Page 22 of Kingdom of Chains

‘What about you?’ Tatum asked the earl. ‘Who will be riding at your side?’

Abrupt laughter erupted from Hodge. ‘I am quite capable with a weapon, defender. You do not need to fret about me. We also have a unit of twenty men.’

Numbers like that meant nothing without the necessary skills.

‘I’ll ride at your side, just to be safe,’ Tatum said.

‘As you wish. You can entertain me with heroic tales of your time in Carmarthenshire—before the return of the marcher lords.’

Blackmane really wanted to smack the fool off his horse.

‘Ready, my beloved?’ Hodge called to Isabel.

She looked in his direction. ‘Ready.’ But instead of joining him, she rode straight over to Trahern.

‘Come ride beside me,’ Hodge called to her, waiting.

She released a rather heavy breath before doing as she was told. ‘Good morning, defenders,’ she said as she passed them.

‘My lady,’ said Hadewaye, Alveye, and Tatum. Blackmane simply nodded.

Tatum signalled for everyone to move out, and they made their way to the outer wall.

The gate lowered before them, forming a bridge across the moat. Thick fog and frosted grass awaited them on the other side.

‘Want me to ride up front?’ Blackmane asked Tatum.

One corner of the commander’s mouth lifted. ‘Knock yourself out.’

Blackmane trotted off until he was at the front of the unit, needing to be as far away from Hodge and Isabel as possible so his mind was entirely on the job.

That tactic worked for the entirety of the morning. It was around noon when they reached a fork in the road and Blackmane heard arguing behind him. He turned his horse around and backtracked past the soldiers to see what was going on.

‘That is why I wanted to come. You know this,’ Isabel was saying, her horse stirring beneath her.

Hodge took hold of the horse’s bridle, attempting to still it. ‘Is it? Is that really the reason?’

‘Let go of my horse.’

He did not let go. ‘What about all the other reasons? Like to be at my side and witness first-hand how hard my family has worked to restoreyourhomeland to something resembling civilisation.’

‘I am always at your side, and on the rare occasions I am not, you have me followed.’

Blackmane nudged his horse forwards until he was next to Tatum. ‘What the hell is going on?’

‘Hodge wants to go straight to the camp.’ Tatum talked out of the side of his mouth, voice low. ‘She thought we were going to Llanelieu.’ He gave Blackmane a warning glance. ‘And we’re going to stay out of it.’

That was easier said than done with Isabel growing more upset. Then Lord Lunatic reached for her, catching hold of her wrist. But before Blackmane even had a chance to intercept, a large golden eagle swooped down, its talons slicing Hodge’s face.A collective drawing of swords followed, drowning out the roar of pain.

‘I didn’t see that coming,’ Hadewaye said, looking thoroughly confused by the scene unfolding.

Blackmane went straight for his bow. He had it loaded and pointed at the bird a beat later.

‘Do not hurt her!’ Isabel shouted. ‘Margery, stop!’

Alveye lowered his weapon. ‘Who the hell is Margery?’

Isabel had failed to mention that her pet bird was also a lethal predator capable of killing large mammals.