Chapter VI: A Daring Escape

Alisa Malatesta was no delicate damsel unable to take care of herself. The only child and heir of the wealthy and smart Galeotto, Count of Valdastico, she had been trained to lead, not to be led, and given the means of fending for herself, both withwords and with a weapon, the bow. Also, she was no stranger to knives, and always carried a small dagger, well hidden in her corset, just in case.

As strong and determined as she was, though, Bembo's threat of rape had deeply distraught Alisa. She struggled to regain control and steady her trembling legs; when she succeeded, she rose and walked over to the window. She opened one panel and, propping herself on the windowsill, she inhaled deeply the fresh air that came from the countryside of Asolo. Little by little, her terror subsided, at least enough to let her breathe normally again and not feel nauseous.

She dropped onto a nearby chair, the window still open. There, she waited for her mind to clear and her brains to work properly again.

Alisa knew that Jacques would stop at nothing to rescue her. However, she was used to take matters into her own hands and wouldn't wait idly for him to come. If there was a way to escape the castle and the town, she had to try and find it.

Once more, Alisa leaned over the windowsill to look down. A drop of nine or ten metres to the backyard, she judged. Too much for a jump without breaking at least one leg, even lowering herself out of the window for the full length of her arms. Without a rope, she would never manage it safely.

Pressing her lips together in disappointment, Alisa turned and studied the lavish bedchamber.

Her eyes fell onto the canopied bed.

An idea crossed her mind like a shooting star: of course, the sheets! She could shred them to strips, tie them together and thus create a makeshift rope!

She ambled over to the massive bed and peeled back the velvet cover. Sheets of fine linen covered the mattress, much to Alisa's liking, as linen cloth was very strong. She hurried to take both sheets off the bed, then covered it again with the duvet as not to reveal what she had done should anyone enter the room. Sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to the door, ready to shove the sheets and their shreds under the bed should someone come in, Alisa fished out the little knife from her bosom and cut into the first sheet, ripping out a long strip. When she finished, she knotted each piece tightly together. The resulting rope was much longer than needed, so for extra safety, Alisa plaited it into a sort of linen braid. In the end, she had created a very strong cord that she could securely climb down.

Satisfied, Alisa rolled up the rope and shoved it under the bed: attempting escape during broad daylight would be to no avail, as she would been spotted at once. Hence, she would wait for nightfall.

The hours passed slowly. Alisa took advantage of the forced inactivity to rest, even taking a catnap or two but staying constantly alert instead.

As the sun was westering, casting a warm orange glow over Asolo, two young maidservants came, carrying food and drinks. They looked both uneasy, even intimidated.

"Do you... do you need anything else, my lady?" one of them asked nervously.

Feeling for the maids, who were innocent of their master's wickedness, Alisa shook her head. "I have no requests for now, lassies", she said in a kind tone.

The two girls curtseyed and left hastily. Alisa turned to the food tray they had placed on the desk and uncovered it. A delicious smell of roasted mutton and stewed vegetables tickled her nose and suddenly, she realised she was starving. After all, she had had nothing since breakfast. As she had to wait for dark anyway, she could as well eat, going for water only and leaving the wine alone, as she needed to keep both her mental and her physical capacities at the sharpest.

Night fell, but Alisa still waited, wanting the servants to come and take away the trays as not to risk them discovering her escape too soon. One of the maids who had come earlier with the food showed up eventually.

"May I help you preparing for bed, my lady?" she asked, looking as uneasy as the first time.

"Nay, thank you", Alisa answered, covering her edginess under a fake tranquillity. "I will do that myself."

The nameless girl curtseyed and left.

Once alone again, Alisa kept holding on. Patience was not one of her strong points, but she needed it now, because to be as safe as possible, she had to wait for the castle's inhabitants to go to sleep before making her move.

At last, just before midnight, Alisa judged it was time. She tucked the skirt of her gown in her belt, thankful that for the inspection to the vineyard she had chosen a practical dress, and boots instead of shoes.

She blew out all the candles, then she opened the window. The cool night air hit her in the face and Alisa was glad she had plaited her long hair, so it wouldn't fall into her eyes. There was a thin crescent moon high in the sky, casting barely enough light to see.

Alisa secured the makeshift rope to the iron chandelier fastened to the wall on one side of the window. For good measure, she tugged hard at to test its resistance. Pleased with the result, Alisa looked down to the darkened courtyard, to make sure that nobody was in sight, then she lowered the rope out of the window. Seating herself on the windowsill, she turned and threw her legs over it. Firmly grabbing the makeshift cord, Alisa lowered herself carefully out of the window and started slowly to climb down.

She had almost reached the ground, when she heard a male voice calling her name from above. She froze, startled, and her heart jumped to her mouth.

OOO

In his disguise ad a common labourer, Jacques made his way through the corridors, keeping his head down to avoid suspicion, blending in as much as possible. His heart pounded as he searched for Alisa, his sharp eyes missed nothing.

He had heard rumours that an foreign lady was kept in one of the upper chambers. It had to be Alisa, so Jacques made his way cautiously toward the upper floor of the castle, hoping that he wasn't too late.

As he crept through the dimly lit halls, he passed along a loggia and an indistinct movement caught his eye on the wall at an angle. It looked like a rope dangling down from an open window on the floor just above the one he was on.

Puzzled, Jacques stopped and peered out: to his utter shock, he saw Alisa, no less, slowly climbing down what was likely a makeshift rope of sheets.

Jacques' heart leaped in his chest. Without thinking, he leaned over the balustrade out in the faint moonlight and, careful not to draw attention, softly called her name from the floor above. "Lady Alisa!"

