Cole didn’t seem to see anything shattering about that. “I do not see that as a concern,” he said. “In fact, it would make sense because when we found them, they were moving south. We thought they were moving the women to another location to keep them hostage, but it is equally possible they were taking them back to England. But my question would be why?Whywould they do that?”
Essien closed his eyes a moment before looking at him. “The soldiers are saying because Lady Corisande traded favors with the Scots commander for their freedom,” he said quietly. “That is why they were being released.”
Cole didn’t quite understand. “Traded favors?” he said. “What favors?”
“Cole, she gave herself over to the commander,” Essien said quietly, making it clear. “She let the man bed her as a condition for their release. She was seen going into his tent, alone, and the next morning, they were released.”
Cole’s eyes flew open wide when he finally realized what he was saying. “Those men are sayingthat?” he hissed.
Essien nodded, disgusted with the entire situation. “They are,” he said miserably. “The rumors have been going around camp for several days, evidently, only we heard nothing about it because we’ve been sealed up at Berwick Castle. But I heard it today when I was running missives.”
Cole stared at him a moment and they could see that his cheeks were turning a dull shade of red. “It’s not true,” he said hoarsely. “It is not possibly true.”
Essien lifted his shoulders. “True or not, that is what they are saying, Cole. Surely there has to be another explanation other than the idle gossip of vicious tongues.”
Cole continued to stare at him, processing what he’d been told. Something was building in him, something explosive. Perhaps even something uncontrollable. Those two-colored eyestook on a terrifying gleam. Without another word, he turned back to the stairwell and began racing up the steep stairs. After a split second, Julian followed.
Essien called after them.
“I am sorry, Cole!” he shouted. “I thought you should know!”
Cole didn’t answer. He just kept running. Distraught, Essien turned to Addax, who simply shook his head with pure, unadulterated disgust.
“I had to tell him,” Essien insisted. “He had to know.”
Addax nodded. “I know,” he said, greatly disheartened by the whole situation. “Come on. Let’s follow him to make sure he does not kill anyone.”
The brothers followed.
*
Corisande was stirringa giant iron pot filled with boiling water as Gaia gingerly tossed bloodied and soiled linen bandages into it.
It was not her favorite task.
“Gaia, watch what you are doing,” Corisande scolded. “We do not want to toss the bandages into the fire.”
Gaia was absolutely disgusted. She held up a linen bandage by the very edge, soiled with something green, and shrieked.
“It smells!” she cried.
“Then do not smell it,” Corisande said impatiently. “Just put it in the pot.”
Making a terrible face, she tossed the bandage into the pot as Corisande stirred. “This is awful work,” she said unhappily. “Why can’t someone else do this?”
“Becauseyouare doing it. I have asked this of you.”
Gaia was pouting. Looking around their encampment, she was trying to think of something that wasn’t disgusting, smelly, or awful. She eyed her sister unhappily.
“Then letmestir the pot,” she said. “You can toss in the soiled linen.”
“Gladly,” Corisande said, rolling her eyes as Gaia took over with the big stick. “That’s right; stir it boldly. You have to make sure that all of the poison on the bandages comes off.”
Gaia was trying to stir and stand back from the flames at the same time. “It’s hot!”
Corisande grunted unhappily at her sister’s complaining. Everything she did was something to complain about and it was becoming frustrating. “Stir,” she commanded. “Keep stirring. I will go check on the men and bring back more soiled bandages.”
While Gaia whimpered and whined, Corisande headed off to check on her sick and injured men.
