Page 89 of Castle of Refuge

Lucinda nodded, her thin blonde hair hanging down over one eye, as she got a better grip on Audrey’s hand.

Audrey pushed the strand of hair off her face. “All is well. Just hold on to me and do what I say.”

She nodded more vigorously this time.

They walked closer, slowly crossing the fallow field. Audrey’s eyes were trained on the burial mound. She thought she saw something flash in the sun, like a polished piece of metal.

She glanced all around. Someone could be watching them from the forest nearby. Would Umfrey suddenly come running out at them?

What would Edwin say? He’d be so disappointed in her for leaving without telling him where she was going. But if she survived, she would tell him she was sorry. He would understand.

Her eyes darted from left to right to the burial mound ahead. Finally, two people came into view—Maris and a young girl probably around five years old. Maris was standing behind the girl and held a knife near her face. The girl was very pale.

“That’s my sister,” Lucinda said and burst into tears.

“Don’t worry,” Audrey said softly. “We will get her back.”

“Audrey, I see you came.” Maris’s voice was strangely cheerful and animated. “That was not so hard, was it?” She whispered something in the child’s ear, then lowered the knife.

The little girl hurried away from Maris, scrambling down the side of the grass-covered mound, then ran. The two little girls tearfully embraced.

Audrey bent to the children’s level. “Go on back home now,” Audrey said quietly. “I shall see you later.”

The two set out at a trot, hurrying across the field, back the way they had come.

“Audrey, I just wanted to talk to you. I know you must be very angry with me. Everyone is looking for me.” She laughed, a sound that grated on Audrey.

How dare Maris laugh? How dare she enjoy being the focus of everyone’s attention and worry? How dare she frighten children and control Audrey, forcing her to come out to this place to help a child Maris had kidnapped? How dare she enjoy making her life hard, threatening people’s lives, including hers and Edwin’s?

Audrey would not give her what she wanted, which was her time and attention. She turned and started walking back the way she had come, her fists clenched.

“Wait!”

The children were not very far ahead. Perhaps Audrey should occupy Maris a bit longer to make sure they were able to get away. She turned to face her sister, who was now scuttling down the side of the burial mound.

“What do you want, Maris? I need to get back. If anyone followed me, you’ll be captured.”

“I just want to tell you that I’m sorry Umfrey frightened you and Edwin.”

She wanted to tell her she wasn’t allowed to call him that, that he was Lord Dericott to Maris and always would be.

“I believe it was you, more than Umfrey, who frightened us. Your hatred and your murderous urges.”

Maris’s expression suddenly changed, going from contrite to dark and angry.

“You always did hate me,” Maris said in a cold voice. “Because you were ugly and I was prettier than you.”

Audrey resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “I need to go back. Father is looking for you, Maris.”

Her sister moved toward her slowly, taking a few steps, then stopping, then taking a few more steps. Audrey stepped back when Maris moved forward, matching her step for step. Hopefully the two little girls would run into a guard and tell him about Maris and send him to apprehend her. Audrey just needed to keep Maris from trying to harm her or running away.

“What do you want, Maris?”

“I want you not to marry Lord Dericott.”

“He wants to marry me. Why should I not marry him?”

“Because you are supposed to marry Sir Clement.”