Jonathan nodded, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as Davyss went over to the pitcher with the futile hope of seeing if anything was left.
Douglas was focused on Jonathan.
“I will make this brief,” he said in a low voice. “De Honiton has backed Isabel into a corner with his threats.”
Jonathan frowned. “What threats?”
Douglas grunted in exasperation. “Where to begin?” he said. “The man demanded that I be turned over to him because I killed his son, but Isabel refused.”
“You did not kill his son.”
Douglas put his hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. “You know that and I know that,” he muttered. “So does Davyss. But if you think I am going to let Lady Mira take the brunt of de Honiton’s anger, then you do not know me at all. From this point forward, all you know is that we came upon Raymond assaulting the lady and I smashed his head in with a rock. Davyss? Do you hear me?”
Standing dejectedly with the empty wine pitcher in his hand, Davyss nodded. “Aye, Douglas.”
Douglas returned his attention to Jonathan. “De Honiton thinks it is me and so does everyone else, so he demanded that Isabel surrender me to face his justice,” he said. “When she refused, he threatened Axminster, Lioncross, and anyone else he could. He told her that she would never know a moment’s peace for the rest of her life, that he would keep up the harassment in punishment for Raymond’s death. When Lady Isabel tried to reason with him, he told her the only way he could be soothed was if Isabel was to give him one of her wards so that he could marry the girl and have another son to replace the one that was taken from him. He demanded Mira, given that she was the object of his son’s lust, but Isabel refused.”
By this time, Jonathan was scowling at him. “He saidthat?” he said. “He simply wants a woman handed over to him, just like that?”
“Evidently.”
Jonathan shook his head. “Then the man is clearly losing his mind,” he said. “Is that why he is telling the Axminster men that he will soon be their lord? Because he has gone mad?”
Douglas shook his head. “He is telling the men that because Lady Isabel, in order to save Axminster and Lioncross years of harassment from de Honiton, has made him the offer of marriage,” he said. “She will not give over one of her wards, so she gave him the only woman she could—her. Once de Honitonmarries her, he will be the Earl of Axminster. It is enough of an offer to still the man and make him forget about his vengeance.”
Jonathan looked positively horrified. “Isabel?” he gasped. “And…thatman? De Honiton?”
“Aye.”
“But what does Eric say about this? He and Isabel are…”
He didn’t finish even though it was the most poorly kept secret at Axminster. Douglas motioned Jonathan closer, indicating for him to sit, then sat down opposite the man as Davyss pulled up a stool. Their huddle was close and quiet.
“Eric is talking about challenging de Honiton to a fight,” Douglas muttered. “He wants to fight the man for Isabel’s honor. We all know how that will end.”
Jonathan rolled his eyes. “Eric has not wielded a sword in years.”
“Exactly,” Douglas said. “I do not know de Honiton’s skill level, but he arrived fully armed. That makes me suspect he is not afraid to wield a sword like Eric is. Therefore, the fight will be over before it begins.”
“Eric will get himself killed.”
“Agreed,” Douglas said. “But the core of Eric’s plan is a sound one. If we get rid of de Honiton, then we eliminate the problem. Isabel and Eric remain true to each other and there will be no harassment of Axminster or Lioncross or anyone else because de Honiton has no relatives. The line will be gone. Everything will return to the way it was before de Honiton and his unwelcome son pushed their way into Axminster for the night.”
By this time, Jonathan was watching him carefully. “You have a plan.”
It wasn’t even a question, but a statement. Douglas fixed him in the eye. “Wolfie, I know you have worked with the Executioner Knights in the past,” he said. “Not only are you Blackchurch-trained, but you are also an Executioner Knightveteran. I know you have worked with Myles because he told me. Something about a Flemish count who was providing money to the Welsh for an attack on Kirk Castle. You needn’t deny it because I know it to be true.”
Jonathan’s expression never changed. “I will not deny it,” he said. “But you are telling me this for a reason, I suspect.”
“You would be correct.”
“What do you want me to do?”
Douglas lifted an eyebrow. “Something unsavory.”
Jonathan did grin then. “Isn’t that usual for men like your brother and I?” he said. “You were never involved in anything like that, Douglas. Your father never recruited you like he did your brothers.”
Douglas shook his head. “My father’s path for me was different.”