Alisa glanced up, her eyes locking onto the figure in one of the loggia on the angle wall. Despite the low light, she recognized Jacques immediately. Besides, she would have recognised his rich baritone voice in a million.

The relief she felt was so strong that she almost lost her grip on the rope she had so cleverly fabricated. He had arrived! She had been absolutely sure of it, but the sight of him actually here, in flesh and blood, having come to her aid, had tears welling up in her eyes as her throat tightened. Her feelings were so unexpectedly strong that she wondered why. However, this was no time to pause and ponder; hence, Alisa inhaled deeply to regain her wits and signalled Jacques with a quick gesture to meet her where she would land.

Jacques grasped the meaning of her signal and nodded, pulling back from the balustrade to avoid being spotted. He moved quickly but silently through the hallways to reach the courtyard below.

As he hurried down the winding stairs, his mind raced. He had expected to find her locked away, possibly guarded, but here she was, already making her escape with remarkable resourcefulness. It brought a smile to his lips even in the midst of the danger. What a woman! Not in a million years would he ever found another one like her.

When he finally reached the courtyard, he moved into the shadows and waited, his heart pounding as he scanned the area for any signs of patrolling guards.

Deftly, Alisa resumed her descent and finally, she touched down. One glance at the makeshift rope confirmed her that the dark would conceal it until dawn; she quickly took cover into the shadows and looked around to catch sight of Jacques.

It was only minutes before Jacques showed up, but they felt like an eternity to Alisa.

When he approached her, for a moment she wanted to hug him to show him her gratitude, but she reined in her urge as, once more, this was not the time.

Finally reaching her side, Jacques couldn't stop himself to grab her hands. "You're incredible," he whispered, his voice filled with both relief and wonder. "I knew you wouldn't sit idly by, but this... I didn't expect you to take matters into your own hands so resolutely."

His admiration thrilled Alisa, but she shoved the feelings aside once more. Still catching her breath, she gave him a small, triumphant smile. "I knew you would come for me, but I wasn't about to enjoy Bembo's hospitality any longer than strictly necessary."

Jacques chuckled softly at her wit, shaking his head in admiration. Even in the midst of danger, her indomitable spirit shone through. "Of course not", he grinned. "Let's get out of here before anyone notices."

He gestured for her to follow, and together, they crept along the perimeter of the castle grounds, using the shadows to conceal their movements. Jacques had spent enough time, during the long afternoon, observing the guards' routines to know the best route to take, but they had to be cautious. Asolo was heavily guarded, and any wrong move could spell disaster.

After the all too brief moment of respite, however, things became quickly serious as they stole through the courtyard to the castle gate without any guards spotting them. The gate was open, as they were at peace, but two armigers stood watch constantly and there was no way they could pass without being detected.

Jacques halted, and so did Alisa behind him. He gestured towards the two guards, who stood face outward under the doorway.

"There's no way to go past them unnoticed", Jacques considered very softly.

Alisa weighed up the situation for a moment. "I have an idea", she responded, her voice barely audible as Jacques'. "Pretend to be drunk. We'll walk over there with me supporting you. This dress is simple enough to make me one of the castle's maids. When we're near enough, you knock them out."

Jacques pondered her plan. He had no better one, and it could actually work because it was simple but clever. He grinned. "Let's do it."

He placed his arm around Alisa's shoulders and in turn, she passed one around his waist. They started to walk towards the gate, Jacques pretending to wobble on his legs and Alisa struggling to keep him straight. She even began grumbling, complaining about big men unable to keep their alcohol and ruining the fun, and Jacques had a hard time not to chortle. What an incredible woman!

Hearing their not-so-silent approach, the two guards turned, a bit startled, but after the first moment, they just smirked. "Too much ale and wenches do not go along, buddy!" one of them even cried, cackling.

"Don't tell me!" snorted Alisa, showing disappointment. "He promised me some fun, but from the look of it, I'm not going to get any!"

"Well, you can drop him and have fun with me, lassie", the other guard suggested with a lewd snigger.

"Ready", signalled Jacques under his breath.

"You wish!" cried Alisa at the armiger who had proposed, and Jacques lunged at him, knocking him out with a powerful punch right in the nose. At the same time, Alisa threw herself at the other guard, brandishing her knife for distraction, as to prevent him to shout out in alarm. It worked, because instinctively the man thought only about defending himself by drawing his sword, but Jacques was on him an instant later, slamming him into the wall behind with a potent shoulder-barge.

Ascertaining the unconscious state of both armigers with one glance, Jacques grabbed Alisa's hand and pulled her along with him. "Quick, this way!"

They sprinted out of the gate and down the main street towards The Good Mug, the tavern where most likely the Valdastico guards were waiting for Jacques.

Giuliano had been provident and ordered that they would take turns at keeping an eye on the fortress' entrance. Hence, as soon as Carlo, the man on watch at that moment, spotted them, he signalled the other ones inside and in just seconds, they were out and meeting them.

"Lady Alisa! Captain Le Gris!" Giuliano cried softly, relief plain in his voice. "I'm so glad to see you both safe and sound!"

Alisa beamed at her armigers, thankful beyond words for their unwavering loyalty. "Good to see you all", she said in a whisper just loud enough for them to hear.

Jacques took only a moment to nod his approval to Giuliano. "How's the situation at the town's gates?" he enquired.

"Heavily guarded", the sergeant reported, unsurprisingly. "I'm afraid we'll have to fight our way out."

