Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two Isobel stood beside Alex on the wall of her family keep looking out at the dense forest beyond as sadness threatened to overwhelm her. It had been years since she’d last seen her home, when she’d left so long ago her family had been healthy and happy and the keep clean and full of laughter. Now it was filthy, the paint and white-wash in peeling or gone and a giant hole gaped in the wall. “It can all be repaired, what is important is that you and Bridgette are safe and that Dagda will pay for his crimes.” Alex laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I know, I also know that I should not care as I will have a new home with you but,” Isobel replied. It had been two days since Alex and the others had taken the keep without a fight, Isobel had spent the time overseeing the cleaning of her old home but the damage to it was breaking her heart. “But it is hard to see what you once loved destroyed; I will send Bowden and Giles to speak with King Thaddeus tomorrow. I will inform him of Lord Dagda’s treachery and that in addition to kidnapping you and Bridgette he had several of my retainers murdered and that I demand retribution.” Alex said. “What if he won’t see them or what if he doesn’t believe them?” Isobel asked. “While he may refuse to speak to a mere lord I do not think he will refuse to speak to the envoy of Prince Alexander Thorbrand, my kingdom is five times the size of Bryste and we have a trade agreement. Besides I don’t plan to take no for an answer.” Alex replied. “I sometimes forget that I married a prince and not a simple flower merchant, at times it still does not seem real that you are a prince. I know now that you are rich and that you have powerful friends but.” Isobel shook her head. “In a few days we shall journey home and you shall meet my father and see my home and then it shall be real to you, but remember both merchant and man love you.” Alex slid his hands about Isobel’s waist pulling her against him. Isobel’s hands slid up his chest as she looked deep into his eyes. “Riders coming.” Came the shout from the sentry on duty and Alex cursed the timing of the interruption. Alex’s men ran to the wall to join Lord Arrington’s as a group of riders approached the still-damaged gate. “Hold, who approaches?” Lord Arrington shouted from the rampart above the destroyed gate. The riders slowed to a halt as Arrington’s men brought arrows to bear on the riders. “Easy, easy I’m sir Liam I’m looking for Prince Alex.” A man shouted back. Alex squinted down at the man below and smiled it was indeed Sir Liam. “Stand down, it’s a friend.” “Lord Alex is that you?” Liam shouted. “Aye, let them pass they are friends.” Alex gave Isobel a quick kiss then catching her hand tugged her along the wall and then down the wide stone steps to the courtyard as Liam and about fifty men rode through the gate. Liam reigned to a halt as Bowden, Giles, and Lord Arrington hurried to meet him in the courtyard. “I see you took the keep and rescued your lady.” Liam gave Alex a nod as he threw his leg over his horse’s neck and dropped to the ground. “Aye, and you brought friends.” Alex offered Liam his hand in welcome as two men near his age with long black hair and several days’ worth of facial hair dismounted next to him. “Yes I would like to introduce you to Prince Aldwin and Prince Berne crown Princes of Bryste, my lords this is Prince Alexander Magnus Thorbrand of Glomma and his wife lady Isobel,” Liam said as the two men stepped up to Liam. “This cannot be little Isobel the mouse.” Prince Aldwin said looking Isobel up and down. “It is good to see you to Aldwin, Berne you have both grown since I last saw you.” Isobel gave the princes a quick curtsy. “Forgive my brother’s lack of manners but it has been many years since we last saw our cousin and she has changed greatly. When last we saw her she was a reed-thin young girl and now she is a beautiful young woman and newly wed to a prince no less.” Berne held his hand out to Alex who took it to give the shorter man a hard shake. “From the damage to the keep and that you are standing here I’m guessing you captured and killed Dagda.” “Capture but not killed, as a foreigner to your country I did not want to risk causing an incident by killing one of your lords despite what he did. Dagda is currently a prisoner and is under guard in one of the storage rooms while his men enjoyed another.” Alex replied. “You show more restraint than I would have. Sir Liam has explained that he thinks Dagda has been influencing our father and the court against us. If it was up to me I’d just slit the bastard’s throat.” Aldwin stated. “Aye and what if he has information to tell us then what, no you were wise sir Alex. Is there a place we and our men may wash and rest we have ridden hard for days?” Berne asked. “My men have been cleaning the keep since we captured it, there are rooms clean for you my lord, and your brother and your men can bunk in the main hall with mine.” Lord Arrington said. “Thank you, I know you don’t I?” Aldwin demanded looking at Lord Arrington. “Yes your majesty I am Lord Arrington, my sons and I have served your family all our lives.” Lord Arrington replied. “Of course, you are the “Hammer of the wastelands” what brings you here my lord not that I’m not glad of your help.” Berne asked. “Dagda took my daughter Bridgette when he kidnapped Isobel, who is like a daughter to me. I received a message from the lady Valencia that Bridgette and Isobel had been kidnapped and that Lord Alex would