In the solar of Aysgarth, Garran was still on the enormous oak table, bundled up with woolen blankets as he remained in merciful unconsciousness. Summer had been able to stop the bleeding of her father and repair the wound, but it was unknown if he would survive it. He remained still, barely breathing, as Summer remained vigilant at his side. Her wait was a lonely one because everyone else was occupied with the aftermath of Keir’s abduction. So she sat alone, in a strange castle, waiting to see if her father would live or die.
Michael had spent most of the night at Summer’s side, but as dawn approached, he had an army to assemble. He and Kurtis were up before dawn, in full battle armor, their breath hanging heavy in the moist, foggy air as they bellowed orders to the troops. Coverdale was with them, supervising, watching the assembly of his great army. The bailey and stables were already busy, moving with a purpose, preparing to pull out as soon as the sun crested the horizon. Today was to be a very big day.
Up in Chloë’s bower, it was remarkably quiet because Chloë was finally asleep. She had spent the past several hours in hysteria until Blanche, who was also still deeply upset by what she had witnessed, sent word to Summer for a sleeping draught. Summer had come personally to tend to Chloë, who had worked herself up so much that she was physically ill. Poor Summer, stretched so thin between her father’s injury and Chloë’s hysterics, gave Chloë a dose of a poppy seed potion that put her right to sleep.
Cassandra crawled into bed with her sister and held her, so very terrified of what was to come. Ingilby now had Keir, and Kurtis was going after him. They were summoning a mighty army to accomplish this, and she was terrified for her husband and for Keir. The entire situation was horrifying.
Loaded to the sky with war machines and implements meant to kill, the army finally pulled out mid-morning, a thousand-man strong and heading for Ripley Castle, about a day’s travel from Aysgarth. Kurtis and Michael had ridden at the head of the army along with Coverdale, who had brought his personal entourage, oddly including his wife, quite simply because it was her time to visit him and he didn’t want to leave her behind.
Kurtis didn’t even say anything to Coverdale about the fact that the man’s fourteen year old wife was being brought along on a battle march. He had enough on his mind, the least of which was the fact that he was going to battle against a Northumberland ally. All he could think about was his brother and of what he was going to do to Ingilby when he cornered him. Kurtis’ emotions on the subject went beyond rage and into the realm of madness. Ingilby was going to pay, ally or no.
Chloë slept through Kurtis’ farewells and the army’s departure. The poppy potion did its job well and she slept dreamlessly for a while until visions of Keir began filling her head. His smile and his laughter were the first things she saw and heard, and then the dreams grew more vivid and she could feel his touch or smell his hair. She had no idea how long she dreamt of him because she began to realize that her eyes were open and she was staring at the back of Cassandra’s head. The two of them were lying on Chloë’s bed and she could hear Cassandra snoring softly. But for that, all was still and quiet.
Chloë lifted her head slightly, seeing that there was no one else in the room. The sun was out but she had no concept of what time of day it was. The events from earlier came flooding back and her eyes misted over with tears when she remembered what her mother had told her about Keir’s abduction. He had been wounded trying to save the little boy Ingilby had called Merritt, and then spirited away by Ingilby as he had tried to return to safety.
Wounded. Chloë’s entire body ached with grief for Keir’s injury and disappearance. The not knowing was the worst part. Was he dead? Alive? She simply didn’t know. No one did. All of it was her fault, she knew that. Had she not sent Ingilby a missive agreeing to be his bride, none of this would have happened. She had caused this. Her guilt consumed her.
After the initial avalanche of grief, she began to think very clearly on the situation, as if her initial burst of sorrow had expunged itself and now she felt nothing but resolve. It was all very, very clear to her what she must do, and something she felt no fear of as she reasoned her way through it. Ingilby had come for her but had taken Keir instead – therefore, surely the man would free Keir if she were to exchange herself for his freedom. There was no other choice. It was the only answer.
