She glanced nervously between the door and the window.
“We could crawl out and ease down the roof. If there is anyone waiting below, we’ll go with the element of surprise and jump down on them.”
She nodded her agreement.
He looked at her. “Are you up to it?”
Her eyes flashed at his challenge. “Let’s go. We’re wasting time.”
Dropping his hand from the doorknob, he hurried across the room. He pried open the window and gestured impatiently for Isabella to come.
“Just remember to roll when you hit the ground,” she murmured as she crawled over the sill.
“Despite the fact you seem so fond of barging out of windows, I assure you, this won’t be the first time I’ve had to use this means of escape,” he said dryly.
Silently, they crept across the roof until they reached the edge. Simon looked down then held a finger to his lips as he glanced over at Isabella. He held up two fingers and pointed. She nodded and eased forward until she could see below.
He cocked his head and motioned that he was ready. Isabella sucked in her breath and crouched. He laid a hand on her wrist then signaled for them to jump as the two men walked closer.
In unison they jumped. Simon landed on his target, flattening the man to the ground. As he landed a brutal blow to the man’s face, Simon’s head exploded in a burst of pain, and he slumped forward
Isabella looked up from the unconscious man underneath her and swore viciously as she saw Merrick fall to the ground. She struggled up, praying that he had at least distracted the men enough that she could escape. If her suspicions were accurate, they wouldn’t bother over him anyway.
As she fled in the opposite direction, she collided with a mountain of dead weight. She was thrown to the ground as a man twice her size tackled her. Her breath left her in a whoosh and she gasped painfully, trying to drag in air.
Squirming and kicking, she struggled frantically beneath her assailant. She wrapped her fingers in his hair and snapped his head back. With her other hand, she jabbed her fingers into his eyes, eliciting a howl of pain.
Taking advantage of his distress, she shoved as hard as she could and rolled him to the side. She shot up then smashed the heel of her boot down across his throat. Satisfied that he would not pursue her, she broke into a run.
Her fright and determination lent her more speed than she imagined possible. As she neared the edge of the woods, she thought with a moment of jubilation that she had succeeded in escaping.
Then, without warning, her legs were swept from underneath her, and she landed on her back with enough force to completely rob her of breath. As she lay for a brief moment gasping painfully, three men appeared over her, and her heart sank. How would she possibly be able to escape them?
Feigning weakness, she continued to lie still, gauging what her assailants would do next. When one reached down for her, she kicked her legs up and wrapped her feet around his neck. Wrenching her legs sideways, she flipped him over her body. Arching her back, she bucked to her feet. As soon as she was standing, she swung her leg out in a powerful kick and crumpled the man to her immediate right.
She assumed a fighting stance as they scrambled up. The two men growled in fury and launched themselves at her. She landed a blow to one of their heads but they weren’t swayed. She fell to the ground beneath them, unable to escape their steely grasp.
Her hand inched toward the dagger she had tucked into her breeches, but she was unable to grasp it when her arms were jerked over her head. She screamed in rage as they pressed her farther into the ground. Her reward was a slap in the face, momentarily stunning her into silence. With speed she hadn’t expected, they bound her arms and then her legs.
“Let’s see you maneuver out of this one, Princess,” one of them taunted.
“Who are you?” she demanded. “Who sent you?” Their accents were English, not Leaudorian. “Whatever they are paying you, I can double it. If you just let me go.”
“Stuff the rag in her mouth so she’ll shut up,” the other one muttered. “And get Tom up off the ground,” he added in disgust.
Her protests were squelched as a foul-smelling rag was forced into her mouth. She gagged at the taste. As they yanked her to her feet, she stumbled, unable to keep her balance with bound feet and arms. She attempted to thrust the gag out with her tongue, but a hand was quickly clamped over her lips.
“Be easy with her,” the apparent ringleader cautioned. “We’ve been paid a lot of money to ensure she’s alive, and I don’t want to be giving it back if she turns up dead.”
A chill trickled down her spine. She had to escape. Once they discovered she no longer was in possession of the map, they would likely lose any desire they had to keep her alive.
* * *
Simon opened his eyes and promptly closed them again when pain knifed sharply through his head. He felt wet and cold and whatever he was laying on was wretchedly uncomfortable. Where was he?
He pried his eyes open again and saw something that looked remarkably like leaves. He was on the ground. His memory came roaring back, and he leapt immediately to his feet, nearly vomiting as pain overcame him.
“Isabella! Isabella!” he yelled hoarsely, whirling frantically around in an attempt to locate her.