Alisa had heard the exchange. "Unless we wait until morning and exit town with the labourers going to work in the fields?" she suggested.

Jacques turned to her. "It would be a good idea", he conceded, "but they will soon find the guards we knocked out at the castle's gate, or they will regain consciousness and raise alarm."

The countess made a face. "Sorry, I didn't consider that."

Jacques shook his head and gave her an understanding smile: she was no strategist like him, after all. "Come on, let's move", he then commanded, taking the lead once more.

They started off at a quick pace, not running as not to draw too much attention. Their luck lasted until they came into view of the town's gates, when they heard alarm bells tolling in the distance, coming from the fortress. Immediately, they saw the guards at the gates jumping into action, rushing in numbers to reinforce the watch with their swords ready. They spotted them and dashed towards them.

Jacques quickly stepped in front of Alisa to protect her. "Get ready", he muttered, both to her and to the Valdastico armigers, as he drew the sword he had concealed under his cloak.

Carlo readied his bow, while Giuliano and Beppo, the third man, unsheathed their blades and braced themselves for the fight.

Alisa, ever resourceful, scanned their attackers. One of the guards carried a bow and a quiver full of arrows on his back.

At that moment, Jacques signalled his men to go on the attack; Alisa took advantage of it and darted to one side, pretending to seek cover, but instead, after a few steps, she made a sharp turn and dashed toward the archer. Distracted by the Valdastico armigers charging head-on his comrades, the archer didn't notice her. He took the bow off his shoulder to notch one arrow, but at that same moment, Alisa slammed into his belly with all her weight. As if hit by a battering ram, the man was raised a few centimetres off the cobblestones and fell heavily on his back. Nimbly, Alisa snatched the bow from his hands and used it like a club, hitting him hard in the face and knocking him unconscious. She took hold of his quiver, notched one arrow to the string and turned, scanning around to spot any approaching adversary.

Jacques clashed swords with two of the guards, his movements sharp and precise. He parried their strikes with practiced ease, his blade flashing in the moonlight as he drove one of the men back. The other guard lunged at him, but Jacques sidestepped quickly, his sword catching the man's blade and twisting it out of his grip. The armiger stumbled, and with a quick, forceful strike, Jacques knocked him to the ground.

An arrow whizzed through the air near Jacques' ear. He whipped around and saw an armiger, who had been charging at him from behind, stumbling and dropping to the ground with a heavy thud, his thigh pierced by an arrow. Jacques raised his gaze to Alisa, already notching another arrow, her expression calm and focused.

He hadn't even seen her grabbing the bow she was wielding. How the hell had she managed it? he wondered in a flash, but he couldn't worry about that right now.

"Good timing," he called out, parrying another attack as Alisa shot another arrow with her usual skilled practice.

"Thanks!" Alisa shouted back without losing her focus.

Giuliano and Beppo as well were fighting valiantly, taking down one foe after the other, while Carlo and Alisa kept shooting arrows, preventing anyone to attack them from behind.

Together, they fought off the Asolo guards, each working in perfect accord with the others: Jacques, Beppo and Giuliano deflected and struck with their swords, cutting down the attackers that tried to surround them, while Alisa and Carlo loosed arrow after arrow, each shot finding its mark with impeccable accuracy. The guards fell one by one, but more were coming, and they were running out of time.

"We need to move!" Jacques shouted, blocking another heavy strike from one of the Asolo armigers before slashing across his opponent's chest.

Aware that their only option was to fight their way through, the five from Valdastico doubled their efforts.

With fierce determination, Jacques charged in the direction of the outer gate. Without thinking, Alisa followed suit. They fought side by side, their movements synchronized as they worked together to carve a path out of the town. They moved in tune, side by side, sword and bow, working together in concert for their common goal, the French knight cutting their way through the enemy, the Venetian noblewoman providing cover, her arrows flying through the air with lethal accuracy, in an amazing replica of what they had done during the clash in the Arvonchi Wood on their way to Aquileia.

The other three Valdastico armigers mimicked their example and, with a wild yell, followed them in the fray, fighting like hell.

Their efforts paid off as, seconds later, they burst off the town's gate. The remaining Asolo guards hesitated, unwilling to chase them into the dense forest that lay ahead, probably fearing that the fugitives would have some backup waiting for them. The five from Valdastico took the opportunity and raced at breakneck speed towards the cover of the thick forest ahead. They disappeared into the trees, their breathing heavy from the intense battle but their spirits unbroken.

Once they were safely hidden within the cover of the forest, they halted to catch their breath. Jacques leaned against a tree, wiping the sweat from his brow. He glanced over at Alisa, who looked exhausted, though she still fiercely clutched her bow in her hand.

"You really are remarkable," Jacques said, his voice filled with admiration. "I never thought I'd see a lady fight with such skill and determination."

His praise delighted Alisa much more than any other appreciative remark she had ever received in her life, be it about her beauty, skills or brightness. She gave him a tired but triumphant smile. "We make a good team, don't we?"

Jacques chuckled softly. "We do. And I wouldn't want to fight beside anyone else."

She sobered. "Thank you, Jacques", she said softly. "You're the best choice I could ever have made for a right-hand man. You are far more than that, actually: a comrade, and a true friend."

In the dim light, she suddenly spotted a dark, wet mark on Jacques' left upper arm. "You're injured!" she cried in alarm, leaning forward in concern.

Jacques glanced at the blood staining his sleeve and shrugged, but seeing Alisa's concern, he reassured her: "'Tis only a scratch, I had much worse in the past."

Alisa hesitated, then nodded, though not fully convinced.

