Enemy of My Enemy

Brantrealized this was a mistake, when Isabel began again, placing kisses down hisneck. Her hand was brushing lightly over one nipple, again. He thought to tellher to get off him, but then recalled how often she had told him exactly that.He never listened to her. He found a spot on the wall, and tried to focus his mindon thoughts of battles he had been in. Brant tried to think about men, dead anddying. He needed to keep his mind off of, her hands, and lips, and what she wasdoing to his body. Unfortunately, those unpleasant thoughts,were not as interesting as the feel of her breasts, pressed against his chest.

Isabelrubbed her breast lightly against his chest, before raisingup to look at him.

Sheasked, “Are you ready for some more fun, My Lord?”

Brantmumbled, “No.”

Shemerely smiled, before begi

Afterward,Isabel moved to press her body against his side, telling him how good they weretogether. Then talking about how much he enjoyed, what they had just done. Justas he recalled telling her, more times than he could count. For his part, Brantlay there thinking the last thing he wanted, was to mate with her, in the samejail cell she had kept him imprisoned in, for nearly three months. In addition,her current line of conversation, was making him thinkthat she might not be done, yet.

Isabelraised up on an elbow to meet his eyes, and kissedhim, so he thought she was starting, again. However, after ru

“Youneed to be very careful who you trust, and share information with, Brant,” shesaid. “There are others besides Avery, who hope foryour demise.”

Afterissuing this warning, she produced a small vial from somewhere, and poured it’s contents into his mouth, telling him to swallow. Sheheld his jaw, to prevent him from trying to spit out the bitter liquid.

“Thatwill help you sleep. Much as I would like to stay, there are things I must do,to see that those plotting against us fail. Rest well, mi amor,” Isabel said,and she placed a kiss on his forehead.

Sherose and put her gu

“Stayhere until he wakes. Tis important that he be safe,” she said.

Brantwondered why, after what she had just done, it was important for him to besafe. Then as sleep overtook him, he thought that he certainly wanted her to besafe. Yet, he had often teased her body into arousal, when she had said she didnot want to do that. Tonight she had done the same thing to him, and he did notlike it. It was not meant to harm her, was his last thought before sleep came.

Chapter 15

WhenBrant awoke in the morning, there was an older female serf sitting near thetable, beside the bed. Across the cell, a well armed young man sat. As he triedto sit up, he noted that his first tentative movements,were very unsteady. He was still quite naked under the blanket. He drew it withhim, as he sat up on the edge of the bed, trying to clear his head. The serfrose to hold out a mug to him.

“Here,Me Lord. Drink this, it will help ye wake up. Once ye are a little more steady, they should be cooking something in the hall,if ye are hungry. Yer clothes are right there, when ye are ready to get dressed,”she said.

Theserf paused, and motioned with the mug, until he took it. When he merely heldthe mug, she motioned for him to drink the contents of it. Brant was not surehe wanted to take any chances, with anything, he mightbe given to drink around there. However, his mind was still pretty fuzzy, sohoping that the drink would indeed help wake him up, he drank it. The serf heldout her hand to take the empty mug, so he handed it back to her.

“Wewill give ye some privacy to get dressed, when ye feelup to it,” she said.

Theserf turned to make her exit. The armed guard followed her out.

Afterthey left him, Brant gave in to the groggyunsteadiness he was feeling, and lay back on the bed, wondering if he wouldsoon be fast asleep, again. However, true to her word, in a short time he wasfeeling much more alert. As he rose to dress, the unsteadiness he had felt uponwaking, had left him. Once he was dressed, Brantwalked to the open cell door, and exited the jail. Three knights were sittingon a bench, outside in the courtyard. They nodded in greeting, but made noattempt to detain him, so he continued on to the hall. Once he was past them,the knights rose, and followed him.

Brantsaw his weapons laying on the Lord’s table, rightbeside where he had sat for the evening meal, so he went to retrieve them.Gertrude approached with a bowl of porridge, and a cup of milk, setting themdown on the table.

“LadyIsabel regrets ‘aving to leave, to take care of some important business,”Gertrude said. “Will ye be staying longer, or are ye pla

“Didthe lady say where she was going, to take care of this business?” Brant askedthe serf.

“Nay, Me Lord. Just that she ‘ad to meet with a Count,” the serf answered.

Aftergetting confirmation, that Isabel had taken Nathaniel with her, Brant informedthe serf that he and his men, would be leaving right after breakfast.

Brantsat down at the table to eat some of the porridge, and drink the milk, thatGertrude had placed there. That done, he ascended the stairsto the chamber Isabel had occupied, a day earlier. Looking around theroom, he saw the evidence that she was no longer there. Her duffle,and Nathaniel’s clothing, that she had been packing yesterday, weregone. He walked across the passageway to the Solar. If Isabel was still hidingin the Castle, he was not likely to find her now.

Hefound his duffle was sitting on the bed open, as if someone had gone throughhis things. However, when he looked inside to see if anything was missing,Brant found a large leather covered binder in the bottom, under his clothing. Anote instructed him to take the tomb, and hide it someplace safe. He pulled itout to examine it. Inside was a large stack of parchments, some with writing,others containing diagrams. He tucked the flap back into place to close thebinder, and placed it back in his bag. Apparently, Isabel had put the tomb inhis belongings, though he had no idea why, or what it was for. He took therepacked duffle and returned to the hall, where his knights were finishingtheir morning repast. Brant told them they were leaving as soon as possible,while he thought to himself, if they let us.

Hismen rose, and followed him to the stables to get their horses. When the destrieswere saddled, the knights mounted, and were allowed to ride out of the Castlegates. Once outside the high stone walls, they rode hard for several hours, toput some distance between them, and that place. When they finally came to avillage that Brant recognized as being on one of his properties, he slowed downto avoid tiring the horses.

Feelingthat any danger was passed, Brant focused on looking for some logicalexplanation, for what Isabel was doing. He was her husband. According to thelaw of the land, he owned her, and all her resources. Yet, her people hadsupported her, following her authority, over his. They had drugged him, and hismen, then carried his weak body to her jail, and left him there, for her to dowhat she would with him. Did they know her intent? Why would she do that? Shehad his heir, yet, he awoke this morning alive, andwell, so he was not dealing with a greedy bride, who wished him harm. She couldhave had him killed in his sleep. Instead, Isabel had placed guards to see tohis safety. Was he in danger, as she had implied? He was not at war with anyonesince Avery’s death. Did he have an unknown enemy? Avery had raged aboutsomeone double crossing him. Brant thought he had meant Sir Richard, afterfinding Esme at Lady A