Devil's Dominion Read Online Free PDF

Shropshire,” he said quietly. “We received word from Robert de Boulers, Earl of Shropshire, that there is a mighty army sweeping through his lands, conquering or destroying everything in their path. They laid siege to Clun Castle and Knighton, badly damaging the castles and stripping them of nearly everything of value before moving to the Marches and taking Cloryn Castle. Then, they moved north where they raided Dolforwyn Castle, moved north into Shropshire, and burned Alberbury Priory to the ground.”
    Rod was looking at him with great concern. “ Burned Alberbury?” he repeated, incredulous. “God’s Teeth, what army is this?”
    Edward was grim. “Mercenaries from what we are told,” he said. “The army has literally come out of nowhere, although there is rumor that they came by cog from Ireland and landed in Liverpool. They went south from there and ended up on the Marches.”
    Rod’s eyebrows lifted. “ Irish mercenaries on the Welsh Marches?” he spoke in disbelief. “Are we certain of this?”
    “Nay, not entirely certain. It is only rumor.”
    It was startling information. Rod grunted. His astonishment was evident. “We have heard of the siege of Cloryn Castle,” he said. “It is north of Bronllys Castle, about a two days’ ride, and we heard from a passing merchant that the castle had been taken but he did not know by whom. This is the first I have heard of a mercenary raiding party moving along the Marches and it is definitely the first I have heard of a priory being burned.”
    Edward was shaking his head. “This is no ordinary raiding party,” he said softly. “There is a pattern to this madness, evidently. De Boulers has been watching it closely because most of the activity has been along his borders, but Cloryn is not that far from where we sit. Therefore, Chris is watching the activity closely as well. This not only affects Shropshire but it affects Hereford as well. Think about it, Rod; Cloryn Castle taken? Clun and Knighton raided? Sweeping onward towards Montgomery and Powis? Think on your history, man. We have seen this before. What does this say to you?”
    Rod thought very hard on the question but before he could answer, the solar door opened and a massive man stepped into the room.
    Christopher de Lohr, Lord Warden of the Marches, Earl of Hereford and Worcester, looked directly at Rod as he entered. A massive man with a crown of thick blond hair and a neatly trimmed blond beard, he indeed resembled a lion. His nickname during the time of Richard had been the Lion’s Claw because he had been Richard’s champion. Much of the politics of England during Richard’s reign had been directly attributed to de Lohr and his ability to hold the throne for a king who had spent very little time in England. Even now, as the man stood in the room, it was as if he had sucked all of the air out of it. One was left to gasp in awe. Men such as de Lohr were living legends.
    “Rod,” Christopher said, greeting the man with an outstretched hand, which Rod rose to take in friendship. “The last time I saw you, it was in battle in the snow. You are looking considerably warmer.”
    Rod shook his hand firmly before releasing it. “Thank you, my lord,” he said, eyeing Edward. “Mayhap I am warmer, but de Wolfe thinks I have only grown uglier. I will grant you that I am not as handsome as my brother was, but I suffer not when it comes to feminine attention.”
    Christopher grinned, revealing straight, white teeth. “Edward has always been jealous of your beauty, so pay him no attention,” he teased. “The sons of Orlaith de Llion are beauteous lads, indeed.”
    Rod laughed softly. “My mother is a beautiful woman, so that would stand to reason,” he said. “Although I believe my father might claim some credit, at least for me and my younger brother. We are de Titouan, after all. De Llion is only on my mother’s side and they tend to be a motley bunch.”
    Christopher nodded, a grin on his