Jacques glanced over to Giuliano. "Where are the horses?"

"Near here", the sergeant answered. "Tethered to a fallen trunk."

They started at once and a minute later, they found their steeds where they had been left.

They had no horse for Alisa, thus she mounted behind Jacques, whose strong warhorse had no trouble carrying the additional light weight. She looped her arms around Jacques' waist and made herself as comfortable as possible on the large back of his steed.

They started to walk through the trees, warily choosing their path among roots and branches, unable to move fast because of the night gloom in the forest. Giuliano was in front to guide them, then came Jacques and Alisa riding on Vaillant, followed by the other three Valdastico armigers.

As the tension and the adrenaline rush in her veins subsided, Alisa felt the need to confide to Jacques what happened with the Count of Asolo. "Bembo is an even worse bastard than I thought", she spoke softly, for his ears only, the memory still shaking her. "He abducted me to have me marrying him and get his dirty hands on Valdastico. I refused and laughed in his face, but he..." She swallowed a bitter surge of bile. "He said he would rape me to get me pregnant, thus forcing me into marriage."

Jacques gripped the reins tightly, his entire body tensing after hearing Alisa's confession. Her words echoed in his mind, and the slow-burning rage that had been simmering within him since her abduction flared intosomething much more volatile.

The mere thought of Bembo's vile intentions made his blood boil. He felt Alisa's arms looped around his waist, her presence grounding him slightly, but it wasn't enough to suppress the fury coursing through his veins. How dare that coward threaten her, use such despicable means to try and force her into marriage? Jacques had known men like Bembo before, cowards hiding behind titles, believing their power gave them the right to do anything. But this went beyond mere politics; this was personal.

"Fucking son of a bitch!" he swore under his breath, unable to keep himself.

Alisa had never heard him cuss in front of her, and this gave her a measure of his dark rage. Her heart swelled. "He had no chance though", she quickly added. "I..." She suddenly turned scarlet at the memory of her brazen deceit. "I made him believe I have a lover and that if he wanted to be sure I wasn't carrying another man's child, he had to wait my next bleeding", she almost spluttered in the haste to explain. She couldn't bring herself to tell Jacques she had mentioned him as her supposed lover though. It was way too embarrassing.

Jacques clenched his jaw, the muscles in his face taut as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. "I swear to you, Alisa," he said through gritted teeth, his voice low and fierce. "Bembo will pay for this. He won't get away with what he has done to you."

Behind him, Alisa could feel the intensity of his words, and though she had already escaped the immediate danger, she found comfort in the promise he was making. Jacques wasn't the kind of man to make idle threats, and she knew that his vow carried the full weight of his honour as a knight.

"I appreciate your anger on my behalf, Jacques," she whispered, her voice soft in the night air. "But we need to be smart about this. He will likely come for us, and we must be ready."

Jacques's grip on the reins tightened even more. "Let him come. I'll be ready for him."

They continued their journey through the dense forest, the silence between them heavy but made of mutual understanding. Jacques's thoughts were consumed with how to exact revenge on Bembo for what he had done, for the affront he had inflicted not just on Alisa, but on everything Jacques stood for. A knight's duty was to protect the honour and safety of those he served, and Bembo had spat on that sacred oath with his actions.

As they neared Valdastico, the first light of dawn began to filter through the trees, casting a soft glow over the landscape. As they accelerated their pace, the tension that had held them all in its grip throughout the journey eased for a brief moment, and it seemed they would reach the safety of the fief without further incident.

But that hope was short-lived.

His senses, sharpened by years spent on battlefields, alerted Jacques as they finally exited the forest. He felt the subtle shift in the air first, a prickle of awareness that told him they weren't alone. The sound of hooves thundered faintly in the distance, growing louder with each passing second. His entire body went rigid, and without a word, he drew his sword from its sheath, the blade gleaming in the early morning light.

Alisa, sensing the change in him, tightened her grip on his waist. "What is it?"

"We're followed," Jacques growled, his eyes scanning the trees. "Bembo, for sure."

Although she had expected Bembo chasing them, they had made it so near home that Alisa had started to hope he wouldn't catch up with them and they could find shelter in Malatesta Castle. However, she didn't waste time at contemplating possibilities goneawry and focussed instead on what had to be done.

She had left the bow she had stolen from the unfortunate guard at Asolo, but there was an archer in their small group. Besides, they needed urgent backup.

"Carlo!" Alisa turned to call the armiger. The man promptly rode up to her. "Give me your bow and quiver, then get as fast as you can to Valdastico. Roberto shall muster all the men and come immediately to our aid."

Never forgetting that Jacques was the strategist and the head of her small military force, Alisa turned to him for confirmation.

He hesitated only one moment: he would rather have her running to Valdastico to get help, safe and away from danger, but he knew her enough by now to realise she would not back out from the fight. Besides, her skill as an archer was simply unparalleled, and they would need it. Hence, he nodded.

Carlo surrendered his weapon to Alisa without a question. He glanced toward the hills beyond which Valdastico was located and evaluated distance and time to cover it, to and fro. "Half an hour, my lady", he said.

"Go!" ordered Jacques.

As the man spurred his steed into a gallop, the knight looked around in the growing light of the coming day, in search of a favourable terrain where they could make their stand. He was unfamiliar with the land, but Alisa wasn't, and in fact, she signalled him a solitary hillock dotted with boulders, where they could have the high ground. What's more, it was located in the direction of Valdastico, meaning they would get nearer and gain a handful of minutes that could prove crucial to their survival until backup came.

