As Robert sat down on the bench with him,Brant said, “It appears Richard was right about me needing practice.”

“Actually,it was Isabel, who thought you might need practice. She does not seem to wantanything to happen to you,” Robert said. “Though sometimes I wonder, if she is not gaming us all.”

Whileshe was the last thing Brant wanted to think about, since he was going to haveto deal with her sometime, the more he knew the better.

“How so?”Brant asked.

“WhenRichard approached me for help, and mentioned that the brains behind the plan,was a one and six maid, it seemed like a lark. I get Kate, and you get stuckwith some baggage, until she is one and eight,” Robert said, with a concernedlook.

"Baggage?" Brant asked. "That is how you saw it? I thinkyou forgot, powerful friends. Do you know why someone is determined to protecther?"

"Ihave no idea," Robert said. “I was told why did not matter. It wasimportant to protect both of you. Richard alluded to there being some vaguethreat, to both of you. But the longer this goes on, the more I wonder, if I did not make a deal with the devil. Several times,messengers have arrived with word that made no sense to me. When I askedRichard what that was about, he simply told me I knew all, I needed to know. Iam sure Richard and Isabel, knew what the messagemeant. Just this morning, Richard asked where she wanted to go, to hide outfrom you. She said she did not intend to hide from you, though when you learnthe whole truth, you are likely to be madder than a wild boar. It appears thatRichard, and Isabel, have been doing things that I was not a part of.Furthermore, Isabel seems to have secrets, even from Richard.”

WhenRobert fell silent, and it appeared no further information was forthcoming,Brant rose, and asked if he would like to go a round with the swords.

Forthe next couple of weeks, Brant was let out into the courtyard to practice,with his weapons. By that time, his armor and sword, no longer felt heavy. Inbetween, he spent time holding his shield, and maneuvering a practice sword, hehad been allowed to take into his jail cell. Richard had been in to speak withhim several times, about a treaty with Avery, which Brant must honor. He wouldalso be expected, to see to the safety of his wife, until she was one andeight, unless the situation changed. He did not elaborate,on what he thought might change. Which left Brant convinced that he was stillnot being told the whole story.

Furthermore,as Richard had acted on authority of the Crown, Brant would not pursue revengeagainst them, did he wish to remain outside of a cell. Brant decided he nolonger wished to kill Robert anyway, although he did desire, to get even withhim, somehow.

However,Richard's assertion that Isabel had the protection of the Crown,intrigued Brant. Their sires, Eric and Edmund, had been what wassometimes called Marcher Lords. They both ruled their vast holdings, withautonomy. Brant had sworn loyalty, and paid feity to the King, and the Kingleft him alone. His war with Avery did not appear to warrant Royal involvement.If it did, why not just kill Avery? What was Brant not being told?

Themorning of his last day of being held prisoner, Brant found himself thinking ofthe night before. The old woman had brought Alisa to him. He did so enjoygetting her soft little body under his, particularly when he could hold back,when she reached her climax. From then on, she was completely in his control,moaning or whispering “yes,” to encourage him to continue. And if he stopped,begging with her eyes, or a whispered “please,” until he started moving, again.It was so satisfying to have her moan her approval, like an animal in thethrows of passion, until he took her over the edge, again. Never before hadBrant experienced such lust, where the only thing that mattered at the time,was their bodies moving together.

Beforeshe left last night, Alisa had kissed him gently, and whispered, “Rest well, miamor.”

Hewas not sure what that meant, but it sounded like an endearment. Then, Robertappeared at the barred door, bringing Brant back to the present.

“Thelookout has sent the signal that your men-at-arms are approaching. They shouldbe here within the half hour, so you need to get ready,” Robert said, as heunlocked the cell door.

Brantrose slowly, and asked, “They are actually, just going to let me go?”

“Well,your weapons are in the hall, as is the Lady Isabel, who wishes to speak toyou,” Robert informed him. “However, your men were sent for. They know you arehere,” he paused, and laughed, before finishing, “with your wife.”

Twoserfs assisted Brant in donning his maul, before going to carry out his trunk,and shield. Then, Robert waved his arm, indicating that Brant should movetoward the door.

“Yougo first, so I know you are not going to club me over the head,” Robert said.

“Sothey kidnapped me, and forced me to wed some child. Held me in a dungeon fornearly three months, and now, they are just going to let me go? I find that anunsatisfying story, with a lot of holes in it,” Brant said. “However, if itgets me out of here, I believe I can live with being unsatisfied, for a littlewhile.”

Hewas now out of the jail courtyard, where he could see his destry standingsaddled, with some other horses, near a stable. Brant walked directly towardthe horse, feeling a strong desire, to get outside of the Castle walls.

“Well,I did say Isabel was waiting in the hall, to speak with you,” Robert remindedhim.

Thegate was wide open, and about twenty men rode in, bearing Brant’s crest on thelead horse. He recognized them as his men. The Knight Harold led the group.

“Itis good to see you, My Lord,” Harold greeted. “We were beginning to worry, thatsomething had happened to you, too. It was a relief, when we found out you werejust here, getting wed.”

Brantglared at Robert, before replying, “It is good to see you, too, Harold. Whatdid you mean by, ‘something had happened to me, too’?”

“Iam sorry to have to say it, My Lord. Esme went to visit her mother, and thegirl has just disappeared,” Harold replied slowly. “We searched Peggy’s Castleand questioned her, but she claims to know nothing, about what may havehappened to the girl. She certainly looked to be distraught, about her daughtervanishing, but ...”

“Mysister went missing from Peggy’s?” Brant questioned, sharply.

"Aye,My Lord," Harold said, nodding in confirmation.

“TheLady Isabel is in the hall. Go get her, and escort her to my Castle, near KingsWorthy. I want you to see that she is safe, and make sure,I do not hear anything about her. How many men are with you?” Brant asked.

“About one hundred, My Lord. I was not sure that, this might not be a trap,”Harold answered.

“Takehalf of the men with you, to see to her safety,” Brant ordered the Knight.

Thenhe mounted his destroy, and rode toward the gate. Robert hurried to his horse,and followed.

Whenhe caught up with his old friend, he said, “I do not think that was a very goodidea, Brant.”

“Iwas told I had to see to her safety, until she reaches her majority. I did nothear any orders about how, I was to do that,” Brant said, as he passed throughthe gate.

Isabelwas sitting near the hearth, waiting to talk to her husband, when several menentered, and approached.

“Areyou the Lady Isabel?” one of the men asked. She nodded in the affirmative. Theman continued, “I am Sir Harold, My Lady. His lordship asked me to get you, andescort you to his Castle, where you will be safe.”

“Ineed to talk to my husband, before he leaves,” Isabel stated.

“Hislordship rode out to talk to the men. His sister has gone missing, so he willlikely be riding out immediately, to try to find a lead on her whereabouts,”Harold said. “I am sorry, but you are going to have to talk with him, later.Right now, you will have to come with us, My Lady.”