Page 94 of Castle of Refuge

Audrey’s heart pounded. Edwin nodded at a guard who was positioned nearest to Maris, then moved toward her, even as all the guests were backing away.

Edwin’s brothers Gerard, Berenger, and Merek were also moving toward Maris, flanking her on both sides and the front, along with Edwin’s guards, even as more guards came in from behind her.

“You need to put down the torch, Maris,” Edwin said loudly but evenly.

“I need to put down the torch?” Maris sneered, her teeth showing white in the torchlight. “I will burn anyone who comes near me. I have something to say!”

“Then say it.”

“My sister and my father sent me to a convent where I was shut away and forced to be silent. But I won’t be silent anymore. My father betrothed my sister to a knight, and she refused to marry him, like the spoiled child that she is. She ran away from home. Why was she not sent to a convent? She has always hated me. She and my father both hated me. But it was my sister who caused my mother’s death. So why was I hated instead of her?”

Maris let out a strange wailing sound, while Audrey’s cheeks burned, wishing she could defend herself but not knowing how.Most people would understand that Audrey had done nothing bad, wouldn’t they? She wanted so desperately for Edwin’s family and friends to love her, and here was her own sister making an unholy scene with a torch in her hand, yelling and accusing her.

Edwin had moved past her, putting his body between her and Maris.

Someone touched her shoulder. Audrey turned to see Delia just behind her.

“Don’t worry,” Delia whispered near her ear. “The men will capture her.”

But what if one of them was burned by her torch? Maris had always enjoyed burning things. She was capable of anything.

“She should not be marrying you,” Maris said, pointing at Edwin. “She should be marrying Sir Clement. He is the one she was pledged to.”

The guards and Edwin’s brothers were drawing closer and closer to her. Audrey’s stomach twisted into knots. How could she bear it if Maris hurt them? Maris, who blamed Audrey for all of it.

“Get back!” Maris held the torch out like a sword, pointing it first at one brother, then another.

Why were they getting closer? Did they not know Maris would burn them?O God in heaven, please don’t let Maris hurt them.

She felt turned to stone, holding her breath.

Someone caught Maris’s arms from behind her. Maris screamed and clutched the torch, which shook perilously. But soon several men had taken hold of the torch and Maris’s arms.Berenger closed in from the side and was able to pry the torch from her fingers.

Maris made a strange sound, almost like a wolf’s howl, as the guards and Edwin’s brothers dragged her away.

“Fire!” someone yelled from somewhere in the corridor. Another voice said, “Come quickly!... burning!”

Several of the guests, as well as Edwin, went running out of the Great Hall.

“What has she done?” Audrey whispered. Would Maris have her revenge by burning down Dericott Castle?

Twenty-Four

Edwin followed his brothers down the corridor and up the stairs. Before he lost his arm he would have been the one leading the charge. But he wouldn’t do anyone any good by getting in the way of able-bodied men trying to put out the fire.

When he reached the top of the stairs, smoke was billowing out of Audrey’s bedchamber. His heart stopped. He had to remind himself that she was downstairs. She was not in the burning room.

Men were running in with tapestries with which to beat the fire out, and coming out again coughing, their faces covered in soot. Finally, some men came with buckets of water. After what must have been only a few minutes, someone said, “The fire’s out.”

More guards were hurrying in and Edwin ordered them, “Go and search the whole castle and the outbuildings. Make certain there are no other fires.”

Edwin went back downstairs and found Audrey sitting with Delia. When she saw him walk in, she stood and hurried toward him.

“Someone said the fire was in my room.”

“I’m afraid so. You should probably let the smoke clear out before you go in. I’m so sorry.”

“You can sleep in my room tonight,” Delia said.