[u]Part 40[/u]
"She should be back by now," Mary whispered. Max frowned, but knew that it was pointless to reprimand her. Mary had been quiet for too long now. It went against her very nature. If she didn't let some of it out, she would likely explode.
He didn't blame her actually. They had been waiting for Tess for a very long time now, fairly secure in their hiding spot in a little used part of the castle's vast stables. Of course, the fact that Mary was sneezing every few minutes because of the hay was not helpful, but, in general, they were safe.
If only Tess would return. She [I]had[/I] been gone far too long. When she had suggested that she would go investigate by herself, that she would find Elizabeth before he and Mary entered the castle, it had seemed like a good plan. Despite her first tantrum about not wanting to join the mission to rescue Elizabeth, after her talk with Lord Edmund, she had seemed amenable enough. He had even wondered if his suspicions about his former betrothed were even justified. Had he jumped to conclusions about Tess because of his concern for Elizabeth?
But now, as he listened to Mary's breath hitching in her impatience to proceed with the plan, he began to wonder if he had let his guilt about abandoning Tess convince him to trust her again. He and Isabel had been in silent agreement in the forest that something was amiss in Tess's behavior since her return from the castle the first time. They had not had a chance to discuss it though and now he wished they had.
Max felt a pang of sadness when he realized that his impatience for Tess to return was not because he was worried for his sister. He knew he should feel bad that he was beginning to trust her so little that his first thought was that she was betraying them, not that she was in jeopardy. And, yet, somehow he knew that he was right. They never should have depended on Tess's mindwarp at all. It was a mistake and somehow he knew it might be a fatal one.
Mary seemed to feel him tensing beside her. They were both leaning against a stall in the far corner of the stables, near the castle wall. Max and Tess had manipulated the stone to allow them access and then had closed the opening created behind them. If they were found, Mary had her bow at the ready to defend them while Max reopened the wall. He was still hoping that they would not need to escape though. He knew that if he left Elizabeth behind this time, it was likely that he would never see her again. And, despite the fact, that he still thought that perhaps she would be better off without him, she certainly would [I]not[/I] be better off married to Sir Kyle. Max could not desert his love to that fate.
He thought about what Tess had told he and Isabel in the forest - that Elizabeth had wanted to stay behind with Kyle, that she had decided that life in the forest was too difficult for her. He didn't believe the reason Tess had given, but he did believe that Liz had chosen to remain in the castle. The most logical conclusion was that she had wanted to distract Sir Kyle so that Tess and Michael could escape. But, in his heart, Max knew that there was another explanation altogether. Now he just needed to see Liz face to face to find out what it was.
He could not leave without her. Not again.
"Max?" Mary's voice jolted him out of his thoughts. He glanced down at her, his eyebrows raised warningly. "I'm sorry," she continued, still whispering, "But I must speak. It has been too long." She bit her lip. "You are thinking that we were wrong to trust Tess, are you not?"
Max swallowed. If he actually said the words, then there would be no going back. He would have accepted once and for all that the innocent girl he had been raised with was no more - that perhaps she had never been. It was hard for him because, although he knew Tess no longer believed it, he did love her. Just not as she wanted him to, unfortunately. "I am." He closed his eyes, actually admitting it almost a relief.
"Then we must proceed without her," Mary said firmly. "We can't stay here any longer. It is a waste of time."
"I agree," Max replied, glad, that for once, someone else was taking charge. He felt inexplicably weary all of a sudden. It hurt more than he would have thought to know that Tess was somehow a traitor. He still didn't know exactly what she had done, but he knew it had something to do with Michael's missing memories - and with why Liz had stayed in the castle.
"How will we do this?" Mary asked in a low tone. "Without Tess's gift, you will be recognized immediately. Your description has been all over Nottingham this past sennight."
Max frowned, thinking hard. "Perhaps you should go in alone," he started. "Someone must get to Liz, must prepare her to depart. I will follow. I have my ways to make sure that I am not seen, but I cannot take care of both of us."
Mary was nodding, but her eyes widened suddenly when a great deal of noise at the entrance to the stable suddenly caught her attention. Max brought his finger to his lips to silence her, but she already had her lips pressed tightly together.
".bloody nobles." Max listened to the stable-boy, who was muttering to himself as he stomped through a nearby stall. "They expect to stable all of their horses for the night do they? A little warning would be appreciated. Oh! Your pardon my lord. I didn't see you there!"
