Theyoung girl’s mind raced over what had just been revealed to her. The manholding the dagger at Mary’s throat, was her brother’senemy. Her mother was conspiring with Brant’s worst enemy, to kill him. WhileEsme had been suspicious of her mother, she had never wanted to believe, thather mother had helped some one take her beloved father from her. Now she knewPeggy had. When her father had been killed, Brant had been there to help herthrough the loss. Now, Peggy was helping these men, try to take her brotherfrom her, too.

Theman her mother had identified as Avery, said, “We need to get them out of here,before we are found out. Come along Peggy, you need to close the gate, behindus.”

Esmewas lifted to her feet, and her mother wrapped a cloak around her, over hernight clothes. The girl felt immobilized with terror, as the man who still heldhis hand over her mouth, pushed her toward the door of her bedchamber. Peggyled the way down the dimly lit passageway, to the back stairs, encountering noone. Once outside of the residential building, the group remained close to thecurtain wall, as they moved across the bailey. Esme heard faint voices, thatshe credited to the lookouts, whom were on guard tosee that the Keep was not invaded at night. The girl hoped they would see whatwas going on, but as she could not see the guards, they were not likely to seeher, either. Then, they were at the postern gate. With a quick kiss on Esme’scheek, Peggy let the kidnappers out of the castle walls. From there, the twocaptives were hustled across an open area, into the forest. When they reachedhorses tethered in the woods, Esme knew that she was now at the mercy of herbrother’s enemy.

Brantlay on the bed, bound and gagged, just as the guards had left him. He half wondered, what they planned to do to him next. Right now hereally did not care. The prospect of spending more time, trapped in this cell,left him thinking he would welcome death, right now. Then he heard the keysrattling, as the door to his prison was opened. He wondered if they were comingto finish him off.

Shiftinghis gaze to the open door between the two cells, he watched as a guard entered,carrying a torch to light the cell brighter. From behind the guard, a womanappeared, wearing a loose fitting gray woolen gunna, thatproclaimed her a serf. Wool was plentiful, and easily woven into rough cloth.All the villains who owed service to the land holder,were provided with the rough garments. Whereas the finer fabrics,used to make the more colorful garments for the gentry, were mostly made on thecontinent. As she approached, she pushed back a gray mantle that was wrappedover her head, and around her shoulders, to reveal auburn hair. Her hair wasfastened in two braids, that hung in loops, on eitherside of her head. As she came close, Brant could see she was quite young.

"Iam here to tend to your wounds," the young woman said, as she placed abasket that she carried, on the small table beside the bed.

Brantnoted that her voice was soft, yet steady and firm. He watched as she reachedto take a steaming bucket, from the guard, placing it on the floor, and sittingon the edge of the bed, all in one graceful movement. She wrung the excessmoisture from a cloth she had dipped in the bucket, as she met his gazesquarely for a few moments, before turning her attention to a gash, beside hiseye.

"Thatis likely to leave a scar," she commented, as she wiped away the blood, hehad felt trickling down his cheek.

Brantnoticed that although the skin on her hands felt slightly course, her touch wasgentle. However, when he winced in pain, from the course cloth irritating thefresh wound, she stopped.

Turningslightly, she placed some of the contents, from several jars in the basket,into a large ladle, and heated the mixture over the candle. Next, she dipped ascrap of cloth in the mixture, before tucking the cloth inside his split lip,from which he had tasted blood, earlier. That done, shereturned her attention to his eye. The taste of blood in his mouth, wasreplaced by a bitter taste, likely from the liquid on the cloth, and Brantwondered if he would soon be unconscious, again.

Afterseveral minutes of slowly wiping dried blood off his face, and applying someointment to cuts, and scratches, she leaned forward to untie the gag. As shedid, the loose gown she wore, fell away from her body,revealing a glimpse of full ripe breasts. Obviously, while she was young, shewas not that young. The small piece of cloth was removed from inside his lip,as she pulled the gag away.

Withthe gag removed, Brant asked, "Do you have a name?"

Ashe did so, he noticed he had some difficulty forming the words. The girl movedback, meeting his eyes squarely, once again.

Shepaused as if considering, before replying, "You may call me Alisa, MyLord."

Thenshe grasped his shoulders, moving them forward, and back, several times. Oncemore, she dipped the cloth in the mixture in the spoon. Then, Brant feltseveral drops of the warm liquid, fall on the inside of his lip. There was nodoubt he was once again being drugged. Every muscle in his body seemed to bedevoid of any strength. Yet, when she instructed him to move this way, or that,as she untied him, he somehow had the strength to passively comply. As thebindings were removed, she stripped his body of all his clothing, except thethin linen undergarment, that covered his loins.

Whenshe finished tending all his wounds, the serf tucked several soft fur coversfrom the bed around him, to protect against the night chill. The guard remarkedabout how compliant he was now.

Theyoung woman, Alisa responded, "I gave him a herbmixture, to relax him, and help his pain. He willlikely sleep, a little later in the morn."

Theguard retorted, as the two left Brant’s cell, "It is too bad they did notgive him that earlier."

Thiscomment, brought to Brant's mind Richard's words, 'theLady is unwilling to have you tied down, and attempt to rape you.' When thegirl had turned him against her body, to examine the gash on his shoulder,Brant had felt his body becoming aroused. He considered the possibility, thatif they had drugged him earlier, he might be passively moving this way, orthat, at his wife's behest. If his wife was half as attractive, as the serfAlisa, Brant realized it might be much easier to rape him, than his captorsknew.

Whilethat thought was disturbing, the serf's gentle care was also reassuring. Hiscaptors might have no intention of allowing him to leave, but neither did theyseem to desire, that any harm come to him. Brant's mind drifted back to thelistless feeling in his limbs, and that thought remained his focus, until sleepovertook him, much later.

Chapter 5

Thegroup of travelers they were searching for came into sight, much to Justin’srelief. It had been a rough week or so. First, he had been roped into helpingSir Richard, kidnap Lord Brant, on Lady Isabel’s behalf. She was one ofJustin’s most powerful allies, holding lands nearly equal to those, held by hisbrother-in-law Lionel’s entire family. Then, once they had gained Brant’sconsent, to wed Lady Isabel, to keep his war with Avery from growingexponentially, Brant balked at a true marriage.

Thatfact made the success of all their efforts, uncertain. So they had no choicebut to continue the groom’s incarceration. Justin had several cuts, scrapes,and bruises from the ensuing scuffle, to return Brant to the dungeon. With thevariety of aches and pains from last night, Justin had hoped to take it easytoday. Unfortunately, a messenger had arrived with word that Avery, had takenBrant’s sister hostage. They had not yet gotten the marriage documents, to gainauthority to guard the girl, until last night. By the time word could be sent,she was already gone.