Free The Thunder Lord: The de Shera Brotherhood Book One (Lords of Thunder: The de Shera Brotherhood 1) by Kathryn Le Veque

explain that to both Bigod and the king before they decide upon his level of treachery,” he said. “It would be much easier if Gallus said he married the girl because he loved her and left it at that. No one can argue over a love match.”
    Tiberius sneered at him. “It is no love match and everyone knows it,” he said, but the truth was that he was concerned over the king’s reaction as well. Still, now was not the time to discuss it. He gestured at the gaol. “Post more guards down here to watch over the prisoners and I will see what my brother wishes to do about them. Garran, go check on ap Gaerwen’s condition. Mayhap they will need that coffin sooner rather than later.”
    The change of subject was obvious and the knights went with it. There was no use in continuing to discuss the subject. They all understood the seriousness of the situation. As Garran headed up the steps that led out of the vault, Tiberius turned to the others.
    “Scott and Troy, you two see what you can find out from our prisoners as to who was behind this attack,” he said. “Gallus will want to know. Do what is necessary to get information out of them. In fact, have Stefan lean on them. That usually works. He is menacing enough. Meanwhile, I’ll inform my brother that ap Gaerwen’s coffin is near completion and that the prisoners are being interrogated. He will want to know.”
    Scott acknowledged the orders. “It will be done,” he said, catching Tiberius before the man walked away. “When will we leave for London? As of this morning, that was where we were headed, but the morning’s events seemed to have stalled those plans.”
    Tiberius nodded in agreement. “I know,” he said. “I will find out what Gallus’ plans are. I cannot imagine we will delay our departure any more than a day at most. There is too much awaiting us in London to remain here much longer.”
    The knights weren’t hard pressed to agree. There was much turmoil in London, and Hugh Bigod and his designs for a marriage between his daughter and Gallus was only the beginning. There were rebellious stirrings afoot between the barons and the king, and Gallus was one of those leading the stirrings. His presence was needed in London and to delay, for any length of time, was not in his best interest. They all knew that. The stakes of this political game were high, indeed, and the introduction of an unexpected marriage with political implications raised those stakes even higher.
    With that, Tiberius moved to the big, stone stairs that led to the upper floors above, leaving the de Wolfe twins and young Stefan du Bois to wrest what information they could from their captives. Even so, all thoughts were on London and what dealings lay ahead.
    The delay they had to make in order to wait for the death of the hereditary King of Anglesey was an unwelcome one.
     

     
    Jeniver was exhausted but she couldn’t sleep.
    Lying in the lavish bower where Honey had taken her once before, she lay upon the embroidered silk coverlet, the puppy snoring beside her, as her gaze beheld the blue sky beyond the lancet window. The fog from the morning had cleared up, leaving a bright day in its wake, but Jeniver felt no joy as she watched the birds beyond the window.
    Her father, from the last report an hour ago, was still alive but there was little hope that he would survive the day. She had asked to be with him but the surgeon had denied her. He was sewing the man and packing him, and he didn’t want the man’s hysterical daughter hanging over him while he tried to work. Therefore, Jeniver was consigned to wait alone. All she could feel was sorrow and a powerful sense of desolation.
    But it was more than desolation. It was as if there was a great, gaping hole inside of her chest, a hole where her heart had once been. With her father’s injury, that heart had been yanked out and stepped on by the Saesneg , hurting the man who had raised her, who had been good and kind to her. It was a