“How may we be of service, my lord?” Tiegh said.
“He must be dealt with.”
“How, my lord?”
“I think you know.”
Now, the knights were catching on. Magnus, who had been standing by the windows, watching the activity in the bailey, came away from the window and moved in Christopher’s direction. He was sharp, like his father, but more than that, he was deadly as well. Maxton of Loxbeare would kill on command with complete ease. No questions, no mess, no conscience. He was one of the finest assassins to bear the Executioner Knights moniker.
And Magnus was like his father in every way.
“Even if you thwart his attempt to kill Roi this time, therewillbe a next time, my lord,” Magnus said. “Roi will live the rest of his life fearful that his wife’s father will eventually succeed in killing him.”
“Exactly my thoughts, Magnus.”
“That is no way for a man to live, my lord.”
“Indeed, it is not.”
“For Roi’s health and happiness, you must protect your son.”
“Any way I can.”
“Give the word, my lord, and it will be our honor to protect Roi for you.”
That was what Christopher had been waiting to hear. All three of them were standing in front of him, their expressions serious as well as composed. There was a serenity to them, suggesting that they knew exactly what was coming and were relishing the opportunity to have a hand in it.
That was what the Executioner Knights did.
This was their battlefield.
“It is my suspicion that Cheltenham will not lead his army into a skirmish,” he said. “If he is not present at Roi’s death, he can say with a clear conscience that he was at Cicadia Castle when Roi was killed. That eliminates him as a suspect.”
“It gives him plausible deniability, my lord.”
“Precisely,” Christopher said. “Therefore, I believe you can find Robin le Bec at Cheltenham. If he is not there, of course, you know where to find him—near Colesborne. But I would go to Cicadia first.”
Magnus nodded sharply. “How far is it?”
Christopher pointed to the road outside the walls of Lioncross. “Take the road all the way to Gloucester,” he said. “Cheltenham is just beyond Gloucester, to the east. You will not arrive until tomorrow at the earliest.”
“Understood, my lord.”
Christopher lingered on the trio for a moment before averting his gaze. “Go forth,” he finally whispered. “No trace.”
The three knights slipped from the chamber, heading out to collect their horses and ride to Cicadia Castle. Knowing that he had just signed Cheltenham’s death warrant didn’t bother Christopher in the least. If it was between Roi’s life and Robin le Bec’s, there was only one choice Christopher could make.
Only one choice hewouldmake.
He turned to David.
“God help us if Roi has already left for Cirencester’s ambush,” he muttered.
David sighed faintly. “Let us pray he has not,” he said. “The lads… they will get to him in time. I would not worry.”
Christopher rolled his eyes. “That is an impossible bit of advice,” he said. “Of course I am going to worry. But I will tell you one thing, David.”
“What?”
