“That’s good. I was concerned my brother’s death would not be enough for me to worry about,” Michael muttered.
“He’s planning to kidnap the king.”
“Are you absolutely certain of this information?” Gabe asked.
The men nodded again.
That would certainly be an efficient way to get everybody’s attention, Gabe thought. Geraint did not have this information.
“Why would he do that?” Michael asked.
“Because they will ask for a king’s ransom for his return,” Gabe said.
“And when they have that, they’ll disappear,” Michael said.
“Very likely. It is an audacious plan, but if anyone can carry it out, it is our French acquaintance,” Gabe said. “Where did you come by this information?”
“At the docks.”
“Is that all you heard?”
“It is. I don’t kill nobles or kidnap kings,” the man with Nix said.
“Excellent standards to set,” Michael added.
“We are grateful for your loyalty, Nix, and would ask you both to keep your ear to the ground. Please report immediately to us if you hear or see anything else, and we will reimburse you for your time.”
“Take care, Lord Raine. He’s a right mean one.”
“I can be mean also when required, Nix, but thank you for the warning.”
The men disappeared down the lane, and the brothers started walking.
“Christ, Gabe.”
“We are further forewarned, Michael. All will go well,” Gabe said, thinking about what he’d just learned. Ombrage wanted revenge for the bullet he’d put in his body.
“Do not treat this lightly, brother. This threat is real, and Ombrage a cunning and dangerous man.”
“I know.”
“Damnation,” Michael muttered. “We’ve dealt with a great deal over the years, but this is by far the worst. A plot to kill you and kidnap the king. I’m not sure which one scares me the most.”
“We know Ombrage is intelligent, cunning, and has the money to support his causes,” Gabe said.
“It could be a grudge also. Did our king do something to anger whoever is behind the entire thing?” Michael asked.
“Hell of a grudge,” Gabe muttered.
“Just like the one Ombrage holds against you for shooting him.”
“Just like that one,” Gabe said, heading into a coffeehouse.
They discussed what they’d learned, what they should do, and Gabe gnawed on the problem that someone wanted him dead.
If he was honest, the death part didn’t worry him too much. He wouldn’t know it had happened… because he’d be dead. What worried him was leaving his family behind. He wouldn’t watch his nieces and nephews grow up. He wouldn’t meet the women his brothers married.
“I’m not dying,” he said in a steady voice.
