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*

“I am not afraid to die….”

*

M adeline wasn’t difficult to follow.

Trailing her sister away from the castle and down the side of the hill into the foliage near the river, Havilland hung far back as she followed her sister along the water’s edge.

She could see Madeline up ahead, walking quickly, moving as if she had a purpose.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what that purpose was and the more Havilland followed, the more distressed she became.

Sweet Jesú, it’s true….

The reality was that Havilland was feeling foolish that she hadn’t discovered Madeline’s treachery before now.

She had suspected everyone else but Madeline.

But now it was clear that Madeline had been playing her for a fool, evidently wrapped up in some kind of covert operation designed to bring down Four Crosses.

In truth, she was playing everyone for a fool, not simply Havilland.

With that understanding, it was difficult for Havilland not to run after Madeline and beat her, berate her for what she had done.

Still, there was some small part of her that was hoping this was all a mistake.

Perhaps Madeline had simply come out to the forest to collect mushrooms or winter roots.

Perhaps she even wanted to hunt. Even now, Havilland was hoping it was something else.

The alternative was heartbreaking.

Quietly, she crept behind her sister, trying to stay low, ducking behind trees as she watched Madeline up ahead.

The ground was soaked and icy, and more than once she slipped, trying not to make any noise as she did.

Truthfully, she didn’t know what she was going to do when she caught up to Madeline.

What could she say to a woman who had lowered herself to something despicable and shameful?

Then, momentary self-doubt crept in. Was she to blame for all of this?

Had she done something to drive her sister into the life of a traitor?

Years of the competition between them had brought them to this point but Havilland couldn’t honestly think of anything she would have done differently with Madeline.

There wasn’t a word or an action she regretted.

Havilland had been able to tolerate her sister’s challenges and attempts at undermining, but if Madeline was truly intent on taking her rebellion to an entirely new level, then Havilland would have to do what was necessary in order to protect her people.

She knew she wasn’t to blame for her sister’s behavior.

“ Dyna ferch cyfrwys .”

A man grabbed her from behind, whispering those words in her ear.

Startled, Havilland could feel something sharp against her torso and she immediately started to fight, using an elbow to try to ram the man but he jabbed her with what was most assuredly a dagger and she yelped as it poked through her clothing.

Now in full-blown panic, she began to fight and slap and kick, trying to grab the man by the hair but he had wedged himself in tightly behind her.

She wasn’t able to get a good grip on him but he, on the other hand, had an excellent grip on her.

The two of them fell onto the forest floor, rolling around in the moldering leaves as Madeline, alerted by the sounds, came running.

“Evon!” Madeline cried. “Stop!”

Evon had Havilland pinned, her face in the dirt as he tried to suffocate her. Madeline, seeing that Evon was trying to kill her sister, screamed at him.

“Stop!”

Evon, winded from the fight, let up a bit, enough so that Havilland was able to pull her face out of the dirt.

Gasping for air, she tried to hit him again and he came down on her, hard, but this time she was smart enough to turn her head so he couldn’t push it into the earth again.

Madeline ran over and grasped Evon by the arm, trying to pull him off of Havilland.

“Leave her alone!” Madeline yanked on Evon. “Get off of her!”

Evon wouldn’t budge. He had Havilland pinned in a bad way, an arm twisted behind her back and his dagger still in his hand. “She was following you!”

“It is my sister!”

That caused Evon to falter. Curious, he peered down at the woman he had trapped beneath him. “Which one?”

“Havilland!” Havilland grunted, twisting beneath him. “Let me go!”

Evon got a good look at Havilland, or at least as much as he could with all of the dirt and leaves on her face and hair. “Havilland?” he repeated, surprised. “I’ve not seen Havilland in ten years. God’s Bones, she’s beautiful. What was she doing following you?”

“She left the castle and I wanted to see where she was going,” Havilland answered the question, twisting and grunting beneath him. “’Tis not safe outside of the walls of the castle!”

Evon nodded. “That is a very true statement,” he said.

Suddenly, he stood up and yanked Havilland to her feet.

He’d nearly broken her arm by the way he was twisting her around, now still causing her pain on the same arm as he yanked it.

