Chapter Fourteen #4
“Then it shall be done,” Aidric said. “But I would like an assurance from you, my lord.”
“What assurance?” Edward asked.
“That the lady be freed from her role as a Jewel,” he said. “She is not suited to it. She does not appreciate any of it. She wants a simple life, my lord. I do not think that is to much to ask as a reward should she help us against Cambridge.”
Edward’s gaze fixed on him for a moment and it was clear that there were thoughts running through the man’s mind. “Will you marry her, then?” he said. “Aidric, I appreciate that you are attracted to her, but she is a courtesan. She is not particularly suitable for a knight of your stature.”
Aidric shrugged. “And I am not worthy of a woman of such beauty and education, so I think we are evenly matched on that front,” he said.
“I will again say that I do not know the woman well enough to know if I want to marry her, so all I ask for at this point is her freedom. I think that is only fair if she is going to risk herself so.”
Edward nodded, though it was reluctantly. “Very well,” he said. “If you want to give the woman her freedom for services to the king, then I will not protest. But she is quite a magnificent example of a woman. To replace her… may be difficult.”
“But not impossible.”
“Nay, not impossible.”
The conversation trailed off at that point, each man to his own thoughts.
Everyone was thinking something different, with different goals and different end objectives.
Aidric and Gerard weren’t seeing eye to eye on the matter and probably never would, but as long as they cooperated to carry out the king’s wishes, that was all that mattered.
Edward finally reached for a cup of wine on the table, one he’d abandoned when the conversation started, and took a drink.
“When will you implement this plan?” he asked. “Aidric, I am assuming you will be in command, since you know the lady?”
Aidric nodded. “I will be in command, my lord.”
“Keep Gerard close at hand. He will be able to help.”
“Aye, my lord.”
“How will you begin?”
“I will send her a message to meet me at Old Lloyd’s inn, my lord,” Aidric said. “I will then tell her what we would like her to do.”
“And if she refuses?”
Aidric shrugged. “She hates Cambridge,” he said.
“I doubt she will refuse. But I insist that I go alone because I fear if anyone else goes with me, it will frighten her. She is a lady with much to lose if she is seen consorting with more than one royal knight. It may get back to Cambridge that she not only met with me, but with a few others as well, and that would raise suspicion.”
It made sense and Edward gave his approval. “Very well,” he said, turning in Gerard’s direction. “Go about your business as you feel best. Gerard, you will remain here for a moment. I wish to speak with you privately.”
That was Aidric and Orion’s cue to depart and they did, swiftly.
When they were gone, Edward sat in silence, pouring himself more wine, as Gerard sat across from him.
The stillness was full of uncertainty, but determination.
They knew what they were up against and they knew what they needed to do.
They also knew that Gerard wasn’t particularly happy with any of it.
It was several minutes before Edward spoke again.
“You know I am not an advocate of eradicating a prince of the church,” he said quietly. “But knowing that Cambridge is actively arranging for my death eliminates the restraint I would usually show. I must treat him like I would treat any other enemy.”
“I know, my lord.”
“I am surprised you told Aidric what happened with Hogsthorpe.”
“He is not the only one letting his emotions cloud his judgment, my lord.”
Edward smiled, without humor. “You are a born Executioner Knight, de Velt,” he said.
“Your grandfather terrorized my grandfather enough. There is no family in England fiercer—and, strangely, not one I trust more. I know that de Lohr banished you from the Executioner Knights for what happened with Hogsthorpe, but if you ensure Cambridge’s elimination goes as planned, I promise that you shall be an Executioner Knight once again. ”
Gerard looked at him, perhaps a little astonished at the gesture. “You would trust me as an Executioner Knight again, my lord?”
“I would trust no one more,” Edward said.
“Now, as for Aidric, he is an elite knight, one of the best my father ever had, but he is not an operative. Let him take the lead in this matter, but watch him. Follow him when he leaves to meet with this woman, but do not show yourself unless necessary. Be prepared to intervene if you must. But above all, you must make sure Cambridge does not live to see his next day of birth. If you have to kill him yourself, then do it. That is a command from your king.”
Gerard nodded. “It will be done, my lord.”
Edward’s features remained calm, almost pleasant, but his words were not.
“It had better,” he said quietly. “Or heads will roll.”
Gerard knew who he meant.
More than likely, him.