So she climbed out of bed, no longer the hysterical woman but the determined wife, resolved to free the man she loved. Only a calm head would save Keir and she knew that. Perhaps somehow, in some way, she had grown just a little in the time she had known him. He had helped her mature with his wisdom and calm manner. He had done so much for her and now she had to do something for him. Crying in bed wasn’t going to solve the problem. She had to save him.
Silently, she went to the wardrobe crammed with her things and removed a heavy dark blue traveling coat and matching cloak. Swiftly, she changed into the garment and donned heavy hose and leather boots that belonged to her sister. Her thick hair was brushed and braided, a single heavy braid hanging over one shoulder. As she finished with her hair, she caught sight of a slender dagger tucked up with a few scarves and belts. Sliding it into her sash, she finished securing the cloak. Now she was ready to travel, knowing where she had to go and what she had to do. With a lingering look at her sleeping sister, she slipped from the chamber.
Chloë was very conscious about the voices she could hear throughout the keep. She didn’t want to run into anyone, afraid they would try to stop her if they figured out what she was up to. Thankfully, Kurtis and Michael weren’t around, because they were the nosy sort and would have badgered her into confessing her plans. She only had to deal with her mother and father, and perhaps even Lord Coverdale, but she didn’t see any of them.
As she slipped silently towards the keep entry, she passed by the solar and was shocked when she came face to face with Summer, sitting vigilantly by her father’s side. Their eyes met and Chloë came to a halt.
“Greetings,” she said from the doorway, hesitantly, hoping Summer wouldn’t ask her where she was going. Her gaze trailed to Garran and she saw an opportunity to take the focus away from her. “How is your father?”
Summer rose from her chair, looking to her father as she made her way over to Chloë. “His condition is unchanged,” she said, trying not to sound too despondent. “He sleeps, but I suppose that is a good thing. Only time will tell if he will indeed survive.”
Chloë looked at Garran, lying pale and still upon the desk. It began to occur to her that his injury was her fault as well. Everything was her fault, indirectly though it was. Her guilt grew.
“I am so sorry,” she whispered. “I will pray for his recovery.”
Summer looked at her, forcing a smile. “Thank you,” she said softly, her gaze turning intense as she scrutinized Chloë. “How are you feeling?”
Chloë nodded. “Much better,” she said. “I… I was just going for a walk to clear my head a bit.”
“Do you feel up to it?”
“I do.”
Summer’s smile faded. “Michael and Kurtis left a couple of hours ago to rescue Keir,” she said softly. “They will bring him back, Chloë. You must have faith.”
Chloë struggled not to tear up. “I do.”
Summer regarded her as if trying to determine for herself how Chloë truly felt. It was hard to know, for she looked stronger at this moment than she had since Summer had known her. “Are you sure your back feels well enough?”
Chloë nodded. “It does,” she said. “It feels much better than it did yesterday. There is still a bit of pain in my hips, but not nearly as bad as it was.”
Summer’s smile turned genuine. “That is good to hear,” she said. “We need some good news around here.”
Chloë smiled weakly before reaching out to grasp Summer’s hand. “If I have not told you again how much I appreciate all you’ve done, then please allow me to say so,” she said sincerely. “You have done so much for all of us. I do not
know how we can ever repay you.”
Summer was modest. “I am happy to help where I am needed,” she said, a bit of a twinkle in her eye. “Besides, I believe I have already received the greatest compensation I could ever have.”
“What is that?”
“A husband.”
Chloë’s smile brightened. “Michael has pledged for you?”
Summer nodded. “He has declared his love and his desire to marry me. I am sure my father would agree.”
Chloë hugged her tightly. “I am so happy for you both, truly,” she said. “Michael is a good man. He will make a good husband.”
Summer laughed softly. “He will have to,” she said. “Otherwise, I have four brothers who will make him wish he was.”
