“Robert,take a couple of men out, to get the man who was with the horses,” Brant said,offhandedly. Then, he picked up the child, and walked to the hall, consolingher with, “I am Esme’s brother, Brant. She has told me a lot about you. Esmelikes to visit you, very much. Do you know that, Hannah?”

Bythe time Robert entered the hall, Hannah was curled up in Brant's arms,sniffling weakly. The serf who normally helped carefor the little girl, could not be found. She, like most of the other serfs,were either hiding, or had slept through, the horrific events of the night. Anold woman, who was filling tankards of ale, for the knights who had entered thehall, seemed to be the only one about.

Robertinformed Brant, "The one in the woods, is just a youth, and they knockedhim out cold."

Withinminutes, several men entered, carrying the unconscious young man. He was laidon the stone floor, before a bucket of water was dumped on him, to revive him.However, that proved to be a fruitless effort.

Ashe came to, the youth sat up quickly, coughing on water he had inhaled. Hiseyes widened in fright, as he looked at the strange men who surrounded him.

Brantsaid, “We know you came here with Avery. He is dead. If you do not want to meeta similar fate, you would be wise to tell me where Esme is.”

“Ido not know,” the youth said, trembling in fear. “Avery said someone took thegirl from ‘im. He was coming ‘ere to see what some Lady knew. He said ‘er namewas Peggy.”

“Iknow Avery kidnapped Esme. She has not been seen since,” Brant said. “I know hehad her. Do not lie to me.”

“Iswear Yer Lordship, Avery was real mad cause someone ‘e thought was helpinghim, double-crossed ‘im,” the youth replied. “Then, when the Lady sent ‘im amessage, he was not sure what to think. Avery was told the girl was sent hometo ‘er brother. So Avery came ‘ere, trying to figure out what was going on. Ifthe girl was not home, he thought mayhap ‘e could go ahead with ‘is plan, evenif he did not have ‘er. He figured if the girl was home, Peggy would be introuble, and could not contact ‘im.”

Knowinghe had hit another dead end, Brant suggested that everyone try to get somesleep. In the morning, they would have to bury the dead, before traveling backto his Castle. Then, he asked the serf to show him to a room, where he couldget some rest. As Brant followed her up the stairs, he told the serf, he wouldbe taking the child, Hannah, who was now sleeping restlessly in his arms, homewith him.

Chapter 9

Isabelsat on the window seat, of the tower room, that had been pretty much herprison, since her arrival here, over five months ago. Not that they made herstay in this room. It was just that the moment she left her bedchamber, theserf, Hester was at her side. Isabel and Rosamundcould not even have a private conversation, outside of this room. The woman wasobviously, one of Brant's trusted spies, carefully monitoring everything Isabeldid. Although, if Hester’s intent was to spy, she apparentlywas not reporting back to him, or Isabel would have seen Brant by now.

Shefelt the babe kick. The child appeared to be growing strong, and healthy. Nowin her seventh month, the babe's movements were getting uncomfortable. It wasthe end of January, and would likely be another six or eight weeks, early inMarch, when he, Isabel hoped, was born.

Isabelthought back to the day, she had waited to speak to Brant, after he wasreleased from her dungeon. Instead, he had sent his men to escort, or confine,her here. She had left with them, feeling both a sense of relief, and despair.That had turned mostly to despair, when she saw their destination. From hertower window, she had a direct view of the gate towers, in the high stone wall.There were actually, two wooden gates. One on the inside,and one on the outside, of the gate towers. The passage through it, was lined with slots, to allow archers to defend againstanyone, who got past the outer gate.

Outsidethe stone curtain wall, was the outer bailey. That area appeared to be used for gardens, and possibly grazingsome livestock. It was surrounded on three sides, by an earthen wall, any attackers would need to climb over, exposingthemselves to the archers. The fourth side, was on a rock cliff, Isabel hadbeen told. Clearly, the Castle had been constructed to carefully control, whogot in, and who got out.

Shehad assured Richard, that Brant would not harm her, but she had not really beenconfident that he would not, in anger, do some harm to the babe. Regardless,she felt he needed to know the truth. Isabel recalled asking, for weeks, ifBrant would be coming here, before they told her. His instructions were to seeshe was safe, and see that he did not hear anything about her. So, while Haroldand Hester were keeping close tabs on her every movement, they were not tellinghim anything.

Isabelknew that if Brant had been told of her condition, he would have been here foran explanation. She recalled his declaration, on their wedding night,"I'll not bed the child". However, Isabel knew that she needed anheir. Her only sibling, a brother, had died in childhood, and her father was anonly child. Without an heir, her father's holdings, now hers,would pass to Avery, a distant relative. If Brant were honest, he needed anheir, too. Although, right now she was so big, and awkward, she prayed that herhusband would continue to stay away, a while longer. Actually, if her husband’speople honored his orders to them, mayhap, it would be better, if he never knewabout the babe.

Itwas Merchant's Day, the day when the merchants from the village, came to theCastle, to hawk their wares. Isabel did not care what her shadow Hester had tosay, she and Rosamund, would be going down to see the gypsy fortune teller.That was why she was sitting here in the window, waiting for the gypsy toarrive.

Whenthe time came, Isabel and Rosamund exited the bedchamber. In the passageway,they were immediately joined by Hester. Her jailor questioned the safety of hergoing out, in her condition, on a cold winter day.

Isabelsweetly responded, "I really feel that I need to get a little fresh air,and exercise. Sitting around indoors all of the time, has me feeling like aprisoner. Besides, I want to see the gypsy fortune teller. It is always such alark, to see if I am going to meet a dark, mysterious man."

Isabellaughed happily, at the frowning serf, as she continued on about her way. Oncein the courtyard, the women walked among the seller’s carts. Isabel stoppedoccasionally, to examine this item, or that, until she reached the gypsy.

"Wouldye like yer fortune today, Me Lady?" the gypsyasked.

"Aye,"Isabel answered.

Sheheld out her hand, and the woman grasped it. She ran a finger across Isabel'spalm.

"Yerbabe will travel to join the other child," the gypsy said. "Seek theangel, who will carry yer prayers to the Lord. Would ye like to buy a luckycharm, Me Lady?"

Isabelshook her head no, then took a coin from her fur muff, and placed it in thegypsy's outstretched hand.

Asthey walked away, Isabel laughed, and asked to no one in particular,"Where does one go, to seek an angel?"

Ashort while later, Isabel decided, she was ready to go back to her bedchamber.Hester appeared to be very relieved, by that news. As soon as she was back inher room, Isabel pulled a small square of paper from her muff, to read. It saidsimply, 'Robbie in the stables'.

Itwas midday, slightly more than a month later, when Isabel felt a painfultightening, in her distended abdomen. Then, a rush of liquid soaked her gunna,and she knew her labor had begun. She had come to the hall for some company,although her back ached, and she had been feeling some discomfort, in herbelly. Isabel had thought it was too soon, for the babe to be born, though shewas huge. Rosamund and Hester, hearing her moan, and seeing the wet gown,jumped into action, to help her back upstairs.