Thecase Richard had presented weighed on his mind. Avery gaining control of a muchlarger force, could very well prove disastrous. Fromthat angle, the child’s plan to prevent that, wasactually very good. Marriage was common to achieve peace between families, andfrequently resulted in major shifts in forces, without bloodshed. The main flyin the ointment, was that he did not want a wife, particularly, one who wasdetermined, to force him to the alter.

Beinga practical man, he could certainly see the benefit of wedding the child, andsticking her somewhere safe, until he could destroy her cousin. Then, he wouldjust have to think of a proper way, to punish the devious, willful, brat. Hecould always set his ‘bride’ aside, once she helped him solve his problems.Still, the means with which they had pursued his compliance,rankled him. He was going to have to make them sweat a few days, if he couldtake being confined in here.

Brant’sthoughts were interrupted by the sound of chains, clanging together. He rose tosee that the barred door, between the two cells, had been closed, apparentlyfrom the outside. He tested the bars, and discovered that he was securelylocked into the cell with the bed in it. He watched, as a guard opened the doorinto the other cell, so a serf could carry in a trunk, that bore Brant's familycrest, proclaiming it his.

Seeinghim watching, the serf asked, “Would ye like water for a bath, before theybring ye breakfast?”

“Aye,”Brant replied.

Theserf nodded and left, only to return a short time later, with buckets of waterto fill the tub. A stool, with soap and a sponge, was placed beside the tub.Once the serf was back outside the cell, the outer door was locked, and thebars between the cells were reopened.

“Leaveyer clothes at the door ‘ere, and we will get ‘em washed for ye, Me Lord,” theserf instructed, before moving out of sight.

WhileBrant was preparing to avail himself of the hot bath, the center door waspulled closed, once again. He watched as the serf entered the other cell, toempty the chamber pot. Then, once again, the chains clanged together, gratingon each other, and on Brant’s nerves, as the door was reopened.

Brantrelaxed as best as he could, in the hot bath, while he thought about how wellthey had his prison arranged. His jailors could secure him in one cell, whileserfs moved in and out of the other, without giving him any chance of escape.He thought about how the noise from the chains on the door, grated on hisnerves. They seemed to scream that he was truly trapped, with no choice, but tocomply with his captors.

Later,after Brant had bathed, dressed, and eaten some of the morning fare, a serf hadbrought him, Richard came, again. At his query as to whether Brant wouldconsent, to the nuptials, Brant informed him, he had no desire to wed a“child”. Richard came, and went, again in the evening. For several more daysthis scenario repeated itself, with both men determinedly maintaining theiropposing positions.

WhenRichard returned the next morning, Brant repeated, “I have no desire to wedsome child.”

“Youwill not leave here, as anything other, than the Lady’s husband,” Richardstated with steely resolve, before storming out.

WhenRichard returned early in the evening, to plead the case, Brant had had enoughof his own company. Although, he would like to have held out longer, theisolation of his prison, was giving him unpleasant thoughts, of being helpless.His captors’ control, over every aspect of his life, was playing havoc with hismind. It had been a mere six days, since Brant woke up here. Yet, it seemedlike an eternity to the Lord, use to having his days filled with the variousactivities required to manage, and protect, his large land holdings.

ToRichard's question, Brant conceded, "If that is what I have to do to getout of here, I will agree to wed the child."

"Iwill inform the Lady to prepare for the ceremony, and send for the friar. Itwill take several hours to arrange, but the wedding must happen quickly,"Richard said.

Lookinggreatly relieved, he hurried out to make the arrangements. Brant was left toglare at the door, seething, at being forced to comply with this insanity.

Esmesat by the hearth across from her mother, Peggy, working on her sewing. She hadcaught her mother looking at her several times, since she arrived thisafternoon, with an almost gleeful smile, that Peggy had quickly covered up. Hermother’s behavior was causing Esme some apprehension, for there seemed to bemore to the smiles, than just being happy to see her daughter. The girl hopedshe was just reading some ulterior motive into her mother’s actions, becauseshe was slightly on edge about being here. Peggy’s request for her daughter hadcome a few days after Esme’s brother Brant, had ridden off with his good friendRobert, and not returned. That was a little unusual, as Brant normally told herwhere he was going, and when he would be back. However, he had on occasion,left with someone for a few days, before. When Brant did not return, Esme hadbegged Brant’s knights to let her come to visit her mother, without getting herbrother’s permission. After a couple of days, they had caved, and escorted herhere.

Esme,of course, loved her mother, but Peggy had betrayed her father, with anotherman. Twas common knowledge that Esme’s sister, Hannah, was sired by Peggy’slover, who ever he may have been. Esme, and her half-brother Brant, whom shenow lived with, both believed that Peggy may have had some involvement, intheir father’s death. So the Lady’s covered up smiles, were making Esme worrythat Peg, might be up to something devious, again. That thought greatlyconcerned the girl. Her mother could not expect to keep getting away withbetrayals, forever.

Whenit was time for Hannah to go to bed, Esme asked to see the child to her room,and their mother nodded in approval. The five year old was a sweet, happychild, and Esme always enjoyed, what little time she got to spend with her.

Afterputting her sister into bed, Esme decided to go to her room, rather thanreturning to the hall. She had spent hours traveling here this morning, and wasfeeling tired, and dirty, from the trip. She sent her maid, Mary, to arrange tohave water brought up for a bath. Esme had finished her bath, and donned herbed clothes, by the time Peggy came up from the hall.  Mary was braiding Esme’s flaxen hair, theonly feature the girl shared with her mother, when Peggy entered her room.

“Iam so happy, you were finally allowed to come to visit,” Peggy said. “Would that I could see you more often.”

“Aye,”the daughter replied. “But I know there is no love lost, between you, andBrant. And he is my legal guardian.”

Peggyangrily declared, “I wish you could live here with Hannah, and I. Though, Iknow that will not happen, as long as your cursed brother is still alive.”Then, seeing her daughter’s shocked look, she softened her tone, saying, “I amsorry. I know he is your half brother, but he is no relation to me. Well, I amoff to bed. Rest well, sweet daughter.”

Peggyblew the girl a kiss, before passing through the door, and closing it behindher.

Chapter 4

Itwas several hours later, when Richard returned. Robert and Justin, as well astwo other very large men, were with him. Brant was released from the cell, andRichard led the way to the castle hall. The other men walked beside, and behindhim, so he could not attempt to escape.

Insidethe hall, Brant was asked if he wanted a tankard, or some wine. He terselystated, he just wanted to get this done. So he wasdirected to a place near the hearth, in front of the friar, where he stoodstaring intently, at the holy man. Brant felt, more than saw, the small figurethat was drawn up beside him, though he noted she stood no taller than hisshoulder. The wedding ceremony was completed in minutes, without either thebride or groom, saying more than “aye”, to the friar’s query, “Do you take thisman ...this woman”.