“Admit him,” he said simply.
The knight departed the solar. When he was gone, Christopher stood up from the heavily cushioned seat he’d beenplanted 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 firstthing 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 thatsomething 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 notto 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.”