"You may leave my mount saddled. I will be leaving again, as soon as I am sure the queen and Prince John are settled." Max felt Mary gasp next to him. That voice, its amused tone.it was extremely familiar.
Max met Mary's joyful eyes. He felt the same flash of pure gladness run through him. For that voice belonged to none other than Alexander of Whitfield. "Go," he mouthed to Mary.
She narrowed her eyes, seemed to understand that he would stay concealed until she had figured out why Alex had returned so precipitously. She was not outlawed after all. Max was the one who would instantly be clapped in irons were he caught. Mary thrust her bow at him, so excited she was hopping from one foot to the other. She gave him a quick hug and then moved away.
"Alex!" Mary raised her voice as she raced through the stable, away from Max, in search of her brother. "Alexander! Where are you?"
"What the devil?" Max heard the stable-boy exclaim in dismay. "Milady! What are you doing in here?"
"I was feeding my horse. Who are you to question me?" Mary replied, so haughtily, Max was impressed. For the first time in a while, he remembered that she had been raised even more nobly than he and his siblings.
"Forgive me milady," the stable-boy replied hastily. He raised his voice as well, calling after Alexander. "My lord! My lord Whitfield. Wait sir!"
The next five minutes seemed like five hours to Max. He wondered how Alexander had managed the miracle of bringing the queen to Nottingham so quickly. He could feel his heart starting to beat nervously as he wondered if Queen Eleanor would pardon him. It would be the first step in securing her good will for his marriage to Liz. While it was no longer legal, due to the destruction of the chapel where they had wed, in his heart it was still completely valid. Would he be able to convince the queen of it? Even if she did lift the wolf's head off his shoulders, she may not believe him worthy of Elizabeth's love. Would he be forced to let the queen in on his secret, to prove that, in fact, he far outranked even her? And, if he was pushed so far, would the queen denounce him to the Church?
Even were the worst to occur though, Max was not overly concerned. With Lord Edmund restored to life, the return to Antar could be arranged. Their guardian was still certain it was too soon to go back, but if they had to, they could.
Max just hoped that Elizabeth was still willing to go with them. He did not believe Tess that she no longer wanted to be with him, but it had been so long since he had laid eyes on her, perhaps she had reconsidered? Even if she still did not want the marriage to Kyle, would she decide against Max as well?
He shook his head firmly, refusing to allow any doubt in Liz to torment him. She loved him. He had seen her soul when they had connected in the forest and she would not forsake him. He knew it. Even now, the mere thought of her, not to mention being in close proximity to her again - she was so near! - made his blood run more quickly through his veins, the bond they shared strengthening his resolve. He could almost [I]feel[/I] her presence, could almost [I]hear[/I] her thoughts.
Where was Mary? He was going crazy just waiting here. He heaved a sigh of relief when he heard voices again, one male, one female. Finally! He prepared to step out of the stall, to join his two friends.
".my love. I know it will be difficult for you, but I will help you as much as I can." Max's heart started to thunder in his chest, this time in horror. That voice did not belong to Alexander of Whitfield. It was Sir Kyle DeValence!
The soft answer was too low for Max to make out immediately, but he knew in his heart who it was. He could [I]feel[/I] her presence. Elizabeth - his wife - was only a few steps away. He clenched his fists at his side, barely able to contain himself. He could not go to her though. He [I]had[/I] to wait for Alex. This had to be done properly or all hope would be lost. Max pressed his forehead against the wooden stall, listened, trying to understand how these two came to be in the stable together.
"I will not leave you behind Elizabeth. Not again. I will not allow that damned outlaw the opportunity to get his hands on you again. No! There is no need to apologize my dear. I believe you that you were bewitched. But we must spirit you away. Now that Alexander Delucie has fooled the queen, he will come for you openly. You will not have to face him again. I have promised you."
Max frowned, rolling his eyes. He waited for Elizabeth to dispute what Kyle said, but there was no answer at all. The silence went on for so long, Max didn't know what to think. What the hell were they doing out there? Where were Mary and Alex?
"How I love you my dear." Kyle's voice was melting with emotion, making Max grimace.
"I love you too. You are the best of men for forgiving my waywardness."
Max blinked, unsure if he was hearing things or not. That had certainly been Elizabeth's voice. Was she unaware that her deliverance was at hand? Why was she playing along with Kyle?
