Page 12 of The Scot

Unbidden, the chief’s face flashed before her. She pushed it firmly aside.

“You’ll have heard of the Earl of Licheford.”

Roysa thought for a moment. “Aye, but I know very little about him.”

“And the other is a mercenary. Guy Lavallis.”

“The swordsman?”

Idalia appeared confused. “You know of him?”

She nodded. “Father mentioned his name before. After the last Tournament of the North, I believe.”

“Which is where they met, years ago. The four of them have been gathering support, and last fall, they met with some of the other barons who felt the same way. And they all swore allegiance to one another.”

Roysa’s eyes widened. The meaning of what her sister had just told her finally penetrated.

“Do you mean . . . ?”

“Aye. An allegiance against the king.”

“But . . . ’tis treason.”

Idalia did not seem overly bothered at all by the fact that her husband was one of the leaders of a plot against the king.

“Idalia . . .”

“There’s more.”

This is why the tone of her missives had been so suspicious. Roysa had been too bent on keeping her own secrets to press her, but that had clearly been a mistake.

“They have father’s support. Along with some other very powerful men, including the archbishop of Canterbury. After swearing their allegiance to the cause, the archbishop brought a message on behalf of the order to the king, demanding a meeting.”

Roysa did not know what to say.

“He was furious, of course. Imprisoned the archbishop and two of Lord Noreham’s men. They are out now but . . .”

Roysa was stunned into silence.

“But?”

“He did agree to treat with them come spring. None of us know if he plans to honor his word or”—she cleared her throat—“or if he is planning to move against those who defy him. Perhaps he merely wished for more time to assemble his men. But the rebellion began in the north, so if John decides not to negotiate, likely he will begin here as a show of force in one of the north’s more fortified strongholds associated with those who defy him.”

Roysa’s hands flew to her cheeks. Her sister was married to one of the leaders of a revolt against the king. “This is why you are not at Tuleen?”

Her sister nodded once.

“How could Father have possibly allowed this?”

Idalia’s look held a warning. One Roysa was inclined to ignore.

“He allowed it because it was my will to be here, with Lance.”

“Does John know the identity of the order?”

“He does.”

“And you believe he may come against them.”