need help freeing them, so I came as soon as I could.” Arrington replied. “Thank I fear we shall need your help when we face our father now where is this swine Dagda?” Berne demanded. “This way my lords.” Lord Arrington motioned towards the doors of the great hall. Alex turned to Giles who was standing nearby obviously annoyed at being ignored. “Giles could you see that the princess’s horses and those of his men are taken care of and then come and join us inside,” Alex asked earning a nod from Giles. As Alex and Bowden turned towards the doors Bridgette stepped out still dressed in her breeches and a man’s white shirt and jerkin. “Father I heard horses and came to meet our visitors,” Bridgette said greeting her father before turning her attention to the two princes. “Surely this lovely creature is not your daughter Lord Arrington,” Berne said stepping up to Bridgette and lifting her hand to his lips. “Yes, this is my daughter Bridgette, your majesty.” Lord Arrington replied as the prince gave Bridgette a rather lascivious look. “You must keep my company at dinner my dear it has been many months since I saw anything as lovely as you. In truth, I will have need of a new mistress now that I am home.” Berne said. “She is betrothed to me,” Bowden growled taking a step forward and gaining Berne’s notice for the first time. “And you are?” Berne demanded dropping Bridgette’s hand as he studied Bowden who towered above him by a foot or more. “This is Duke Bowden my second in command and close friend,.” Alex replied. “Ah, too bad that you are spoken for my lady, a match with me would have been advantageous to your family when I become king,” Berne said. “Thank you your majesty for your offer but I would make a poor mistress. I am headstrong and opinionated and prefer breeches to gowns; Lord Bowden is the only man that is my match.” Bridgette gave Bowden a smile. “He likes me as I am which is one of the reasons I love him. Now there is fresh stew and bread ready if you are all hungry, it is not much but that is all that was salvageable in the pantry.” “Thank you, Bridgette.” Lord Arrington said and walked past her to pull open the hold door. Berne gave Bridgette a nod. “I would hate to break up true love then, my apologies if I have caused any offense. After you Lord Arrington the sooner we have dealt with Dagda the better.” Alex stood back and watched Lord Arrington usher the princes and Liam into the before him, besides him, Bowden stepped up to Bridgette to slip a possessive arm about her waist earning a smile. “You should not be jealous I love only you, now I must go see to the stew, do you wish to help Isobel?” Bridgette asked kissing Bowden on the cheek before stepping away. “I would like Isobel to come with me, we are going to question Dagda and as one of the people who has suffered the most at his hand, she should hear what he says. But the choice is hers.” Alex replied. Isobel paused to consider her options after a moment. “Though I loathe him I would like to be there, can you manage on your own Bridgette?” “Of course, I have one of my father’s men doing most of the cooking, I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” Bridgette gave Isobel’s hand a squeeze then stepped into the hall. Alex gave Isobel a smile. “Are you ready for this, if you get nervous squeeze my hand,” “I will be fine, I want answers too,” Isobel replied. “That is my girl, come the sooner we start the sooner it shall be over.” Alex caught Isobel’s hand and lifting it to his lips kissed the back of it before leading her into the keep. Dagda opened his eyes and cursed against the gag that covered his mouth, he was still in the windowless storage room, and he was still chained hand and foot. He’d lost count of the days since he’d been captured and thrown into the storage room. Yesterday or was it the day before he’d been taken out to the kitchen yard and forced to strip to his short clothes. Buckets of cold soapy water had been dumped over his head while his clothes had been dropped into a cauldron of boiling water. Then some of his clothes, wrinkled but clean had been given to him to wear, when he had called the guards names for his rough treatment he had been gagged and led back to his cell. The bastards hadn’t even given him a bed or a lantern, they’d left him some blankets and a wooden bucket and then locked him in. When he was free he would wreak his revenge upon them and the bastards that had captured him, images of how he would torture his enemies had been what had comforted him. There was the sound of keys in the lock and the door opened lighting spilled into the blackness momentarily blinding him as three men stepped inside and grabbed him by the arms and his chains dragged him roughly to his feet. “Come the lords wish to speak to you.” One of his jailers said as he was dragged through the door and into the brightly lit hall beyond. Alex pulled out a chair for Isobel and then stepped back as the princes and the others took up places in what had been Dagda’s office, which was full of charts and scribbled documents. Alex leaned against the rough stone wall watching the princes talk with Lord Arrington as they waited for Dagda to be brought to them. With the help of Isobel, Bridgette, and Giles he had spent the past days since taking the keep going through Dagda’s papers. They had discovered that he had been slipping the king a potion made of mushrooms, jimsonweed, and mandrake that had been causing him to hallucinate and become paranoid no doubt the reason the king had believed the queen and his