There was another long pause. Max couldn't help himself. He moved carefully towards the stall's entrance, poked his head out from behind one of the posts supporting the roof of the stable.
What he saw literally made him ill. He could actually feel the bile rising in his throat. Elizabeth was locked in Sir Kyle's embrace, kissing him as though she never intended to stop. Max stumbled backwards into the stall, hitting the stone wall and sliding to the floor in a heap.
[I]No![/I] His heart was screaming in agony. Max forced himself to ignore it, tried to focus, tried to understand how this had happened. What was Liz doing? There must be some reason for why she would be pretending so fervently to love Kyle? How could she not know that Alex had arrived with the queen?
He had to tell her! He could not just stand here, knowing that she was so desperate that she was forcing herself to play such an elaborate game with Sir Kyle. She would be sick were she to know what he had just witnessed.
Max pushed himself up off the ground, cursing himself for being such a weakling. Of course it was all a ruse! It did not matter that he did not understand what the point of it was, it could not be real. How could he have doubted for even a moment?
And, then, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was not. For the instant he stepped through into the stable proper, he found himself face to face with Tess.
"So, now you know," his former betrothed said quietly.
Max's fury was so intense, it took all of his self-control not to grab her and shake her until her teeth rattled in her head. "I know that you are as I suspected. My enemy."
A flicker of pain crossed Tess's face as she shook her head. "No Max! You know what I was trying to tell you. That she has turned from you!"
Max glared at her, brushing past her. "It was a mindwarp. I know it." He stopped abruptly when he realized that they were alone in the stable. Where was Elizabeth? How had she and Kyle disappeared so quickly? He had only moved back into the stall for a moment. He would have heard them if they had left.
"There was a mindwarp, but not of them," Tess exclaimed, grabbing him by the hand. He wrenched away from her, repulsion his only reaction to her touch. "I stopped you from going after them."
"What?" He whirled on her. "What do you mean?"
"For you it felt like moments that you sat on the ground. In fact, it was many minutes," Tess admitted guiltily. "I could not bear for you to hear it from her treacherous lips Max! I let them go."
Max stared at her, still uncomprehending. "I don't understand."
"They are gone Max. They are gone because Sir Kyle killed his father and the queen has called for his head. You heard them! He took Elizabeth with him. She wanted to go."
"You are lying," Max said coldly, turning again and stalking away.
"Max!" Tess called after him. "You [I]felt[/I] her, didn't you? You know it was her! She betrayed you! You must accept it."
He ignored her, ignored the fact that Tess was right - he [I]had[/I] felt Elizabeth. He pushed his way out into the courtyard and stepped into chaos.
The castle guard were mounted, listening to Alexander, who was also astride his horse. "Make sure that no harm comes to the Lady Elizabeth," he was ordering. "The queen demands Sir Kyle be returned to Nottingham, dead or alive."
Max stared at him, shaking his head, not understanding this scene at all. He glanced down when he felt a hand slip into his. Mary's light eyes met his, shock and disbelief clearly visible. "Max, where have you been?"
"I was where you left me Mary!" Max replied. "Why did you not come back for me?"
"I did Max! Alex and I both! You were not there."
"What?"
Tess's voice from behind him made his blood run cold. "You had to see it for yourself Max. You [I]had[/I] to."
He turned slowly. He could feel the rage within him. It was like a living thing. This time he really would kill her. Mary's hand clenched his more tightly. "Max, don't. You will never forgive yourself."
He forced deep breaths, calmed himself slightly. "Explain," he told Tess tersely.
Tess lowered her blue-eyed gaze, spoke quickly. "I went to find out what was going on. When I saw Alex, I knew that there was no reason for our plan at all so I came back for you and Mary. Just as I was about to rejoin you, I saw Kyle and Elizabeth sneaking across the courtyard. No one else saw them because of the queen's retinue settling in. They hid when Mary and Alex came back out and when I went to find you, I heard what you heard." She looked at him, sympathy on her pretty face. "I saw what you saw." She swallowed, raised her chin. "I do not regret making it so that you could not go after them. You need time to accept what you know is true. I could not allow her to play her games with your mind again. I mindwarped you so that you felt little time pass, so that she would be gone for good. I would do it again."
There was a long silence. Even Mary did not say a word, did not try to dispute what Tess said.
Finally, Max looked down at his friend. "Where is she?"
