And that upset him deeply.
“This marriage does not displease you, I take it?” he asked.
“Nay, it does not,” Diara replied. “I am very happy.”
“You havemeto thank for that.”
“Thank you, Papa.”
“You know that I will always do what is best for you, don’t you?”
“Aye, Papa.”
“You were not keen on this betrothal in the beginning, but I knew it was best.”
“Aye, Papa.”
“I will always do what is best.”
“Aye, Papa.” Diara watched him as he started to nose around Christopher’s desk again. “Please come with me. You should not be here in Lord Hereford’s solar, alone.”
He cast her a long look. “Will you tell him that I was?”
“Nay,” she said. “But leave with me now. I will not go until you do.”
God, how he hated a woman who took a stand. Ananda had been his wife for twenty-three years, and she’d never once tried to assert herself like Diara was doing now. That infuriated him.He walked up to her, only slightly taller than she was, and looked down his nose at her.
“Marrying Roi has made you brave,” he said. “But that will not last.”
With that, he headed out of the solar, leaving Diara trailing after him, puzzled by his behavior and what sounded ostensibly like a threat. Her father had always been ambitious and direct, but his behavior since learning of Beckett de Lohr’s death had been… strange. Very strange. She couldn’t put her finger on why he was being so odd. Something told her that there was more than met the eye, but she was at a loss as to what, exactly, that could be.
Perhaps she didn’t want to know.
But something told her she’d find out soon enough.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
They were knownas Executioner Knights.
Roi recognized them as they trotted up the road, heading for Lioncross’ enormous gatehouse. There were three of them, traveling alone, but with men such as that, it was perfectly safe. They were perfectly capable of defending themselves against terrible odds. They could have probably taken on an entire army and emerged the victors.
Men who achieved the position of Executioner Knight did not do it because they were weak.
It was because they were the best.
In truth, these men were second-generation Executioner Knights. Their fathers had been some of the first men that William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and the man known as England’s greatest knight, recruited when he formed a circle of spies, assassins, and warriors that comprised the most elite group in all of England. Marshal used the men to keep England balanced.
They shadowed kings, killed enemies, fought off invasions—anything to keep their country strong. Their dedication was to the country above all, but they’d come into being during the time of King Richard but wholly during the reign of King John. AfterJohn’s demise and the ascension of Henry III, they continued their duties even after William Marshal passed away. They were subsequently commanded by Marshal sons, and were now under the command of Anselm Marshal, a man who was in poor health and the last of his family. Rumor had it that command of the Executioner Knights would fall to Christopher de Lohr, one of the most respected men in all of England.
And a man who had been an Executioner Knight for more than sixty years.
Christopher had mostly been a warlord, though he’d worked closely with William Marshal as the man manipulated the politics and players of England. Peter, Christopher’s son, had been a great Executioner Knight, now mostly retired due to his age, while Christin’s husband, Sherry, and even Christin herself had been spies during their younger years. Truth be told, Roi had been involved with them in his younger years as well, as had Curtis. Douglas and Westley had avoided the service because Christopher had other duties for them, but Myles de Lohr—the great middle brother—was a fully fledged Executioner Knight, and the main reason he wasn’t at the wedding was because he was off on a mission.
Wherever there was need in England, the Executioner Knights—and the de Lohrs—answered the call.
These days, the sons of the original Executioner Knights were taking charge, and the three knights now taking a turn off the road and heading in their direction were the offspring of two of the original knights. Roi recognized Magnus of Loxbeare, his brother Aeron of Loxbeare, and Tiegh de Dere. Breaking away from the group of men organizing the next game, he waved them over.
Tiegh was the first man off his horse, grinning as he embraced Roi. He was tall and sinewy, with his mother’s blond hair and his father’s features. Tiegh was a likeable man, muchlike his father had been, amiable in every way but also deadly in every way. Next to him, Aeron reined his horse around and bailed off, moving to embrace Roi and congratulate him. He, too, was the congenial sort. But the last man to relay his greeting was Magnus, who was like his father in every way—surly, bad tempered, not particularly fun to be around, but a more professional and dedicated knight had never existed.
