Page 74 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

He closed his eyes. The last thing he remembered clearly was... Linota, a shaft of light illuminating her face. She was telling him something, something important, but the images slipped from his mind like wisps of smoke on an evening breeze.

He wanted to call out to her to find out if she was all right, but he clenched his jaw, fighting the impulse. Staying silent would give him an advantage.

‘You put your faith in the wrong person, Mistress Leofric.’ Erik’s heart stilled. He’d recognise that voice anywhere. De Bevoir was here in the room with them; Erik should have known. All his bad moments had been because of this man. He clenched his fists; it was time to end him once and for all. He forced himself to breathe evenly as de Bevoir continued. ‘Perhaps if you’d stayed in the castle like the lady you are supposed to be then you wouldn’t be in this mess. But you had to follow this piece of vermin around.’ De Bevoir kicked Erik in the ribs and he bit down to stop himself from grunting as the air left his lungs.

‘What do you want from me?’

Erik cringed. Linota’s words were brave, but the wobble in her voice betrayed her; he would get her out of here. He would continue that kiss and then...

‘What do I want from you? That’s an interesting question, Mistress Leofric. What I really want is to have my life back. It was comfortable living as Garbodo’s steward. But thanks to your imbecilic lover I no longer have that option.’

Erik tugged on the ropes that bound him. They were crudely knotted, but still tight. He pulled on them again, harder this time. The bindings burned against his skin, but he didn’t care; he needed to be quick. He wanted Linota out of here and away from this madman.

He cracked open his eyes, wider this time. He was lying in the corner of the room; Linota was some way over, slumped at an unnatural angle.

He fought the rage back down and tried to think through the cloud of pain fogging his brain.

‘I’ll tell you what I want,’ continued de Bevoir. ‘I want your ransom. Borwyn was prepared to pay it once before, I’m sure he will agree to it again, perhaps more now he is marrying your sister. He might even give me something for his bastard half-brother.’

‘He’ll think you’re lying.’ Linota’s voice was hoarse, as if she were holding back tears. Erik’s rage built. De Bevoir would pay for causing Linota even a moment of pain. Erik would make sure of it.

De Bevoir snorted. ‘If he doubts me, I’ll send him your lengthy plait and something more personal of Erik’s. I’m sure the Earl will come round quick enough.’

How was it that de Bevoir managed to sound as if he were discussing something pleasant at the feasting table while all the time spouting such insanity? Because the man was clearly insane. Erik had been distracted by Linota’s sweet mouth earlier and de Bevoir had been able to sneak up on him. That would not happen again.

It seemed Linota agreed. ‘Erik won’t let you hurt me.’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t worry about being harmed, my dear lady. You’ll both be dead soon enough. I’m not so much of a fool as to leave you both alive when this is over. You weren’t supposed to live anyway. Borwyn couldn’t make the alliance with Ogmore if both Leofric sisters were dead, could he?’ De Bevoir laughed and Erik suppressed a shudder. De Bevoir really was insane. ‘Erik won’t rest until he comes after me. He’s already been relentless in his pursuit. I’ve had to change my hiding places so many times because of him. No, I have no intention of letting either of you live after this is over.’

Linota’s small whimper tore at Erik’s heart. Erik had to stop listening to de Bevoir’s ravings and concentrate on a plan to get them both out of there. A plan that involved Linota leaving without getting wounded in any way.

A small movement, barely perceptible, drew Erik’s attention to the corner of the room. He blinked, trying to make out what had changed.

Nothing...and then the flicker again. He held his breath, listening.

The faint press of a footstep and the slight brush of something fabric was all he could make out. De Bevoir continued with his rant, oblivious to the fact that someone else lurked in the shadows.

Or maybe he wasn’t.

As the other person stepped into a patch of light, Erik’s heart sank and swelled in equal measure. Isabel stood, her back pressed to the wall, her tiny hands clutched in front of her.

Erik had been searching for her for so long it was almost impossible to believe that she was in front of him right now at the worst possible moment. Now he had another person to get out of this situation. But he would save them both, even if he died trying.

Isabel’s gaze was fixed on de Bevoir, her eyes so wide Erik could make out the whites surrounding her pupils. Her dress was shabby and torn and she was so thin it looked painful, but he couldn’t make out any cuts or abrasions on her; perhaps de Bevoir had left her physically unharmed.

‘And...’ de Bevoir’s rant cut through Erik’s thoughts as he got louder, for the first time displaying his agitation ‘...I’ve been saddled with Erik’s runt of a niece. But I heard an interesting bit of gossip recently. Do you want to know what it is?’

Linota didn’t answer.

‘It seems the ever-noble Earl of Borwyn is going to claim her as family. Come forward, Isabel.’ De Bevoir gestured with his hands and Isabel took a small step forward. ‘Closer now.’

Erik watched as Isabel took several trembling steps towards the madman.

De Bevoir grabbed Isabel’s face in his hand and turned it to the light. ‘She doesn’t look anything like the Earl, does she?’ He shrugged. ‘But if he’s willing to publicly claim her as a relative than I’m sure she’ll be worth a bit of gold to him. I stand to make enough to live comfortably from all of you. I may travel to France. I’ve had enough of this poxy country.’

He shoved Isabel away from him. She stumbled and hit the floor with a small thud.

De Bevoir stalked over to Linota and grabbed her by the hair. ‘You’re coming with me.’

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