They spurred their horses and dashed forward. They had barely reached the knoll when Bembo's men burst out from the forest in pursuit.

The Valdastico armigers leapt down their horses, chasing them away, and turned to watch the approaching enemies. They outnumbered them by far, being ten men plus their leader.

"Bembo in person is leading them!" Alisa informed Jacques, who nodded to signal he had understood. His face was dark with a fury she had never seen in him, and she knew that, should he confront the Count of Asolo, the latter wasn't going to see the end of this day.

Jacques sat straight on the saddle, firm and determined, his eyes fixed on the approaching force. The early morning light cast long shadows over the field, but the glint of steel and the thundering hooves of Bembo's men filled theair with tension. This was the moment Jacques had been waiting for, where all the threats, all the vile intentions of Bembo would meet their reckoning.

Alisa looked from Jacques to the other two armigers. In a burst of challenge, she raised her bow and yelled: "Men, let's give hell to the Asolo scum!"

"Aye!" shouted both armigers.

Jacques raised his sword, and its blade flashed, catching a ray of the sun rising to their left. "For Valdastico!" he roared. "For Malatesta!"

Alisa joined the battle cry along with the armigers, then she turned and started uphill. She found a suitable boulder that would give her cover and placed the quiver in front of her. She watched the Asolo men closing in on them.

"One shot, one dead", she muttered her late archery instructor's favourite motto. She took a deep breath to steady herself and her rushing heartbeat, notched an arrow to the string and prepared for the impending battle.

At the foot of the hillock, Jacques glanced briefly up at Alisa, in position behind a boulder, her bow ready, eyes sharp and focused. She looked calm, her resolve unshaken, despite the danger, and once more, his admiration for this formidable young woman grew.

Refocusing on the imminent fight, he turned back to the incoming riders. His grip tightened on his sword, and a deep sense of purpose settled over him. Bembo would pay today, for his dishonourable actions, for his threat against Alisa, and for every evil action of his miserable life.

"For Valdastico! For Malatesta!" Jacques yelled again, waving his sword high in the air.

Once more, his shout was echoed by the armigers beside him, their voices ringing out in challenge the still morning air. They braced themselves for the impact of the approaching riders, Bembo's men charging with their weapons drawn.

Alisa studied the armed group closing in on them. She was quite the emotional type of person, however she had noticed years ago that, when it came to an emergency or even worse, to danger, she was able to keep a clear mind. She drew in another deep breath andpulled the string of Carlo's bow. It was slightly harder than her own bow, as its poundage was of course calibrated on its true owner, but she could manage. She aimed carefully and fired. The arrow caught the enemy soldier exactly where she had intended, piercing his throat, and the man fell off his horse, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

Jacques watched the man fall and nodded in silent approval.

Out of the corner of her eye, Alisa saw him nodding in approval and she felt proud of her archery skills as never before.

When had his approval started to be so important to her?

She pushed aside the distracting thought and notched another arrow, taking aim to the next mark. She released the second arrow, targeting another adversary.

Like the first, he fell, incapacitated.

The time for battle had come. The first wave of Bembo's men hit them like a storm, but Jacques, Giuliano and Beppo, the other Valdastico armiger, reacted without faltering.

The French knight had kept his steed, as he was used to fight on horseback, while the other two were more infantry and hence had chosen to meet their opponents on foot.

Jacques was a whirlwind, all deadly precision and perfectly timed moves. He raised his sword, meeting the first rider with a clash of steel. The force of the blow reverberated through his arms, but he held firm, pushing the man's blade aside and delivering a swift, brutal strike to his chest. The rider gasped, his eyes wide with shock as he fell from his horse.

Giuliano and Beppo's expertise had beneficiated of Jacques' training and new combat techniques, as they immediately showed by quickly disposing of their first opponents.

The battle was chaos. Jacques moved with lethal accuracy, every strike calculated, every parry executed with flawless timing. He ducked under a wild swing from another soldier, slicing his sword cleanly across the man's midsection. The rider slumped, falling from his horse in a heap.

Above him, Alisa continued to fire her arrows, each shot hitting its mark. She moved with grace and precision, her arrows flying through the air to strike down enemy after enemy. Together, all of them – Jacques, Alisa, Beppo and Giuliano – fought like a well-honed machine, each complementing the other's strengths.

Five down, Alisa counted. Five more to go, beside Bembo himself, who was staying behind, as the gutless man he really was, letting his men fight on his behalf.

Taking her mind off the the clash itself, as not to get distracted by it, Alisa focussed again on her task, which was providing cover for her men. She targeted a third enemy, taking him down with the lethal precision she had acquired in years of practice.

She noticed two Asolo soldiers charging Beppo. At lightning speed, Alisa shot two arrows, the first finding its target into a thigh, the second into the other man's horse's throat. The animal crashed to the ground with a neigh of pain and its rider fell badly, hitting his head hard and staying down, out cold.

Even as the men fell around them, Jacques's eyes remained fixed on the one man who mattered most: Count Iacopo Bembo.

Bembo, keeping behind of the remaining force, had a twisted sneer on his face, but Jacques could see the fear behind it. The Count had clearly underestimated them, and now he was realizing the price of his arrogance.

"You can't run, Bembo!" Jacques shouted over the din of battle. "This ends here!"

Bembo's sneer faltered, but he urged his horse forward, determined to take down Jacques himself. "You're nothing, Le Gris!" Bembo spat as he raised his sword. "You think you can stop me? I'll take Valdastico, and I'll take her too!"