Chloë giggled, thinking of Michael against four enraged brothers of the lovely Lady Summer. But as she opened her mouth to reply, she caught sight of a young boy seated over by the hearth. He had been tucked out of her line of sight until this moment, shifting out of the shadow and into the light as he reached for a bit of bread. Summer saw Chloë’s surprise, then her interest, and motioned to the child.
“This is young Aust,” she introduced him. “This is the young man Keir rescued. Aust, this is the Lady Chloë. Will you please greet her?”
The child, blond haired with big brown eyes, looked at Chloë with some terror. As Chloë moved towards the lad, she could see that one entire side of his face was bruised and one eye was nearly swollen shut. He was sitting on some feather-stuffed cushions with a blanket over his legs, the remnants of a meal on the floor next to him. He genuinely looked terrified and Chloë smiled faintly at the boy Keir had saved. The child was the last act of self-sacrifice Keir had performed and the thought made her teary-eyed, but she fought it.
“Greetings, Aust,” she said softly.
The boy swallowed the food in his mouth, struggling not to cry himself. He didn’t do well with new people, especially after that band of brutal men had thrashed him. Everyone scared him now.
“G-greetings,” he whispered.
“How old are you?”
“I… I am not sure,” he sniffled, wiping the tears from the eye that wasn’t sore.
Chloë’s heart softened for the frightened young boy and she knelt down a few feet away from him, as not to further scare him.
“You are a very big boy,” she said gently. “You must have seen at least five or six summers.”
He shrugged, calming a little bit with the lady’s gentle manner. “I… I think so,” he said. “I… I have a dog.”
Chloë smiled. “A dog?” she said with glee. “What is his name?”
“Dog.”
She giggled. “That is a good name for him,” she said, trying to figure out if she could see Keir in the little features. She decided to probe him a little, wondering if Summer hadn’t already done the same. “Where are your mother and father?”
That set the child off sniffling again and he wiped furiously at his good eye. “I do not know,” he said. “Some men… they took me away from them.”
“Do you know where they live?”
“In a town. There is a church there.”
Chloë sighed faintly, glancing over her shoulder at Summer to see that the dark-haired woman was gazing at the child with some sympathy. She returned her focus to the boy.
“Do you have brothers or sisters?” she asked.
“No,” the boy shook his head. “Just me and Dog.”
Chloë wasn’t sure what more to say or ask, watching the child as he wiped tears off his cheeks. “I am sorry that you were hurt,” she said softly, sincerely. “I promise that no one will hurt you from now on. We will protect you.”
The little boy’s lower lip trembled. He was so very frightened. “I want to go home.”
“Can you tell us where your home is?”
“There’s a church there.”
He said it as if it was an anomaly when the truth was that nearly every town, large or small, had a church. The child had no idea where he lived. Chloë smiled bravely at him and stood up, making her way over to Summer.
“He said that his name is Aust?” she whispered.
“That is what he told me,” Summer replied.
“Is he badly hurt?”
Summer shook her head. “He is badly bruised, but nothing is broken,” she murmured. “His body will heal, but I do not know if his spirit will heal. The boy has been terrified and brutalized.”
Chloë glanced at the lad with some sorrow. “Poor child,” she whispered. “I am not at all sure he looks like Keir. Did Keir even get a look at him?”
Summer shrugged. “I do not know,” she replied. “Your mother was there when everything happened. Perhaps she knows.”
Chloë didn’t want to ask her mother because she didn’t particularly want to see her at the moment. Blanche would only ask questions and perhaps even prevent her from leaving the keep. So Chloë merely shook her head again as she inched her way towards the door.
“Whether or not he is Keir’s son, we will keep him here until everything can be straightened out,” she said. “For now, I have much to think about on my walk.”
Summer nodded. “Not too long,” she told her, watching her make her way to the solar door. “You do not want to strain your back.”
Chloë waved her off as she quit the room and headed for the keep entry. It was sunny outside if not a bit cool as she made her way down the stairs to the bailey, remembering the last time she saw this yard was the day before when the prisoner had so roughly captured her. She looked around, seeing how empty it was with only a few soldiers maintaining vigil, so she wrapped the blue cloak around herself tightly and headed to the stable block.
