Though it was not quite dawn, Finian could see the faint light of coals from the camp fires. He motioned for them to leave the pathway, traveling higher up the hillside, in an effort to stay clear of the soldiers.
But just as they reached the trees, Finian spied a single torch ahead. He tried to pull them back, but the silvery glint of chainmail armor emerged within the forest. The soldiers had been waiting for them, it seemed.
Finian dismounted, unsheathing the sword he’d stolen from the armory a day ago. He handed the reins of his horse to Alys, giving her the means to flee if she needed to.
He glanced backward at his brother, who was already shielding Iliana and moving towards Alys. Brochain would keep his word; Finian could trust in that.
“Did you bring my silver?” came the voice of Sir Geoffrey.
“No.” Alys tightened her grip on the reins. “And even if there was any silver, it was never yours.”
“Bitch,” the knight growled, charging towards her. “You’ll give it to me or suffer the consequences.”
Finian lunged forward with his sword, striking out against the knight to keep him from reaching Alys. His weapon bit into the wood of Sir Geoffrey’s shield.
The knight motioned for his men to close in. It wouldn’t be a fair fight, and Finian had only one chance to free Alys. He slapped the horse’s flank and ordered, “Go with Brochain. Now!”
She faltered a moment, and Finian swung hard as four more attackers circled him. He knew there was no hope of escaping—there were too many men outnumbering him. But he could save his family.
“Alys, you’ve no choice!” he commanded. “Go!” She looked stricken, but at last obeyed, riding hard with Brochain, back the way they had come.
Finian didn’t care if he died protecting them. As long as she and his daughter were safe, that was all that mattered. More soldiers closed in, and he kept swinging his blade, praying to God that Brochain would keep his daughter and Alys alive.
“Wehavetogoback for him,” Alys pleaded when Brochain wouldn’t stop riding.
“I will. But not until you and Iliana are safe. He made me swear it.” The man kept up a punishing pace, leading them farther away from the garrison. Alys felt the choking fear rising up. Finian didn’t deserve to be abandoned. Not after everything he’d done.
She pulled her horse to a stop. “No. The longer we wait, the greater the chance that they’ve killed him already. I won’t let that happen.”
“And why would you care, Lady Harkirk? My brother means nothing to you.”
“You’re wrong.” She struggled to keep from crying, for tears would do no good. “He’s a good man and doesn’t deserve to die.”
“I agree with you. But if anything happens to Iliana, he’ll have my head for it.”
She saw the child listening to them, and she led her horse back to Finian’s daughter. The young girl was trying hard to be brave, but everyone knew that Finian was in terrible danger.
“Don’t be afraid,” Alys murmured. “We’re going to get your father back,” she said to Iliana, reaching out to squeeze the girl’s hands.
“What if they’ve killed him?”
“I don’t think they have,” she reassured the child, though inwardly she didn’t know if it was true. “They want the silver Lord Harkirk hid within the fortress.”
Iliana’s gaze narrowed. “The silver?”
“Yes. I don’t know if we’ll find it, but perhaps if we lead them there, the search will buy us time.”
The young girl seemed to think for a moment. A sadness passed over her face, as if she remembered the time when Harkirk had held her prisoner. Then she asked suddenly, “Would they trade my father for a ransom?”
Alys didn’t know what to say. If there were any coins at all, she’d never seen them. “I promise you, we’ll try everything to save him.”
Iliana nodded thoughtfully and then raised her gray eyes to Alys. “Good. Because I know where the silver is.”
Chapter Five
Finiandidn’tknowwhythey’d kept him alive. The guards had tied him to a post near the center of their camp, and he’d overheard the men arguing about what to do. Later that afternoon, he heard the sounds of more horsemen approaching. Another nobleman had arrived, English by the look of him. From the sudden discomfort in the eyes of the soldiers, they were not pleased to see the man.
Finian learned that the visitor was the Earl of Monterancy, a new overlord, so it seemed. Within hours, he took command of the garrison, meeting with Sir Geoffrey and the captains. No longer was there any mention of silver. Instead, the earl wanted Lady Harkirk found. Immediately.