The moment her last target was taken down, Alisa heard Jacques shouting something, and Bembo answer. She paused to look at the two men, who were now facing each other.

Quickly assessing the surroundings, Alisa realised the fight had stilled, with the Asolo men either dead or disabled, while the two remaining were apparently waiting for a single combat between the two captains. Beppo and Giuliano too were standing still, in wait.

Alisa hurriedly picked up the remaining arrows, threw them into the quiver and swung it over her shoulder. She started to go downhill, wanting to hear Jacques and Bembo's exchange, as well as watching closer what was to happen. She clutched one arrow, ready to notch and fire it should Bembo or one of his men try any treacherous move against Jacques or one of her two other men.

Hearing Bembo's scornful words, rage surged through Jacques, and he met the Count's charge head-on. Their swords collided with a deafening clash, sparks flying as the two men fought with every ounce of strength they had.

Bembo's strikes were wild, fuelled by desperation, while Jacques fought with deadly control. He parried each of Bembo's attacks with ease, his eyes never leaving the Count's, his expression hard and unyielding.

Alisa's eyes were glued on the two duellers. She stood perfectly still, as if frozen, barely breathing. Rationally, she knew that Bembo was no match for Jacques; even if the spiteful Count would somehow manage to disarm her captain, she would stop him striking him down with her arrow. Nevertheless, she felt the cold touch of fear on travelling down her spine as she watched Jacques clashing his sword with Bembo's.

The French knight's eyes bore a promise of death for his opponent. "You'll never touch her," Jacques growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Not while I'm still breathing."

With a powerful thrust, Jacques knocked Bembo's sword aside, sending the Count stumbling backward in his saddle.

The opening was all Jacques needed.

With one swift motion, he dismounted his horse, grabbed Bembo by his collar and yanked him from the saddle.

The Count fell to the ground with a grunt, his sword flying from his grasp. He scrambled to his feet, panic flashing in his eyes as he realized he was unarmed and at Le Gris' mercy. He tried to back away, but Jacques advanced on him, his sword gleaming in the rising sun.

"There's nowhere left to run," Jacques said coldly, his voice filled with quiet fury. "You threatened her. You threatened her life and her honour. You deserve worse than this."

Bembo, now on his knees, raised his hands in a pathetic attempt at mercy. "Please," he gasped. "Please, don't do this. We can make a deal..."

"There is no deal," Jacques interrupted, his voice hard as steel. "There's only justice."

With one swift, brutal motion, Jacques drove his sword through Bembo's chest. The Count gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief as the life drained from him. He slumped forward, his body falling limp at Jacques's feet.

Such a man, who had never once shown mercy in his whole life, didn't deserve any.

Jacques stood over him for a moment, his chest heaving from the effort of the battle, but his mind clear.

It was done.

Bembo's reign of terror had ended.

The two last standing men grabbed their only surviving companion and fled. Alisa didn't bother to try and strike them down, as after all, they had been just following their master's orders and were innocent of his misdeeds against her.

Jacques pulled his sword from the Count's body, wiping the blood from the blade before sheathing it. The battlefield was quiet now, as Bembo's remaining men were either dead or fleeing into the woods. Jacques turned and saw Alisa approaching him, her bow still in hand, her expression collected.

Alisa reached his side. "You ended it," she said softly, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and understanding.

Jacques nodded, his gaze still fixed on Bembo's lifeless body. "It had to be done," he replied quietly. "He would have never stopped."

For a moment, they stood in silence, both of them taking in the weight of what had just occurred. The danger had passed, and the bond between them had grown stronger.

"Thank you," Alisa said at length, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "For everything."

Jacques turned to her, his expression softening. "I told you, my lady," he said. "I will always protect you."

"I know, Jacques", she softly replied, lacing the simple words with all the gratitude and fondness she felt for him.

He was her right-hand man, her knight, but above all, he was the most trustworthy man she had ever met after her father and Riccardo.

He glanced back at her, the intensity of his dark eyes warming her heart as it had not happened for a long time.

At that moment, the thundering of approaching hooves was heard. Alisa and the three men whipped around, ready to draw their weapons, but they immediately spotted the Valdastico banner waving in the wind, carried by the standard-bearer riding next to Sergeant Roberto at the head of a large group of armigers.

Roberto brought the group to a halt and reined in his steed. He took in the scene with the eye of a seasoned soldier and grinned. "I see we came in too late to be of any use, huh, m'lady, Captain Le Gris?" he commented humorously.

"Better late than never!" cried Giuliano, laughing. "We put to use every single technique our captain has taught us, and it paid."

"I see", Roberto said, nodding. "And I see too that our Countess has done her part in all this", he added, chortling and pointing to a couple of Asolo men pierced with arrows.

"Of course she did", chuckled Jacques, drawn into the easy camaraderie of his men, and Alisa too grinned, justifiably proud of herself.

"Bembo will no longer be a threat to Valdastico", she then added, sobering. "Captain Le Gris has taken care of it."

Roberto's eyes fell on the Count of Asolo's body. "He has brought it on himself", he growled fiercely. "Nobody lays hand on our lady, right, guys?" he then shouted, turning to the troop.

The men erupted into an approving yell that brought tears to Alisa's eyes. She knew her subjects loved her, but this display of respect and affection was overwhelming as the tiredness of a very hard day and an even harder night hit her full force.

She took a moment to regain composure, then turned to Jacques. "Let's go home", she said, a pale smile slightly curling her lips.