"She is gone Max. The queen sent for her after she was settled and she was nowhere to be found. The sheriff really is dead. Kyle's dagger was found in his chest." Mary's eyes were shadowed. She was clearly waiting for what Max thought. He knew that she did not believe Tess, but she was not as certain of him.
"Then he has taken her against her will," Max said quietly. "We will go after her."
Mary smiled, clearly relieved. "We cannot Max. The queen wants to meet with you." She sighed, seemed to know he was not going to be pleased by this news. And he was not. But he could not deny the queen. He needed her good will if he ever wanted his marriage to Eleanor's ward to be accepted. "I knew you wouldn't be fooled," Mary continued. She looked at Tess. "I don't know what you have done, but I know that you are somehow responsible for this."
"You know nothing!" Tess shrieked. "You will all regret this when I am proven right!"
"What are you going to do with her?" Mary asked. "We can't just leave her here."
Max's eyes narrowed. "We need to find Isabel and Michael. They can take her back to Lord Edmund. Unfortunately, we do still need her for when we return to our home."
"Max!" Tess was sobbing now. "What has she done to you? Why can you not see the truth?"
Max ignored her, turned his head when he heard horses entering through the drawbridge. He felt keen satisfaction when his eyes lit on Michael and Isabel, accompanied by one of the guards. At the sight of him, Isabel slid off her steed and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. "Is it not wonderful Max? Alex has saved us all! Michael and I just approached him in the town and he sent us up here to you." She paused, frowning. "Wait a minute! Where is he going? I never got a chance to ask him!"
"That's because you were too busy kissing him," Michael put in lazily, coming up beside her at a more leisurely pace. He glanced at Max and Mary, who were still holding hands. "Is not one human enough for you Maxwell?" He asked, barely managing to hide a grin as Mary snorted and moved towards him, her hands outstretched. He took them, lowered his head and brushed her lips lightly with his.
Isabel was blushing prettily as she retorted, "You are one to talk!"
Michael wrapped his arm around Mary's shoulders, grinned. "Well.I didn't say I blamed you." He sobered, looked at Max again. "Where [I]was[/I] Alexander going Maxwell?"
"To find Liz," Max replied, itching to mount one of the horses Michael and Isabel had just ridden in on and go after her as well. "Sir Kyle has fled, taking her with him."
Michael stared at him. "And you're still standing here why?"
"Because the queen is waiting for him," Mary answered before Max could. "And we really shouldn't keep her waiting much longer. She will not like it."
"You are right," Max said. He felt extremely anxious, wanted this meeting over with so that he could still take part in the retrieval of his wife. It galled him to no end that some one else was doing his heart's desire. It was his responsibility to protect Elizabeth. He had not done a very good job of it so far, but as soon as she was back with him, he would spend the rest of his life making up for the trials she had endured.
"Where is Tess?" Michael asked.
Max blinked, turned. "Oh for." He had forgotten completely about Tess in his surprise and joy at Isabel and Michael's arrival. Somehow she had managed to slip away while he and Mary had been distracted. "She was here a minute ago. She is definitely a traitor," he added, looking directly at Isabel. "She mindwarped me. I would have been able to stop Liz and Sir Kyle had she not." He clenched his jaw. "If anything happens to Liz out there."
"They can't have gotten far Max," Mary told him. "Alex will find her. You know he will. Things are finally going our way. Sir Kyle's hours are numbered. He made a grievous error in hurting his own father. The sheriff was a good man in the end and the queen will not allow the death of one of King Richard's loyal servants to go unpunished. Elizabeth [I]will[/I] be found."
For one horrible moment, an image of Elizabeth in Sir Kyle's arms invaded his mind. Max pushed it aside firmly. It had not been true. What he had witnessed had either been a mindwarp or a part of Elizabeth's plan. His wife would not betray him. He had not known her for long, as he was constantly being reminded, but he knew her heart. None of the others understood the depth of the bond they shared.
They were soul mates. He knew her better than he knew himself.
And it was in that instant, while this truth wound its way through his heart, that he abruptly felt his blood run cold. A shiver ran through his body, freezing in its intensity. He knew absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt what it meant. He was unsure if it was a premonition or whether it was happening at the present time. The idea that it might be the latter made him shiver again.
Her life was in danger. It was so certain, his knees went weak.
He did not know how he knew, or how it could be, since without her Sir Kyle had nothing, but there could be no doubt. If he did not get to Elizabeth immediately, she would die.
The queen was going to have to wait.
