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The expression on Thomas’ face suddenly seemed to change as he looked over the inner and outer wards, causing Desmond to see what had his attention.

Immediately, he could see Adelaide emerging from the keep and descending the stairs down to the inner bailey.

The murderess herself had made an appearance and the mood instantly seemed to change.

It went from one of tense but quiet understanding to one of foreboding. A killer was in their midst.

Desmond sighed heavily.

“There she is,” he muttered. “Best of luck, Tommy.”

Thomas braced himself. He refused to see Adelaide when he returned yesterday, pleading exhaustion, but Adelaide was smart– she knew he’d be seeing to his duties early this morning and she was going to intercept him.

Knowing he couldn’t put off the inevitable, he simply headed for the tower with the stairs that led down into the bailey.

“Tell the men on the wall to keep an eye out for my father,” he said. “I want to know when he is sighted.”

Desmond nodded. “I will stay on the wall myself,” he said. “Not to worry.”

Thomas paused. “I thought you were exhausted after being up all night?”

Desmond shook his head. “Not after what you just told me,” he said. “I am eager for your father’s return, too.”

Thomas simply lifted his eyebrows in agreement and took the stairs, down the darkened tower and emerging into the cold, damp bailey.

As soon as he hit the ground, he could see Adelaide coming through the far gate from the inner to the outer bailey.

She was dressed in yellow, bright against the dawn’s shadows.

He headed right towards her because, clearly, she was heading for him.

He couldn’t avoid her any longer.

“My lord,” she called out, her voice echoing against the stone walls because she’d very nearly shouted. “Welcome back. I came to see you yesterday when you returned but I was told you were not to be disturbed.”

They came to a halt in nearly the center of the outer bailey, but it was an uneasy halt. For every two steps Adelaide would take in his direction, he’d take a step away from her. There was about six feet between them and he refused to let her close the gap.

“It was a strenuous ride,” he said simply.

Adelaide was expecting more of an explanation. She looked at him, lifting her eyebrows with the beginning of that annoyed expression she so often had on her face. “And I trust your parents made it home safely?”

She said it rather sarcastically. Thomas simply nodded. “They did.”

“They did not even bid me farewell.”

He could have given her a nasty reply, but he refrained. “My… mother was not feeling well,” he said. “She simply wanted to get into the carriage and depart as quickly as she could.”

It was obvious that Adelaide didn’t believe him.

She was becoming more annoyed by the second.

“I see,” she said. “Now that your parents are back at Castle Questing, I must speak to you about the return of my father’s body to Kyloe Castle.

It has been over a week, Thomas. I really must insist that we marry immediately and return his body to Kyloe for burial. ”

“Define immediately.”

“Today.”

He shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “We will wait until my mother is feeling better and can return for the mass. As for your father’s body, it is my understanding that it is in a decent state since it is so cold in the vault.

If we marry by the end of the week and return him then, that should be sufficient. ”

His answer infuriated her. “Unacceptable,” she said, crossing her arms angrily. “It will be today.”

Thomas cocked an eyebrow at her. “I told you that you cannot have everything you want, when you want it,” he said, losing his patience. “I further told you that I will make the decisions when it pertains to us or any other matter of my house and hold. You do not have a say in these things.”

Adelaide’s face was starting to flush. “I have a say,” she hissed. “If you want this earldom, and I know you do, then you will do as I say.”

He smiled thinly at her. “I do not care about the earldom, nor do I care about you. I am only in this contract because our fathers brokered it. Please– if you want out, just say the word and I will be happy to release you from this burden. I beg you to release us both.”

That wasn’t the answer Adelaide was looking for.

She was hoping to force him into obedience with her threat.

Just as she was gearing up for a retort, the sentries on the walls sounded and Thomas was distracted.

He turned for the gatehouse, trying to hear what the sentries were saying, as Adelaide snarled behind him.

“I am not finished,” she said, struggling to regain his attention. “Look at me, Thomas. I am not finished with you yet.”

