Reluctantto tell his friend, he was not sure if he knew, what his captors had done tohim, Brant changed the subject.

“Whatdid your father say about his activities, right before he consented to yourmarriage?” Brant asked Kate.

“AllI know, is he was spending a lot of time with Isabel,” Kate replied. “Oh, healso provided Isabel’s mother with safe escort, to her dower property. Thatseemed rather odd, as Lady Ann should have had her own people, to see to that.I recall my father was leaving, with Lionel and Justin on several occasions,with no explanation. A group of Lords, you know, with just one or two knightsfrom each. I have seen that before, when father was doing something for theKing. He actually only inherited about 300 acres. The rest of his holdings,were deeded to him for some service to the Crown, most of which he would nottalk about.”

“Soit is like I said. Your father, knowing I was smitten with you, got me involvedin one of his secretive undertakings. Now, I am worried, it is not over,”Robert said.

Thenext morning, the knights were up before dawn, for the morning meal. At firstlight, they were ready to ride out.

Asthey mounted the horses, Robert commented, “Good job, Brant. I already felt guilty,about helping Richard kidnap you. Now you have my wife furious with me, too.”

Brantlaughed heartily at him, before nudging his destry into a gallop. The men rodemost of the day, stopping late in the afternoon, to make camp for the night.The horses were getting tired, and it would be dark, before they reached theirdestination. If this was some type of trap, Brant wanted to approach theCastle, in the light of day. Lookouts were sent out at a short distance aroundthe camp, to be sure that the group was not ambushed, in the darkness. IfIsabel’s disappearance was intended to lure him into a trap, Brant intended tobe ready for it. The night passed without incident, though, and they were backunderway, with their horses rested, at sunup.

Haroldwas in the courtyard, partaking in a little jousting practice with the othercastle knights, when Brant, Robert, and their men arrived.

Heapproached Brant, and said, “It is good to see you, My Lord. I was not surewhat to do, when the women, and the babe, went missing.”

Theknight appeared to sigh in relief, that he could now drop the matter in theBrant’s hands, and let him figure it out.

Theywalked into the hall, sending the servants scurrying to tap a keg, and get thenew arrivals a tankard. Other serfs, quickly set aboutpreparing food for the Lord, and his men. Hester joined the knights. Betweenher, and Harold, within a few minutes, Brant was certain that they were bothenamored, with the precious little lad, Nathaniel. However, he still had noidea about how the babe, and the women, could have vanished, or where they mayhave gone.

Finally,Brant interrupted to ask, "Were there any visitors here, before the womenand the babe vanished?"

Hesteranswered, "Nay, Me Lord. The Lady did not ever talk to anyone, from theoutside. Well," she paused, then continued,"only the gypsy fortune teller. She said it was a lark, and wondered ifshe were going to meet a dark, mysterious, man."

Brantlaughed, as he asked, "Do you remember her fortune?"

Hesterreplied, "It was always just gibberish. The last time, the gypsy said 'yer babe will travel to the child'. And then, 'seek anangel, to take yer prayers to the Lord.' The Lady gave ‘er a coin, and walkedaway. I remember, she asked us where ye go to seek an angel."

Brantasked, "You gave her coins, for the fortune teller?"

"Nay, Me Lord. The Lady always ‘ad one. Ido not know where she got them," Hester replied.

Robertasked, "Are you sure, the gypsy told Isabel 'the babe would travel to thechild‘? She used the words 'the child'?"

"Aye, Yer Lordship," Hester confirmed.

"WhenI was at Isabel's, she got a message that said ‘Lady Ann and the child, are safe with the Lord’, once. Another time, themessage was, 'Lady Ann is settling in well, but the child still has nightmares'.The gypsy might have been carrying messages, in and out, Brant," Robertsaid.

Haroldspoke up then, reporting, "When the Lady did not come down a few times,the gypsy asked after her. Yet, they were here yesterday, and she did not askif the Lady was well. I think, maybe, the gypsy knew Lady Isabel wasgone."

Theservants had brought out trays of meats, breads, cheeses, and other staples,while this discussion had been taking place. Brant asked if the gypsies werestill in the area, as the knights sampled from the trays. Someone offered theinformation, that the gypsies had been camped, about a mile west of thevillage.

Brantate in silence for a while, thinking about Isabel. A gypsy fortune tellerseemed like a lark, to the people here. Robert had said kidnapping him, seemedlike a lark. He had thought, he could go through with a sham marriage, andstick her out of the way somewhere, with no complications. Things around hiswife seemed to be superficial, and harmless. However, once you were involved inthem, you found you did not quite know, what was going on, or if it washarmless after all. This whole situation with Isabel, was supposed to bebecause of Brant's war with Avery, but Avery was dead. Therefore, it should beover, right? Or, was there something more going on? Once again, Brant wasfinding he had a lot of questions, and no answers. He knew one thing forcertain, though. When they were done eating, they were going to go look for agypsy fortune teller.

Whenthe knights rode into their camp later, the gypsies had their wagons allpacked, and appeared to be leaving the area. The fortune teller's wagon was notyet underway.

AsBrant rode up, the gypsy greeted him with, "Good day, Me Lord."

"Goodday," Brant returned. "The Lady from the Castle,disappeared about five days ago. Have you seen anything unusual, in thearea?"

"We‘ave only been here two days. I have not seen anything, out of place," thewoman said, as she looked nervously at another gypsy, who was frowning at her."Would ye like me to tell yer fortune, Me Lord?" she asked, lookingat Brant, hopefully.

"Aye,"Brant said, remembering what Hester had reported, of Isabel's actions.

Thegypsy reached out to take his hand, and ran a finger along his palm. Brantfound himself smiling over her outrageous, channeling the spirits demeanor.There were several bands of gypsies, nomadic people who had somehow gotten herefrom the continent. They were mostly con artists and thieves, who moved when,or before, they got in trouble.

"Yerlove was taken, by yer own hand. To find yer love, find yer Lady. Would ye liketo buy a lucky charm, Me Lord?" the gypsy concluded.

Brantshook his head in the negative, and handed her a coin. The other gypsy slappedthe reigns, to start the wagon in motion. Brant watched until the wagon hadmoved off a little ways.

Then,looking at Robert, he said, "I believe I know what happened to the women,and the babe." Everyone looked at him quizzically, and he continued,"Obviously, they were spirited away by gypsies."

Robertand Harold rolled their eyes, then both men's jawsdropped open, as Brant turned his palm up. A small piece of parchment paper, had been tucked between his fingers. The parchmentsaid, 'the child is safe with Lady Ann'.

Knowingthey had gotten all the information they would get, from the gypsy, the knightsreturned to the Castle, to ask a few more questions. It was likely, that Isabelleft of her own accord. The gypsy woman had some part in passing messages, butthere had to be someone inside the Castle, too. It would be much easier to getinformation from them. Brant had no authority over the gypsies, whereas hecould punish his serfs.