Chapters (76)
- Title Page
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- PROLOGUE
- PART I
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- PART II
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- PART III
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- INTERLUDE
- PART IV
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- INTERLUDE
- PART V
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- PART VI
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- INTERLUDE
- PART VII
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- PART VIII
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- EPILOGUE
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR
- Newsletter Sign-up
Waleran ignored her. “I have rallied many supporters for you, with many ears. We are already allies.”
“Boring,” John said, since it was. “Never trust a stranger who tells you he’s your friend. Myla, do you suppose your father would like to be the Sheriff of Nottingham?”
But she was busy sending a second wave of purple over the lip.
“I also know the Chancellor’s supporters,” the earl suggested, “and their weaknesses, and their crimes. I have been diligent in cataloguing them, with evidence and witnesses.”
“That’s better,” John said, though he was sure to say it in a way that still implied boring. “But it’s nothing I couldn’t do on my own. What can you offer me? Do you have children? Do you have daughters? Don’t worry, I don’t mean to fuck every daughter in England. I need marriages. The best way to build alliances is through marriage. It’s also one of the best ways to block other people’s ambitions.” He had been exiled from England for three years, and denied ownership of any castles, lest he foolishly decide to wage war against his brother. That exile was finally over, ended a bit early even, and he was eager to find other things to own.
Waleran fidgeted. “My son and heir is married. I have a second son, with my namesake. My only daughter is at Pinley Abbey.”
“Oh wonderful. A nun and another Waleran.”
John felt suddenly cruel for toying with the old man, when he honestly meant him no ill will. In fact, if John had not meant to spend the day avoiding responsibility, he would have actually liked old Waleran and his plans. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t take advantage of the situation. “Very well. Any name you want, I’ll agree to it, since frankly I don’t much care.”
“I have already drafted an edict for you. All that remains is for you to fill in a name and sign it.”
“Leave it and I’ll send it off by morning. My price is this…” He let the man sweat. “Something. I don’t know what it will be. Some favor. Maybe something small. Maybe something unforgivable. But something. I’ll only ask it once. It may not be for many years. But you’ll owe it to me, and you’ll do it. Tell your sons that you owe this. I don’t want you to die before I use my favor. Agreed?”
If he thought he was gaining an ally, or swearing himself to the devil, all Waleran did was swallow once. “Any name?”
“As I said,” John burped. The man may be a complete idiot if he needed to ask the question. Or perhaps he was brilliant.