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“He is outside the walls, the Healer held in front of him on his warhorse. He has a rope around her waist and a knife held to her neck. He says he wants to speak to you or the Healer dies.”
Hastings ran out of the great hall, through the inner bailey, to the outer bailey and up the wooden rampart stairs. She stared down at a sight that scared her to her toes. The Healer was seated tall and straight in front of de Luci. So, de Luci had decided that if he had threatened Marjorie, Hastings wouldn’t have cared. He could be right about that. But the Healer . . .
“Healer,” Hastings called down to her. “Are you all right?”
“Aye, Hastings,” the Healer shouted. “This man is mad. You are not to trust him. Do not do anything he says.”
For that, de Luci cuffed her hard against the side of her face.
“Don’t touch her, you miserable whoreson!”
“Then you will give me what I want, Hastings, and you will do it now.”
He wanted Eloise. No, she wouldn’t give her up to that monster. “You may not have Eloise. You would only abuse her. She will remain within the walls, safe.”
“I don’t want that miserable little Devil’s spawn. No, Hastings. I want you.”
Hastings saw one of Beamis’s men gently pull back on his bow. “No,” she whispered, “no. You could harm the Healer. We can’t take that chance.”
Beamis shouted down, “Lady Hastings goes nowhere. You will take your wretched band of outlaws and leave Oxborough. Lord Severin will return soon.”
“I count on that,” de Luci shouted back. He then lifted the knife and set it against the Healer’s neck. He sliced. A thin line of blood appeared, beading and flowing down into the Healer’s gown.
The Healer didn’t move. “Don’t come out, Hastings,” she shouted.
De Luci hit her again, this time knocking her unconscious. She sagged against him.
Hastings couldn’t bear it. “I will come out if you will release her. I will also come out if you release Marjorie.”
De Luci slewed his head upward at her words. “ Marjorie? You want that bitch? She has done nothing but try to do you in. She hates you, she always will. But I will release her. I have no more use for her once I have you.”
“I will come,” Hastings called. “But hear me, de Luci, it will gain you naught. I am with child, Lord Severin’s child. There is nothing for you here. Leave the Healer and take your leave.”
De Luci shouted back, his voice clear and hard, “I know you are not with child. Marjorie told me. Do not lie. Come to me and the Healer goes free. Marjorie as well, if you really wish to have her near your food.”
“I will come,” Hastings called.
Beamis blocked her way. “No, Hastings, you will remain within the walls. If the Healer dies, then so be it, but Lord Severin will not return to find his wife gone.”
“I do not intend to trade myself over like a helpless damsel, Beamis. I do not intend to place myself at de Luci’s mercy, such as it is. No, I have a plan. I will have that monster’s head on a plate before Severin returns.”
“Lord Severin won’t like it. He was furious when Lord Graelam denied him de Luci’s death. Now you would do the same? I cannot allow it, Hastings. Damnation, why didn’t the madman die when he tripped on those rabbit bones?”
But Hastings wasn’t listening to him. “I must speak to Alice. I need her.”
“Do what? Alice, you say? I don’t want Alice involved in this, Hastings.”
Hastings smiled behind
her hand. “No, there won’t be any chance of danger to Alice. After I’ve spoken to her, then I need to gain your agreement, Beamis.”
Her heart was pounding as she ran up the solar stairs. So the bastard still wanted her, did he? What on earth did he believe he would gain? He must know that Severin would hunt him down and kill him with savage pleasure.
But she didn’t have time to put her plan into action. At that moment there were shouts and screams. By the time Hastings got to the ramparts to see what had happened, Eloise was already well within the ranks of de Luci’s soldiers. Then she was in Marjorie’s arms, clutching her fiercely.
Hastings cursed.
What to do now?
