There was silence, then Osgar’s brother asked, “Will she be kept for long in the dungeon, Osgar?”
“You ask too many questions.”
“That merchant was killed even after his man brought the ransom. The merchant and his man were both killed.”
“Quiet your brother, Osgar, before I do,” Derek said angrily.
Leonie had heard of such happenings, but not sincethe time of King Stephen when anarchy had prevailed. During King Stephen’s time, even the poorest petty lord could collect riches and many did, extorting serf and freemen, even plundering churches. It was a common crime to capture anyone suspected of having even a little wealth. The victims were imprisoned and tortured until they were willing to give up all they possessed. No one was safe in those days, for there was no recourse to a king who was perpetually busy fighting to keep his crown. The true extent of criminality was realized later when all the unlicensed castles—more than a thousand—were ordered dismantled by Henry.
Leonie’s fear became overwhelming as she considered all of what would happen to her when she was turned over to Derek’s lord. But even so, those fears receded when the four men stopped, and she recalled what they planned.
Bile rose in her throat when Derek said gruffly, “I need a gag.”
“Oho, so you want her too. And here you put up such a fuss—”
“A gag! Quickly!” Derek snapped. “I warn you, we have very little time. She needs to be locked away before her men come looking for her.”
“We do not carry rags with us,” Osgar grumbled.
“Your shirt will do. Give it over.”
The second Derek removed his hand so that one of them could gag her, she let out an ear-piercing scream. It was cut off quickly, the stinking shirt yanked hard across her mouth. The shirt was tied behind her head so tightly, she thought the corners of her mouth would surely rip open.
The moment the gag was secure, Derek shook her hard. Pain shot up her arms where he gripped her.
“Stop, Derek, before you break her neck!” someone warned.
“Do you think they heard her at the castle?” Osgar asked.
“They don’t care what happens in the woods,” Derek told him.
“Then why are you so angry?”
“We are far enough away from her men, but not if one has awakened and come after her.”
“We should have killed them one and all,” Osgar said disgustedly. “There was no knight among them.”
“And no sword among us but mine,” Derek reminded them with contempt.
“Quiet! I hear something!”
Leonie heard it, too, growing louder by the second, the unmistakable sound of horses charging through the brush. Hope rose inside her, a living thing.
“You are saved for now, lady,” Derek rasped angrily, “but I will make you pay for this later.” To the others he ordered, “We cannot delay here now. Move quickly, but for God’s sake do not make any noise.”
“Derek, no,” came an alarmed whisper. “There is the meadow to cross yet. We will be seen.”
“Not if we wait by the meadow until all is quiet again. They will be spread out looking for her. If one comes upon us, we can kill him.”
Leonie was propelled forward again. This time her arms gripped just above the elbows so that she couldn’t reach up to pull out her gag. The other three men moved off ahead, but her struggle with Derek slowed him down. She tried jerking out of his hold, she tried stomping on his feet, she tried lifting her feet off the ground to pull him down. He was much stronger and none of it worked. He finally growled and hefted her up under his arm to carry her like a sack of meal.
She began feeling desperate again. The sound of hoof beats receded. Oh, she would have given her life for a chance to call out!
Derek stopped near a wide clearing that cut through the woods and was exceptionally bright compared to the woodland on all sides of it. The other three men were crouched down by the edge waiting for her and Derek, alert, nerves taut.
“What have you seen?” Derek demanded, scanning the clearing.
“No movement, but I thought I heard another sound down the way.”
