Page 108 of Peregrine's Call
Pierce wouldn’t be foolish enough to try anything as crude as trying to outrun guards and a well-trained knight. No, he’d go to his confinement and begin plotting his next move.
“What will you do, my lord?” Robin asked Drugo. “You don’t need Pierce anymore.”
“Not at the moment. But who knows when a snake like that will be useful? He’ll be kept under lock and key somewhere very remote until he’s either proven he can be trusted, or the war ends. Or do you think he ought to be put to death, Lady Robin?”
She blinked, not expecting the question. But Drugo was obviously expecting an answer. Forced isolation was the greatest punishment Pierce could suffer, and as horrible a person as he had been over the years, Robin didn’t want him to be killed. “Let him live. It will annoy him more.”
Drugo gave her the tiniest nod of approval.
Then he addressed Alric. “I assume Lord Pierce will not be a welcome guest here. I suggest an armed transport to London until I find a suitable place for him.”
“Indeed, my lord,” Alric said. “I will provide vehicles, horses, and as many men-at-arms as you deem necessary.”
“Good.” Drugo looked at Tav. “I’d like more than just men-at-arms, though. Sir Octavian, you must need to come to London anyway, for Lord Denis will leave word for you there. We leave tomorrow.”
Tav glanced at Robin, his eyes flashing with an emotion she couldn’t decipher. But an order was an order. “Yes, my lord,” he said, his tone neutral.
Tomorrow? Robin’s heart collapsed again. Tomorrow was too soon. If Tav left tomorrow, before she could even speak with him, he’d never come back at all.
Drugo bowed to Cecily. “My lady, if you’ll take Robin and leave us to discuss some other matters of a military nature?”
Cecily nodded. “Of course, my lord.” She took Robin’s hand and led her out. Robin turned back and caught Tav’s gaze, wishing he didn’t seem so far away.
Chapter 35
Octavian did not care aboutwintering armies or preparations for a spring campaign.
He did not care about another threat from the empress’s forces.
He did not care about anything unless it was named Robin.
Drugo’s discussion seemed to drag on interminably, and all Tav could think of was that he was expected to ride out from Cleobury again in the morning. In a matter of hours. He was sick to death of riding mile after mile on the business of other men. He’d done it for years because it allowed him to see the world he wanted to see. But he could no longer do it for anyone but himself.
Once I get to London, I’ll send word to Denis that I’m done. I’ll tell Drugo that I’m done. I’ll send a message to Alric and tell him too.Saying it in person was too difficult, especially with the matter of Robin unresolved.
What was he thinking? He couldn’t leave Cleobury until he could actually talk to her. He needed to ask her forgiveness for what he’d done, for hurting her when that was the last thing he wanted to do. He had to let her know he loved her because if he didn’t, he’d be a coward.
“Tav?”
He jumped, not even noticing Alric beside him. “What?”
“Can I have a word with you? The others can discuss how many horses we need to get to Lincoln by January—they won’t miss us.”
Alric led him to a corner of the room, and then asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong? You look like you want to kill Drugo.”
“No. I just don’t want to go to London tomorrow.”
“Then we’ll send someone else. I’ll go.”
“He ordered me to go. Besides, you’ll be needed here anyway. Isn’t a wedding happening soon?”
“Whose wedding?” Alric asked blankly.
Was Tav losing his mind? “Robin’s. I thought she was to marry some lord.”
“Oh.” Alric blinked and shook his head. “No. Did you not hear what happened?” He related it all to Tav, who was glad he wasn’t in the room himself at the time, because he probably would have thrashed the man.
“Why didn’t you challenge that idiot?” Tav asked. “He slandered Robin.”
