Page 43 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

‘You’re to wear this.’

One of the men held up a sack. Erik froze.

‘You don’t wear it, we don’t take you.’

Erik released a long breath and sheathed his dagger. He reached out and took the sack, its coarse material rubbing against his fingers.

He fitted it over his head, wondering whether he was making the worst mistake of his miserable life. Half expecting a sword to run him through, he jumped when a meaty hand grabbed his upper arm. He scowled into the darkness as he was led out of the tannery. He was pathetic. The sooner he got a grip on this situation the sooner it would be over.

The two men said nothing as they led him through the streets. He’d begun counting again as they’d left the tannery. He was now far over a thousand and reckoned they must be leading him a merry dance as they traipsed the streets of Borwyn. They were no doubt trying to disorientate him. It would have worked better for them if he didn’t know the streets of Borwyn more than he knew himself. He’d run wild here as a child and pounded them as he got older, looking for a little light relief from the trials of the fortress.

The smells and the dips in the streets were as familiar to him as the inside of the fortress. They had passed Emma’s bakery only moments ago and now they were turning into a side alley.

He was roughly pulled through a narrow doorway, his shoulder jarring against the frame. Inside, his boots scuffed on a wooden floor. There was no warmth; no fire had been lit to keep the winter’s night at bay.

His niece had better not be staying in these conditions or there would be hell to pay.

‘De Bevoir is waiting for you upstairs.’

He was spun in one direction and the rough sack was pulled from his head. He blinked, but no light shone in the room, making it impossible to see his surroundings.

He took two steps and found the edge of a staircase; the steps creaked heavily as he made his way to the top. The two men followed closely behind, saying nothing.

By the time he reached the loft his eyes had adjusted a little, enough to make out de Bevoir waiting for him in the darkness.

‘This is all very excessive,’ said Erik as he came to a halt.

‘I’ve seen you fight. I know what we are up against and I know you wouldn’t hesitate to turn on me if you thought you could get your niece back without betraying Borwyn. I am not stupid.’

Erik nodded. It was good to know de Bevoir wasn’t underestimating him. The knowledge would help him when he plotted his revenge.

‘Isabel is in the room behind me. Wait... You can’t go barging in there. At the moment she is unharmed, but if you make any moves to take her then that will change. The men inside the room, and those behind you, are loyal to me. They are not as useless as Gamel and his men and have orders to kill the child if you make any sudden movements.’

De Bevoir stepped in front of him and slowly opened the door.

Weak candlelight spilled out on to the floor in front of him. Erik took a brief moment to look around. The dilapidated state of his surroundings told him that this dwelling was probably abandoned, narrowing down the possibilities of where they were even more.

He slowly stepped into the room, careful not to appear aggressive, no doubt in his mind that de Bevoir would follow through on his threat to hurt Isabel.

Two men lurked in the shadows, but Erik didn’t pay them any attention.

A woman sat on the dirty floor, a candle to her left. In her arms lay a sleeping child, her dark, curly hair falling in waves about her face. He took a cautious step towards them, his foot causing a floorboard to creak loudly. The little girl’s eyes fluttered open and his heart constricted.

Time fell away and he was a small boy again, looking into his sister’s innocent face.

There was no doubt in his mind that the girl was Mary’s child. The likeness was unmistakable, the big, brown eyes as beautiful as his sister’s.

He reached out a hand and the child cowered into the woman’s lap.

‘That’s enough,’ said de Bevoir.

‘But—’

Erik wanted to talk to Isabel, to find out if she was being treated well and if there was anything she needed.

The men in the shadows stirred and Erik dropped his arm.

‘You wanted to see her and now you have. We have a deal. Stick to it.’

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