Chapter Thirteen
They were known as Executioner Knights.
Roi recognized them as they trotted up the road, heading for Lioncross’ enormous gatehouse.
There were three of them, traveling alone, but with men such as that, it was perfectly safe.
They were perfectly capable of defending themselves against terrible odds.
They could have probably taken on an entire army and emerged the victors.
Men who achieved the position of Executioner Knight did not do it because they were weak.
It was because they were the best.
In truth, these men were second-generation Executioner Knights.
Their fathers had been some of the first men that William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and the man known as England’s greatest knight, recruited when he formed a circle of spies, assassins, and warriors that comprised the most elite group in all of England.
Marshal used the men to keep England balanced.
They shadowed kings, killed enemies, fought off invasions—anything to keep their country strong.
Their dedication was to the country above all, but they’d come into being during the time of King Richard but wholly during the reign of King John.
After John’s demise and the ascension of Henry III, they continued their duties even after William Marshal passed away.
They were subsequently commanded by Marshal sons, and were now under the command of Anselm Marshal, a man who was in poor health and the last of his family.
Rumor had it that command of the Executioner Knights would fall to Christopher de Lohr, one of the most respected men in all of England.
And a man who had been an Executioner Knight for more than sixty years.
Christopher had mostly been a warlord, though he’d worked closely with William Marshal as the man manipulated the politics and players of England.
Peter, Christopher’s son, had been a great Executioner Knight, now mostly retired due to his age, while Christin’s husband, Sherry, and even Christin herself had been spies during their younger years.
Truth be told, Roi had been involved with them in his younger years as well, as had Curtis.
Douglas and Westley had avoided the service because Christopher had other duties for them, but Myles de Lohr—the great middle brother—was a fully fledged Executioner Knight, and the main reason he wasn’t at the wedding was because he was off on a mission.
Wherever there was need in England, the Executioner Knights—and the de Lohrs—answered the call.
These days, the sons of the original Executioner Knights were taking charge, and the three knights now taking a turn off the road and heading in their direction were the offspring of two of the original knights.
Roi recognized Magnus of Loxbeare, his brother Aeron of Loxbeare, and Tiegh de Dere.
Breaking away from the group of men organizing the next game, he waved them over.
Tiegh was the first man off his horse, grinning as he embraced Roi.
He was tall and sinewy, with his mother’s blond hair and his father’s features.
Tiegh was a likeable man, much like his father had been, amiable in every way but also deadly in every way.
Next to him, Aeron reined his horse around and bailed off, moving to embrace Roi and congratulate him.
He, too, was the congenial sort. But the last man to relay his greeting was Magnus, who was like his father in every way—surly, bad tempered, not particularly fun to be around, but a more professional and dedicated knight had never existed.
And he particularly liked Roi.
“Roi,” Magnus said with satisfaction, reaching out to grasp him with both hands. “My deepest condolences on your son. Please know how heartbroken my entire family is on his passing.”
Roi forced a smile. “Thank you,” he said. “It has been difficult, of course, but for today, I have put my mourning aside. My mother says that Beckett would be happy that I have remarried, so I am focusing on the good. And today is very good.”
Magnus grinned. “Is it?” he said. “Good. Then please accept my heartiest congratulations, old man. My father sends his regrets that he was unable to attend. He has sent us instead.”
“I am sorry he was unable to come,” Roi said. “I hope he is not in ill health?”
Magnus and Aeron passed glances. “He’s not well,” Magnus finally said. “In fact, he sent me with a message for your father. Where is he?”
Roi pointed back to the collection of men several feet away. “Over there,” he said. “Shall I fetch him?”
Magnus shook his head, his dark eyes seeking out Christopher amongst the crowd. “Nay,” he said. “I will find him.”
Roi put his hand on the man’s arm as he started to walk toward the group.
“I am sorry for your father, Magnus,” he said, looking to Aeron.
“I am sorry for both of you. Maxton of Loxbeare is a great man. That is how I will always remember him and men like him, no matter how old they become or how failing their health. They will always be those men I grew up admiring.”
Aeron smiled weakly. “He always liked you a great deal,” he said. “Truthfully, he wanted to come very much, but my mother would not let him.”
Roi understood that. He understood aging parents and the dynamics of such things. “May I ask what is wrong with Maxton?” he said. “Is it something to be cured?”