OOO

Back in his quarters, Jacques sat in silence, the events of the past hours running through his mind like a reel on repeat. He had cleaned his sword, washed the blood from his hands, and returned to the privacy of his chamber, hoping the exhaustion ofthe battle would finally allow him to find some much-needed rest. But as he lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, sleep remained elusive.

Every time he closed his eyes, the memories came flooding back. Not of the fight, but of Alisa. The touch of her hand when she thanked him, the warmth of her body pressed against his as they had ridden together, the way her eyes softened when she looked at him with gratitude and trust. It all stirred something deep within him, something that had been dormant for so long he hadn't realized it was still there.

Jacques turned over, burying his face in his hands. He had come to Valdastico to start fresh, to leave behind the mistakes of his past and to fully devote himself to his duties as a knight. He had made a vow to himself, a promise that he would never allow his heart to be distracted again like with Marguerite. And yet here he was, feeling something far beyond duty or friendship for Alisa Malatesta.

He remembered the way she had looked at him after the battle, her words of praise and admiration still ringing in his ears. He had felt her trust in him, a trust so deep and unwavering that it humbled him. But there was something more, something in the way her eyes lingered on him, the way her voice softened when she spoke his name.

Or perhaps it was just his imagination.

For a moment, he had allowed himself to believe it was possible. That perhaps, in some far-off future, they could be more than just knight and lady.

But then he had reminded himself of who he was, and more importantly, who she was.

Alisa had made it clear from the start that she valued her independence, and that she was not interested in marriage or being tied down to a man. She was strong, capable, and fiercely determined to lead Valdastico on her own terms. She didn't need anyone, least of all him. And Jacques had learned his own lessons in life – lessons that told him he could not afford to let his heart lead him astray again.

Not after what happened with Marguerite and Jean De Carrouges.

He had seen the ruin love could bring, had felt the weight of responsibility crush him. To care deeply for someone meant exposing yourself to the possibility of failure, and he couldn't bear the thought of failing Alisa. Not after everything she had entrusted to him.

The warmth he had felt earlier, when she had told him they were going home, had been a brief flicker of something he had long forgotten: belonging. But that warmth now felt like a distant memory, cold and unreachable. This place called Valdastico, which had started to feel like home, could no longer be his destination.

He turned onto his side, his heart aching with the realisation of what he had to do. As much as it shattered him, he knew that staying here would only lead to more pain. Sooner or later, he would slip up, his feelings would betray him, and then everything would fall apart. Alisa would see it, and the thought of her looking at him with disappointment, or worse, disdain, was more than he could bear.

He could already picture the moment: her eyes narrowing in confusion or disbelief, her words sharp as she realised what he felt. And then the trust they had built, the bond they had forged, would be shattered. He couldn't risk that. He couldn't risk losing her respect.

No. It was better to leave now, before it came to that.

A single tear slipped from the corner of his eye, falling onto the pillow beneath him. He hadn't wanted this to happen. He hadn't wanted to feel anything beyond the duty of a knight for his lady, or perhaps the camaraderie of a friend. But the truth was undeniable now.

He had fallen for Alisa Malatesta.

And because of that, he had no choice but to leave.

Jacques swallowed hard, his chest tightening as the weight of his decision pressed down on him. It broke him in ways he hadn't expected. To leave the one place that had begun to feel like home, to walk away from the one person who had stirred his heart after so long... it felt like tearing himself apart.

But it had to be done.

He closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep, but the pain in his chest refused to let him rest. He knew what he had to do. He would speak to Alisa as soon as possible, make up some excuse about needing to move on, about seeking a new path. He would leave Valdastico, leave her, and never look back.

But even as he tried to steel himself for what lay ahead, the tearstains on his pillow were a testament to the depth of the feelings he could no longer deny.

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

And it broke him beyond measure.

OOO

In her chambers, Alisa was soaking in a zinc tub full of warm water, fragrant with lavender and lemon balm, relaxing her aching limbs. Her personal maid Agnese helped her, even giving her a soothing massage with oil containing bergamot and that, clean and feeling much better, Alisa slid under the sheets, intending to sleep until dinnertime.

However, slumber didn't come at once. Her mind was reliving the events of the last twenty-four hours: the inspection at the vineyard, where she had felt so at ease and content in the company of Jacques; then the sudden, frightful attack they had suffered by the hands of Bembo's minions, where she had felt so powerless without her trusted bow; then again, her waking up a prisoner, and later, the confrontation with the Count of Asolo, with his sickening proposal and even worse, his vile threat of rape; and then, the risky escape down the makeshift rope had followed.

Alisa recalled the moment she had heard Jacques calling her and the way she had reacted to the knowledge he was there. Relief had washed over her, which was to be expected of course, but there had been more than that: a deep joy at realising she was reunited with him, a state of almost bliss at the thought he was at her side again, fighting for her and with her. The escape from Asolo was a blur in her mind: movements, shouts, blows, heart-in-mouth moments, as they raced along the town's streets. Then the ride behind Jacques, his solid body an anchor to hers and to her distraught mind. The way he had reacted when she had confided him Bembo's nefarious intimidation means to force her into marriage...

Alisa's mind lingered there. Jacques had been enraged, as expected from the honourable man and knight he was; but there had been something else, something that went deeper than the normal reaction of a lady's champion. Protectiveness, for sure. Affection, too, likely. But... what kind of affection?

