Page 52 of Kingdom of Chains

‘What’s wrong?’ she asked.

‘Don’t know yet.’ He glanced at Rabbit, who was now tugging on his boots. ‘But I think you should all get as far away from us as possible.’

Ita stood up and looked over at Isabel. ‘Is she going back to him?’

‘Do you see another way?’

Her throat bobbed, and she shook her head. ‘Will you take care of her?’

‘While I can.’

Her expression bordered on heartbroken as she went to join the others, who had already gathered their belongings and were preparing to mount. They had done this dance before—likely many times.

Blackmane went to retrieve his bow and quiver, eyes going to the trees around them. All was still.

‘Isabel,’ he said. ‘It’s time to go.’ He snatched up his waterskin and threw the contents over the fire. It hissed, sending swirls of smoke into the air.

Isabel blinked her eyes open and sat up, looking over at Ita, who was now on her horse preparing to leave. ‘What’s going on?’

A flash of movement in the trees caught Blackmane’s eye. Turning, he gestured for the other group to move out. Something told him if they did not leave now, they would not be leaving at all.

Isabel scrambled to her feet and went to run after Ita, but Blackmane caught her around the waist and brought his mouth to her ear. ‘Do you want her to live?’

She went limp against him.

The sound of hooves prompted Blackmane to swing Isabel behind him and load his bow.

Hadewaye rode into sight. ‘Get out of here—now.’

Margery appeared overhead, swooping down over them with a shrill chirp.

‘It is too late,’ Isabel said. ‘They are already here.’

Hiss.

Blackmane heard the arrow before it hit its target. Seal roared as an arrow struck his chest, toppling backwards off his horse. Walnut dismounted and ran to him while Ita and Rabbit released arrow after arrow into the trees.

Hiss, hiss.

An arrow pierced Rabbit’s leg, and another flew past Blackmane’s head. They were all going to die if he did not do something. Since shooting at English guards was not an option for him, he did the only thing he could.

‘Cease fire!’ he shouted. ‘I have Lady Isabel with me.’

The shooting stopped, and the trees went still around them. A full minute passed before a handful of guards emerged, weapons ready. Hadewaye had his bow loaded and aimed at them, but the weapon was as useless as Blackmane’s in that moment.

Hodge and Tatum appeared next, and Blackmane heard Isabel suck in a breath behind him. Tatum’s gaze shifted left and right, and he appeared visibly confused by the scene before him.

‘Someone better start talking,’ he said.

Blackmane looked over to where Seal was gasping for air while coughing up blood. ‘There was no need for that.’

Hodge stopped his horse, looking from Blackmane to Isabel, who was still hiding behind him. ‘Bring her to me—right now.’

Blackmane could not bring himself to lower his bow.

‘Weapon down, defender,’ Tatum said.

That was when he realised his bow was pointed at Hodge.