Aeron shook his head. “Nay,” he said quietly. “Apoplexy. A few months ago, he awoke one morning and could not move one side of his body. The physics tell us that he will not improve. It is simply a matter of time until… Suffice it to say he will not improve.”
Roi sighed sadly, putting his hand over his heart in a show of grief for the health of Maxton of Loxbeare. “I do not think my father knows,” he said. “He’s not said a word to me about it.”
“He does not know,” Magnus said. “No one really does. My mother did not want anyone to know, but my father is growing worse, so she has given me permission to tell your father. As I said, I come with a message for him.”
Roi swept his arm in the direction of the group of men, and both Magnus and Aeron continued on to find Christopher. That left Roi standing with Tiegh, and he looked at the man, distress on his features.
“Please tell me that your father and mother are faring better,” he said.
Tiegh nodded. “My father is in good health, thank you,” he said.
“My mother also. They spend their time with their grandchildren these days. My sisters have fifteen children between them, so the keep is full of screaming children. My father also wanted to come when he received the missive from your father about your marriage, but traveling is difficult for him these days. He is old, Roi. I volunteered to come instead because I wanted to see you and meet your new wife.”
Roi smiled weakly. “And you shall meet her,” he said. “I will go with you to take the horses over to the stables because she is in the keep with her parents. Her father is the Earl of Cheltenham, you know. She is the heiress, which means someday, the title will be mine.”
He meant to boast because Tiegh was one of those people who boasted about anything and everything, so Roi wanted to gain the upper hand. But there was humor to it, especially when Tiegh appeared absolutely appalled at the prospect.
“To the devil with you, de Lohr,” he scoffed. “I shall never bow down to you, even if you are an earl.”
Roi chuckled. “Careful, lad,” he said. “I may have to flog you in public for that.”
“You will have to catch me first.”
Laughing, they took the horses, including the two left behind by Magnus and Aeron, and headed across the road. There were soldiers at the gatehouse to take the animals for them, but Roi continued inside with Tiegh, crossing the bailey just as Diara and Robin were coming from the entry.
“Ah,” Roi said as they met the pair at the bottom of the stairs. “Lady de Lohr, this is my dear friend, Tiegh de Dere. He has just arrived at my father’s summons. Tiegh, this is my wife and her father, Lord Cheltenham.”
Tiegh greeted Robin first, as was protocol. “My lord,” he said to Robin, then dipped his head to Diara. “Lady de Lohr. It is a pleasure to meet you both. My parents send their regrets for not having attended the wedding, but they also send their warmest felicitations.”
Diara came off the steps, taking Roi’s arm. “Thank you, Sir Tiegh,” she said. “From where do you hail?”
“Berkshire, my lady,” Tiegh said. “I was born there.”
“That is lovely country,” Diara said. “I traveled through there once when I was a child. Remember, Papa?”
She turned to her father, who nodded. “I do, indeed,” he said. “We stayed at a hunting lodge belonging to Lord Marlborough before continuing on to London. Who are your parents, Sir Tiegh?”
“My father is Sir Achilles de Dere, Lord Caversham,” Tiegh said. “My mother is the former Susanna de Tiegh of Aysgarth Castle.”
“That is in the north,” Robin said. “Have you spent much time there?”
Tiegh nodded. “Enough, my lord,” he said. “Though it has been a while.”
“Do you hunt?”
“Indeed I do, my lord.”
“Do you like games?”
Tiegh cocked his head curiously. “Games, my lord?”
Robin came off the steps, indicating the gatehouse. “Come with me,” he said. “There are games to be had in the field across the way. Tell me of the hunting you have done at Aysgarth. Mayhap I should take a trip to the north if it is good.”
They walked away, speaking of hunting and travel. Robin was shockingly friendly with a simple knight. Roi and Diara watched them go for a moment before Roi moved to follow with Diara on his arm. But she wasn’t moving, and he came to a halt, looking at her.
“Coming, my love?” he asked. “Two other friends have arrived along with Tiegh, so the coming game should be quite interesting.”
Diara nodded, but her focus was on her father. “I will come,” she said. “But… my father…”
Roi turned to watch Robin crossing the bailey with Tiegh. “What about him?”