Alisa recalled the castle's gossip. Since his arrival, he had twice refused the amorous overtures of maids who had been eager to become the new, handsome captain's lover, with all the benefits that the position could grant. Thrice, if she counted Giselle from the journey to Aquileia. At the time, she had commented with him that he was no monk; however, it looked as if he wanted to stick with what he had stated at the very beginning: he didn't want such entanglements. Alisa could only conclude that he was determined to stay indefinitely a bachelor practicing celibacy, perhaps even for the rest of his life. The thought filled her with inexplicable sadness. Why was she so upset about his choice? He had the right to lead his life as it suited him best, after all. Exactly like she did herself.

With an unhappy sigh, Alisa closed her eyes as sleep finally overtook her.

She woke up to Agnese calling her softly. "My lady, 'tis almost dinnertime", she said, lighting the candles in the bedchamber.

Alisa felt refreshed, despite the difficulties she had had in falling asleep. Her lucubrations seemed distant now though. She rose, donned a gown with Agnese's help, and then went downstairs to the Great Hall to dine.

OOO

Jacques sat at the long dining table, the golden glow of candlelight flickering against the stone walls of the Great Hall. His plate was filled, but he barely noticed the food. His thoughts were elsewhere, heavy and tumultuous, centred on the womansitting beside him: Alisa Malatesta.

Since returning from their daring escape from Bembo, his mind had been consumed with her. The memory of her pressed against him as they rode together, the fierce determination in her eyes as she fought beside him, and the trust she had placed in him... it had all awakened something in him, something he had sworn he would never allow again.

He had fallen for her.

Deeply.

Irrevocably.

And now, sitting here, the weight of it was suffocating.

He had made a decision. He had to leave. It was the only way to protect both of them from the complications that would arise if he stayed. And though he wanted nothing more than to be by her side, to love her, to build a life with her, he knew she would never want the same.

His chest tightened as he pushed the food around on his plate, unable to eat. He had hoped to tell her tonight, to break the news to her that he needed to go. But each time he thought about it, the words caught in his throat. How could he leave her when every part of him ached to stay? Yet how could he stay when his heart was tearing itself apart every time he looked at her, knowing he could never have her?

"Jacques?" Alisa's voice broke through his thoughts, soft and concerned. "You're quiet tonight. Is something wrong?"

He froze for a moment, his grip tightening on his fork. He could feel her eyes on him, searching for an answer. He knew he needed to say something, anything. This was his moment. He could tell her. He could explain everything – his feelings for her, his decision to leave – but the moment he looked up and met her gaze, his courage faltered.

Her eyes were so full of trust, so unaware of the storm raging inside him. He couldn't bring himself to shatter that. His heart pounded in his chest, torn between the love he had for her and the knowledge that she could never return it. He swallowed hard, his throat tight, his mind scrambling for words.

"I... I've been thinking," he began, his voice strained. "About... everything."

Alisa's brow furrowed slightly, her concern deepening. "What do you mean?"

He opened his mouth to tell her – to confess that he loved her, that he couldn't stay, that leaving was the only way to protect both of them – but the words wouldn't come. His heart clenched painfully as he realised he couldn't do it. He couldn't tell her. He couldn't bring himself to say that he was leaving or that he had fallen in love with her. It was too much. The risk of rejection, of seeing disappointment or pity in her eyes, was more than he could bear.

Instead, he willed himself to shut it all off. The feelings, the love, the hope... it all had to go. She was his employer, nothing more. Maybe friendship wasn't even possible because friendship was the last thing he wanted from her. If he couldn't have her heart, then perhaps it was better not to suffer at all.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself. His expression hardened, and when he spoke again, his voice was distant, devoid of the emotion that had been tearing him apart moments earlier. "I just meant... about my duties here," he said flatly. "I've been thinking about what's expected of me as your knight."

Alisa blinked, clearly taken aback by the sudden shift in his tone. "Jacques, you've done more than fulfil your duties," she said softly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You've been nothing short of exceptional. I couldn't ask for more."

Her words should have warmed him, should have made him feel proud, but instead, they only deepened the chasm inside him. He stared down at his plate, unable to meet her gaze, his heart tightening further.

"I just fulfilled my honourable duties as expected," he said, his tone dry, detached. He spoke without looking at her, the words stiff and cold. He didn't want her compliments. He didn't want to hear her praise when all he could think about was how much he wanted more... how much he wanted her.

Her arms around him.

Her lips parting under his in a passionate kiss.

Her legs around him as they made love.

Alisa paused, sensing the change in him. "Is something else bothering you, Jacques?" she enquired, her tone kind and caring.

He shook his head, still refusing to look at her. "No. Just thinking about work. There's nothing more to it."

The lie tasted bitter on his tongue, but it was the only way to protect himself.

And her.

He couldn't let her see how much he was hurting, how deeply his feelings for her ran.

He couldn't bear to leave her, but this meant that he had to shut it all down and become the knight she had hired, and nothing more.

For her sake, he would do it.

He would.

The rest of the meal passed in strained silence. Alisa tried to continue the conversation, offering small talk and friendly comments, but Jacques barely responded, keeping his answers short and formal. His mind was a battlefield, his heart waging a war he knew he was losing.

Finally, when dinner was over, he took his leave immediately, standing from the table with a curt bow. "If you'll excuse me, my lady," he said, his voice as emotionless as before. "I have duties to attend to before bedtime."

He saw her hesitating, clearly wondering at what duties he was referring to, but then, she nodded her permission for him to leave.

He bowed once more, then he turned and walked out of the Great Hall, his heart heavy with the weight of what he hadn't said.

He had chosen his path. He would be her knight, nothing more. And he would bury his feelings deep inside, where they could no longer hurt him – or her.

But as he left the hall, his heart ached with the knowledge that shutting off those feelings wouldn't be as easy as he had hoped.