've a mind to send him to my property in France, Chateau de Beuville, simply to get him away from people who don't like his smell."

"But Dorian does."

"She does, indeed."

"Then it sounds as if your daughters have found their true loves."

Rex picked that moment to bolt out of Christopher's solar with Dustin in pursuit. Roi watched them scurry down a corridor, listening to his son scream and his mother's calm voice. Diara emerged from the solar as well, standing in the doorway as she watched her husband's mother chase down her skittish toddler.

But Roi only had eyes for his wife.

Somehow, Myles' words had particular resonance at the moment.

"Mayhap," he said softly. "For I have certainly found mine."

When Diara caught his eye, smiling adoringly at him, there was no doubt in Roi's mind that the feeling was quite mutual.

True love always was.

* THE END *