boom .
Stunned, Adelaide continued to kneel in the dark. Then she shook herself into action, scrambling on hands and knees across the floor toward Godwyn.
*
“Hold still, Godwyn. I will remove your gag.”
Gwen couldn’t stop shaking. The cell was dark, black as the rage in her heart, yet she could just make out a faint line of light: the edges of the door slat. Sons of bitches! She wanted to throw herself against it, to lash out at the guards who had abused her, groped her.
“Please, you must hold still.” Adelaide’s voice was low, pleading.
With a supreme effort, Gwen kept motionless.
The queen’s fingers gently explored her face, searching for the gag, yet despite her care, she accidentally grazed Gwen’s eye.
In pain, Gwen wrenched backward, her cry muffled against the gag.
“Forgive me,” Adelaide said as she pulled it off.
Gwen sat up and worked her jaw. “ Fucking bastards! ” she shouted in English, hoping her captors could hear. “ Assholes! ”
“I think you must have cursed them well,” Adelaide whispered with a smile in her voice. “Never have I heard rougher sounds, but they deserve no less.”
The queen struggled with the rope binding Gwen’s wrists. There was a sudden give, the knots unraveling as they both tugged and twisted.
“I thanked God for your visit and your escape from this terrible place,” Adelaide continued. “I am sorry you are back under these circumstances. I must commend you, though, for however you got out, you caused quite a stir.”
Gwen rubbed her sore wrists. “Yes, I did,” she answered. Aware of an edge in her voice, she strove for calm.
“I understand how you must have suffered when they captured you. They abused me as well, with words and deeds.” She paused. “Even before Willa brought you here, I knew you were a woman. The last time I, er, when you hugged me, I felt your body. I knew. And please forgive me for my delight at your return, but you have become my dearest friend in this dark place. I have been bereft, and I have needed you so.”
Gwen hugged Adelaide, worried. “We need each other now. My name is Gwendolyn Godwyn, by the way. Please, call me Gwen.”
The queen responded quietly, “Gwen, yes, yes. Thanks be to God. I’m now certain all shall be well.”
Gwen sighed. Adelaide’s delight at seeing her, along with her faith in the future, were little comfort. She couldn’t imagine how they were going to get out of this mess. “You’ve been very brave throughout this ordeal.”
“No, not me,” Adelaide replied quietly. “Stefano was the brave one. He shouldn’t have died.”
“True, and you shouldn’t have been forced to live alone in this dark hole for weeks on end,” Gwen added softly. “You were both stronger than anyone should ever have to be.”
The queen choked back a sob, and Gwen held her close, letting her cry. After several minutes of rubbing Adelaide’s back, hoping to soothe her, she whispered, “Shhh, it’s going to be all right. We will figure this out, but we should rest now. Lean against me and try to sleep.” Gwen rocked Adelaide until her breathing became deep and regular.
With time to think at last, Gwen stared into the blackness, pondering the insane things Willa had said, along with the mind-boggling images she’d seen in the water. She couldn’t deal with it now. Exhausted, she closed her eyes and rested against the stone wall. Her head hurt, and she recalled the blow she’d taken, her capture, Barca.
Her eyes flew open. Had he been killed? Worried, she replayed every detail of the fight in her mind. What was the outcome? Was there anything she could have done differently?
Gwen shook her head and tried to cast aside her doubts. She realized they did her no good, but her fear for Barca and the others remained. Eventually, her mind turned to the tunnel, willing Warinus, Ranulf – and hopefully Barca – to get here soon. And she wondered if there was anything she could do in the meantime
Stunned, Adelaide continued to kneel in the dark. Then she shook herself into action, scrambling on hands and knees across the floor toward Godwyn.
*
“Hold still, Godwyn. I will remove your gag.”
Gwen couldn’t stop shaking. The cell was dark, black as the rage in her heart, yet she could just make out a faint line of light: the edges of the door slat. Sons of bitches! She wanted to throw herself against it, to lash out at the guards who had abused her, groped her.
“Please, you must hold still.” Adelaide’s voice was low, pleading.
With a supreme effort, Gwen kept motionless.
The queen’s fingers gently explored her face, searching for the gag, yet despite her care, she accidentally grazed Gwen’s eye.
In pain, Gwen wrenched backward, her cry muffled against the gag.
“Forgive me,” Adelaide said as she pulled it off.
Gwen sat up and worked her jaw. “ Fucking bastards! ” she shouted in English, hoping her captors could hear. “ Assholes! ”
“I think you must have cursed them well,” Adelaide whispered with a smile in her voice. “Never have I heard rougher sounds, but they deserve no less.”
The queen struggled with the rope binding Gwen’s wrists. There was a sudden give, the knots unraveling as they both tugged and twisted.
“I thanked God for your visit and your escape from this terrible place,” Adelaide continued. “I am sorry you are back under these circumstances. I must commend you, though, for however you got out, you caused quite a stir.”
Gwen rubbed her sore wrists. “Yes, I did,” she answered. Aware of an edge in her voice, she strove for calm.
“I understand how you must have suffered when they captured you. They abused me as well, with words and deeds.” She paused. “Even before Willa brought you here, I knew you were a woman. The last time I, er, when you hugged me, I felt your body. I knew. And please forgive me for my delight at your return, but you have become my dearest friend in this dark place. I have been bereft, and I have needed you so.”
Gwen hugged Adelaide, worried. “We need each other now. My name is Gwendolyn Godwyn, by the way. Please, call me Gwen.”
The queen responded quietly, “Gwen, yes, yes. Thanks be to God. I’m now certain all shall be well.”
Gwen sighed. Adelaide’s delight at seeing her, along with her faith in the future, were little comfort. She couldn’t imagine how they were going to get out of this mess. “You’ve been very brave throughout this ordeal.”
“No, not me,” Adelaide replied quietly. “Stefano was the brave one. He shouldn’t have died.”
“True, and you shouldn’t have been forced to live alone in this dark hole for weeks on end,” Gwen added softly. “You were both stronger than anyone should ever have to be.”
The queen choked back a sob, and Gwen held her close, letting her cry. After several minutes of rubbing Adelaide’s back, hoping to soothe her, she whispered, “Shhh, it’s going to be all right. We will figure this out, but we should rest now. Lean against me and try to sleep.” Gwen rocked Adelaide until her breathing became deep and regular.
With time to think at last, Gwen stared into the blackness, pondering the insane things Willa had said, along with the mind-boggling images she’d seen in the water. She couldn’t deal with it now. Exhausted, she closed her eyes and rested against the stone wall. Her head hurt, and she recalled the blow she’d taken, her capture, Barca.
Her eyes flew open. Had he been killed? Worried, she replayed every detail of the fight in her mind. What was the outcome? Was there anything she could have done differently?
Gwen shook her head and tried to cast aside her doubts. She realized they did her no good, but her fear for Barca and the others remained. Eventually, her mind turned to the tunnel, willing Warinus, Ranulf – and hopefully Barca – to get here soon. And she wondered if there was anything she could do in the meantime
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