Page 53 of Kingdom of Chains

‘I suggest you listen to your commander and get out of my way,’ the earl said.

It took all his effort to lower his weapon and step aside.

‘Beloved,’ Hodge said, extending a hand. ‘Come. You are safe now.’

Isabel made no move towards him.

Confused by the response, Hodge looked over at the St Clare people. Recognition settled on his face when his eyes landed on Ita. ‘You.’

She lifted her chin. ‘Me.’

A flash of panic passed over his face before he regained his composure. ‘Where did you come from?’

‘The brink of death,’ Ita replied. ‘Right where you left me.’

Tatum looked to Blackmane for clues as to what was going on, but it was not a conversation that could be had without words.

‘Tell your men to put their weapons away,’ Ita said, ‘or my final living act will be releasing this arrow into your face.’

Hodge laughed abruptly. ‘You always were a rather unstable sort of girl. Whomever thought it was a good idea to hand you a weapon clearly does not know you as I do.’

Her bow creaked, and every guard around them shifted nervously in their saddles. Tatum also had an arrow trained on her, but Blackmane knew instinctively that he would not be the one to shoot her.

‘I should have known you had something to do with her disappearance.’ He seemed unafraid of the arrow aimed at his face. ‘Tell me, what lies have you told my beloved that have her in such a state?’

‘There is only one liar among us, my lord.’

Hodge exhaled sharply through his nose. ‘It is clear that you have gotten away with this behaviour for too long.’ He looked to the guard on his left. ‘Kill her.’

The defenders raised their bows, a reflex. What happened next should have been part of an elaborate plan but was simply a result of serving closely with someone for five years and being able to predict their actions. Blackmane took aim at the guard’s bow, sending it jolting sideways so it missed Ita entirely. Simultaneously, Tatum struck the arrow headed for Hodge mid-air, splitting it in two.

Miraculously, no one was injured.

Isabel ran forwards. ‘Stop. I will come with you. Just stop.’

Hodge raised a hand, pausing the onslaught that was about to unfold. He had that unhinged look in his eyes that Blackmane had come to recognise.

‘Do you know how worried I was?’ he asked Isabel. ‘I lay awake all night imagining the things that might be happening to you.’

‘I am sorry.’ Her voice was shaky. ‘I want to return to the camp with you. Please.’

Slowly, the muscles in his neck began to relax. But there was more he wanted to say on the subject. ‘And to come here and find you liaising with ourenemy.’ His eyes went to Ita. ‘Did you honestly think you could simply show up after five years and be welcomed back into her life?’

Ita glared back at him, saying nothing.

Rabbit and Walnut had managed to reload their bows, but they were grossly outnumbered. Seal was no longer gasping. He was completely still.

‘Let them all go,’ Isabel said to Hodge, ‘and we will leave together, right now.’

He gave her a pitiful look. ‘You are smarter than that. You know how this ends. Now, let my men do their job.’

‘Then I refuse to return to the camp with you,’ Isabel replied, her voice raised.

The corners of his mouth lifted. ‘And where will you be going instead? To live among the trees, in the mud, with these ruffians? Will you tell your mother, or shall I?’

Isabel looked defeated. ‘Please. She is my dearest friend.’

‘She is trouble is what she is.’