Part 35
The small cottage appeared so suddenly in the dense forest, Mary was still half-asleep against Max's back before it even became clear to her that their steed had come to a halt. She was absolutely exhausted, realized that it had been close to forty-eight hours since she had slept. Adrenaline had kept her going during their mission, but the minute the horse had settled into a steady pace, she had started to drift off.
"Thank God you've returned." Isabel's worried voice penetrated the fog in which she found herself. "Michael is hurt Max. You must heal him."
Max slid of the horse, swung Mary down beside him. "Thank you," he said quietly, kissing her lightly on the forehead, before following Isabel into the cottage.
Mary blinked after them, wondered why she couldn't seem to focus on anything, why she wasn't following them.
"Mary? Are you quite well?"
She realized that Alexander had exited the cottage, was pulling her against him.
It took her a full minute to realize what was holding her back. She was [I]scared[/I]. Petrified. Absolutely frightened to find out how badly Michael had been hurt, to hear about what Sir Kyle had done to him. And, so, her body was rebelling - was trying to make it so that she wouldn't have to know.
It was not until that instant that she finally realized that she had been suppressing the truth ever since Michael had left with Elizabeth. She was in love with him.
She had tried to fight it, had tried to deny it, particularly after finding out that he was betrothed to Isabel, but she could not dispute it any longer. She loved him.
And if he was going to die, she would not be able to bear it.
"Alex?" Her voice came out weaker than she intended. She rested her forehead against her brother's chest, willing him to understand the plea without her having to elaborate.
"He'll be fine Mary mine. He has had some superficial wounds and a fairly large knock to the head, but after witnessing what Maxwell was able to do for Lizzy after she was shot with that arrow, I doubt it will take much more than a very simple healing." He was stroking her cropped curls comfortingly. "Would you like to go in?"
She swallowed. What would she do if he looked at her like he didn't care? What if he ignored her? She would not put it past him.
But she was no coward. Was she not the person who had defied the Queen of England by entering the archery contest at the Fair only days ago? Was she not the one who had just rained hell down on the Sheriff's men? She would not fear the person she loved - even if he didn't feel the same way.
"Yes, let us go in."
The cottage burned brightly with light, the hearth fire blazing merrily, many tallow candles scattered around as well. Mary noticed Tess first. The blonde was huddled in a corner, her blue eyes slightly wild, Isabel tending to her soothingly.
"You are safe now Tess," she was telling her sister calmly. "No one will hurt you again."
Mary could see Max bent over Michael, who was slumped in the only chair in the small room. She could not see his face, but she could almost feel his pain and weariness from across the room. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. "Where is Elizabeth?" She was ashamed that it was the first time she had thought about her closest friend since they had arrived at the cottage.
"They could not save her." Alex's voice was strained as he replied. "Tess managed to use her gift to spirit Michael away. She hasn't elaborated beyond that, insisted that she would wait for Maxwell before telling her tale."
Mary frowned. "Why could she not use her gift to help Lizzy as well?" Her eyes narrowed. "What is her gift again?"
"She can make people see things that are not there," Max replied, straightening and turning around. Mary glanced back at Michael, felt her heart skip a beat. He was staring right at her, his eyes clear.
She could not read his expression. He was definitely tired, obviously upset, but there was something else on his face that she could not identify.It was enough to set her cheeks flaming.
A good sign indeed. She almost smiled.
Max had moved to crouch beside Tess. Isabel laid a hand on his arm. "Careful brother. She is still overwrought. It took much of her strength to save Michael from the dungeon."
Max reached out a hand, gently took Tess's chin between his fingers and moved her face so that she was looking at him directly. "Are you well Sweeting?"
Mary flinched when Tess suddenly let out a wail and threw her arms around Max's neck. "I tried to save her! I swear I did Max. But she would not come with me!"
"Michael, what happened?" Max asked quietly, although Mary could tell by the sudden straightening of his spine that he had not expected his wife to come up so quickly, particularly in a conversation with Tess. He was looking over Tess's shoulder, as the girl was still sobbing against his chest.
