Page 91 of The Darkland

“One thing is certain, my lady.” It was the first time Micheline had ever heard Wanda speak before her sister. “The urgency to remove you is greater now than ever.”

An entire sentence by herself! Had Micheline not been so consumed with distress over Mara’s marriage, she would have given praise to Wanda’s individuality.

“Why?” she asked quietly, jumping aside as a rat scurried past her feet. “Why more so now, Wanda?”

Wanda remained silent as they neared the second floor landing. Down the hall, a flight of stairs used only by the servants would take them to the kitchens. Once through the kitchens where Gilly and George were standing look-out, it would be to the kitchen yard were Robert waited to make sure the iron gate was open. And Fiona, positioned just outside the outer wall where Spencer should be waiting, carried a bundle of food for the trip.

“Because we saw Johanne near the tower entrance yesterday,” she replied belatedly. “She was aware…”

“…that we have been in the tower and no doubt she is curious. It is quite possible…”

“…that her curiosity will cause her to search in places that are better left undiscovered.”

Micheline gasped softly. “Why did not you tell me this before?”

“Because we discouraged her with tales…”

“…of my cat lost in the tower. She hates cats.”

The second floor corridor was dimly lit, a heavily smoking torch the only light. Wanda grabbed Micheline’s hand as the three of them slipped down the hall, silent footfalls to the narrow flight of steps.

The stairwell was dark but Wanda plunged forward. Micheline steadied herself by gripping the stone wall, fearful that she would fall at their fast pace. Smells from the kitchen grew stronger and Micheline was nearly able to breathe a sigh of relief; she was closer to freedom than she had been for days.

Aye, she almost felt a sense of peace. But not yet. The sharp heat of the kitchen slapped her in the face as she emerged into the large, smelly room. And the first thing she saw was a little girl’s pale face.

Micheline smiled, suspected it was one of her rescuers. There was a boy standing next to the young girl, a bit older, his dirty face ashen and strange-looking.

“Are you to help me?” she asked gently. “What are your names?”

“Edmund,” came a voice from behind. “And I believe you know my sister, Johanne.”

The three women whirled about, gasps of fright echoing off the kitchen walls. Edmund smiled lazily as Johanne stood next to the fat cook and her equally fat assistant, both women bound and gagged. Micheline and the twins watched in horror as Johanne took a roasting spit from the wall and jabbed it into the cook’s arm, drawing a stream of blood.

“So good of you to join us for supper, Baroness Bowland,” she said, running her finger along the rivets of blood and licking it. “We are to have a great feast tonight. Roasting those who have betrayed the House of de Cleveley.”

Micheline heart sank, trembling so badly that she could hardly speak. “If you are referring to those who would aid an innocent woman, then I believe you are mistaken. They have done nothing wrong.”

Behind her, Gilly suddenly bolted, racing from the kitchen and out into the yard. Edmund made no move to stop the girl, instead, retrieving an object behind him. Micheline noticed he had leaned a massive broadsword against the stone wall and, with a sinister smirk, glanced pointedly at his wife.

“You are supposed to be dead, baroness.”

He was almost scolding her. Micheline swallowed hard, trying to shield both Valdine and Wanda from what was sure to come. “But I am not. And I do not plan on dying for a long, long time.”

Edmund ran his finger across the edge of the sword, a disturbingly deliberate gesture. “Plans are meant to be changed, baroness. I can see now that I must finish Corwin’s duty. And when I am finished with you, itwill be my pleasure to make Lady Martin and her sister pay for the crimes of my disobedient knight.”

Micheline ran cold, taking a step back. In fact, all three ladies were stepping back. “Why would you do this, Edmund? We have done nothing wrong.”

Edmund seemed not to hear her words as he continued to inspect the sword. “In truth, I never suspected that Corwin disobeyed me. Not until this very day. When I saw Valdine and Wanda in the yard speaking with Sir Spencer, I thought the knight was somehow coercing them to move against me and I was wise enough to follow them as they fled to the tower. But I never expected to discover the great secret between the knight and the ladies to be my supposedly-dead wife.” He looked at the pale faces of Valdine and Wanda. “Isn’t that what you were discussing with him, ladies? The woman my loyal knight was supposed to do away with?”

Micheline would not let them further endanger themselves with an admission. “To spare a life is never wrong, Edmund.”

Johanne moved away from the captive servants, still clutching the spit. “But to disobey one’s liege most certainly is. A conspiracy of lies that is punishable by death.” She fixed Micheline in the eye. “This is your fault, Lady Micheline. If you had remained obedient to your husband, we would not have been forced to do away with you. You have your own foolish behavior to blame for the deaths of these people who have helped you.”

Micheline turned to Johanne, hating the woman more than she could express. “My behavior may have been foolish, as you put it, but at least it was innocent and pure of heart. Something you yourself can hardly claim.”

Johanne flared, the flicker of madness in her eyes. “But Iaman innocent, my lady, referring to the relationship of which you no doubt speak. To learn the art of passion from a man of the same flesh has kept me pure for my husband. My flesh has not been polluted by the touch of an outsider. If you had understood this, we would not have had to do away with you.”

Micheline was baffled. Terrified and baffled. “That’s nonsense. Incest is the very worst of sins and certainly you cannot claim purity. And where on earth do you suppose you would find a husband who would agree with your reasoning?”