There was a pause. Then Alyson’s voice lowered, coaxing.
“Tell me what happened. Are ye alright now? Dae ye need help?”
How could ye help even if ye want tae?
They both knew there was nothing Alyson could do for her. She was trapped in that cold, dark room, and Isabeau didn’t know what her father intended to do with her. He had already been keeping her there as a prisoner for too long, simply letting her waste away. He wasn’t torturing her, nor did he seem too have any plans to kill her. And yet, if nothing happened to her soon enough, she would eventually be taken by the cold or malnutrition. There was only that much food Isabeau could bring her. None of it was enough.
And yet there Alyson was, concerned about Isabeau’s wellbeing.
“I’m alright,” she promised her. “I was looked after by a healer an’ I… I’ll live. It hurts but…”
She let her voice trail off. She didn’t need to finish her sentence for Alyson to know what she wanted to say.
It hurts but I’m used tae it. It hurts but I’ve had worse.
“Alright,” said Alyson, and her voice came soft through the door, quiet. “An’ the men who hurt ye?”
“They were killed.”
“By that man?”
“Aye.”
Isabeau didn’t mean to talk about him. She hadn’t gone there to speak of him to Alyson, but the words came anyway, unbridled and heavy.
“I was surrounded an’ they… they wanted tae take me gold an’ then… an’ then he was there, out o’ naewhere. Like somethin’ the wind carried. He killed the men but during the fight, one o’ them stabbed me in the stomach,” she said, the memories of the previous hours rushing back to her. It felt like a lifetime ago but not even a day had passed. “I thought I might die. I asked him tae leave me, but he argued I needed a healer an’ I was really in nay position tae dae anythin’, so he took me tae a woman.” Her voice softened without her realizing, but then quickly hardened again as she thought of what happened next. “An’ then he brought me back here!”
“I’m sorry, Isabeau,” said Alyson from the other side of the door. “It sounds… it sounds truly terrible.”
“Aye, but what’s even more terrible is that I would have made it,” said Isabeau through gritted teeth. “I was so close, Alyson. I was so close, an’ then he came along!”
“It’s dangerous out there fer a lass like yerself,” said Alsyon. “Those brigands?—”
“Ach, who cares about the brigands?” Isabeau said with a quiet huff. “He’s the problem! That man! If only he hadnae been there, I would’ve escaped.”
Alyson was quiet for a beat. Then, slightly amused, she said, “Ye like him.”
Isabeau snapped upright, banging the back of her head against the wall, the heat rising in her cheeks immediately. She winced, a hand coming up to rub at the spot she had bumped, another wave of pain coursing through her. “What? Nay. Dinnae be ridiculous.”
“Ye dae,” Alyson insisted, and Isabeau could have sworn she heard a smile in her voice. “Ye’re whisperin’ about him like an infatuated lassie.”
“I’m exhausted,” Isabeau hissed, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. “I’m nae infatuated with anyone, least o’ all some broodin’ warrior with more scars than sense.”
“Ach,” Alyson said. “So he’s handsome.”
Isabeau nearly groaned. “That isnae the point.”
“Then what is?”
Isabeau swallowed, suddenly feeling that hollow weight pressing into her chest again.
“They want me wed,” she reminded her. “Tae Cody Grant. The ceremony’s bein’ arranged. That’s why this man’s here, he’s an envoy from the Grants. Me faither’s growin’ more restless by the day. If I dinnae find a way out soon…”
“Ye’ll be trapped.”
Isabeau nodded, forgetting for a moment that Alyson couldn’t see her. “Aye, but I’m already trapped.”
“I suppose that is true enough,” said Alyson. “Look at us… trapped both. Did ye think ye would ever make friends with a prisoner?”
