Chapter Twenty-One #2
Maxton made a face. “Because de Lohr and his brother had their noses so far up Richard’s ass, when the man shit, it was the color of the de Lohr tunics. Richard could not take a piss without Chris there to hold his manhood.”
Kress was far gone with laughter by now. “That is what I am used to,” he said. “You bashing de Lohr at every turn. If you praise him again, I will accuse you of being possessed by the Devil and be forced to cut your head off.”
Because Kress was amused, Maxton’s lips were flickering with a smile.
“I am not possessed,” he said. “And in spite of everything, I have nothing but the greatest respect for de Lohr. He will never be my best friend, but I know he would kill or die for me, and I for him. That is the extent of our brotherhood.”
Kress nodded, a twinkle in his eye. “And a most strange brotherhood it is,” he said.
“You two cannot stand the sight of each other, yet you would die for each other. In fact, when we were at The King’s Gout discussing the tension between you and William, neither Chris nor David believed it.
They could not grasp that the Maxton they’ve known all these years should be contentious with a superior. ”
Maxton’s smile faded and he turned back to his sheath again.
“I did not want him to send that beaten, starved woman back to St. Blitha to spy for him,” he said.
“But I suppose, deep down, I understand why. She is our best option for a successful mission and she has already provided us with so much information.”
“Did you tell William that?”
Maxton shook his head. “Nay,” he replied. “But, Kress… does everyone know?”
“Know what?”
“That I feel something for Andressa.”
Kress didn’t say anything for a moment. Instead, he came around to the front of Maxton, forcing the man to look up at him. He looked him in the eyes.
“What do you feel, Max?” he asked softly. “Lust? Pity? Concern? What is it? Because this is not like you, not in the least.”
Maxton knew that. He took a deep breath as he sorted through his thoughts.
“I know it is not,” he said. “Kress, I shall be honest with you – I know I have changed from the man you knew to be ruthless and heartless in all things, but I will tell you that the man is still there. That part of me has not changed. But after the incident with the Holy Father, when a man who is supposed to be the moral icon for all men and the very reason so many men died in The Levant is, in truth, someone murderous, I swear to you that it was something that threw my entire life into question. I always felt like a sinner – a horrible, dirty sinner – with the vocation I have chosen. I have a talent for killing and I have used that talent, many times. But when I saw what the Holy Father truly was, it made me question… have I sinned? Or is every man on Earth evil, and I am no different from the rest? Is there any true good in this world?”
Kress knew all of this, at least for the most part, but it was the first time he heard Maxton put it into words. He put a hand on Maxton’s shoulder.
“I knew you were searching for answers,” he said. “But I did not know the exact questions. Have you found true good in this world, Max?”
He nodded. “In a pledge who is as weak and confused and searching as I am,” he said. “You ask me what I feel for her? I am not certain, but when all of this is over, I am going to marry her and we are going to seek our answers, together.”
Kress’ brows lifted in surprise. “Marriage?” he repeated. “I never knew such a thing interested you.”
Maxton shrugged. “Nor did I,” he said. “But with the right woman, all things are possible.”
It was a rather startling revelation as far as Kress was concerned. He knew that Maxton was feeling something for the pledge; he simply didn’t know how much or how deep. Now, he knew.
“Then this is the end of the Unholy Trinity,” he muttered. “The Executioner Knights will now be only two. I do not fault you for moving on to live your life, Max, and I am truly happy for you. But I am sorry to lose a brother-in-arms.”
Maxton frowned. “Who said anything about losing a brother-in-arms?” he said.
“As for the Unholy Trinity, that is something you and me and Achilles will always be. I will always consider myself one of the Trinity, and proudly so. It is not the end of anything. But my life will change, I hope, for the better. I would like to be happy and content for once in my life.”
That was something Kress did, indeed, understand.
He, too, had much the same thoughts on life as Maxton did, or at least he had, but unlike the rock-souled Maxton from the past, Kress had, indeed, secretly wondered about life and love and marriage.
It was something he’d put out of his mind because he did not hold out any hope that it was attainable.
But Maxton had found it; perhaps there was hope, after all.
“And you deserve it,” Kress said. “Go and get your pledge’s inheritance back for her, as you told her, and live until you are old and gray and fat. But do not expect to lose me so easily; I may come live with you. Or, I may remain in The Marshal’s service. I’ve not yet decided.”
Maxton grinned at him, lifting a hand to pat him on the cheek. “Wherever you go, you know that all you need do is call me,” he said. “I shall be there, wherever and whenever you need me.”
In spite of the reassurance that the Unholy Trinity would always remain intact, Kress received the distinct impression that it was not to be. It was a sad thought, but one he wouldn’t linger on. Perhaps, like Maxton, he needed to evolve.
But they had one last, final mission, anyway.
And they would see it through.
“We have had some good times, haven’t we?” Kress smiled at the memories, watching Maxton collect his helm from where it had been tossed on the bed. “I will miss our adventures.”
Maxton peered at him. “Who says our adventures are over?” he said as he headed to the door. “A wife will not keep me from having more adventures.”
“You think so, do you?”
It was a foolish statement, Maxton realized, as he looked at Kress and saw the man laugh.
No, he couldn’t imagine Andressa would be too happy with him leaving her at Chalford Hill as he roamed about the known world, killing men and making money.
Besides… that wasn’t what he wanted now.
He had the life he wanted within his grasp and he wasn’t going to let it go.
“Come on,” he said, opening the chamber door. “Let us find the rest of the adventure hounds and get about this business. I failed to see Andressa yesterday and I am eager to see her today, in spite of the circumstances.”
“Then let’s go, lover. Let us not keep the future Lady Loxbeare waiting.”
Grinning at each other, they headed down to the vast interior courtyard of Farringdon House where everyone was gathering before heading out. Now, the business of the day was at hand.
It was the calm before the storm.