“I suppose working in hell at least allows for a chance of an everlasting life in heaven.”
Though fearful, Mary asked, “Are Jenna and her brother now prisoners?”
“They huddle in a cell together. I knew they needed each other’s strength so I made it appear as if they would suffer their fate together. The young lad appears maybe six years, though Jenna claims his age is eight.”
Mary grabbed her husband’s arm. “What will you do? Everyone will expect you to punish them.” Tears clouded her eyes. “Can the Dark One save them?”
Decimus stepped away from her, the look of anguish in his eyes tearing at Mary’s heart. “I would need Roarke’s assistance.”
“You have me.”
He raked his hair with his fingers in frustration. “I cannot risk your safety.”
“Is that not my choice?”
He looked at her as if she were daft. “I will not place you and my child in danger.”
She walked over to him, her blue eyes pleading. “They are two innocents, Jenna and her brother. Why should they suffer for being hungry? Roarke is not here; I am. I can help, just tell me what to do.”
He shook his head and walked away from her, turning back with angry eyes that had her recoiling. “How do I justify involving you? I wanted to keep you as far from harm as possible.”
“I understand, but right now two innocent children are our concern. There must be something we can do.”
He marched over to her and grabbed her by the arms. “I have no choice if I want Jenna and her brother to survive.”
“Then let us not waste another minute.”
His hands turned gentle and he drew her slowly to him. “You promise me you will be careful?”
“I will take no unnecessary chances.”
He hesitated, then nodded his consent. “The Dark One cannot be involved in this escape. I will need to keep the men distracted while you free Jenna and her brother. You will then need to take them to safety. Do you feel well enough to walk a distance?”
“I am fine and Jenna will be with me.”
“And your return?” he asked with concern. “I cannot venture out and bring you back. I must convince everyone here that you are ill and must remain in bed, and that only I will tend to you.”
“Will men search for us?”
“I will keep them away as long as possible, but eventually there will be a search. There are other men—men to be trusted, once prisoners themselves who now help in freeing others. They will guide Jenna, her brother, and you, and will show you a return route that is safer, accompanying you a short distance. But there will be at least half a day that you will be on your own.” He shook his head. “This is madness; you cannot be walking the woods alone.”
“I have done so before.”
“Not as my wife you have not.” He sounded determined that she would not do this.
Mary thought otherwise. “I will not see Jenna and her brother suffer when I am capable of helping. I will return before you realize I am gone.”
“I think not. When I lay in bed without your warm, soft body next to mine, I will worry.”
She placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Nothing will happen to me. I will see them safe and be in our bed before dawn tomorrow. Besides, I am experienced with a bow and can use one if necessary.”
“A bow? Who taught you how to handle a bow?”
“The bowman in the village I was brought to. I was barely eleven and angry over my parents’ deaths. Vengeance filled my heart and the thought of piercing my enemy’s heart with an arrow filled me with determination to learn how to use a bow.”
He placed his hand over hers. “You did pierce my heart, though it was love’s arrow that felled the mighty Decimus.”
She smiled proudly. “I am an excellent bow woman.”
He laughed and kissed her with a gentle haste. “I am glad to know that, though I will not worry less about you. There is no time to spare if we are to do this. We must move immediately to free them. How did you slip past the guards when you freed Roarke?”
“I borrowed clothes from the stables and wore a cap to hide my long hair. Dirt smudges on my face helped greatly.”
“I will get you what you need and wait until you are ready. Then I will call the men from the dungeon so that there will be no one to stop you, but you have only minutes for they know I will not leave the dungeon unattended for long.”
She saw the worry in his dark eyes and thought to assure him. “I will be fine.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “You better be, for I will never forgive you or my own foolishness for letting you risk your life like this.”
He kissed her but there was no time to linger. They had to act now before the young pair would suffer.
In no time Mary was dressed once again as a lad, and before she tucked her blond hair beneath the wool cap, Decimus kissed her again.
“I love you.”
“And I you with all my heart,” she said.
“Travel safe and be careful, I already wait impatiently for your return.”
Holding her hand, Decimus checked the hall to see that they were alone. Together they sneaked down the curving staircase. Mary hid within the shadows, a bow clasped tightly in her hand and a sack of arrows strapped to her back as Decimus summoned his men.
The escape had begun.
Chapter 33
Mary managed to free Jenna and her brother William from the dungeon with little difficulty, and within hours met with the men in the woods who would take them to safety. She did not, however, advise anyone of her fatigue.
Jenna had been shocked and relieved to learn that Mary would help them escape, though she made her concern for Mary known. She worried that Decimus would take his wrath out on his wife if he should learn that she freed them, and she urged Mary not to return.
“I cannot do that, Jenna.” Mary tried to explain. “I would place myself in even more danger. I must return; I have no choice.”
“But you are free,” she cried and wiped at her tears. “For the short time I have known you, you have been so very good to me. Now William and I have a chance to live a better life because of you. Please join us.”
“It is not possible, and I must be on my way. My husband thinks me ill and confined to my bed. He is busy with the escape, but there will come a time he looks in on me and will see that it is not his wife beneath the blanket but pillows.”
“I do not know how I can thank you,” Jenna said, clinging to Mary’s hand.
“By living a good life with your brother,” Mary said, then hugged the thin girl and bid her farewell.
Two men took her to the woods and one looked uncertain about leaving her on her own.
“The terrain is not easy, the path not always clear. Are you certain you can manage on your own?”
“Your directions are clear. I will be fine,” she assured him, though worried that her fatigue might catch up with her before she reached the fortress. But she had no choice; she had to return as quickly as possible. She could rest all she wanted to once in the fortress.
She took to the woods in bright daylight, but knew that it would be near to dawn before she reached the Fortress of Hell. She had walked quite a distance before she rested, and no sooner than she sat did she hear a noise. She was quick to her feet and quicker to take bow and arrow to hand and wait, the trees shielding her.