Page 72 of The Darkland

“…he is leaving for Ireland on the morrow and we do not know when he shall return. Therefore…”

“…we must find someone else to take you from this place.”

Micheline gazed at the pair as she took a big bite of tart, white cheese. “Take me where?”

Valdine shrugged. “There is…”

“…a priory in Crosby. Corwin thought perhaps…”

“…you could seek sanctuary there. You must…”

“…leave Anchorsholme, my lady. If Edmund finds you…”

“…he will kill you himself. He ordered you…”

“…dead and you are clearly not dead.”

Micheline knew that. Still, to hear them speak of it was terrifying and sickening. Her chewing slowed. Swallowing the bite in her mouth, she sipped at the wine again. She was pensive.

“How do you plan to remove me from this place?” she asked. “It will not be a simple thing. You must disguise me somehow.”

Valdine and Wanda nodded, mirror image. “We will seek help,” Valdine said. “We will…”

“…collect peasant clothing and…”

“…find a soldier who will escort you to Crosby. We promise we…”

“…will take you from this place, my lady. We do not want…”

“…to see you end up as the others have.”

Micheline didn’t have much of an appetite any more. Her pale eyes moved between the two women, seeing that they, too, were afraid but nonetheless willing to help her. She was truly touched that they should risk themselves so. But in their eyes she saw more than fear; she saw anguish. It was a telling expression.

“You know who has done the killing,” she murmured, a statement more than a question. “You know who does these terrible things.”

Wanda looked at her sister, but Valdine was looking at Micheline. She didn’t reply for a moment. “We have a suspect,” she said quietly. “But there…”

“…was nothing we could do to help. The young women…”

“…were taken in the night before…”

“…we could do anything to help. My husband…”

“…would never speak of the disappearances. He said…”

“…it is better to let the dead lie before the same thing…”

“… happens to us.”

Micheline studied them intently. “Did Corwin ever try to help the women?” she asked. Then, a dark glimmer came to her eye. “Or… dear God, was he a party to the crimes?”

Valdine lowered her gaze. “We suspect that…”

“…Edmund threatened to harm us if…”

“…he did not do as he was told.”

Micheline’s eyes widened. “Do as he was told?” she repeated. “Whatwas he told?”