To be continued.
"She should be back by now," Mary whispered. Max frowned, but knew that it was pointless to reprimand her. Mary had been quiet for too long now. It went against her very nature. If she didn't let some of it out, she would likely explode.
He didn't blame her actually. They had been waiting for Tess for a very long time now, fairly secure in their hiding spot in a little used part of the castle's vast stables. Of course, the fact that Mary was sneezing every few minutes because of the hay was not helpful, but, in general, they were safe.
If only Tess would return. She [I]had[/I] been gone far too long. When she had suggested that she would go investigate by herself, that she would find Elizabeth before he and Mary entered the castle, it had seemed like a good plan. Despite her first tantrum about not wanting to join the mission to rescue Elizabeth, after her talk with Lord Edmund, she had seemed amenable enough. He had even wondered if his suspicions about his former betrothed were even justified. Had he jumped to conclusions about Tess because of his concern for Elizabeth?
But now, as he listened to Mary's breath hitching in her impatience to proceed with the plan, he began to wonder if he had let his guilt about abandoning Tess convince him to trust her again. He and Isabel had been in silent agreement in the forest that something was amiss in Tess's behavior since her return from the castle the first time. They had not had a chance to discuss it though and now he wished they had.
Max felt a pang of sadness when he realized that his impatience for Tess to return was not because he was worried for his sister. He knew he should feel bad that he was beginning to trust her so little that his first thought was that she was betraying them, not that she was in jeopardy. And, yet, somehow he knew that he was right. They never should have depended on Tess's mindwarp at all. It was a mistake and somehow he knew it might be a fatal one.
Mary seemed to feel him tensing beside her. They were both leaning against a stall in the far corner of the stables, near the castle wall. Max and Tess had manipulated the stone to allow them access and then had closed the opening created behind them. If they were found, Mary had her bow at the ready to defend them while Max reopened the wall. He was still hoping that they would not need to escape though. He knew that if he left Elizabeth behind this time, it was likely that he would never see her again. And, despite the fact, that he still thought that perhaps she would be better off without him, she certainly would [I]not[/I] be better off married to Sir Kyle. Max could not desert his love to that fate.
He thought about what Tess had told he and Isabel in the forest - that Elizabeth had wanted to stay behind with Kyle, that she had decided that life in the forest was too difficult for her. He didn't believe the reason Tess had given, but he did believe that Liz had chosen to remain in the castle. The most logical conclusion was that she had wanted to distract Sir Kyle so that Tess and Michael could escape. But, in his heart, Max knew that there was another explanation altogether. Now he just needed to see Liz face to face to find out what it was.
He could not leave without her. Not again.
"Max?" Mary's voice jolted him out of his thoughts. He glanced down at her, his eyebrows raised warningly. "I'm sorry," she continued, still whispering, "But I must speak. It has been too long." She bit her lip. "You are thinking that we were wrong to trust Tess, are you not?"
Max swallowed. If he actually said the words, then there would be no going back. He would have accepted once and for all that the innocent girl he had been raised with was no more - that perhaps she had never been. It was hard for him because, although he knew Tess no longer believed it, he did love her. Just not as she wanted him to, unfortunately. "I am." He closed his eyes, actually admitting it almost a relief.
"Then we must proceed without her," Mary said firmly. "We can't stay here any longer. It is a waste of time."
"I agree," Max replied, glad, that for once, someone else was taking charge. He felt inexplicably weary all of a sudden. It hurt more than he would have thought to know that Tess was somehow a traitor. He still didn't know exactly what she had done, but he knew it had something to do with Michael's missing memories - and with why Liz had stayed in the castle.
"How will we do this?" Mary asked in a low tone. "Without Tess's gift, you will be recognized immediately. Your description has been all over Nottingham this past sennight."
Max frowned, thinking hard. "Perhaps you should go in alone," he started. "Someone must get to Liz, must prepare her to depart. I will follow. I have my ways to make sure that I am not seen, but I cannot take care of both of us."
Mary was nodding, but her eyes widened suddenly when a great deal of noise at the entrance to the stable suddenly caught her attention. Max brought his finger to his lips to silence her, but she already had her lips pressed tightly together.
".bloody nobles." Max listened to the stable-boy, who was muttering to himself as he stomped through a nearby stall. "They expect to stable all of their horses for the night do they? A little warning would be appreciated. Oh! Your pardon my lord. I didn't see you there!"
