Elysia threw the door open and ran out into the night.
Dugan ran up alongside her. “Hurry and hide, the spill I left won’t hold him long. His men wait in the village. I’ll go alert Finch.”
Elysia took off toward the woods as Dugan ran to the village.
Elysia ran wishing she had put on her shoes, wincing when her bare feet hit a stone or a twig. She didn’t go far into the woods. She was unfamiliar with this area and didn’t know what the woods here held. She could find herself tumbling down a hill or dropping over the edge of a glen. She promised herself when this was done she’d have her husband familiarize her with his land, the thought she’d survive giving her hope.
She stopped and kept herself tucked against the thick trunk of a giant oak tree. The moon was nearly full and without clouds to dim it, it shined unusually bright.
“Get to Finch before the lad does and finish him. Are the men seeing to the other sentinels?”
Elysia listened as Cadell gave orders to one of his men.
“Aye, and some men, spending a night of drinking, were seen to as well. Other men stand guard in case any in the village wake.”
“The Cowan men?” Cadell asked.
“Most sleep and Arnold keeps the one guard occupied with talk.”
“Good. We need to see this done fast and be gone before first light, so we call all be free of this hell hole,” Cadell said.
Elysia wondered why he was taking his time in pursuing her. She could have been deep in the woods by now, yet he stood talking with one of his men as if he’d already caught her.
“Ow! That’s the second time she bit me.”
“Cover my mouth with your hand again and it will be a third time I bite you. And a pox be on you and all the evil in the world, that’s what you’ll suffer for breaking my blackthorn stick… the lot of you.”
Elysia rested her brow against the rough bark of the oak tree and her stomach roiled. That was why Cadell hadn’t chased her. He was going to use Willa to make Elysia come to him.
“You may have gained some of Annis’s courage, Elysia, but not enough to go off deep into the dark woods alone,” Cadell called out. “I know you can hear the old hag—OW! Kick me again and you’ll suffer for it.”
“Run, Lady Elysia, ru—”
Elysia drew back as if she felt the vicious slap that echoed through the woods.
“COWARD—for striking an old woman.”
Elysia had to smile at Willa’s courage, though when she heard her spit, she knew Cadell had drawn blood. He’d also do a lot worse to Willa if she didn’t surrender. Her one hope was that Dugan got to Finch before Cadell’s men got to either of them.
“Let Willa be,” Elysia called out.
“No, Lady Elysia, NO!” Willa shouted and another slap was heard.
Elysia hurried from behind the tree and out of the woods. She approached Cadell slowly, not getting too close.
“If you kill her, he’ll make you suffer unbearable pain. You’ll beg for death, but he won’t let you die. He’ll torture you endlessly and enjoy every moment of it,” Willa warned.
“Lord Odran would have to catch me first,” Cadell said with a laugh.
Willa cackled. “He already has.”
The man beside Willa stepped back, his hand going to the hilt of his sword as he cast a frightened look around him.
“Pay her no mind,” Cadell ordered, though there was uncertainty to his command.
They heard it then. It sounded like thunder shaking the earth and then they saw the torches appearing throughout the village—riders.
Lord Odran had returned.
Elysia turned to run and felt a blow to her back that sent her tumbling forward. She braced her hands over her stomach and twisted as she fell to land on her back. Cadell’s boot came down on her throat before she could move. The warrior beside Willa had disappeared into the woods and the torches drew closer and closer.
Cadell kept a firm pressure to her throat with his boot. “Fight me and I’ll bring my boot down so hard on your stomach that you’ll expel the bairn here and now.”
Elysia froze.
“I’d run if I were you, Cadell, or you’ll suffer mightily when Lord Odran gets his hands on you,” Willa warned.
Cadell laughed, though it was more a snort. “I’m not that much of a fool you, old hag. The only chance I have of either surviving or not dying a horrendous death lies under my boot.”
“What lies under your boot is certain death if you don’t release Lady Elysia,” Willa said.
“GET YOUR BOOT OFF MY WIFE!”
The powerful warning rang like the sound of a tolling bell pounding the ears.
Cadell’s eyes went wide with fright and hurriedly scanned the area.
Tears gathered in Elysia’s eyes upon hearing her husband’s voice. He was here. He would save her. No matter how dire the situation might be, he would save her. She heard Cadell gasp and his foot eased up off her neck enough for her to turn her head, and her eyes went to where Cadell looked. Her husband had stepped out of the woods and he was a frightening sight?