Mary looked back at Michael, who was slumped in his seat, although there was clearly nothing physically wrong with him anymore. "I know not Maxwell and that is the truth. The last thing I remember clearly is Elizabeth and I on the road to the convent. Everything after that is a blur, although I do know that Sir Kyle came for a visit," he added wryly, rubbing the back of his head lightly. "I don't even recall Tess coming for me or how we got here."
"It's true Max. They both came stumbling out of the Forest a couple of hours ago, neither seeming to have any idea how they had gotten here," Alexander spoke up. "Isabel had already contacted you, as we knew we had to go in for them immediately. Michael was to be executed this morning. We were both waiting anxiously for you and then suddenly they were here."
"Why would Elizabeth not come with you?" Mary asked Tess quietly, sympathetic to the other girl, who had clearly been through a horrible ordeal. She could not pretend to like Tess - she was quite an unpleasant person - but no one should have to suffer what the blonde had. Mary knew how female prisoners were treated by most men.She was actually surprised that the innocent girl had survived it.
"I know not," Tess replied, hiccuping slightly around a sob. "I recall going to her however. And she turned me away."
Mary looked at Max. "It is clear that she was trying to protect Michael and Tess, likely felt that Sir Kyle would perhaps let them go if she stayed."
Max closed his eyes briefly, then said grimly. "It is more than likely that that is how she saw it. It is most typical of my wife." He sighed. "We will go after her of course. Immediately. My only consolation is that Sir Kyle will not hurt her to avoid the Queen's wrath."
"I know it will be difficult Maxwell, but I suggest that we wait at least until darkness falls again," Alex said. "The cover of night will be an advantage. It will also give Michael and the Lady Tess time to rest. We will likely need their gifts if we are to succeed."
Max appeared to want to refuse, but one glance at Michael appeared to change his mind. "Very well. But we cannot simply sit idly all day." He glanced towards the door, where the new day's sun was just beginning to filter through the trees. "I could not bear it." He ran his hands through his dark hair in frustration after setting Tess gently away from him.
"There are many things we can do." Tess's voice was gaining in strength. "We must find Lord Edmund."
Isabel and Mary exchanged pained glances. Isabel moved closer to her sister, brought her arm around the smaller girl. "Sweeting, do you not know? Lord Edmund has passed on. He was killed when you were captured."
Tess scowled. "I know it Isabel. But Lord Edmund cannot die. It was what he told me privately when he first found us in the Forest, before much of this even occurred." She paused, looked pensive. "Perhaps he had a premonition that he would be hurt, but he told me that we could bring him back if anything were to happen to him."
"Bring him back?" Michael said in disbelief. "But how?"
Mary could feel her heart beating unnaturally. She was constantly amazed by every new power her friends revealed, but to bring back the dead? It was beyond amazing. It was god-like - and frightening to even contemplate.
"With the healing stones that are hidden in our birthplace," Tess replied calmly. Mary stared at her. How could this be the same hysterical girl from minutes before? She felt suspicion beginning to penetrate her earlier sympathies, but listened quietly as Tess explained the process.
Max was also listening, a slight frown on his face. Mary saw it when she glanced impulsively towards their leader, as everyone else seemed to be doing as well. In fact, Tess was basically addressing him alone. They all waited breathlessly to see what he would say.
"It sounds fantastic," Max finally admitted. "But I do not think that Lord Edmund would lie about such a thing." There was another long pause. "Very well, here is what we shall do. Alexander," Max looked at Mary's brother as he spoke. "You will take the evidence that Mary and I uncovered and go to London to see the queen. She must be brought here to put down the rebellion that is in the making against the king."
Alex did not look convinced. "But Max, you will require my sword when we rescue Elizabeth this night."
Max answered his friend sternly. "Nay. I will not have you recognized should anything go awry Alex. There are still many who would doubt that a baron would have turned outlaw. We will protect your position and your lands for as long as possible. You will not participate."
"I don't care about my lands!" Alex flared, annoyed.
"I am sure," Max smiled gratefully. "But I care. I will not have you give them up on our account."
"It is for Lizzy!"