"You may leave my mount saddled. I will be leaving again, as soon as I am sure the queen and Prince John are settled." Max felt Mary gasp next to him. That voice, its amused tone.it was extremely familiar.
Max met Mary's joyful eyes. He felt the same flash of pure gladness run through him. For that voice belonged to none other than Alexander of Whitfield. "Go," he mouthed to Mary.
She narrowed her eyes, seemed to understand that he would stay concealed until she had figured out why Alex had returned so precipitously. She was not outlawed after all. Max was the one who would instantly be clapped in irons were he caught. Mary thrust her bow at him, so excited she was hopping from one foot to the other. She gave him a quick hug and then moved away.
"Alex!" Mary raised her voice as she raced through the stable, away from Max, in search of her brother. "Alexander! Where are you?"
"What the devil?" Max heard the stable-boy exclaim in dismay. "Milady! What are you doing in here?"
"I was feeding my horse. Who are you to question me?" Mary replied, so haughtily, Max was impressed. For the first time in a while, he remembered that she had been raised even more nobly than he and his siblings.
"Forgive me milady," the stable-boy replied hastily. He raised his voice as well, calling after Alexander. "My lord! My lord Whitfield. Wait sir!"
The next five minutes seemed like five hours to Max. He wondered how Alexander had managed the miracle of bringing the queen to Nottingham so quickly. He could feel his heart starting to beat nervously as he wondered if Queen Eleanor would pardon him. It would be the first step in securing her good will for his marriage to Liz. While it was no longer legal, due to the destruction of the chapel where they had wed, in his heart it was still completely valid. Would he be able to convince the queen of it? Even if she did lift the wolf's head off his shoulders, she may not believe him worthy of Elizabeth's love. Would he be forced to let the queen in on his secret, to prove that, in fact, he far outranked even her? And, if he was pushed so far, would the queen denounce him to the Church?
Even were the worst to occur though, Max was not overly concerned. With Lord Edmund restored to life, the return to Antar could be arranged. Their guardian was still certain it was too soon to go back, but if they had to, they could.
Max just hoped that Elizabeth was still willing to go with them. He did not believe Tess that she no longer wanted to be with him, but it had been so long since he had laid eyes on her, perhaps she had reconsidered? Even if she still did not want the marriage to Kyle, would she decide against Max as well?
He shook his head firmly, refusing to allow any doubt in Liz to torment him. She loved him. He had seen her soul when they had connected in the forest and she would not forsake him. He knew it. Even now, the mere thought of her, not to mention being in close proximity to her again - she was so near! - made his blood run more quickly through his veins, the bond they shared strengthening his resolve. He could almost [I]feel[/I] her presence, could almost [I]hear[/I] her thoughts.
Where was Mary? He was going crazy just waiting here. He heaved a sigh of relief when he heard voices again, one male, one female. Finally! He prepared to step out of the stall, to join his two friends.
".my love. I know it will be difficult for you, but I will help you as much as I can." Max's heart started to thunder in his chest, this time in horror. That voice did not belong to Alexander of Whitfield. It was Sir Kyle DeValence!
The soft answer was too low for Max to make out immediately, but he knew in his heart who it was. He could [I]feel[/I] her presence. Elizabeth - his wife - was only a few steps away. He clenched his fists at his side, barely able to contain himself. He could not go to her though. He [I]had[/I] to wait for Alex. This had to be done properly or all hope would be lost. Max pressed his forehead against the wooden stall, listened, trying to understand how these two came to be in the stable together.
"I will not leave you behind Elizabeth. Not again. I will not allow that damned outlaw the opportunity to get his hands on you again. No! There is no need to apologize my dear. I believe you that you were bewitched. But we must spirit you away. Now that Alexander Delucie has fooled the queen, he will come for you openly. You will not have to face him again. I have promised you."
Max frowned, rolling his eyes. He waited for Elizabeth to dispute what Kyle said, but there was no answer at all. The silence went on for so long, Max didn't know what to think. What the hell were they doing out there? Where were Mary and Alex?
"How I love you my dear." Kyle's voice was melting with emotion, making Max grimace.
"I love you too. You are the best of men for forgiving my waywardness."
Max blinked, unsure if he was hearing things or not. That had certainly been Elizabeth's voice. Was she unaware that her deliverance was at hand? Why was she playing along with Kyle?
