Page 28 of Kingdom of Chains

His eyes shone with amusement. ‘You’regoing to help me?’

‘Yes.’ Colour filled her cheeks.

He nodded slowly. ‘All right.’ He watched her a moment, then said, ‘You getting on?’

She gathered the reins and mounted without any help from him. Someone had paid attention earlier.

Blackmane let go of the bridle and returned to his own horse, saying to Tatum as he passed, ‘The lady rides with me.’

Lord Hodge looked up at that. ‘Lady Isabel is to remain at my side at all times.’

Blackmane looked tiredly in his direction. ‘We’re in the heart of enemy territory, and one third of your unit is dead or injured. You have no idea where the rest of the wastelanders are located, how many there are, or how far they’re willing to go to see you dead. Do you want Lady Isabel at your side, or do you want her safe? You don’t get both.’

A tense silence followed. Hodge’s face went all blotchy before he finally said, ‘If anything happens to her, I will have your head, defender.’

Alveye and Hadewaye exchanged a look that translated to ‘Good luck with that’ while Blackmane swung himself into the saddle. He glanced at Isabel with an annoyed expression. ‘Let’s go.’

She followed him without hesitation, feeling the safest she had in years despite everything that had just occurred. Her eyes went skyward, where she glimpsed an eagle circling far above them. One corner of her mouth lifted before she looked back at the road.

CHAPTER 9

Blackmane kept Isabel at the back of the group, not only because it was the safest place for her, but because he did not like the thought of Hodge’s eyes burning holes in their backs all afternoon. She seemed to breathe easier away from him. Blackmane also noticed that she kept her horse right beside his, and for once, he did not mind—for safety reasons.

An hour into their silent ride, she leaned in and whispered, ‘I know you are angry that I came, but I hope you understand why I did.’

Blackmane glanced at Hodge to see if he had heard, but the collective thud of horse hooves drowned out the conversation. ‘I get it. You wanted to visit your old house.’

Her eyes went to him. ‘I wanted to gohome.’

He met her gaze. ‘How long did you live in Llanelieu?’

‘Fifteen years. I was born in Maddock House, lived there right up until my mother married Lord Tompkin.’

He caught the bitterness in her tone when she said that last part. ‘How did that match come about?’

Hodge glanced over his shoulder, looking between them, then faced forwards again.

Isabel let a few moments pass before moving her horse closer to Blackmane’s—if that were possible. ‘Right place, right time. Or wrong place, wrong time. That depends on who you ask.’

‘I’m asking you.’

‘Then the latter.’

He kept his eyes ahead.

‘It was a little over five years ago. The marcher lords’ final campaign,’ she continued. ‘Their last attempt to salvage what civility remained in Carmarthenshire in hope of remaining in their own homes.’ She paused. ‘Maddock House was one of the few households in the region still functioning. After my father died, Lord Tompkin took it upon himself to use it as an army base.’ Her eyes went to Hodge’s back. ‘My father defended that house until he drew his last breath. Then it was only the three of us and a handful of workers who were like family.’

It was well known that the majority of workers in the region had laid down their tools when the food had run out, joining various groups believing they would be better fed. Sadly, that was not the case. Those groups then had to find ways to survive. Laws became irrelevant, as did the borders.

‘So the earl asked your widowed mother to return to Hampstead Keep with him as his wife?’ Blackmane asked.

‘Yes.’

‘And you want to know what became of Maddock House?’

She shook her head. ‘I already know what became of it. It burned down the night before we left for Hampstead Keep.’

Blackmane blinked slowly as that piece of the puzzle fell into place. ‘I gather that was a factor in your mother’s decision.’