"There is to be no argument Alexander. She will be saved. There is no doubt," Max replied firmly. "I will not rest until it is so. You must not worry about that. We need the queen to return to take care of the Sheriff and Sir Kyle once and for all."
This seemed to appease Alex, because he knew without a doubt that what Max said was the truth. They all knew it. The young king would not stop until he had his wife safely back at his side. "Very well," he agreed grudgingly.
Max nodded. "Michael, you shall take Mary with you to the pod chamber." Mary's eyes widened at those strange words. She exchanged a look with Alex, who merely shrugged and rolled his eyes. The strange world of their friends was not even worth amazement any longer. "Get the healing stones and bring them back here." He looked at Isabel and Tess. "We will go fetch Lord Edmund." Mary grimaced as she remembered the guardian hanging lifelessly from the tree where she and Max had been forced to leave him. If these four could bring life back to that.well, she would never doubt in miracles again.
"If we can do this all quickly enough, there will be time for a rest prior to the activities of this evening," Max continued. He looked at them each in turn. "And then we will end this once and for all."
Mary felt a shiver descend her spine. Max's words seemed to indicate that, at least in Sir Kyle's case, the queen's judgment might not be required at all. Because Mary did not doubt that Sir Kyle de Valence was unlikely to survive their evening activities as Max so casually called them.
She knew as well as the rest of them that as long as Sir Kyle lived, Elizabeth would never be safe. Max knew it better than any of them. And he would no longer tolerate his wife's life in constant jeopardy, nor would he forgive what had been done to Tess and Michael, both of whom would suffer long-lasting memories of their ordeals. They both appeared capable at the moment, but it wasn't when they were busy that the horror would haunt them. No, Mary knew it would be when they were supposed to be the most happy, in the quiet moments, in their dreams, for the rest of their lives.
For the first time ever, Mary Delucie felt a pang of sorrow for Sir Kyle, because she truly did not think he knew what he had unleashed. As she looked at Max's grim face, she only began to understand it herself.
Sir Kyle DeValence would die this night, if it was the last thing Maxwell DeHarding ever did.
To be continued.
The small cottage appeared so suddenly in the dense forest, Mary was still half-asleep against Max's back before it even became clear to her that their steed had come to a halt. She was absolutely exhausted, realized that it had been close to forty-eight hours since she had slept. Adrenaline had kept her going during their mission, but the minute the horse had settled into a steady pace, she had started to drift off.
"Thank God you've returned." Isabel's worried voice penetrated the fog in which she found herself. "Michael is hurt Max. You must heal him."
Max slid of the horse, swung Mary down beside him. "Thank you," he said quietly, kissing her lightly on the forehead, before following Isabel into the cottage.
Mary blinked after them, wondered why she couldn't seem to focus on anything, why she wasn't following them.
"Mary? Are you quite well?"
She realized that Alexander had exited the cottage, was pulling her against him.
It took her a full minute to realize what was holding her back. She was [I]scared[/I]. Petrified. Absolutely frightened to find out how badly Michael had been hurt, to hear about what Sir Kyle had done to him. And, so, her body was rebelling - was trying to make it so that she wouldn't have to know.
It was not until that instant that she finally realized that she had been suppressing the truth ever since Michael had left with Elizabeth. She was in love with him.
She had tried to fight it, had tried to deny it, particularly after finding out that he was betrothed to Isabel, but she could not dispute it any longer. She loved him.
And if he was going to die, she would not be able to bear it.
"Alex?" Her voice came out weaker than she intended. She rested her forehead against her brother's chest, willing him to understand the plea without her having to elaborate.
"He'll be fine Mary mine. He has had some superficial wounds and a fairly large knock to the head, but after witnessing what Maxwell was able to do for Lizzy after she was shot with that arrow, I doubt it will take much more than a very simple healing." He was stroking her cropped curls comfortingly. "Would you like to go in?"
She swallowed. What would she do if he looked at her like he didn't care? What if he ignored her? She would not put it past him.
But she was no coward. Was she not the person who had defied the Queen of England by entering the archery contest at the Fair only days ago? Was she not the one who had just rained hell down on the Sheriff's men? She would not fear the person she loved - even if he didn't feel the same way.
