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“Did he?” Richard looked at Edlyn knowingly. “An amazing feat for one so enfeebled.”

“I woulda done it, too.” Almund let Edlyn prop him against a wall.

“Aye, except ye tipped over when ye lifted it,” the man-at-arms said.

Everyone laughed. Everyone except Sir Lyndon. He glared around in vexation. “The old ferryman said Lady Roxford schemed for him to rescue us. Trust a woman to plan something so asinine.”

“Ye’re out, aren’t ye?” Wharton said sourly.

He didn’t like Sir Lyndon, Edlyn realized. Of course, she didn’t like Wharton, so where did that leave them?

“My lady Roxford’s schemes have worked well for all of you,” Richard answered. “Line up against the wall. Line up!”

Hugh’s men looked to Hugh, and he waved them along.

Rubbing his hands, Richard announced, “I want you all to know I am letting you go, and I want you to know why. Your lady won you your freedom. She, and she alone, convinced me to return your belongings and allow you to go on your way.”

Hugh’s men said nothing. They stared at her up and down, then at Richard, and Edlyn shriveled as she realized what they thought.

Richard realized, too, and she acquitted him of trying to dishonor her name when he added, “She won your freedom with her skill in storytelling.”

“Storytelling?” Sir Lyndon sneered. “I’ve never heard it called that before.”

Richard and Hugh almost collided trying to get to him, but Richard was closer and he got there first. The knife appeared in his hand so easily he must have had it up his sleeve, and he pressed it against Sir Lyndon’s throat. “You’re insolent, my man, about your betters.”

“Betters?” Sir Lyndon said. “She’s just a woman and a—”

Richard shaved a piece of skin off Lyndon’s Adam’s apple. “You’re stupid, too.” Blood spurted in a dreadful crimson stream. “But you’re not my man, praise God, and it’s not my place to kill you.” He looked at Hugh. “May I slit his throat, my lord?”

“Hugh.” Edlyn bumped him, and when he looked at her, she shook her head.

“Nay.” Hugh agreed reluctantly. “My wife wishes to grant him his life.” His voice strengthened. “But you can leave him in your dungeon until the rats have devoured his contemptuous tongue.”

“Should anyone else feel the desire to insult my lady Roxford, let me announce I would take it poorly.” Richard threw Sir Lyndon at his guards, and they bundled him back toward the open dungeon door. “All my compassion has been consumed by this ill-met villain, so I will only tell you once—Lady Edlyn told us the tale of Fulk Fitzwarin with such skill she trapped us in her spell, and as a reward for her kindness, I am releasing you all. All!” He gestured extravagantly, knife still in hand, and Hugh’s men shrank back. “With your possessions. So thank your lady and get out of my castle.”

They did thank her. They thanked her as they filed past her on their way to the bailey. They thanked her as they filled the carts with their tumbled belongings. They thanked her until Richard smirked at Hugh. They even thanked her after Richard left to supervise the distribution of goods.

Standing with Hugh on the steps of the keep, Edlyn scanned the open drawbridge.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Hugh said.

“I haven’t said a word.” And she hadn’t. She had more important things on her mind.

“Wharton! That trunk is mine.” Hugh shouted at his man as the knights shoved half-packed possessions into the carts. Wharton gestured that he’d heard and directed it toward Hugh’s cart.

Turning back to her, Hugh said, “But I can hear what you’re thinking.”

“I doubt that.” Men milled and shouted as they led horses from the stables and fought over saddles. Stupid men.

“You’re thinking I failed you in there. That you can’t depend on me.”

“Not at all.” She clipped off the words.

“I swore I would protect you, and I will. I swear—“

She turned on him fiercely. “Will you stop babbling?”

He froze.