He ignored her. The sentries seemed somewhat excited and Thomas began heading for the gatehouse. As he moved towards it, the ropes on the portcullis went taut and the massive iron grate began to lift. Overhead, Desmond shouted down to him.

“De Wolfe colors!” he shouted down.

Thinking it might be his father, Thomas quickly made his way to the gatehouse, leaving Adelaide where he left her in a furious mess.

But Thomas was very eager to speak with his father so he stood at the mouth of the gatehouse as the portcullis lifted, seeing the rider come down the road that led right into the gatehouse.

Immediately, he saw that it was not his father, but he did recognize Markus de Wolfe’s horse.

It was a very big, black horse to support an enormous knight, and he stood aside as Markus charged through the gatehouse and reined his sweaty, weary horse to a halt.

He ripped his helm off as Thomas approached him.

“Tommy, it’s grandfather,” he said breathlessly. “There has been an accident.”

Thomas felt a wave of shock wash over him. “What accident?” he demanded. “Where is he?”

Markus wiped the sweat out of his eyes as he threw his leg over the saddle and plopped to the ground.

“Northwood,” he said. “There was an accident with the horses and grandfather was badly injured. You must go to Northwood immediately. Grandmother is already heading there with Uncle Blayth and several other men. Riders were sent for Troy, Scott, and my father this morning.”

Thomas knew he had gone pale. His hand went to his heart as if to hold it into his chest, for his father was his heart and soul and then some. He simply couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Oh, God,” Thomas breathed, grabbing hold of Markus. “What happened to him? God, Markus, tell me he is not dying.”

Markus was a mature young knight but, emotionally, he still had some growing to do. He was still only nineteen years old. When he saw the fear in Thomas’ eyes, his composure took a hit.

“His horse threw him head-first into a stone wall,” he said.

“He was not wearing his helm. Garr Ellsrod arrived at Castle Questing somewhere around midnight to tell us what had happened. Will has gone after Uncle Scott and Atreus has gone for Uncle Troy, and Alec rode for my father at Berwick. I was told to summon you. I do not know how badly grandfather is injured, Uncle Tommy, but I know you must come. You must come now .”

Thomas put his hands over his face, trying to hold back the gut reaction of tears and horror. “Oh, God,” he breathed. “Oh God, not my papa. Please, God, not my papa.”

By this time, Desmond had come off the wall and had heard most of what Markus had said.

He began shouting for Thomas’ horse to be brought as well as his own.

Men began running with a purpose as the stable servants flew into a frenzy.

Everything and everyone was moving and as Thomas turned around to head to the armory, Adelaide was suddenly behind him.

“Why was your father at Northwood Castle?” she asked without a shred of emotion. “You said that you escorted him to Castle Questing.”

Thomas didn’t reply; he didn’t trust himself to.

He pushed past her but she reached out, grabbing his arm and trying to physically prevent him from walking away from her.

He reacted strongly, so strongly that when he jerked his arm from her grip, she tripped backwards and ended up on her arse.

But Thomas kept walking. In fact, he started running.

He ran to the armory with Desmond behind him and, between the two of them, they managed to get themselves dressed rather quickly.

A few soldiers had piled in after them, grabbing shields and other items, making sure the knights were equipped.

It didn’t take long for both Thomas and Desmond to be fully dressed, and they spilled out of the armory with soldiers following behind, carrying the items they had grabbed so they could secure them to Thomas’ saddle.

Thomas wasn’t any less panicked than he had been moments before, but he managed to speak somewhat coherently.

“Des, put the gatehouse sergeant in command while we are away,” he said. “Lock up Wark and make sure the men know that they are to remain here and remain vigilant while we are gone. I do not want that portcullis raised for anyone.”

“Aye, Thomas.”

“Make sure they know that.”

“Aye.”

Desmond was slightly behind Thomas as they walked, eyeing the man with worry.

On top of everything else Thomas had to worry over, now his father had been injured.

Knowing how attached Thomas was to his father, he could only imagine the man’s concern.

They were just heading back into the outer bailey where the horses were being brought around and Desmond began shouting at some of the soldiers to mount a small escort when they caught sight of Adelaide again.