Sword of Forgiveness (Winds of Change Book 1) by Costello Debbie Lynne

Author:Costello, Debbie Lynne [Costello, Debbie Lynne]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Wakefield Press
Published: 2015-02-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Edmond Cuthbrid stood in a meadow bordering Hawkwood’s lands, sneering at the man cowering before him. “Idiot. How could you fumble such an easy task?” He paced away then turned to glance behind him as the fool straightened. “I won’t suffer incompetence.” He smiled coldly as he turned and walked in front of the idiot again. The man braced himself. Edmond slammed his fist into his cowardly face with a satisfying, bone-shattering crunch. Shaking his hand, Edmond grimaced and the man crumpled to the ground.

A cooper, raggedly clad, stepped forward. “What ye want us to do with em, sir?”

Edmond tossed the words over his shoulder as he turned away. “Tie him to a tree and whip him until he begs for mercy or dies. He needs to be an example.”

He strode across the clearing and dropped himself on the log. Robert, his most reliable man and the closest thing he had to a friend, followed.

Edmond ran his hand down the scar on his face. “Thrice now the attempts on Royce’s life have failed. I am beginning to believe the man is charmed. How often does a second son inherit his father’s estate—the one that should have been mine—and then marry an heiress with an equally impressive fortune?”

“Aye, the man must be charmed,” Robert nodded and spit into the bushes.

Edmond leaped up and paced to ease his nervous energy. “Royce will be watchful now. We will not have it so easy next time. We must take him off guard.”

Robert sat where Edmond vacated. “Do you have something in mind?”

“Do you trust the new man?”

“Montfort?” He shrugged. “He is as trustworthy as any of them, I suppose. What of him?”

Edmond rubbed the wrinkled flesh on his face. “We need a man inside Hawkwood. He didn’t fight with us in Northumberland thus he has never met Royce.”

“’Tis unlikely he will be willing to go, after what happened to his friends.”

“He will go or he will die.” Edmond’s voice rose, but he willed it under control. “His friends were fools. I sent four men against one man and a feeble wench.”

Robert picked a twig from the ground and broke it into small pieces. “Will not Lord Rosen Craig be suspicious of a stranger?”

“I told you not to call him that!” Edmond seethed. “The name is rightfully mine, but that is the beauty of this plan. I will use Royce’s goodness against him.”

“How is that?”

“We will have a little fun with Montfort, throw him on the road where he will be found beaten by brigands. Royce will see to his mending. Then Montfort, out of gratitude, will offer to serve him. Of course, Royce will accept. It cannot fail.”

Robert’s forehead wrinkled. “What if Montfort resents the beating and betrays you?”

Edmond curled his hands into fists. “You said he was trustworthy. If he is not, then it will be your neck as well as his.”

Robert dropped the broken sticks and wiped his hand over his beard. “I said he is as trustworthy as the rest. I will not stand behind Montfort.

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