Westley (whose middle name is Henry and he was sometimes referred to as “Henry” when he was young) (Lion of Thunder)
Olivia Charlotte (the future Honey de Shera from the Lords of Thunder series)
Now, there’s always been a question about Douglas de Lohr. I’ve mentioned before that he was killed in my novelTender is the Knight, but that’s not true. That was a mistake on my part (after 147 novels at this point, I’m allowed a mistake or two). Seriously, I do keep detailed notes, but some of them are twenty-five or thirty years old in some cases. I went back to my original notes onTender is the Knight, and although I had intended Douglas de Lohr to be Christopher’s son, I changed the timeline in the story that made it impossible forthatDouglas to be Chris and Dustin’s son. Instead, I made him the grandson of Baron Lohrham of Lohrham forest, Philip de Lohr, who was Christopher’s uncle. We met him inRise of the Defender. However, Philip wasn’t really Christopher’s uncle—but a cousin—which is why Christopher was never in the line of succession for his ancestral home of Lohrham Forest. So—the Douglas de Lohr inTender is the Knightis a cousin to “our” de Lohrs. He’s not a son. Thankfully. That means “our” Douglas will, indeed, have his own story told.
Something more to note in this novel—remember that Christopher and Dustin had their children during a spread of several years. Their eldest child, Christin, for example, is quite a bit older than their youngest child, Olivia Charlotte (Honey). Dustin was only nineteen years of age when she had Christin, who also had her children quite young, so in this novel you will see—gasp!—Christin’s grandchildren. Also, you’ll discover that Honey married before some of her older siblings, so the ages of the grandchildren are all over the place as well. Note that they call Christopher “Taid” and Dustin “Nana,” which are basically the Welsh words for grandparents.
The Executioner Knights play a small role in this tale, too. Mentions appear in this book, as do second-generation Executioner Knights. Keep in mind that when the main Executioner Knight series was written, it was back in the time ofKing John—about forty years or more before this book is set—so the original Executioner Knights were in their thirties or so. In this novel, they are considerably older but still alive. Just keep that in mind when you read about their children. Life goes on!
And speaking of “older,” Christopher is incredibly old in this book. He’s healthy and he has a secondary role, but if I told you how old he really is, you’d probably freak out. According to the year he was born—1156 A.D.—he’s eighty-nine years old. I think I mentioned on a Facebook post once that in figuring how long Christopher and David, his brother, really lived, using all of the clues I’d given in books likeShadowmoorandSilversword, I discovered that Christopher had died in 1249 AD at the age of ninety-two and David lived to the ripe old age of one hundred. Seems that the de Lohr boys have longevity. Was that possible in Medieval times? Absolutely. It would have been excessive, but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. Life spans were shorter, of course, but there was the odd few who lived to a ripe old age.
And with that, I’m not sure there’s much more to be said. No pronunciation guide because all of the names are familiar with the exception of the heroine, Diara—it’s pronounced “Dee-AR-uh.” She’s quite a lady. And I have to say that I think Roi is one of my new favorite heroes. See if you don’t agree.
Happy Reading!
PROLOGUE
Year of Our Lord 1243
Chateau de Montreuil Bonnin, France
“I’ll not speakone word to you unless you tell me what sort of dowry your daughter has.”
The rain was pounding, the lightning flashing, and the knights from the army of Henry III of England were up to their knees in mud and blood, in that order. The entire field of battle had turned into a quagmire of sludge, and when one was trying to swing a heavy broadsword, it was difficult to keep one’s footing.
Knights were sliding onto their arses all over the field.
But not the man who demanded dowry information. Sir Richard de Lohr, son of Richard I’s greatest knight, Christopher de Lohr, had managed to keep his footing and his dignity as he engaged enemy knights, but the man following him around was covered in so much mud that it was in his ears and nose. But that didn’t prevent him from trailing after a man he very much wanted to bargain with.
In spite of the muddy ear canals, he could hear very clearly when he wanted to.
“She is very wealthy, Roi,” he shouted over sounds of the storm. “Will you at least stop to discuss it?”
Richard, who had gone by the nickname Roi since he’d been a young lad, paused and turned to the man with a grin.
“I am supposed to stop what I am doing?”
“Aye!”
“We’re in the middle of a battle, Robin.”
“I am well aware.”
“Did you not think this might not be the most opportune time to discuss a marriage between our children?”
“It was the only time I could get your attention, you bullish man.”
Roi let out a peal of laughter, but it was cut short when a knight bearing the colors of the Count of Poitiers charged at him through the sheets of rain. He was on foot, as Roi was, as the knights had long ditched the horses because the mud was so bad that equine legs were in danger of breaking. The French knight’s movement wasn’t really a charge so much as it was a slip-sliding attempt to get at him, but Roi was ready. After a nasty battle with broadswords swinging beneath the stormy sky, Roi managed to undercut the knight and slice him behind the right knee. Tendons and muscles were cut.
The man went down for good.
Roi walked away.
“Why do you not kill him?” Robin demanded, looking at the downed knight. “You are in a perfect position to do so!”
Roi glanced at the knight who was writing in agony. Then he turned to the chatterbox next to him. “Because he is an excellent knight,” he said. “I knew him before Henry and Alphonse decided to battle one another. Men like Etienne do not deserve to be killed, but I have disabled him. He will not follow us.”
“He was your friend?” Robin asked, shocked.
