Page 75 of The Warrior's Innocent Captive

Linota cried out as he pulled her upright. She kicked out at him, connecting with his knees.

De Bevoir stumbled and then righted himself, hitting Linota across the cheek as he stood.

Erik had seen enough.

He powered to his feet and rushed towards de Bevoir, barging into him and knocking him to the floor.

‘Get back,’ he growled to Linota.

Instead of moving back towards the wall, Linota stepped forward and took Isabel into her arms.

On his back, de Bevoir struggled to push himself away. Erik pressed his foot firmly against de Bevoir’s squirming stomach. Even with his hands tied behind his back Erik was far stronger than de Bevoir. De Bevoir’s fingers scrabbled against Erik’s boot, trying to remove him, but Erik only increased the pressure, pinning the man to the ground.

‘Linota, take Isabel and wait for me downstairs.’

‘What are you going to do?’ Linota’s voice trembled, but Erik didn’t look up. He wasn’t taking his eyes off his slippery adversary.

‘I’m going to end this.’ De Bevoir’s eyes widened. Good, he should be frightened. ‘Take Isabel please, Linota.’

He didn’t turn to watch as he heard Linota mutter something softly to his niece or even when he heard their soft footsteps descending the stairs.

De Bevoir’s bravado returned with their departure. ‘You half-baked fool. You’re not going to be able to do anything with your hands tied behind your back.’

Erik smiled. ‘I wouldn’t stake your life on it, if I were you.’

Chapter Eighteen

Acool breeze had picked up while they’d been inside. The small girl shivered and Linota wrapped her arms tightly around Isabel’s too-small shoulders.

‘We’ll be before a warm fire before you know it,’ Linota said brightly.

The girl said nothing, only pressing her back into Linota’s body.

No sound came from the building behind them. Linota was torn between the urge to take Isabel to the safety of the fortress and the urge to storm back inside to help Erik. He’d powered across the room strongly enough, but his hands had been tied behind his back and blood had seeped from the wound on his forehead.

Bats swooped and whirled above them as time passed without any sign of Erik. Linota’s nerves stretched so tightly she was sure they would snap at any moment.

‘What’s happening?’ whispered Isabel. ‘Will I have to go back to Master de Bevoir?’

The girl’s involuntary shudder told Linota everything she needed to know.

‘No! You will never have to go back to that man. We’re going to wait until Erik comes back out. If he doesn’t, I want you to run to the fortress you can see, high up on the hill, and ask for Mistress Katherine Leofric. That’s my sister. You will be safe with her.’

Isabel turned to look up at her. ‘What about you?’

Linota smiled. ‘I’ll be right behind you.’

That seemed to settle the child and one of Isabel’s thin arms slipped around Linota’s waist. Linota inhaled deeply. Heavy boots sounded from inside the building and she dragged Isabel deeper into the shadows, her heart pounding wildly. She would make sure that Isabel ran, but she wasn’t going anywhere unless the person she could hear heading towards them was Erik.

She didn’t realise she was holding her breath until Erik appeared in the doorway. Air rushed out of her lungs and her knees weakened. She clutched Isabel’s shoulder for support.

Erik scanned the area, his eyes passing over their hiding place.

Linota slipped her hand around Isabel’s shoulders and stepped towards him. ‘We’re here.’

Erik started towards her, raising his arms and then stopping when he caught sight of Isabel.

Linota’s heart fell. It looked as if he was about to hold her, but then he’d stopped. Had she missed her last opportunity to be in his arms?

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