“She will gain his trust in some way and what then—he will just willingly give up the rebels’ hiding place?”
“She is convinced that is the case.”
“And you believe she can do this?”
“I believe it is a chance worth taking. My spies have watched comings and goings, but have not yet pieced together a definitive gathering place. And they would alternate meeting places; that only makes sense. But there would have to be somewhere they crafted the poison arrows that pierced you together with other weapons. These wasps have a nest, of that I’m certain. If she can uncover it, ’twill be an incredible boon for us. We could remove this threat for good.”
William sat back and took it all in. His head and his body hurt. While he was still concerned for her safety, he had to give her credit. The idea was a clever one. He just wished she had waited until he had awoken to discuss it with him so they could have devised the plan together. And now all he could do was wait.
“How many guards are with her?”
“Six.”
William shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “This will not work.”
“And why is that?”
“He won’t open up to her with the guards present.”
“Ahhh, but you see that is where you are wrong.”
“What else have you not told me?”
“She has written to him and brought quill, ink, and parchment with her. The guards have been instructed to not notice.”
“Did you read this letter she will pass him?”
“Aye, I have. She is quite good with words, you know. I filled in any blanks in the story she wanted to recount to ensure he believes her. That is why she has not yet returned, I am almost certain of it.”
William grew more wary by the moment. He stood to pace the room. So much could go wrong with this plot. If she was successful, would she later regret so thoroughly betraying a family member? She could not have completely thought this through.
“You still have doubts.”
“Aye, many. What if the information he gives her is false?”
“Then we are no better off but no worse either.”
“Nay, weareworse off. The bounty on my wife’s head grows, and we will never be at peace.”
Christ’s teeth, every moment she remained in his company she was in more danger. He had to put an end to this madness right now.
William stood. “Your Majesty, only a direct order from you will stop me from leaving this room and seeking out my wife to remove her from that place.”
“You may go to her, as I believe she will be close to finished by now. But do not imperil what she may have accomplished unless she is in serious danger.”
“Aye, Your Majesty. Thank you.”
Serious danger be damned. If she was even close to wee danger he’d remove her from it. He left the room to find Fin outside waiting.
“Will you see me to the prison cell holding John Sinclair?”
“Aye, my lord. This way.”
Fin turned and led the way through the apartment wing and outside to another section of the castle, then down many winding stairs to a tall, locked gate. A fat man with many keys emerged from the side and opened the gate to allow them entrance.
“On down to the last cell, then turn left and he is down at the far right, last cell down. The king didn’t want him to ever overhear anyone else speaking lest he get a secret message out through another prisoner. Mind yerselves. There’s bad men in this place.” As he said the last words and the door clanged shut, he whistled and walked away.
The stench was almost unbearable of shite and vomit and piss. He didn’t want his Agnes anywhere near this place or these men. Imperil her plan or not, she was leaving here as soon as he found her. This place was unclean for one such as she, and he would never allow such a feat to occur again. She was his wife and he would protect her with his life. This situation with the rebels was not hers to fix. She was in no way answerable for their actions or his injury. And by God, if anyone were to lay a hand on her he would tear them asunder.