"Yes, let us go in."
The cottage burned brightly with light, the hearth fire blazing merrily, many tallow candles scattered around as well. Mary noticed Tess first. The blonde was huddled in a corner, her blue eyes slightly wild, Isabel tending to her soothingly.
"You are safe now Tess," she was telling her sister calmly. "No one will hurt you again."
Mary could see Max bent over Michael, who was slumped in the only chair in the small room. She could not see his face, but she could almost feel his pain and weariness from across the room. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. "Where is Elizabeth?" She was ashamed that it was the first time she had thought about her closest friend since they had arrived at the cottage.
"They could not save her." Alex's voice was strained as he replied. "Tess managed to use her gift to spirit Michael away. She hasn't elaborated beyond that, insisted that she would wait for Maxwell before telling her tale."
Mary frowned. "Why could she not use her gift to help Lizzy as well?" Her eyes narrowed. "What is her gift again?"
"She can make people see things that are not there," Max replied, straightening and turning around. Mary glanced back at Michael, felt her heart skip a beat. He was staring right at her, his eyes clear.
She could not read his expression. He was definitely tired, obviously upset, but there was something else on his face that she could not identify.It was enough to set her cheeks flaming.
A good sign indeed. She almost smiled.
Max had moved to crouch beside Tess. Isabel laid a hand on his arm. "Careful brother. She is still overwrought. It took much of her strength to save Michael from the dungeon."
Max reached out a hand, gently took Tess's chin between his fingers and moved her face so that she was looking at him directly. "Are you well Sweeting?"
Mary flinched when Tess suddenly let out a wail and threw her arms around Max's neck. "I tried to save her! I swear I did Max. But she would not come with me!"
"Michael, what happened?" Max asked quietly, although Mary could tell by the sudden straightening of his spine that he had not expected his wife to come up so quickly, particularly in a conversation with Tess. He was looking over Tess's shoulder, as the girl was still sobbing against his chest.
Mary looked back at Michael, who was slumped in his seat, although there was clearly nothing physically wrong with him anymore. "I know not Maxwell and that is the truth. The last thing I remember clearly is Elizabeth and I on the road to the convent. Everything after that is a blur, although I do know that Sir Kyle came for a visit," he added wryly, rubbing the back of his head lightly. "I don't even recall Tess coming for me or how we got here."
"It's true Max. They both came stumbling out of the Forest a couple of hours ago, neither seeming to have any idea how they had gotten here," Alexander spoke up. "Isabel had already contacted you, as we knew we had to go in for them immediately. Michael was to be executed this morning. We were both waiting anxiously for you and then suddenly they were here."
"Why would Elizabeth not come with you?" Mary asked Tess quietly, sympathetic to the other girl, who had clearly been through a horrible ordeal. She could not pretend to like Tess - she was quite an unpleasant person - but no one should have to suffer what the blonde had. Mary knew how female prisoners were treated by most men.She was actually surprised that the innocent girl had survived it.
"I know not," Tess replied, hiccuping slightly around a sob. "I recall going to her however. And she turned me away."
Mary looked at Max. "It is clear that she was trying to protect Michael and Tess, likely felt that Sir Kyle would perhaps let them go if she stayed."
Max closed his eyes briefly, then said grimly. "It is more than likely that that is how she saw it. It is most typical of my wife." He sighed. "We will go after her of course. Immediately. My only consolation is that Sir Kyle will not hurt her to avoid the Queen's wrath."
"I know it will be difficult Maxwell, but I suggest that we wait at least until darkness falls again," Alex said. "The cover of night will be an advantage. It will also give Michael and the Lady Tess time to rest. We will likely need their gifts if we are to succeed."
Max appeared to want to refuse, but one glance at Michael appeared to change his mind. "Very well. But we cannot simply sit idly all day." He glanced towards the door, where the new day's sun was just beginning to filter through the trees. "I could not bear it." He ran his hands through his dark hair in frustration after setting Tess gently away from him.
"There are many things we can do." Tess's voice was gaining in strength. "We must find Lord Edmund."
