Page 42 of Kingdom of Chains

‘I doubt that’ was Ita’s reply. ‘Tell me why you came here.’

‘You know why. To find you.’ Isabel raised her chin. ‘Tell me why you let me believe you were dead all these years.’

‘Because I couldn’t reach you without him knowing.’

‘Why can he not know?’

‘I already told you why.’ Ita’s voice was laced with agitation. ‘I’m safer dead.’

They watched each other through a veil of tension before Ita uncrossed her arms. ‘Well, you found me. Now what?’

The question was a good one. Isabel’s circumstances had changed because of this meeting. Her mother and brother were still waiting for her at Hampstead Keep, dependent on her sticking to the plan. ‘I would like to visit Maddock House.’

Ita frowned. ‘Why?’

No sensible reason came to mind. Her shoulders rose an inch. ‘Because I want to visit my home.’

Ita’s face filled with pity. ‘Oh, Belle. There’s nothing left of it.’

She knew that—she had watched it burn—but her throat closed all the same. ‘I need to go home.’

Ita studied her for a long moment. ‘Does Hodge know you’re here?’

‘No, and he will likely be looking for me by now.’

‘Perfect,’ Rabbit replied, head shaking.

Ita released a breath. ‘Fine. I’ll take you there.’

‘No you won’t,’ Rabbit said quickly. ‘Hodge will have soldiers tearing the forest apart searching for her.’

Isabel nodded in agreement. ‘That is true. The last thing I want is to put any of you in danger. I shall make my own way there.’

Laughter burst from Ita. ‘Alone? You’ll never find it. You have the worst sense of direction of any person I’ve ever known.’

‘Not true. I foundyou.’

Rabbit snorted. ‘Right.’

All the laughter in Ita’s eyes faded. ‘Hodge will find you eventually.’

Isabel nodded. ‘I know.’

Ita dropped her gaze and turned to the others. ‘I’ll take her by myself. The risk will be mine alone.’

The other three exchanged a look, and then Rabbit said, ‘We’ll all go, but no loitering. If Hodge knows of this house, then that’ll be the first place he goes looking for her. And we travel insilence, like normal. The two of you will save the chitchat for a safer time and location. Understood?’

Ita turned back to Isabel with a smirk. ‘He can be a little broody, but he really knows how to keep a lady alive.’ Her eyes went to the trees. ‘I’ll get the horses.’

A few minutes later, the five of them were on their way to Maddock House.

They travelled without ever setting foot on a main road. The St Clare people seemed to read the forest the same way the defenders did, as if they shared a secret language with the trees and received warnings mere humans like Isabel were not privy to.

It took seven hours to get to Llanelieu. Seven hours of silence, afraid Hodge would find them before they reached Maddock House.

Isabel soaked up the vibrant scenery and familiar landmarks. The closer they got to Llanelieu, the more her soul awakened. She was thrilled to discover lush green surroundings, a contrast to the bleak, muddy landscape she had left behind five years earlier. She drew greedy lungfuls of air, savouring the smell of pine and honeysuckle.

‘Welcome home,’ Ita said quietly.

---