Page 110 of Kingdom of Chains

‘I am coming with you,’ Everard said, returning to the group. He let the mare graze.

‘Absolutely not,’ Gwenore said.

‘He will need some help, Mother.’

Tolly reached out and squeezed the boy’s shoulder. ‘I’m going with him. Rest easy.’

Blackmane studied his brother’s tired face. ‘You just got back from there and look ready to fall down.’

‘That’s because you punched me in the face.’

‘He did getsomesleep,’ Ita said. ‘He nodded off in his chair mid-meal and didn’t wake until he heard your horse approaching.’

‘I was just resting my eyes.’

Ita frowned. ‘While pretend snoring?’

Blackmane had no choice but to accept the help because he needed it. ‘An army of two, then.’

‘What exactly is your plan?’ Ita asked.

Tolly rubbed his jaw. ‘You’re assuming he has one.’

‘Defenders always have a plan,’ Blackmane replied. ‘They just rarely work out.’

Ita gestured to the house. ‘At least come in and have something to eat before you leave.’

Blackmane did not feel right dining in Isabel’s home while she was trapped with Hodge. ‘Thanks, but I need to get going.’

‘Then I’ll pack you something to take with you,’ Ita said, disappearing into the house.

Everard ran to fetch Tolly’s horse.

‘Tell me you can get her out of that place,’ Gwenore said, sounding more like a concerned mother now.

At least she finally appeared to be grasping the danger Isabel was in.

‘I’ll do my best.’

CHAPTER 36

It was chilling to step inside her old quarters and find everything as it was before she left. The bed made. Her clothes still on hangers. The cage in the corner, so painfully symbolic. And the feathers she used to collect still hung from the bedhead.

It was as though she had never left.

For the next three days, Isabel remained in her quarters. She declined every invitation from Hodge, until he became so fed up that he yelled through her door, ‘If you do not eat with me, then you do not eat at all.’

So she went without food.

She sat on a stool by the window, watching the sky and trying to think of an exit that would not end with her dead. Margery had not been to visit, and it felt quite deliberate.

‘Evening, my lady’ came the voice of her new maid as she entered the bedchamber.

Isabel glanced in the girl’s direction. Paige was a bubbly young lady who had obviously been hand selected by Hodge.

‘Shall we get you ready for dinner?’ Paige chirped.

Isabel laid her head on the windowsill. ‘Can I eat in here?’