Kevin was looking at him most guardedly, taking a step back as if to turn away from him, but Alexander stopped him.
“Is that what you do when you don’t like to hear something?” he asked. “Do you turn away from things that are unpleasant because you do not have the capacity to understand or show compassion? Because if that is truly the case, then you are not the knight I thought you were. You are the one shaming the de Lara name; not your brother. Do you know why? Because part of being a great knight is showing mercy and understanding, both of which you seem to have trouble with when it comes to your brother. My brothers died in the Battle of Acre, right before my eyes, and there isn’t a day that passes that I don’t hate myself for not being able to help them. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss them and weep for them. You still have your brother, yet you shun him, and that makes me sick. You could show him compassion and understanding, yet you choose not to. And I think that is pathetic.”
By this time, Kevin was standing there, looking at him as if he either wanted to shout at him or throw a punch. Alexander took a sharp, deep breath and turned away, heading out into the rear yard to cool off so he wouldn’t wrap his hands around Kevin’s throat. The things he’d told the man were things he’d kept buried, so to speak of them shook him up. But he couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t stand seeing Kevin treat Sean the way he did.
It simply wasn’t right.
As Alexander took to the rear yard, Sean remained by the door, watching the figures of Caius and Bric in the distance. But his mind was on what Alexander had just said. He’d never defended himself against Kevin and to hear Alexander speak so harshly to his brother deeply touched him. He’d known Alexander for a few years, but it wasn’t as if they’d been close friends or had served side by side. Still… Alexander understood Sean’s position and he’d just hammered that into Kevin.
Not that Sean believed it would do any good, but he was still grateful.
As he stood there and pondered the situation, he could see Caius, Bric, Maxton, and Kress heading back in his direction. He ducked back into the livery, moving towards the rear of it to summon Alexander, who saw Sean motioning to him. He entered the livery about the same time everyone else did and when they realized that Sean really was on their side, both Sean and Alexander repeated Sean’s plan.
Have de Lohr’s army engage John’s men.
Sean and the group will ride to Bishop’s Lynn, pretending to be the escort and deliver Christin to FitzRoy.
Kevin volunteered to rendezvous with Christopher’s army to deliver the news, perhaps simply to get away from Alexander’s disapproval and his brother’s presence. Or perhaps it was to prove that he was a good knight, dutiful and diligent. In any case, he separated himself from the rest and headed back the way he’d come.
At that point, everyone knew what was expected.
The rest was up to Christin.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“How far ahead of us do you think they are?”
The question came from David. It was just after dusk on a cold, damp night. The de Lohr army of one hundred men, plus William Marshal’s troops, totaled about two hundred and twenty men and given that they were out in the middle of nowhere between towns, they were going to have to stop for the night and sleep in the nearby field.
William had headed back to London with John when the king hastily departed Norwich Castle before his celebration feast, leaving Old Daveigh with piles of food and many confused guests to eat it, confused because the king had departed without warning. Or perhaps there had been some warning, considering rumors of de Lohr storming the keep with his men had spread like wildfire. The de Lohr brothers had departed, the king and William Marshal had departed, and all that was left was hundreds of soldiers, dozens of lords, and Old Daveigh trying to convince everyone that nothing was amiss.
But it had been clear that something was.
But Christopher couldn’t worry about that. He was only concerned with getting to his daughter before Robert FitzRoy got his hands on her. Several of William’s agents had ridden ahead to prevent this while Christopher and David and Peter moved slowly with the army, but it couldn’t be helped.
And that was frustrating.
“They were not too far ahead of us when we started out, but that gap is growing because two hundred men move much slower than just a few,” Christopher said. “We are going to have to trust Sherry and the others to prevent a travesty from happening.”
“I can ride ahead and see where they are, Papa,” Peter said. “Would you like me to?”
Christopher looked up into the night sky. There was a half-moon, meaning it wasn’t too bright, but it wasn’t pitch-dark, either. There was enough of a glow to travel by.
“It might make you feel better, Chris,” David said quietly. “Let him go.”
Christopher simply nodded and Peter took off, spurring that expensive warhorse down the dark and rocky road. Christopher and David watched that big, white butt fade off in the darkness.
“David,” Christopher ventured.
“Aye?”
“I have come to a decision.”
“What is that?”
“I am going to kill FitzRoy.”
“I know.”
“I am going to kill him and send his head back to John with a message. I am finished tolerating our king. I was content to ignore him so long as he did not touch me or my family, but he has destroyed that stance.”
David looked at him. “I agree,” he said. “He could easily turn on me, too. I have three daughters, Chris. I would kill the man if he turned his attention to one of them.”
“We are protecting our family.”
“We are, indeed.”
They left it at that because neither one found it necessary to voice what would happen when FitzRoy’s head was sent back to John. It was quite possible that John would seek to punish them by trying to take their lands or essentially declaring war on them. Christopher and David were large enough, combined, that they could hold off quite an onslaught and even though they would not ask their friends or allies to help them, they knew they would. Even William Marshal would.
