The Captive Heir

Chapter Ten

By unspoken agreement, Silvana took control of the prisoner while Elisabet saw that the horse got settled in for the night. Each felt certain she had gotten the better end of the deal.

It was a challenge taking care of the animal with an injured hand, but Elisabet finally finished and stepped into the one-room outpost to find a table set with a leg of venison and two chairs, bow and quiver tidily tucked into one corner, and Marie trussed like a hog and propped up in the corner opposite the bed.

"Found some rope," Silvana said, critically examining a jug's contents before lifting it aloft to offer to Elisabet. "And some passable mead."

Elisabet took the jug, checked for cups, shrugged when none appeared, and took a drink from the bottle. It was better than passable. The sweet drink was a vast improvement over the swill Rose had offered her the night before.

Thinking of Rose led her thoughts back to camp...and back to Fitz. How would he react to her disappearance? What would he think? If nothing else, he was safe for the time being from Marie. But to have left when there was so much left unsaid between them...it was bitterer than the beer she had given back to Rose.

She shared a silent meal with Silvana in the growing darkness, both unwilling to attempt conversation. Despite the pangs from her empty stomach, Elisabet found it difficult to eat. Her plate was still more than half full when the prisoner woke.

First it was a quiet moan creeping from the corner, then the rustle of movement as Marie tried to move her arms and legs. Initial efforts thwarted, she paused, then renewed the struggle, straining in earnest now against her bonds. The rope creaked but held.

"Nicolas?" she called quietly for her second-in-command.

Silence was her only answer. Silvana turned her head to watch the bandit; Elisabet stared at the table, unable to meet Marie's eyes.

"Where am I?" she asked, her voice preternaturally calm. "You've taken me from camp, I can tell that much."

Her limbs stilled as her head moved this way and that, trying to learn her surroundings. It was far too dim in the unlit hut for her to see much, but she would be able to feel the walls around her and hear the forest nearby.

"Ah," she said, tasting the word of discovery. "The outpost. She must have extended the line of them looking for you. It's almost clever, for the Mackay bitch."

Elisabet's fist hit the table, the noise startling even her. Silvana shot her a glare, a silent warning. Give her nothing.

"Dislike that, do you?" Marie said quietly. "And where is that righteous anger for Alvan, I wonder? Killed with no honor, no justice, just a coward's shot." Silvana did not move at all despite the taunt. "Is everyone else safe? Or did you pick off the rest?" She looked at Elisabet again. "What about Fitz—kill that blind fool too?" She rolled her shoulders stiffly. "If you didn't, I certainly will."

Elisabet's vision flamed red at the threat. Twice this day Marie had spoken of killing Fitz with an unholy relish. She would pay for her words.

Swinging her legs around, Elisabet began to stand, but Silvana stayed her movements, grabbing her elbow and pulling her back into her seat. Silvana jerked her head in the direction of the doorway, but Elisabet ignored the silent command to leave and resolutely turned her back on the bandit. She could control herself.

Marie's voice still reached her ears, laden with venom. "So you don't care what happens to him after all," she said. "And you think me cruel?" She clicked her tongue in admonishment. "Are you so coldhearted with everyone? Even Caleb? He was halfway to being in love with you himself—but he respected Fitz's claim and stood down." Her tone grew speculative as Silvana rose and walked over to the bed. "Or did you have them both after all? Fitz's not the type to share, normally, but you broke him so fully, well..."