Page 44 of Kingdom of Chains

Any other time, Blackmane would have shot every rebel dead, put Isabel on his horse, and ridden off before anyone else had a chance to join the fight. But he could tell by the way she stood in front of that woman, her expression determined, that this was Ita, the friend she had been searching for.

‘You can’t expect them to put their weapons down when you have yours pointed directly at them,’ Isabel told Blackmane. She looked around at the others. ‘What if we all agree not to kill each other for a moment while we sort this out?’

The St Clare group looked between themselves, a non-verbal conversation. Then Ita said, ‘Let’s see the defender put his away first.’

Blackmane signalled to Hadewaye, and they lowered their bows at the same time. Then his eyes returned to Isabel. ‘What the hell were you thinking leaving the camp by yourself?’

Scowling, she walked over to him. ‘I am not a prisoner, you know. I am free to come and go as I please.’

He pointed to the others. ‘Do you even know all these people?’

She looked over her shoulder. ‘A good percentage of them, yes.’

‘Twenty-five percent of them?’

She swallowed. ‘If Ita trusts them, then I trust them.’

Her naivety was sending him mad. ‘So you’re safe in their company, then? These people are going to protect you from Hodge’s mood? Return you to the camp later when you’re done reminiscing?’

It was clear by her expression that she had no real plan.

‘You know,’ she began, crossing her arms, ‘you have the most unusual way of expressing concern for my safety.’

‘So youaresafe?’

She hesitated. ‘Yes.’

He nodded slowly. ‘Great. Then I’ll leave you to it.’ He looked past her to the others. ‘There are guards swarming the area. You might want to fix your bows before they get here.’ Then he gestured to Hadewaye. ‘We’re leaving.’ With that, he turned his back to Isabel and walked away.

She ran after him, catching hold of his arm. ‘Wait.’

He stopped. ‘What?’

‘Are you angry at me?’

He brought his face close to hers. ‘Am Iangry? My rage is barely contained right now. So I suggest you get your hands off me and go back to your friends.’

She let go of him, eyes never leaving his. He should have walked away at that point, but her wounded expression held him in place.

‘I only learned yesterday that she was alive,’ Isabel said. ‘I knew this was my only chance to see her. You know as well as I do that it will be a long time before Hodge ever lets me leave Hampstead Keep again.’

The muscles in his face relaxed. ‘You need to go somewhere else. Hodge will most certainly come here looking for you.’

Ignoring his earlier warning, she reached for his arm again. ‘Come with us. Your horses must be exhausted, and soon you will lose light. We can make camp somewhere.’ She hesitated before continuing. ‘And in the morning, I will return with you and explain to Hodge that I foolishly went for a ride and got myself lost.’

His eyes moved between hers. ‘So you plan to return to him?’

She lifted her shoulders in a resigned shrug. ‘My family remains at Hampstead Keep. My circumstances have not changed.’

He really only had two choices at that point: stay and ensure she got safely back to the camp, or go ahead without her and hope Ita was up to the task. He looked over at Hadewaye, who was watching them with a slightly amused expression. ‘Fetch the horses.’

‘Is Lady Isabel coming with us?’ the defender asked.

Blackmane’s gaze returned to her. ‘She’ll return with us in the morning. We need to find somewhere safe to make camp tonight.’

Isabel smiled up at him victoriously while Hadewaye went to fetch the horses.

‘Do you mean all together?’ Ita asked.