There was another long pause. Max couldn't help himself. He moved carefully towards the stall's entrance, poked his head out from behind one of the posts supporting the roof of the stable.
What he saw literally made him ill. He could actually feel the bile rising in his throat. Elizabeth was locked in Sir Kyle's embrace, kissing him as though she never intended to stop. Max stumbled backwards into the stall, hitting the stone wall and sliding to the floor in a heap.
[I]No![/I] His heart was screaming in agony. Max forced himself to ignore it, tried to focus, tried to understand how this had happened. What was Liz doing? There must be some reason for why she would be pretending so fervently to love Kyle? How could she not know that Alex had arrived with the queen?
He had to tell her! He could not just stand here, knowing that she was so desperate that she was forcing herself to play such an elaborate game with Sir Kyle. She would be sick were she to know what he had just witnessed.
Max pushed himself up off the ground, cursing himself for being such a weakling. Of course it was all a ruse! It did not matter that he did not understand what the point of it was, it could not be real. How could he have doubted for even a moment?
And, then, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was not. For the instant he stepped through into the stable proper, he found himself face to face with Tess.
"So, now you know," his former betrothed said quietly.
Max's fury was so intense, it took all of his self-control not to grab her and shake her until her teeth rattled in her head. "I know that you are as I suspected. My enemy."
A flicker of pain crossed Tess's face as she shook her head. "No Max! You know what I was trying to tell you. That she has turned from you!"
Max glared at her, brushing past her. "It was a mindwarp. I know it." He stopped abruptly when he realized that they were alone in the stable. Where was Elizabeth? How had she and Kyle disappeared so quickly? He had only moved back into the stall for a moment. He would have heard them if they had left.
"There was a mindwarp, but not of them," Tess exclaimed, grabbing him by the hand. He wrenched away from her, repulsion his only reaction to her touch. "I stopped you from going after them."
"What?" He whirled on her. "What do you mean?"
"For you it felt like moments that you sat on the ground. In fact, it was many minutes," Tess admitted guiltily. "I could not bear for you to hear it from her treacherous lips Max! I let them go."
Max stared at her, still uncomprehending. "I don't understand."
"They are gone Max. They are gone because Sir Kyle killed his father and the queen has called for his head. You heard them! He took Elizabeth with him. She wanted to go."
"You are lying," Max said coldly, turning again and stalking away.
"Max!" Tess called after him. "You [I]felt[/I] her, didn't you? You know it was her! She betrayed you! You must accept it."
He ignored her, ignored the fact that Tess was right - he [I]had[/I] felt Elizabeth. He pushed his way out into the courtyard and stepped into chaos.
The castle guard were mounted, listening to Alexander, who was also astride his horse. "Make sure that no harm comes to the Lady Elizabeth," he was ordering. "The queen demands Sir Kyle be returned to Nottingham, dead or alive."
Max stared at him, shaking his head, not understanding this scene at all. He glanced down when he felt a hand slip into his. Mary's light eyes met his, shock and disbelief clearly visible. "Max, where have you been?"
"I was where you left me Mary!" Max replied. "Why did you not come back for me?"
"I did Max! Alex and I both! You were not there."
"What?"
Tess's voice from behind him made his blood run cold. "You had to see it for yourself Max. You [I]had[/I] to."
He turned slowly. He could feel the rage within him. It was like a living thing. This time he really would kill her. Mary's hand clenched his more tightly. "Max, don't. You will never forgive yourself."
He forced deep breaths, calmed himself slightly. "Explain," he told Tess tersely.
Tess lowered her blue-eyed gaze, spoke quickly. "I went to find out what was going on. When I saw Alex, I knew that there was no reason for our plan at all so I came back for you and Mary. Just as I was about to rejoin you, I saw Kyle and Elizabeth sneaking across the courtyard. No one else saw them because of the queen's retinue settling in. They hid when Mary and Alex came back out and when I went to find you, I heard what you heard." She looked at him, sympathy on her pretty face. "I saw what you saw." She swallowed, raised her chin. "I do not regret making it so that you could not go after them. You need time to accept what you know is true. I could not allow her to play her games with your mind again. I mindwarped you so that you felt little time pass, so that she would be gone for good. I would do it again."
There was a long silence. Even Mary did not say a word, did not try to dispute what Tess said.
Finally, Max looked down at his friend. "Where is she?"
