Страница 20 из 46
A
Somedistance beyond the village, the three riders reached a path that circled backtoward the Castle, through the woods. It passed the village on the sideopposite the road. Esme lead the way off the road, into the wooded area, that blocked them from view of the village. They hadgone only a few hundred feet, when half a dozen riders blocked their path backto the road. Her escorts, recognizing trouble, ordered her to ride to thevillage. Esme slapped her horse into a gallop, quickly jumping out ahead of hercompanions. Then, other riders emerged from the trees, separating the girl fromthe two knights. One lone rider pursued the now very frightened girl,maneuvering up beside her. He grabbed her mount’s reigns, and Esme began toscream.
“Esme,it is alright,” the man yelled.
Hegrasped her around the waist, lifting her onto his mount. Recognizing her brother’svoice, she quieted.
“Brant?” Esme questioned softly, trying toturn to look at him.
Then,yelling his name, she threw her arms around him. He, on the other hand, wasstruggling to hold on to her, while trying to bring her fleeing mount to astop. In short order, that task was accomplished.
Esmedrew back saying, “You are alright. They said you were, but I was not sure,since you did not come to see me. They would not tell me anything else.”
Shehugged him again.
“Idid not know what had happened to you, or where you were. Avery said someonehad betrayed him and taken you, before he died, but would not say who,” Brantsaid, returning her hug.
Withboth horses now under control, he turned his destry back toward where hercompanions were surrounded. Realizing the girl was not in any mortal danger,and being outnumbered badly, those two, saw the logic in surrendering theirweapons.
“Weneed to get out of here, before they come to investigate your screams,” Brantsaid. “Are you calm enough to ride?”
Esmenodded in the affirmative, and Brant lifted her back onto Matilda. Then thegroup, with their two hostages, located a narrow path. They took the pathleading through the woods, away from the village, to make their escape. Whenthe path came to a road, the group followed the road for a while, before oncemore taking a path into the woods. Esme was surprised when the path ended in alarge clearing, where a substantial army waited. Here Brant dismounted, andlifted his sister off her horse.
“Makeour guests comfortable, and see that they do not depart our hospitality,” Brantordered.
Then,he grasped Esme’s arm to lead her into his tent, where he hugged the girl,again.
“Iwas afraid, I would never see you again,” she said.
“NorI, you,” he responded.
Thegirl began telling him what had happened, and how Richard’s men, had turned onAvery’s, rescuing A
Hearingthe sound of a large group of riders approaching, Brant went to look out of thetent. He waited there, watching Robert ride in with his men. Dismounting,Robert greeted Brant as he walked to the tent, and stepped inside.
“Esme!Thank God you are safe,” Robert exclaimed, as he went to hug the girl.
Brantsaid “Aye. We arrived yesterday, and have been watching the Castle ever since.This morning, when she came out for a ride, with only minimal escort, it seemeda perfect opportunity, to get her out of harms way.”
“Isee you are not wasting any time. So now what is the plan? Is Isabel stillhere?” Robert asked.
“Esmesays she is in the Castle. So I am hoping, I will shortly have my hands on thattreacherous witch, and I can wring her neck,” Brant said, angrily.
“What?”Esme asked, in shocked surprise. “Isabel is your wife, is she not? Nathaniel iscertainly your son, he looks just like you.”
“Youwould be the second person, to tell me Nathaniel looks just like me,” Brantgritted out. Leaving no doubt of his anger toward Isabel.“And, aye, the devious bit of fluff, is unfortunately,my wife.”
“Whyare you so angry with her?” Esme demanded. “She seemed really sweet to me...”
Brantinterrupted, yelling, “Do not defend that witch to me. I assure you, shedeserves my ire. You do not know what her, and her supporters, have done tome.”
Heturned away visibly upset.
Esmeyelled back, “What, has Alisa done to you?”
Brantspun back to face his sister, assuming a carefully controlled tone.
“Alisa?”Brant asked.
Esmecalmer now, clarified, “Lady Isabel. Her mother calls her Alisa, sometimes.She…”
Esmestopped speaking, as Brant yelled, “Damn that woman! Good God...”
Shakinghis head as the truth sank in, he turned in a blackrage, and stomped out of the tent. The girl started to follow her brother, butRobert grabbed her arm, stopping her.
Hehad stood by silently, listening to the siblings argue. Robert thought abouthis friend's anger, toward Isabel. Brant said he was fond of Alisa, whom hebelieved to be a serf. He had even looked for the girl, after he had beenreleased from the dungeon. If Isabel was Alisa, she had played her husband,badly. Robert laughed heartily, as he decided that things were about to getvery interesting.
Branthad stalked to the edge of the clearing, in dumbfounded amazement, at thatwitch’s audacity. His mind raced over all the times, he had wondered if she hadtricked, or drugged him, to get him to sire the child. He had been greatlyworried, that she might have had her way with him, and he did not remember. Nowhe knew, she had not. No. Isabel had dressed herself as a young serf, given hima pet name, and let him, have his way with her. Oh, and he, had his way withher. Over and over, he had had his way with her. While she, was holding him prisoner,in her dungeon.
Brantleaned back against a tree, and banged his head back lightly, several times.Isabel had kept him a prisoner, while she passively spread her thighs for him, until she was sure she carried his child. Then, she hadlet him go. She had him all wrapped up. She was his wife, she was carrying hischild, so she could set him free, he was trapped. Hestayed there, leaning against the tree, letting the facts sink in, for a goodlong while. Then, he decided that, as he now knew that Nathaniel was definitelyhis child, he was going to go get his son. If getting Isabel, and the babe, outof that Castle, meant tearing it down stone by stone, so be it.
Withintwo hours of getting Esme away from A