“So you were following your sister, eh? Now it looks like I have an important hostage to take to Madog’s men. ”

Havilland, in pain and angry, was still trying to fight against him. “You are mad,” she hissed. “Let me go, you fool.”

Evon reached out to push some of her dark hair away, revealing her sweet face and lush lips. He grunted. “She’ll make a fine prize,” he muttered, looking her over. “In fact, I’ll be able to sell her to the highest bidder. Have you been plundered, girl?”

Havilland was increasingly horrified with what she was hearing. “Plundered?” she repeated. “What does that mean?”

Evon had a lazy smile on his face. “Touched,” he said. “Has a man touched that silken skin?”

Now she was disgusted as well as horrified. “That is none of your affair,” she said. Then, she looked at Madeline. “Where were you going, Madeline? And why is Evon here waiting for you? Answer me!”

Madeline was standing a few feet away, a shocked look on her face. She was completely unlike the arrogant, aggressive girl they had all known. She looked cornered and scared.

“I… I…,” she stammered, swallowed, and started again. “It is not like that, Havi. Evon and I love each other. We want to marry.”

Disbelief filled Havilland’s features. “Marry?” she spat with disgust. “Madeline, what have you done? Why were you meeting Evon in secret?”

As Madeline struggled to come up with an answer, Evon spoke. “Because Madeline believes as I believe,” he said. “We believe castles in Wales should be ruled by the Welsh. The English have no place here. Madeline his helping restore our country to us.”

Havilland’s heart sank . So she is the spy! Less panicked and more distraught, Havilland focused on her sister. “Is this true?” she asked hoarsely. “Is that why they have been able to beat us down over the past few months? Because you have been telling them our weaknesses?”

Madeline met her sister’s gaze but couldn’t seem to bring herself to speak. Everything in her expression rang of shock, now joined by sorrow and defiance. Evon, seeing the distress between the two sisters, answered for her.

“Your father is mad, Havilland,” he said.

“Madeline has told me everything. A madman is in charge of Four Crosses and now his daughters are trying to defend it. Don’t you see?

It is time to surrender the fortress to those it belongs to.

Four Crosses never belonged to your family, Havilland.

It belongs to the Welsh. This is our land. ”

Sweet Jesú , it was true, all of it. The more Evon spoke, the more Havilland could see the scope of Madeline’s betrayal.

She had to close her eyes against the knowledge that Madeline had told Evon about their father and the loss of his mind.

Now all of the Welsh rebels knew, at least the ones that Evon had managed to tell.

The illusion that Havilland had tried to keep up against the English had been shattered by the Welsh.

They knew more than the English did now.

She couldn’t have possibly felt any more betrayed than she did at this moment, knowing Madeline had told the Welsh all of their secrets. There was nothing left now.

Nothing left except Four Crosses.

Havilland wasn’t going to give in so easily. It wasn’t in her nature. The most difficult thing she ever had to do in her young life was realize her sister wasn’t to be trusted anymore. As of this moment, Madeline was the enemy. Had she not been so angry and disgusted, she would have wept over it.

But she had to get herself out of this predicament first. Time for weeping would be later.

“Then it seems we are at an impasse, Evon,” Havilland finally said, forcing down her sorrows and her fears. “If you would kindly let go of my arm, I promise not to run or fight. Let us speak as civilized people and not as enemies.”

Evon didn’t see any reason not to believe her.

Besides, he was taller and faster than she was and he was quite certain she couldn’t outrun him.

Letting go of her, he stepped away as she rubbed at her twisted arm.

Evon kept the dagger in his hand, just in case he was forced to throw it at her. He wouldn’t miss.

“Now,” he said. “What did you wish to speak of? For certain, I am not in a position to negotiate Four Crosses with you. I will have to take you back to my encampment. You can discuss it with my leaders. Once they are finished with you, of course.”

It was a lewd comment and he laughed at it but Havilland stared at him without reacting. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at Madeline.

“I am not going back to your encampment,” she said flatly. “I will return to Four Crosses and you can take this discussion back to your leaders.”

Evon cocked his head. “Lady Havilland, you are my prisoner now,” he said. “I am sorry if I did not explain that to you sufficiently. You are returning with me to camp.”

“I am not.”