"She is gone Max. The queen sent for her after she was settled and she was nowhere to be found. The sheriff really is dead. Kyle's dagger was found in his chest." Mary's eyes were shadowed. She was clearly waiting for what Max thought. He knew that she did not believe Tess, but she was not as certain of him.
"Then he has taken her against her will," Max said quietly. "We will go after her."
Mary smiled, clearly relieved. "We cannot Max. The queen wants to meet with you." She sighed, seemed to know he was not going to be pleased by this news. And he was not. But he could not deny the queen. He needed her good will if he ever wanted his marriage to Eleanor's ward to be accepted. "I knew you wouldn't be fooled," Mary continued. She looked at Tess. "I don't know what you have done, but I know that you are somehow responsible for this."
"You know nothing!" Tess shrieked. "You will all regret this when I am proven right!"
"What are you going to do with her?" Mary asked. "We can't just leave her here."
Max's eyes narrowed. "We need to find Isabel and Michael. They can take her back to Lord Edmund. Unfortunately, we do still need her for when we return to our home."
"Max!" Tess was sobbing now. "What has she done to you? Why can you not see the truth?"
Max ignored her, turned his head when he heard horses entering through the drawbridge. He felt keen satisfaction when his eyes lit on Michael and Isabel, accompanied by one of the guards. At the sight of him, Isabel slid off her steed and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. "Is it not wonderful Max? Alex has saved us all! Michael and I just approached him in the town and he sent us up here to you." She paused, frowning. "Wait a minute! Where is he going? I never got a chance to ask him!"
"That's because you were too busy kissing him," Michael put in lazily, coming up beside her at a more leisurely pace. He glanced at Max and Mary, who were still holding hands. "Is not one human enough for you Maxwell?" He asked, barely managing to hide a grin as Mary snorted and moved towards him, her hands outstretched. He took them, lowered his head and brushed her lips lightly with his.
Isabel was blushing prettily as she retorted, "You are one to talk!"
Michael wrapped his arm around Mary's shoulders, grinned. "Well.I didn't say I blamed you." He sobered, looked at Max again. "Where [I]was[/I] Alexander going Maxwell?"
"To find Liz," Max replied, itching to mount one of the horses Michael and Isabel had just ridden in on and go after her as well. "Sir Kyle has fled, taking her with him."
Michael stared at him. "And you're still standing here why?"
"Because the queen is waiting for him," Mary answered before Max could. "And we really shouldn't keep her waiting much longer. She will not like it."
"You are right," Max said. He felt extremely anxious, wanted this meeting over with so that he could still take part in the retrieval of his wife. It galled him to no end that some one else was doing his heart's desire. It was his responsibility to protect Elizabeth. He had not done a very good job of it so far, but as soon as she was back with him, he would spend the rest of his life making up for the trials she had endured.
"Where is Tess?" Michael asked.
Max blinked, turned. "Oh for." He had forgotten completely about Tess in his surprise and joy at Isabel and Michael's arrival. Somehow she had managed to slip away while he and Mary had been distracted. "She was here a minute ago. She is definitely a traitor," he added, looking directly at Isabel. "She mindwarped me. I would have been able to stop Liz and Sir Kyle had she not." He clenched his jaw. "If anything happens to Liz out there."
"They can't have gotten far Max," Mary told him. "Alex will find her. You know he will. Things are finally going our way. Sir Kyle's hours are numbered. He made a grievous error in hurting his own father. The sheriff was a good man in the end and the queen will not allow the death of one of King Richard's loyal servants to go unpunished. Elizabeth [I]will[/I] be found."
For one horrible moment, an image of Elizabeth in Sir Kyle's arms invaded his mind. Max pushed it aside firmly. It had not been true. What he had witnessed had either been a mindwarp or a part of Elizabeth's plan. His wife would not betray him. He had not known her for long, as he was constantly being reminded, but he knew her heart. None of the others understood the depth of the bond they shared.
They were soul mates. He knew her better than he knew himself.
And it was in that instant, while this truth wound its way through his heart, that he abruptly felt his blood run cold. A shiver ran through his body, freezing in its intensity. He knew absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt what it meant. He was unsure if it was a premonition or whether it was happening at the present time. The idea that it might be the latter made him shiver again.
Her life was in danger. It was so certain, his knees went weak.
He did not know how he knew, or how it could be, since without her Sir Kyle had nothing, but there could be no doubt. If he did not get to Elizabeth immediately, she would die.
The queen was going to have to wait.
To be continued.