Ivan paused to catch his breath, his shoulders rising and falling with each gulp of air. He wiped the spittle from his mouth with the back of his hand.
Sean remained unmoved by Ivan’s impassioned speech. He couldn’t care less. What he did know was that he would get that key away from the man. He leaned forward as if moved by his words.
“An Eire man? Yea, that would be something to see.”
“Aye.” Ivan’s eyes widened. “You would have a place beside King Leofrid of England as one of his most trusted allies—if you help us. Why shouldn’t more men from our fair isle be in powerful positions here as well?”
“I can think of no reason. And he has no doubt he can do this? This Leofrid? He is powerful enough now? Ten years later?”
Ivan hesitated. His eyes narrowing. Sean felt certain Ivan assessed whether the insult was intended or if he should overlook the comment.
“Yes. He is finally ready.”
Sean stood, walking toward the man with an outstretched hand. His foot butted against the stake. His other leg stretched out the length of the chain. The insult was intentional. “I am behind him then. Together we will certainly win.”
Ivan stood as well. “I knew you would join us when you understood our purpose.”
This man was an idiot. “Of course. How could I not?”
Ivan moved in close and squatted down to insert the key into the solid lock securing the band at Sean’s ankle. Sean glanced the way Ivan had come but saw no one. He smiled then reached down to wrap the chain around Ivan’s neck. The man struggled against him, his small hands grabbing at the thick links held in Sean’s iron grip as he tightened his hold. The gurgling sounds eventually stopped. Sean unwrapped the fetter and shoved the lifeless body away, retrieving the key from beneath Ivan. He wiggled it into the lock—
“Ye should probably stop there.”
“Someone’s coming.”
Thomasina jumped at Niall’s quiet voice beside her. She’d been transfixed by witnessing Sean’s strength. His body fairly rippled with the powerful grip he’d had of the man, the chains manipulated as if they had weighed nothing. She took a slow, steadying breath. Without another word, Aldred and Lachlann jumped out from their hiding place to grab the body of the dead man and pull him into the woods. They dropped it beside her. His eyes, open and unseeing, bulged grotesquely. He stank. She clasped her hand over her nose and mouth and shifted to the side.
Sean’s initial expression of confusion and defense had quickly changed to relief when Lachlann and Aldred disappeared back into the woods, hiding the evidence of what had transpired. He resumed his seat back on the ground, the key safely hidden and the chains and irons still attached.
A Norman soldier came from between the two huts with a bucket of water. He turned toward Sean without even glancing their way. When he offered him the wooden ladle, Sean tipped his head in thanks then drank with loud slurping noises. Upon further inspection, Thomasina noticed the area around his mouth appeared mottled and one of his eyes looked swollen shut. She turned to ask Niall about it but he quickly held his finger to his mouth for her to keep silent.
“How long until the messenger returns from York?” Sean asked, his mouth moved awkwardly and his words sounded garbled.
The soldier shrugged then dropped a crust of bread beside him. “Best eat. Keep your strength up.”
Sean shoved the nourishment to his mouth. If he’d been tortured as badly as it looked, even the bread would be difficult for him to eat. She’d not thought of needing to care for him. She’d only thought of getting him back.
The four stayed hidden until the soldier returned to the main road. Lachlann was the first at Sean’s side. He took the key and started working it into the lock. Aldred stood watch behind him for anyone else. Niall offered his own water skin to Sean who drank again. The bread in his hand was barely touched but soaked with blood where he’d had it to his mouth.
“Oh, Sean,” Thomasina’s voice broke. She tore off a tiny piece of bread, dropped some of the water on it and brought to his blistering lips.
He closed his eye and accepted the nourishment into his mouth then drank again.
“Ye’re free.” Lachlann patted his leg, helped him to stand, then wrapped an arm around his body to take his weight as Niall led the way back into the woods.
They paused over the body they’d hidden for Sean.
“My thanks for that.” Sean shook his head then glanced between the other two men. “How long were ye here?”
“Long enough to hear his taunting,” Niall spoke, his tone solemn. “They’ve sent no one to verify yer story.”
“It appears not,” Sean said. “The lying bastard.”
“Oh, we ken Ivan,” Lachlann said. “He deserved to die… many times over.”
“After he’d been soundly beaten,” Aldred smirked.
Niall looked back toward the now empty chains. “We’d best move quickly.”
