Monty braced for what Geraint was about to say.
“Two young women went missing in the village near where the Silverton estate was. They were both found dead, but each had the same marks on their bodies, as if they had performed some ritual on them. Marks on the neck, and the mark of the devil on their palm.”
Monty twitched.
“What?” Nathan demanded. Monty shook his head.
“One woman was the Duke of Talbot’s niece, who had been visiting him. He was close with the king and of course distraught. The king asked Alexius to look into it,” Geraint continued.
Monty felt the tension inside him climb, and not simply because of the daggers the Deville party were hurling his way through their eyes. He felt like all the threads were drawing together, and he would have the answers he sought soon.
“Three of our members found evidence that Silverton could be responsible. They tracked him down to an old building on his father’s lands, and it was then they saw what he was truly about. He’d been performing rituals and sacrifices on animals and people. The two women were not the first.”
“What happened to him?” Mary demanded.
“He died in the fight to capture him.”
“Who were the three men?” Zach demanded.
“My father, Lord Peters, and Lord Lionel,” Monty said softly.
“Yes,” Geraint said.
“I spoke with Lady Lionel today. She said she found her husband dead when she arrived home one morning after visiting her sister. His nose was swollen and there was bleeding from it. The doctor said his heart had stopped while he slept,” Monty said. “She found the same small carving of a pentacle in Lord Lionel’s hand that my father held the night I found him murdered.”
Nathan swore.
“We have three men who caught what we suspect to be the leader of a club, cult, or whatever they called themselves. Silverton died during this capture,” Gabe said. “Now all three men are dead. Two, that we know of, had wooden carvings of pentacles in their hands, and we suspect both were murdered.”
“Lady Challoner brought a letter to London that indicated her husband was in some way involved in the deaths of Lord and Lady Montgomery,” Nathan continued.
“Her former brother-in-law, Renton, Lord Picton, Lord Heather, Mr. Clipper, and Mr. Buford all tried to get inside her late husband’s house to go through his papers,” Michael said. “Which to me suggests that they are scared there is evidence of what they are up to, and that they aren’t just meeting to drink and participate in revelry under the cover of darkness.”
“A satanic cult? Devil worship club? Or are they disciples of the late Ernest Silverton and carrying on his traditions, which likely included virgin sacrifices?” Mary asked.
“The king wants this matter resolved before his fete,” Geraint said. “So far no whispers of what Ackland has done have left the court, but—”
“Courtiers are notorious gossips, so it is only a matter of time,” Gabe said.
Geraint neither agreed nor disagreed.
“One more thing before you leave,” Geraint said, his face grave. “A young woman was found dead behind a church in Saint Pancras two nights ago. She had the same mark carved into her palm as the two women murdered by Silverton.”
Zach swore, and the others looked grim.
“We must find these Brothers of Faith. If they have killed and are followers of the late Silverton, then they will strike again,” Geraint said. “I will alert the others.Veritas scutumtibi erit.”He dismissed them.
“Veritas scutumtibi erit,” the rest of the occupants in the church said.
They all left in single file, and Monty was first. He kept walking to where he’d left his horse.
“We are going to eat pies, and you are coming with us.” A large hand landed on his shoulder. “Run, and we will follow,” Gabe said. “You have things we need to hear, just as we have things to tell you.”
“I do not run,” Monty scoffed, ignoring the fact he’d been about to do just that. “And I have never been out dressed as I am to eat pies.” In fact, he’d never been out to eat pies at all. He didn’t go anywhere as Monty, only as Plunge.
“Well maybe it’s time.”
They mounted and rode toward the Speckled Hen. They put him in the middle and surrounded him with their horses.
