Ensnared (Knights of Brethren #3)(61)

“You are wrong, my dear brother. I have already told you the maiden is mine. I own her. And I shall do with her as I please. It pleases me to bestow her on my faithful advisor, who has expressed a desire for her.”

I shot a glare at Pontus, but the man had the presence of mind to duck his head and avoid my wrath.

I worked loose the purse at my belt and tossed it at Bernhard’s feet. “That’s more than enough to purchase her freedom. And once I return to Vordinberg, I shall earn enough to account for each member of her family.”

Bernhard kicked the pouch aside. “I may yet give her to you. But I require something besides money as payment.”

“What?” As soon as the question was out, I guessed the answer. He wanted Sven.

Bernhard’s grin inched higher. “I see you already know.”

“And I also know why you want him. So that you can use him to help in your quest to find the chalice.”

“Is that not why you also took him away, so that you could use him in your quest? We are not so different, you and I. We both see his value.”

We were very different, as different as two brothers could be. “So you do not deny wanting the chalice?”

Bernhard leaned casually against the door frame. “Why would I deny it? There is no crime in seeking the sacred relic. In fact, I should think you would be grateful I am doing what I can to eliminate the jotunn and make the discovery easier.”

Bernhard was an expert at twisting a situation to fit his aspirations. But he needed to learn he could no longer twist me. “I’m not bringing Sven back.”

“I do not just require Sven. I require your assistance as well.” He kicked at my bag of coins again. “That is the only payment I will accept for the maiden’s freedom.”

It was suddenly all clear. Bernhard wanted me to exchange my freedom for Mikaela’s. He would compel me to bind myself to him and do his bidding. I would become a slave for Bernhard in the same way Sven had been a slave for the jotunn.

For a moment, I waged an inner war. If I gave in to Bernhard’s demands I’d gain Mikaela. But if I denied my brother, I would seal my fate as his enemy. And he’d never willingly give me Mikaela. I would have to fight for her.

I eyed the soldiers standing at the ready behind Bernhard. Could I battle them all?

An inner voice cautioned me to do the sure and easy thing—to take Bernhard’s bargain. Or at least to pretend I was but then continue to undermine him. Such a strategy had worked well for me for years, hadn’t it?

I shook my head. I’d lived in fear of Bernhard for too long. I’d made my decision to stand up to him, to stay strong in living the truth, and I couldn’t back down now.

I gauged the positions of my opponents and inched out my knife with one hand and gripped my sword with the other. Then I spoke the truth, even though it would lead to the greatest battle I’d yet to fight. “I will remain loyal to the king and will never work for you or Rasmus.”

Bernhard’s grin slipped away. He pushed away from the doorframe and straightened, his eyes glittering with warning. “Be careful what you say, brother.”

I held his gaze for a moment so that he could see I knew the truth, that he was working in conjunction with Rasmus. “I don’t know what Rasmus promised you, but I do know that any alliance with him is treason.”

“I have given you the opportunity to cooperate willingly. And now you leave me no choice but to make you see where your loyalty should lie.”

I unsheathed my sword. “You will never have my loyalty.”

He nodded and his men began to close in around me. Then he spoke over his shoulder to two guards who lingered in the hallway. “Take the maiden to the whipping post.”

“No!” I lunged, trying to make my way out of the chapel, but I was already surrounded and would have to fight my way free. As I parried my first blow, panic lent me renewed strength, especially as the two guards in the hallway dashed away to do Bernhard’s bidding.





Chapter

30





Mikaela


Was I smelling smoke? Sitting on the floor with my back against the door, I lifted my head from where I’d rested it on my knees.

I’d been waiting in the Sagacite’s chamber, my dismay mounting with every passing hour. I’d tried every trick I could think of to get the guards in the passageway to open the door, but nothing had worked.

Now, I could only hope that Gunnar would return before my fate was sealed. Even then, I didn’t know how he’d be able to free me. Not with Bernhard taking so much care to have me guarded.

I sniffed, testing the air. The smoke didn’t have the usual wood or charcoal scent. Instead, it had the earthiness of burning thatch.

I expelled a breath of frustration. Which roof was on fire this time? If Bernhard would only provide slate for the roofs, the number of fires would diminish. But he’d refused to listen to any advice regarding a less flammable alternative.

The fire that had destroyed the forge’s roof was still too recent. Who would suffer today? I just prayed that everyone would work together to put out the fire before it spread.

A bell began to clang in the bailey, calling all available hands to assist. I could hear the guards outside the door arguing with each other, and then their voices faded as they rushed to help put out the fire before the destruction could spread too far.