Chapter 7

Robertdismounted from his destry, in front of the stairs to the hall, in answer tothe summons from Richard, and Isabel. He had made a bargain with them, for whathe desired most in the world, in exchange for helping them take his oldestfriend captive. That had been over two months ago. Brant was still being heldhere, in the dungeon. Robert hoped he could trust them,he certainly could not risk crossing them. When he had been here before, therealways seemed to be riders coming, and going, with messages that verified, thatthey had spies everywhere. Robert observed two such riders approaching the opengate, and wondered what news they brought, as he turned to enter the hall.

Inside,Robert could see Richard was near the hearth, with a tankard, so he joined himthere. A serf brought him a tankard as he sat down.

Richardoffered the greeting, “Good afternoon, Robert. I trust you and Kate have beenwell, these past few weeks.”

“Aye,Kate makes me very happy. She asked that I convey her regards,” Robertanswered.

Henoticed that Isabel sat in a high-backed chair across from Richard. She was asalways, wearing a mantle wrapped around her shoulders, and over her head. Whileher eyes, mouth, and clear skin, left him thinking she was likely pretty, hequestioned if the ever present mantle, covered some terrible defect. He hadseen her on at least a dozen occasions, yet, he did not even know what colorher hair was. Though, the Lady certainly possessed an extremely shapely figure.

Themessengers entered, and approached them to report that Lady Ann was settling innicely at her dower property. The child was doing somewhat better, but wasstill suffering occasional nightmares. Ann was staying close, to reassure hershe was safe, and all was well. Robert knew that Lady Ann was Isabel’s mother,but he wondered about this nameless child, they frequently mentioned.

Isabelthanked the men for the news. Then she directed them to the kitchen, for a mealand tankard.

Oncethey had gone, she said, “Now that that is settled, all that remains is thereally difficult business.” Both men looked at her quizzically, until shecontinued, “Releasing my husband from his jail. I know knights practicefrequently, to keep their skills sharp. It would be dangerous to just turn himloose, without being sure, he can defend himself.”

“Ifwe are to turn him loose, and I suppose we must, where are we to hide you fromhim?” Richard questioned. “This was all started in large part, to keep Averyfrom killing you. Now your biggest threat, may just beyour husband.”

“Iwill be staying here. He will not kill me,” Isabel stated.

Bothmen looked at each other dubiously, before Richard argued, “Unless you knowsomething I do not, I think your safety is of grave concern. He is going to befurious.”

“Idid not say he was not going to be angry. I said he would not kill me,” Isabelreplied. “When he learns the whole truth, he is going to be as mad as a wildboar. I may wish, he would just kill me. Only timewill tell, if he will forgive me.”

"Whatdo you mean by, the whole truth?" Richard asked.

"Nothingyou need concern yourself with," Isabel answered, waving the matter off.

Onceagain, Isabel's hand was massaging her temple, as if she were under some greatstress. As the two men’s eyes met, Robert was certain that she, once again, hadinformation that neither one of them was aware of. That information,would bolster her to stay, and face her husband’s wrath. Robert had alwaysconsidered his friend, Brant, the most dangerous person he knew. However, nowhe found himself wondering, if Brant was up to the challenge, of this smallmysterious woman, he had been forced to wed.

Brantsat drinking a tankard of ale, wondering how long he had been locked up, inthis wretched cell. It had been many weeks, probably months, during which hehad watched for any chance, to attempt an escape. His jailors always made surehe was securely locked in, never letting their guard down, for a moment. So hehad only brief conversations daily with the guard, or serfs. Every few days,the old woman had brought the serf Alisa to him, usually for a few hours,occasionally much longer. That was the only thing, thatseemed to be keeping him from going mad. Brant never seemed to get tired of hershapely little body. He smiled, as he thought about how receptive she had beento his instruction, in ways to drive a man crazy with desire. If he ever gotout of here, he thought he would like to take her with him. Or maybe he justfelt that way, because she was the only woman he had access to, in here. No,that was not true. Once, the old woman had asked if he would like a differentgirl, but he knew he did not.

Onhis properties, he had a right to bed any unmarried maid he desired, as theLord’s due. Yet, he could not recall another maid, who had ever been quite asentertaining, as Alisa. Although, beyond her name and everyinch of her body, Brant knew next to nothing about the girl.

Glancingaround his prison, Brant thought again, about the elaborate way hisincarceration was set up. He had two good size rooms here. In the dungeon athis Castle, there were six very small cells. Prisoners were given one meal aday, and rarely allowed any water to wash with, or clean clothes. No wine orwomen were allowed in. His captors, supplied him with food fit for the Lord'stable, wine and ale, baths and clean clothing, and of course Alisa. While theyhad made sure he was not going anywhere, they also made sure he was notsuffering. Brant kept reminding himself of this, as proof that he would bereleased, at some time.

Brant'smusings where interrupted when Robert entered, caring two tankards, one ofwhich he passed through into the cell.

"Goodafternoon, mon ami," Robert greeted. "I trust you are managing. Havea drink with me, to celebrate my wedding. I am sorry you could not bethere."

"Yougot married?" Brant asked.

"Aye,three weeks ago, Lady Katherine and I, were wed. I have also been busy gettingacquainted with my newly acquired Castle, and lands, formerly Avery's Castle,and Kate's dower lands," Robert informed his friend. "I was truly adesperate man a couple of months ago, with it likely, the Lady would bebetrothed to someone else. You cannot know, what a huge relief it was, whenRichard approached me, with an opportunity to gain his consent, to wed hisdaughter."

"Richardis Katherine's father? So I end up in a cell, and you get the Lady?" Brantasked.

Hepicked up the tankard, and took a big draught, glaring at his friend.

"Aye,but only a little longer," Robert confirmed. "Your hosts havedecried, that after two months of lazing around, you are likely a little rusty.Therefore, you need to be let out in the courtyard, for some jousting practice.Although, they also have made sure, there are no weapons sharp enough for youto hurt anyone, trying to exit early."

AsRobert was speaking, a serf, and Brant's squire entered, carrying a shield and armor, that Brant recognized as his own. He was relieved, tosee that the youth had not been injured.

Afterdemanding assurances that Brant would not attempt to escape, he was let out ofhis cell, for the first time since his wedding night. His squire assisted himin donning his armor, which he noted, seemed heavier than he remembered.Outside of the building, was a courtyard, of maybe thirty by thirty feet,surrounded by a high stone wall, with a wooden gate.There were also six very large men, several of whom he recognized from hiswedding night. Brant was first allowed to practice with his squire, whoapparently had not had much exercise recently, either, and tiredin a very short time. Then the knight Justin stepped in, to trade parry’s withthe practice swords. Brant observed that he was quite good with a sword,probably better than Brant had ever been. With the heavy blows, from Justin’ssword, it was not long, before Brant realized his forced inactivity hadseriously weakened him. He put down the sword, and walked to a bench to sitdown.