Silversword (de Lohr Dynasty Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

would show himself. He never has before.”
    Davyss turned back to his drink. “As I said, I do not like that he is here,” he said. “Mayhap he has come to take me to Henry so the king himself can punish me for my ties to de Montfort. ’Tis not as if I have ever made them a secret.”
    Chad didn’t say anything. He was more interested in watching Bose and Garran as they approached the table. Both men appeared particularly weary. Truth be told, he was as wary as Davyss was about their appearance and something told him to be on his guard. He wasn’t even able to open his mouth to greet de Moray before Bose was on him, his black eyes intense.
    “Praise God that you are still here, Chad,” Bose said, relief in his expression. “I was not sure I would still find you here.”
    Chad didn’t like the tone of his voice. There was much seriousness there. “And so you have,” he said, trying to remain casual. “Will you drink with us, Sir Bose?”
    Bose shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “It is not for hospitality that I have come. I have just come from Henry and there are dealings afoot that you should be aware of. In fact, all of you should be aware of it.”
    He was looking at the collection of knights, all of them loyal to Henry. The de Lohrs closed rank, as did de Russe and du Bois and de Winter, all of them curious about what news de Moray had brought them. Already, the mood was quite grim and sobering, and they didn’t even know the why. Any alcohol happiness they had been experiencing was summarily quashed.
    “What is it?” Chad asked seriously, although it was difficult considering his head was still swimming with drink. “What has happened?”
    Bose looked directly at Chad. He wasn’t the oldest knight of the group but he was the most respected. He was always the leader, in any situation, and men listened when he spoke. Bose knew this, which is why he directed his words to the man.
    “Henry is going after de Shera,” Bose said, lowering his voice. “They were the most outspoken in their support of de Montfort and Henry’s first order of business is to force Gallus and Maximus and Tiberius into submission. He will threaten to take their lands and titles if they do not support him.”
    Chad struggled to think clearly at the news, which wasn’t all that surprising, considering. “But… Tiberius is married to your daughter,” he said. “Will you rally to his defense?”
    Bose lifted his dark eyebrows, tinged with gray. “Henry has asked me to ride to Isenhall Castle and present a proposal to the Lords of Thunder that they surely cannot refuse,” he said, sounding disgusted. “I have agreed to mediate. But that is not the problem, Chad. The problem lies with Aurelius de Shera, their cousin. I assume you know the man.”
    Chad nodded. In fact, all of the knights were nodding. “I know him,” he said. “He is a cousin to the Lords of Thunder; their fathers, Antoninus and Julius, were brothers.”
    Bose nodded. “Although Antoninus died years ago, Julius de Shera was still alive until he fell at Evesham.”
    Chad’s grim mood sobered further. “He should have never been there,” he said. “My God, the man was in his seventh decade. He should have never ridden to battle.”
    They all knew that the elderly de Shera had ridden to de Montfort’s aid because he felt strongly, as the oldest living de Shera male, that he should be the one to lead the family, even over his very powerful nephews: Gallus, Maximus, and Tiberius. It had been a mistake, for Henry’s archers took him out very early in the battle.
    “Julius fell and left it up to Aurelius to lead his troops,” Bose said, frustrated. “When the battle concluded and the Lords of Thunder retreated to Isenhall, Aurelius fled north with the de Wolfe army. He retreated back to The Paladin and left his father’s body on the battlefield. There wasn’t the opportunity to retrieve it.”
    Chad felt as if he were rehashing the entire battle