a…problem with your husband.”
“He died in battle.” Alys’s eyes glittered with anger, but she held her composure. It was all Finian could do to remain still, watching over her.
“That isn’t what I’m told.”
“It’s the truth.” Her voice held a steadiness, and she added, “I came to ransom your prisoner.”
“Let us go in private to discuss the matter.” The earl offered a hand to her. Alys hesitated and looked back at Finian. In her eyes, he saw sadness and resignation. Did she plan to surrender herself for him?
She’d had her freedom and an escape from all of this. Why would she return? He wasn’t worthy of any sacrifice, nor any ransom at all.
The earl signaled to a man to bring the pouch forward, and from the weight, it seemed that they had found the silver somehow.
Don’t, Finian mouthed, shaking his head. He didn’t want her to give a single coin for his life.
But she sent him a quiet look, one that told him she had no regrets. And when she reached for the earl’s hand, he realized that she was going to offer herself up in exchange.
No. She’s mine.
Finian shredded the remainder of the ropes, tearing himself free. He smashed his fist into a guard, seized a dagger and charged forward. Though he knew it was reckless and might do no good at all, he couldn’t stand by and let her make the sacrifice.
He shielded her, holding the dagger in one hand while he stared hard at the earl. “You’ll not take her, Monterancy. I’ll sheathe my blade in your throat before I’ll let that happen.”
“Do you know who I am?” Arrogance dripped from the nobleman’s tone. “What I could do to you?”
“Do what you want with me. But leave her alone. I’m not worth a drop of her blood.”
The expression on the earl’s face shifted to amusement. “You are right in that.”
“Finian, wait. You don’t understand—” Alys tried to interrupt him, but he silenced her with a hand.
“Take the silver, and let her go,” Finian demanded.
The earl sent a questioning look towards Alys. She stepped forward and took Finian’s hand in hers. Finian tightened his grip on her fingers, searching for a way out. Dozens of soldiers cut them off, and he knew in his heart that their only hope lay in negotiating with the earl.
The English lord crossed his arms, seemingly unconcerned by Finian’s weapon. “When I heard what happened here, I came on King Edward’s orders. A new garrison will be established to enforce the law.”
“The people here are innocent of any wrongdoing,” Alys informed him. “I lived among them for four years, and my husband earned this silver by ransoming slaves. And killing those who had no one to defend them.”
She gestured toward the pouch of silver, held by the earl’s servant. “Those coins were forged from the blood of men. I ask you to take them. Accept my gift, and let us go.”
The earl opened the pouch and sifted through the silver. “And what of the death of your husband?”
“It was not her fault,” Finian said. “An arrow took his life.” He gripped the dagger hard and glared at the earl. “But after knowing what she suffered in that marriage, if I’d been able, I’d have killed him myself.”
A flicker of a smile played upon the earl’s mouth. “It was a good match, and strong alliances were made.”
“She deserved better than him.”
Before the earl could respond, Alys lifted a hand. “Please, stop.” She lowered herself to her knees, begging, “You had my obedience, all my life. I did everything you asked of me. But this is something I want for myself.”
Finian hated to see her lower herself, but her words suddenly made another truth clear. The earl was more than an acquaintance. And he’d come to the garrison on behalf of the woman kneeling before him.
“Please, Father,” Alys repeated. “Grant me my freedom. And his.”
Chapter Six
Within the darkness of their tent, Alys lay in Finian’s arms. Though he remained quiet, she
“He died in battle.” Alys’s eyes glittered with anger, but she held her composure. It was all Finian could do to remain still, watching over her.
“That isn’t what I’m told.”
“It’s the truth.” Her voice held a steadiness, and she added, “I came to ransom your prisoner.”
“Let us go in private to discuss the matter.” The earl offered a hand to her. Alys hesitated and looked back at Finian. In her eyes, he saw sadness and resignation. Did she plan to surrender herself for him?
She’d had her freedom and an escape from all of this. Why would she return? He wasn’t worthy of any sacrifice, nor any ransom at all.
The earl signaled to a man to bring the pouch forward, and from the weight, it seemed that they had found the silver somehow.
Don’t, Finian mouthed, shaking his head. He didn’t want her to give a single coin for his life.
But she sent him a quiet look, one that told him she had no regrets. And when she reached for the earl’s hand, he realized that she was going to offer herself up in exchange.
No. She’s mine.
Finian shredded the remainder of the ropes, tearing himself free. He smashed his fist into a guard, seized a dagger and charged forward. Though he knew it was reckless and might do no good at all, he couldn’t stand by and let her make the sacrifice.
He shielded her, holding the dagger in one hand while he stared hard at the earl. “You’ll not take her, Monterancy. I’ll sheathe my blade in your throat before I’ll let that happen.”
“Do you know who I am?” Arrogance dripped from the nobleman’s tone. “What I could do to you?”
“Do what you want with me. But leave her alone. I’m not worth a drop of her blood.”
The expression on the earl’s face shifted to amusement. “You are right in that.”
“Finian, wait. You don’t understand—” Alys tried to interrupt him, but he silenced her with a hand.
“Take the silver, and let her go,” Finian demanded.
The earl sent a questioning look towards Alys. She stepped forward and took Finian’s hand in hers. Finian tightened his grip on her fingers, searching for a way out. Dozens of soldiers cut them off, and he knew in his heart that their only hope lay in negotiating with the earl.
The English lord crossed his arms, seemingly unconcerned by Finian’s weapon. “When I heard what happened here, I came on King Edward’s orders. A new garrison will be established to enforce the law.”
“The people here are innocent of any wrongdoing,” Alys informed him. “I lived among them for four years, and my husband earned this silver by ransoming slaves. And killing those who had no one to defend them.”
She gestured toward the pouch of silver, held by the earl’s servant. “Those coins were forged from the blood of men. I ask you to take them. Accept my gift, and let us go.”
The earl opened the pouch and sifted through the silver. “And what of the death of your husband?”
“It was not her fault,” Finian said. “An arrow took his life.” He gripped the dagger hard and glared at the earl. “But after knowing what she suffered in that marriage, if I’d been able, I’d have killed him myself.”
A flicker of a smile played upon the earl’s mouth. “It was a good match, and strong alliances were made.”
“She deserved better than him.”
Before the earl could respond, Alys lifted a hand. “Please, stop.” She lowered herself to her knees, begging, “You had my obedience, all my life. I did everything you asked of me. But this is something I want for myself.”
Finian hated to see her lower herself, but her words suddenly made another truth clear. The earl was more than an acquaintance. And he’d come to the garrison on behalf of the woman kneeling before him.
“Please, Father,” Alys repeated. “Grant me my freedom. And his.”
Chapter Six
Within the darkness of their tent, Alys lay in Finian’s arms. Though he remained quiet, she
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