And John knew it, too.
It was quite a future that was shaping up for them all. Not wanting to linger on it, at least for the moment because the mood was becoming quite heady, David changed the subject slightly.
“And once she comes home, what are you going to do about Sherry?” he asked. “He went on ahead of everyone to save her, Chris. Clearly, he thinks a great deal of her and, after this, I do not think he will fade away, even if you want him to. Especially if Christin is fond of him as well.”
That took Christopher’s attention off of John and FitzRoy and on to Christin and Alexander, a much less volatile subject.
Sort of.
“He is twice her age,” Christopher said.
“You already said that,” David said. “We know that. Is that your only complaint against him?”
Christopher gave him an exasperated look. “I am not against him,” he said. “But he’s so… old and seasoned compared to her.”
David shorted. “You mean compared to your daughter who was recruited by William Marshal as a spy at the age of sixteen years? Jesus, Chris, show some fairness. Your daughter is not the innocent child you seem to think she is.”
“She’s not a hardened battle warrior, either.”
“You are giving her absolutely no credit. If she has been serving The Marshal for the past two years, then you know what kind of things she has been doing.”
Christopher made a face at him and turned away. He didn’t want to think of his daughter as a spy, doing things that only tough, seasoned men should be doing. His sweet little girl who, as a child, would take charge of all of her siblings and would order them to her will as well as any battle commander.
She was just like her mother in that respect.
His wife, Dustin, was the Grand Dame of Bossy Women. She looked like a delicate
, beautiful flower with her gray eyes and long, blonde hair, but much like her daughter, looks were deceiving. She was no shrinking violet and, clearly, Christin had taken after her in that respect.
But it was still difficult for Christopher to accept.
“Mayhap she has been doing things I would rather not have her do,” he finally said. “But she is still my daughter and, like it or not, I still view her as a child. And in answer to your question, I am not sure what I am going to do about Sherry. I had always hoped that Christin would marry a man closer to her age, a strong and reputable knight with an inheritance. As far as I know, Sherry does not have that.”
“You married Dustin without an inheritance,” David reminded him. “You had nothing until you married her and then you had everything. The same could be said for me. In any case, you’ll have to do better than that if you want to find fault with Sherry. I believe he will make her a good husband.”
Christopher looked at David. “You do?”
“Aye.”
“Why?”
David grinned. “Because there is no finer knight I know of,” he said. “Sherry is loyal and brave, strong and intelligent. And if he is fond of Christin and wants to marry her… I can find no fault with that. He would make an excellent addition to the family.”
If David was in support of Alexander, Christopher was going to have trouble denying him. Perhaps David was seeing something he wasn’t. Moody and weary, he finally called a halt to the army and moved them off the road and into the smattering of trees to the west. It was some shelter, and not directly on the road, and the men began to set up camp.
David was in the middle of the men, issuing orders, but Christopher stood on the periphery, simply watching. His mind was too occupied for him to be effective in something like this, so he let David and a few senior sergeants take charge. He kept looking down the road, thinking of his daughter, wondering where she was and if she was safe, praying that Alexander and the others had reached her. He knew for a fact that Sean would not give up his prize easily and that, most of all, concerned him. He didn’t want Christin injured when Alexander and Maxton and Kress, as well as Bric and Kevin and Caius, went after Sean to try and separate him from Christin.
Indeed, that had him greatly worried.
And then, he heard something.
Hooves, he thought. Someone was riding swiftly. As he focused on the dark road ahead, he began to see horse’s legs coming into view. But it wasn’t simply one horse; it was two. Two knights were riding towards him and he immediately recognized Peter, but there was a second knight with him he couldn’t make out.
“David!” he shouted.
As he headed for the road, David broke away from the men and ran over to him, standing alongside him as Peter and the other knight approached. The horses kicked up rocks as they brought them to a halt and Christopher realized he was looking at Kevin, also.
Kevin had ridden ahead with the group of The Marshal’s agents.
His heart was suddenly in his throat.
“Kevin,” Christopher said, trying not to panic. “Why are you here? Has something happened?”
Kevin and Peter dismounted their horses. “If you mean Christin, she is well, my lord,” Kevin said as he pulled off his helm, wiping the sweat from his brow. “We have located both her and Sean and the king’s men, and Christin is well. Sean took her but only because he was forced to. Above all, he must present the illusion that he is loyal to the king.”
Christopher breathed a heavy sigh of relief. “Thank God,” he said. “Where is she?”
“Up ahead in the village of Dereham,” Kevin said. “My lord, I have come on behalf of Sean and Sherry, who have come up with a plan to end this situation once and for all. But we need your help in this matter.”
“Help?” Christopher repeated as if the very suggestion insulted him. “I will not only help, I will lead the charge to regain my daughter. What is this about, Kevin?”
Kevin took a step closer to them, lowering his voice so the soldiers milling about could not hear.
“Sean is taking your daughter to FitzRoy because he must,” he said quietly. “As I said, he must maintain the illusion that he is loyal to the king. But he also believes that he should take her to FitzRoy for one very important reason.”
