Ensnared (Knights of Brethren #3)(32)

“Frans?” I called as I closed the distance.

He usually saw me before I noticed him. This morn after I’d delivered the bundle of food to Kirstin, he’d been in the doorway watching our interaction. I hadn’t been able to see his face in the shadows, but his body had been tense, his movements stilted.

I stepped into the forge and paused. The bellows were contracted. Both anvils were empty. The tongs, swages, and fullers were hung neatly on the wall. And no one was in sight. Not even Valter. Only the scent of charcoal remained.

Valter and Frans had obviously gone out to witness whatever Bernhard was doing. Why hadn’t I been required to go?

I ducked back outside into the bright sunshine. Shielding my eyes, I spotted one of the kitchen boys racing across the yard toward a side gate, feet and head bare. “Where are you off to?”

He didn’t pause and instead tossed his answer over his shoulder. “The master is sending someone new into Hardanger Forest.”

Before I could question him further, he exited the bailey, likely eager to watch the departure just as we had for the others who’d taken the earl’s challenge to kill the jotunn.

Who was the foolish man this time?

The smiling face of my younger brother filled my mind. What if Enok had volunteered?

I rushed forward, my chest pounding with sudden urgency. Enok was too young. He knew nothing of hunting or trapping or of self-defense. Yes, he’d perfected the use of a slingshot like Frans, but he was deluded if he thought he could overtake the jotunn with a mere slingshot when men much stronger and more experienced had failed.

I hastened out onto the trail that led to the north of the castle. It wound down a rocky cliffside. A hundred feet away from the forest, much of the castle staff had gathered for the occasion. The sight made my stomach roil. How could we stand back and keep sending more of our men into the forest to be destroyed? We had to stop the madness. The prize wasn’t worth the risk. Surely we could find a better, safer way to bring about our freedom.

I would speak up this time. I had to. I’d stayed silent long enough.

As I reached level ground, I bunched my skirt to keep it from tangling in my legs, and then I ran. The trail was wider and easier, but by the time I arrived, I was gasping for air. I paused to draw in a breath, and those standing closest cast me a pitying glance, one that set my pulse racing again.

It had to be Enok.

With growing desperation, I pushed my way through the crowd, the knowing nods only adding to my panic. When I reached the forefront, I found myself standing beside Valter. He was staring into the overgrown forest, tears streaming down his leathery cheeks.

I scanned the open grassy area between the crowd and the dark forest. No one had left yet, had they?

“Stop!” I called.

More pitying eyes turned my way.

Valter took hold of my arm as though he would collapse without my aid.

My body ceased to function and a strange quiet settled over me, like the kind before a storm. I slowed my search, seeing each face, even that of the earl standing with his friends and advisors to the side. I was drawing unwanted attention. But at the moment, panic was twisting within me, and I couldn’t bring myself under control like I knew I should.

“Frans?” His name escaped from my now-trembling lips.

Where was Frans? Why wasn’t he standing beside Valter? I prayed desperately that he was in town on an errand. Or maybe he was resting in his bed above the forge.

Valter’s fingers tightened around my arm even as a clamp tightened around my heart.

“No.” I pressed a hand against my mouth, afraid I was going to be sick.

Another hand grasped my other arm, this belonging to my friend Ami.

Valter’s tears continued to streak his cheeks, and as he met my gaze, my heart lurched into my throat. Frans had gone into the forest. Innocent, hard-working, trustworthy, kind, and dependable Frans.

“No! Tell him to come back!” I scanned the woodland, looking for him, his sturdy frame, his broad shoulders, anything. I had the sudden and overwhelming need to chase after him. He couldn’t be that far in. I needed to catch up and tell him to stop.

I jerked against Valter and Ami. “Leave me be. I’m going after him.”

The two held me fast.

I struggled again, tears now wetting my cheeks. “This is my fault!” I should have been faithful, should have kept my feelings for Gunnar from overruling common sense, and most certainly should have refrained from kissing him.

If only I’d told Frans I’d been wrong sooner. If only I’d assured him that I would try harder to love him the way he deserved. But now I was too late. How would I be able to live with myself knowing I’d been the cause of Frans’s death?

From the corner of my eye, I could see the earl and one of his companions, the Sagacite Pontus, leaning together, watching me, and having a discussion.

I had to cease making such a commotion.

As if sensing the same, Valter drew me against his burly body and began to lead me away from the gathering. I buried my face against Valter’s cloak and clung to him, sobbing now openly. Several other friends joined in shielding me.

They knew me well. They understood my growing need to give voice to my demands for justice and fairness. And they only wanted to keep me safe so that I wouldn’t find myself the earl’s next victim.

However, no matter how well I may have averted trouble this time, I had the feeling a confrontation with the earl was inevitable.