Page 61 of Castle of Refuge

Audrey screamed. Umfrey’s other giant hand clamped over her mouth, all but completely stifling her scream. She struggled and fought, but he gripped her tighter and tighter until he lifted her off the floor. She could hardly breathe, and she clawed at his hand.

God, help me. Please help.

***

Edwin sat at his desk writing a letter. The hair on the back of his neck prickled, and he looked out the window. Audrey should be coming back about now. The guards always went with herand one stayed behind to protect her, but he had an uneasy feeling.

It couldn’t hurt to go meet her. Besides, they’d had a good time the day before. Perhaps he would walk her back to the castle and ask her if she’d like to go see a waterfall he knew about.

He stood and went outside. The uneasy feeling became stronger, and when he saw two of his guards he called to them.

“Mount your horses and go to the church to make certain all is well with Audrey and— Who was the guard that stayed with her?”

“Perrins, I believe, my lord.”

“Go check on Perrins.”

“Yes, sir.” The two mounted their horses and rode off down the lane.

Edwin was halfway to the road that led to the village. When he reached it he could see down the slight hill to the village buildings and homes. All looked peaceful, and his guards were nearly to the church already, but there was no sign of Audrey. Had she come home early and he’d missed her? She usually stopped by his library to speak to him, to tell him a touching story about one of the children or something she observed on the way home.

He walked faster as his two guards turned down the lane that led to the church. As soon as they were out of sight, he heard them yelling.

Edwin started to run. A few villagers who were on the road nearby also heard his guards yelling and ran toward the church as well.

God, please don’t let anything bad happen to Audrey.She is good and kind. She does not deserve bad things.

It seemed to take forever to get to the church. He stumbled a few times but managed to keep himself from hitting the ground. With every step Edwin was praying God would keep Audrey safe—and wishing he’d taken the time to get his horse.

One guard was running back down the road. The other was bent over a body lying on the ground next to the church.

“My lord,” his guard said, hurrying toward him. “Mistress Audrey is gone, and we found Perrins unconscious on the ground. He’s still breathing, but he’s not waking up.”

Edwin’s hand curled into a fist as his mind went cold and calm.

“Get to the castle. Tell every man to go look for Audrey, except for two men who are to fetch Perrins and take him to Mistress Wattlesbrook. Go.”

The guard mounted his horse and rode at a gallop toward the castle.

“You there.” Edwin pointed at one of the men who had come from the village to help.

The man hurried toward Edwin.

“Did you see a woman and large man, very tall, both strangers, come through here?”

“Yes, Lord Dericott. We saw them walk toward the church an hour or so ago, but we have not seen them since.”

“What about the children? Did they see anything?” Edwin’s mind was sharp and alert, focused on the task at hand, even though he was more aware than ever that Audrey was in danger.He was able to numb his emotions, as he’d been trained to do, and focus on the goal that needed to be accomplished and the actions that were required.

“I don’t know. We can ask them.”

The man trotted toward a group of people gathered in the road. “Do any of you have a girl child who was in Mistress Audrey’s reading lesson today?”

One of them nodded, a plump woman with wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. “My girl goes to the lessons.”

Edwin approached the group and heard the woman’s response. “Would you fetch her so we can ask her a few questions?”

“Yes, Lord Dericott.” The woman went into the baker’s shop behind her and came out with a young girl, probably around twelve years old.