Christopher’s eyebrows flew up. “I would like to hear that reason.”
Kevin glanced at Peter somewhat nervously before continuing. “My lord, I am sorry to have to be the one to tell you this,” he said. “I did not think this would ever be my duty to disclose, but it is a well-known fact that you are unaware that your daughter serves The Marshal as a…”
“Spy,” Christopher cut him off. “I know. William told me.”
As Kevin looked surprised, Peter’s eyes widened. “You know?” he demanded. “How long have you known, Papa?”
Christopher shrugged. “Only a few hours,” he said wryly. Then, he pointed at Peter. “And I shall deal with you later for it. I understand it was you who recruited her. For shame, Peter. Pulling your little sister into a man’s game.”
As Peter tried not to look sheepish, or afraid of fatherly retribution, Kevin spoke up. “Then if you already know of her service, you must know that she is good at what she does,” he said. “Very good. Sherry and Sean believe that Christin can kill FitzRoy and end this situation once and for all.”
Christopher’s jaw dropped in astonishment. “What?” he hissed. “They are putting the burden on her for this?”
Kevin continued quickly. “It is not as it sounds,” he said. “But the truth is that she can get the closest to FitzRoy where the rest of us cannot. Eliminate the reason for the king’s fixation, and you eliminate the problem. If FitzRoy is out of the way, then Lady Christin is safe. So are any other daughters the king wishes to pledge to his bastard son should a de Lohr betrothal fall through.”
Christopher shut his mouth, mostly because the solution made perfect sense. Eliminating FitzRoy was something he’d already told David he was going to do, but he believed his only chance to accomplish it would be after the marriage took place. He never thought he would make it in time to stop the wedding. Now, Alexander and Sean had come up with a solution.
Whether or not he liked it.
Christin would be the assassin.
He stood there a moment, mulling it over, as Kevin, Peter, and, most of all, David watched him carefully. Christopher could be their biggest ally or their biggest obstacle. If he didn’t like the plan, then they were back to the beginning, so they could only pray he agreed with it.
Letting his daughter do the dirty work she was apparently born to do. She was, after all, a de Lohr.
Finally, he sighed.
“I suppose that it is logical that she should be the one to do it since she will be able to get close to him,” he said. “I cannot say I like the idea of my daughter carrying out such a brutal task. That is man’s work. Considering she has been serving The Marshal for two years now, however, I suppose I must try and look at her as one of his agents and less like my daughter.”
Both Kevin and Peter nodded their heads, with Peter speaking first. “Papa, you’ve not seen her in action,” he said. “Her hands are steady and her mind is strong. Back at Ramsbury while you and Uncle David were feasting, Christin was attacked by a French spy. She killed the woman without hesitation. She can do the same thing to FitzRoy and this nightmare will be over.”
Christopher sighed heavily, trying to digest what he was being told about petite, pretty Christin. Was it true she was a killer in disguise? If he believed Peter, then she was. What was it that William had said to him? Your children want to be a tribute to the de Lohr name. Let them.
Perhaps it was time to do that.
It wasn’t as if he had a choice.
“Very well,” he finally said, though it was clear he wasn’t completely supportive. “You said you wanted my help. What would you have me do?”
They were all breathing a sigh of relief to varying degree
s and Kevin spoke quickly. “You and your army must engage the king’s soldiers,” he said. “Sean has about one hundred men with him, men that Gerard had originally planned as the escort. When Sean took Christin, he had no choice but to let those men go along. They must be engaged by you and your army while Sean and the rest of us, disguised as royal knights, take Christin to FitzRoy. Sean says that the royal soldiers must not be witness to any interaction he has with FitzRoy, especially because Christin will kill him. Sean must disavow all knowledge of Christin’s actions to keep himself separated from the incident.”
Christopher could see the logic. “That is true,” he said. “He essentially brought one hundred witnesses with him.”
“That is what he said.”
“How far is Dereham?”
Both Kevin and Peter looked up the dark road. “Mayhap six or eight miles up the road,” Kevin said. “The king’s men are camped outside of the village.”
Christopher thought on that before looking to David. “If we leave in the morning, we shall not be able to catch up to them fast enough,” he said. “But if we go tonight and catch them by surprise before sunrise…”
“Then we will most certainly keep them busy,” David finished for them.
Christopher nodded. “We must gather the senior sergeants and tell them that we are marching through the night and why,” he said. “Then we will inform the men. But for now, let them have a hot meal. We can make it to Dereham well before dawn. Kevin, return to Sherry and your brother and tell them that we will be there come sunrise to keep John’s army busy while they head on to Bishop’s Lynn.”
“Aye, my lord.”
Kevin fled. They watched him go, but Christopher found his attention settling on his son, who was looking after Kevin most wistfully. He could tell that the man wanted to be off on a great adventure, not stuck with his father and uncle. Even if they would be engaging in battle on the morrow.
The Agents of William Marshal Volume II: A Medieval Romance Bundle Page 24