"Someonegave you a serf, for your amusement, while you were being held prisoner, byyour wife?" Robert questioned, incredulously. "That does not seemlike, something Isabel would do. I can ask Richard, if he knows anything aboutthe girl, if you want me to."

"Thatwould likely to be a waste of time," Brant said, dismissing the offer."She was just a serf, but very different from Cora. More importantly, Ican find no trace of Esme. I do not know where she is, who may have her, oreven if she is still alive. That is what troubles me most. There has been nodemand for anything, in exchange for her return."

Brantdid not say that both situations, Esme and Alisa, were a constant reminder ofthe deep sense of gloom, and helplessness, that hadplagued him, during his many days of captivity. He was a knight who had faceddeath many times without fear, yet, he had known fear, while being held,isolated in that damned cell. His life had been totally in someone else'scontrol. They could have held him indefinitely, until he went stark raving mad.

"Well,you can not allow yourself to give up hope, Brant," Robert said."There is still reason to think, someone may have her, as long as she hasnot been found dead. In the mean time, come, can't you try to enjoy thedistraction of some company?"

Brantnodded in the affirmative, before the two rejoined the others.

Robertand Kate, had been there for several days, when amessenger arrived, with word from those watching Peggy. The Lady had beenobserved going to the postern gate, in the middle of the night, where she hadmet a man. The lookout nearby, believed he had heard the Lady saying, “Tell himhe had better come to see me. I want to see my daughter, or I am going to tellBrant”.

Brantdetermined that he would be riding back with the messenger, to wait for ‘him’,to show up. Although, the early winter weather was not all that inviting, itwas a relief, to finally, have some lead on Esme. He was not going to take anychance that this lead might get away. Could he finally, be close to finding hisyounger sister?

Robertinsisted on going along, and with Brant’s mood somewhat lightened, he teased,“You would think with the new bride, you could find better things to do, thansit outside in the cold, waiting to hopefully catch a rat, Robert.”

“Youwould think, but the bride is with child, and suffering an inclination towretch at will,” Robert replied, with a laugh.

Brantjoined in with his friend's laughter, as the two men left the hall, to gettheir destries saddled for the ride.

Brantand Robert, had been biding their time, for nearly twodays, waiting for any sign of Peggy’s mystery man, in a wooded area, from whichthey could see the postern door. There were men inside the Castle, who wereloyal to Brant, also. He paid their wages, as Peggy could not be bothered, withmanaging her own property. The weather was quite unpleasant, however gettingany information about Esme, was worth the discomfort to Brant. Robert wasequally determined to wait this out, because he felt somewhat responsible, forthe girl’s plight. Brant might not have allowed Esme to go to her mother's, ifhe had been at home, rather than a prisoner.

Itwas quite late at night, when the faint sound of muffled huff beats, alertedthem to the approach of two men, who were walking their horses. Near the edgeof the woods, one man handed his mount’s reigns to the other, before movingforward, toward the fortress wall. Brant signaled to a couple of the men withhim, to move around behind the lone figure, with the horses. The others remainedout of sight, until he was quietly, subdued. By that time, the postern gate wasopened, and the other man had slipped inside.

Brant,Robert, and their men, ran toward the gate, to block the culprit inside. Theyhad covered most of the approximately two hundred feet, when torches flaredinside the castle wall. The mystery man pulled the gate open, to attempt anescape, but seeing his path blocked, he retreated backinside. Drawing his sword, Brant followed him in, cornering him inside thecurtain wall.

Inthe well lighted inner bailey, Brant easily recognized Avery.

“Youbetrayed me to him,” Avery angrily accused Peggy.

“NayI did not. I would not. I love you. I just wanted to see my daughter,"Peggy shouted.

"Heis here, waiting for me. You helped him trap me, you witch," Avery shoutedback.

"Youpromised if I helped you, you would kill him. There he is, kill him,” Peggyyelled, giving Avery a small push toward Brant.

“Shut-up,you stupid slut,” Avery shouted, outraged by her damning comments. "Youdisgust me."

"Ihave done everything I could to help you. Where is Esme? You promised you wouldkeep her safe. What have you done with her?" Peggy yelled, in risinghysteria.

“Shutup! I say,” Avery yelled back.

Indesperation, to stop her from divulging all she had done to aid him, Averyslashed at her with his drawn sword, cutting a long gash in her neck. The mensurrounding them stood frozen in shock, watching as Peggy slowly crumbled tothe ground, with blood gushing from the mortal wound.

Whilethe others around him, stood transfixed in horror as Peggy drew her lastrasping breaths, Avery turned his rage toward Brant. He swung his sword wildly,as he advanced on his enemy. All the while, continuing his tirade, now aimedBrant.

“Shewas supposed to be loyal to me, and to help me kill you,” Avery shouted.

Withthat, he took an enraged hack at Brant’s head, which was easily deflected.There was no way out of this, Avery knew. He would either be killed, orimprisoned. But it would be satisfying, to take his enemy to the grave, withhim.

"Hewas supposed to be on my side, and help me best you," Avery yelled,continuing his verbal assault. “He double-crossed me, and took your damnedsister."

Inhis anger, Avery was leaving himself exposed to Brant’s sword. He could easilyhave eliminated his enemy. However, he wanted information out of the man. Averylowered his sword to hack at Brant’s leg. Brant quickly blocked the swing.

“Whotook her from you?” Brant asked his furious opponent.

“Hetold me he sent your sister home to you,” Avery replied, with a bitter laugh.“It looks like he crossed you, too.”

Inthe background, a child began screaming “mama”, as she tried to run to hermother’s lifeless body.

Averylaughed, in disgust, “Peggy always wanted me to claim that little bastard.”

Thedisclosure that he was Hannah’s sire was telling for Brant. He always suspectedthat Peggy was involved in the ambush on his father. He had been certain thatAvery or his sire, actually perpetrated the crime. Now Brant knew hissuspicions were correct.

Averytook several more incautious hacks at Brant, leaving his torso exposed. He wastrying to merely defend, against Avery's aggression, to keep him talking.However, after a few minutes, Brant noticed that Avery seemed to be calmingdown. He was becoming more focused, on trying to do injury to his opponent.Brant was forced to swing his sword in offense, attempting to injure his angryenemy.

Averyturned, and lunged forward, at about the same time, yelling, “Damn your wholefamily to hell.”

Unableto quickly alter the direction of the heavy weapon, Brant’s sword plunged deepinto Avery’s chest, and he froze in mid motion. His sword dropped to theground, and Avery slowly sank to his knees, before finally falling sideways, tolay prostrate on the cobbles. Seeing his enemy collapse, Brant moved to hisside.

“Whotook Esme?” Brant demanded. "Who betrayed you and took Esme? Who?"

Butthe only sound was the child still screaming “mama.” Avery was dead.

Realizinghis enemy would not be answering, Brant rose, wiping the blood from his sword,before sheathing it. He turned to where one of his men, was restraining thescreaming child, with one arm around her waist.