Isabel and Mary exchanged pained glances. Isabel moved closer to her sister, brought her arm around the smaller girl. "Sweeting, do you not know? Lord Edmund has passed on. He was killed when you were captured."
Tess scowled. "I know it Isabel. But Lord Edmund cannot die. It was what he told me privately when he first found us in the Forest, before much of this even occurred." She paused, looked pensive. "Perhaps he had a premonition that he would be hurt, but he told me that we could bring him back if anything were to happen to him."
"Bring him back?" Michael said in disbelief. "But how?"
Mary could feel her heart beating unnaturally. She was constantly amazed by every new power her friends revealed, but to bring back the dead? It was beyond amazing. It was god-like - and frightening to even contemplate.
"With the healing stones that are hidden in our birthplace," Tess replied calmly. Mary stared at her. How could this be the same hysterical girl from minutes before? She felt suspicion beginning to penetrate her earlier sympathies, but listened quietly as Tess explained the process.
Max was also listening, a slight frown on his face. Mary saw it when she glanced impulsively towards their leader, as everyone else seemed to be doing as well. In fact, Tess was basically addressing him alone. They all waited breathlessly to see what he would say.
"It sounds fantastic," Max finally admitted. "But I do not think that Lord Edmund would lie about such a thing." There was another long pause. "Very well, here is what we shall do. Alexander," Max looked at Mary's brother as he spoke. "You will take the evidence that Mary and I uncovered and go to London to see the queen. She must be brought here to put down the rebellion that is in the making against the king."
Alex did not look convinced. "But Max, you will require my sword when we rescue Elizabeth this night."
Max answered his friend sternly. "Nay. I will not have you recognized should anything go awry Alex. There are still many who would doubt that a baron would have turned outlaw. We will protect your position and your lands for as long as possible. You will not participate."
"I don't care about my lands!" Alex flared, annoyed.
"I am sure," Max smiled gratefully. "But I care. I will not have you give them up on our account."
"It is for Lizzy!"
"There is to be no argument Alexander. She will be saved. There is no doubt," Max replied firmly. "I will not rest until it is so. You must not worry about that. We need the queen to return to take care of the Sheriff and Sir Kyle once and for all."
This seemed to appease Alex, because he knew without a doubt that what Max said was the truth. They all knew it. The young king would not stop until he had his wife safely back at his side. "Very well," he agreed grudgingly.
Max nodded. "Michael, you shall take Mary with you to the pod chamber." Mary's eyes widened at those strange words. She exchanged a look with Alex, who merely shrugged and rolled his eyes. The strange world of their friends was not even worth amazement any longer. "Get the healing stones and bring them back here." He looked at Isabel and Tess. "We will go fetch Lord Edmund." Mary grimaced as she remembered the guardian hanging lifelessly from the tree where she and Max had been forced to leave him. If these four could bring life back to that.well, she would never doubt in miracles again.
"If we can do this all quickly enough, there will be time for a rest prior to the activities of this evening," Max continued. He looked at them each in turn. "And then we will end this once and for all."
Mary felt a shiver descend her spine. Max's words seemed to indicate that, at least in Sir Kyle's case, the queen's judgment might not be required at all. Because Mary did not doubt that Sir Kyle de Valence was unlikely to survive their evening activities as Max so casually called them.
She knew as well as the rest of them that as long as Sir Kyle lived, Elizabeth would never be safe. Max knew it better than any of them. And he would no longer tolerate his wife's life in constant jeopardy, nor would he forgive what had been done to Tess and Michael, both of whom would suffer long-lasting memories of their ordeals. They both appeared capable at the moment, but it wasn't when they were busy that the horror would haunt them. No, Mary knew it would be when they were supposed to be the most happy, in the quiet moments, in their dreams, for the rest of their lives.
For the first time ever, Mary Delucie felt a pang of sorrow for Sir Kyle, because she truly did not think he knew what he had unleashed. As she looked at Max's grim face, she only began to understand it herself.
Sir Kyle DeValence would die this night, if it was the last thing Maxwell DeHarding ever did.
To be continued.