Page 109 of Kingdom of Chains

He searched her eyes. ‘I gather by your expression that Isabel did not return with them?’

Ita shook her head. ‘It seems a deal was struck. She agreed to stay in exchange for their release.’

The fire burning in Blackmane’s stomach flared. ‘Tolly let her go with him?’

Ita swallowed. ‘She chose to go.’

Blackmane nodded, teeth pressing. ‘Right.’

His brother exited the house, followed closely by Lady Gwenore and Everard. One look at Blackmane’s face had Tolly raising his hands.

‘Before you get angry—’

Blackmane’s fist hit Tolly’s face before he had a chance to finish that sentence. ‘I’m already angry. What the hell were you thinking?’

Tolly straightened and held on to his jaw. Blood painted his teeth. ‘I see that.’

Gwenore stood frozen with a hand over her mouth while Everard stepped between them, pushing his chest out as far as he could.

‘It is not his fault, defender,’ Everard said, bringing volume to his voice. ‘She did it for us. Hodge left her no choice. He is a right bastard. I cannot believe it took me so long to see it.’

‘That is enough of that language,’ Gwenore said, hand going to her forehead. ‘Take the defender’s horse down to the water trough.’

Everard shook his head, then stepped up to take Blackmane’s mare, leading her over to the trough.

‘He’s right, though,’ Ita said. ‘This isn’t Tolly’s fault.’

Someone had to bear the brunt of Blackmane’s anger in Hodge’s absence. His eyes narrowed on Gwenore. The fact that she was safely at the house her daughter had rebuilt with her own hands did not sit well with him. ‘I’m surprised to see you here. Few mothers would have the resolve to leave their daughter behind with a man like that.’

Tolly looked over at him. ‘Easy, Ryder.’

Blackmane continued to stare at Gwenore. ‘There’s a long history of her putting her family’s needs above her own safety, isn’t there?’

Gwenore set her mouth. ‘You are drawing all kinds of conclusions from a handful of observations. These kinds of situations are always more complicated than they seem.’

He crossed his arms. ‘When I was at Hampstead Keep, all those months back, I noticed bruises on your daughter’s arms. Over the next few days, I witnessed Hodge grab her, shout at her, and manipulate her. We were then separated for a short period. In that time, he tied her to a post with his belt, hit her in the face, and choked her.’ He paused, noting Gwenore’s trembling lower lip. ‘I learned a lot about their relationship from those handful of observations. Tell me, what did you learn about their relationship during your five years of observing them?’

She blinked, and a tear rolled down her cheek. ‘With God as my witness, I never saw him be violent with her.’

‘But I know you saw the evidence. Bruises like that are hard to miss.’

She looked down, swallowed.

He nodded. ‘That’s what I thought.’

‘I did not know the extent of his… moods.’ She paused. ‘All I heard from him was how much he loved her, how he wanted to take care of her.’

‘Oh, we all bore witness to his outpourings of love.’ He glanced at Ita. ‘But I don’t know a single person who felt comfortable seeing it.’

‘I thought things would improve after they were wed,’ Gwenore admitted.

‘You mean youhopedthings would improve. For the sake of your son, no doubt.’

Gwenore looked away. ‘Despite what you think of me, defender, I am keen to get my daughter out of there. I want her safe.’

Ita hugged herself and exhaled. ‘I don’t see how that’s possible.’

Blackmane was far from defeated. ‘I’m going to Hampstead Keep. I’ll find a way.’