The stables were empty as well with the chargers removed. There were a few horses and Chloë scurried into the dark, smelly stable in search of a good mount. She knew where Ripon was because she had traveled there a few times with her father, and she knew it was at least a half day’s ride on a swift horse. If the army was two hours ahead of her, that didn’t give her much time. She would have to ride very fast in order to make it to Ripley Castle before they did. She was genuinely afraid of what would happen if they laid siege and Keir was caught inside. Ingilby would not take kindly to the attempts to regain him. She had to get there before they did.
There was a big, brown leggy gelding that looked as if it was very swift. She seemed to remember Keir saying something about the leggy beast that Summer rode. Perhaps this was her horse, so perhaps he was used to women. There was only one way to find out.
Speaking softly to the horse, Chloë advanced on the animal in its stall, hoping it would accept her enough to allow her to ride it. When the animal seemed open to her advances, she swung into action.
She had a man to save and time was running out.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Ingilby could hardly believe what he was seeing. In the great hall of Ripley Castle, it was a vision so startling that he literally had to rub his eyes to see, in fact, if it was an apparition. But the vision remained, a stunning beauty resplendent in dark blue with her luscious red hair plaited and draped.
Shocked beyond measure, he had to take a deep breath before speaking, otherwise he surely would have gasped.
“My men told me you had arrived and I nearly slit their throats because I thought they were lying,” he said as he entered the big, smoky hall. “I can see that they were indeed telling the truth. The goddess has arrived on my doorstep.”
Exhausted, sick with fear and loathing, Chloë faced Ingilby as he came to within a few feet of her. She’d had absolutely no trouble gaining entry to Ripley but now as she was actually face to face with Ingilby, her courage took a hit. That evil, hateful man was standing in front of her and she struggled to maintain her bravery and her anger.
“I came because we have business,” she said as firmly as she could. “You are holding Keir St. Héver and I want him released.”
Ingilby came to a halt, a myriad of thoug
hts playing across his features. “St. Héver?” he repeated as if baffled by the request. “You… you did not come because I accepted the terms of your offer? The offer that would exchange St. Héver’s son for you?”
“This has nothing to do with that offer. I am here to secure St. Héver’s release.”
“Last I saw of the man, a horse was running off with him.”
Chloë hardened. “Do not toy with me,” she snarled. “You took him from Aysgarth. I also heard that he was injured. Where is he?”
Ingilby gazed at her a moment before lifting an eyebrow. He pretended to appear pensive. “If you are speaking of a man who threatened and belittled me, then perhaps I do know where he is.”
“Tell me now.”
Ingilby’s movements turned sharp and almost agitated. “Very well,” he replied. “He is in the vault where he belongs. He threatened me and I have every right to protect myself.”
Chloë stared at him. During her ride to Ripley Castle, she’d had ample time to think. She knew what Ingilby wanted and she was willing to play the game, all the way to the bitter end. Life without Keir was no life at all and she was willing to do anything she could to win the man’s release, up to and including sacrificing herself. Once, he had risked everything to save her. It was time for her to return the favor.
“You will release him,” she instructed, leaving no room for doubt that she meant every word. “If you want me as you say you do, then you will do what I say. Release the man or suffer the consequences.”
Ingilby’s eyebrows lifted. “Pray, lady, you are in no position to make demands, for I have you now where I want you and you will never leave this place.”
Chloë was beginning to shake, from both fatigue and emotion. She threw a finger in Ingilby’s direction.
“Listen to me and listen well,” she said. “There is an army from Aysgarth not an hour behind me. They intend to lay siege to Ripley in order to gain Keir’s release and from the size of the army, I have no doubt they will tear this place to pieces. I came because I fear that Keir will not fare well if Aysgarth lays siege so it is my intention to offer myself up in exchange for his freedom. Take me and release him. That is all I ask.”
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