late mistress had been plotting against him. Alex had been debating how to tell the princes what Dagda had been doing; perhaps the blunt approach was best. “Lord Berne, Lord Aldwin there is something you should know before Dagda comes.” Alex said. “Aye and what is that?” Aldwin demanded looking at Alex. “The ladies and I went through Dagda’s papers and found evidence that he has been slipping your father a potion that causes him to hallucinate.” Alex stated. “We also found notes that he was responsible for having your mother sent into exile because she didn’t trust him and would not drink the doctored wine he was giving your father.” “What are you sure?” Berne demanded rising to his feet. “I am, my mother was a herbalist as are Isobel and Bridgette who verified my findings. Dagda has been slipping a mixture of mushrooms, jimsonweed, and mandrake to your father’s wine for years according to his notes; the potion will not only induce madness but kill him in time in a very painful way. I can show you our findings.” Alex replied. “That stinking bastard, all this time I wondered why father never answered our letters, why he never sent more men and supplies.” Aldwin banged his fist on the table before him. “Is Dagda why father sent us away?” “I don’t know but I would suspect so, you can ask him yourself I hear the guards coming now.” Alex turned to look at the door as it opened and three of lord Arrington’s men came in dragging a rumpled and furious Dagda. “We washed him because he was a bit, well.” The lead guard paused. “He smelled like a privy on a hot summer day, and we had to gag him as his mouth was as foul as a bog.” “Thank you, Ralph, you can remove the gag,” Arrington said. “Aye my lord but watch him he is a sly one.” Ralph reached up and yanked the gag from Dagda’s mouth. “You filthy bastards you’ll pay for this, I’ll see that you are all drawn and quartered.” Dagda roared. “I hardly think that likely.” Berne rose to his feet. “By the time I’m done with you you’ll pray for death.” “Who the hell do you think you are? I have the king’s ear; he will do whatever I say. Now free me at once.” Dagda growled. “You may have his ear but I am his son and have his heart now be quiet or despite my desire for answers I shall cut your snake tongue from your math.” Berne thundered making Dagda take a step back. “That is impossible you were sent to the front and told not to return.” Dagda sputtered. “Aye and I can guess who told father that we should not come back.” Aldwin slipped his knife from his belt and held it against Dagda’s throat. “I for one say we simply slit his throat now and have it over with.” “Wait, I would like answers first. My family was the first he wronged and I would know why?” Isobel rose from her chair and stepped forward as Aldwin gave her a nod and put his knife away. “Why did you have my family killed, why did you try and force me to wed you?” Isobel asked. Dagda’s eyes shifted from her to look about the room then he shrugged. “I do not answer to fools or whores and you are both.” Alex stepped past Isobel to slam his fist into Dagda’s face with enough force that Dagda went flying backwards and crashed to the floor hard. “You will not address my lady wife in that fashion. Get him up I know how we will get the truth out of him. I also know something about potions and drugs and have made one of my own. It however will not take days to work but minutes.” Alex looked over at the guards. "Put him in a chair.” The other guards picked up Dagda and dragged him to an empty chair where they dropped him. “You broke my nose again,” Dagda whined. “Be glad that is all I did,” Alex replied. “Now you have one chance to answer, if you refuse I shall give you a potion of my own. It unlike yours will not take days or weeks to work but minutes.” Alex folded his arms before his chest. “First shall be the pain, grinding stomach pain then headaches followed by hallucinations. And then your bowls will grow loose as your will leaves you. And then as you lay writhing on the floor in your last few moments of clarity you will beg for death as fire runs through your veins.” “You would not do such a thing, your nothing but some lowly lord.” Dagda sneered as blood and spittle ran down his face. “I am Prince Alexander Magnus Thorbrand the Wolf and you hurt the woman I love, you took her family from her and you threatened her, for those crimes alone it is within my right to cut out your liver and feed it to you, but as this is not my kingdom I shall hold my temper for now.” Alex gave Dagda a look so cold that a lesser man would have begged for mercy. “Your lying, she has no dowry, no family, and is only passing fair why would any man, even a prince what her.” Dagda snapped nodding towards Isobel. “And you are a worm and a coward, and to me, she is the most beautiful woman there is because I can see her heart and her soul while you, you pathetic toad of a person can’t see past your nose.” Alex looked at Isobel for a moment. “Now speak or else.” “You wouldn’t dare, you have no authority to touch me. You are nothing a no body.” Dagda ranted struggling against his bonds as the guards forced him to sit again. “While he might be a foreigner as your prince I can authorize anyone I wish to act for me,” Berne said. “Tell us what you have done or I shall order these men to hold you down while Lord Alexander does his worst.” “Go to hell, you are nothing. The king is mine to control, once I am free I shall have you all killed.” Dagda snarled. “He thinks we shall let him live.” Aldwin shook his head. “Do what you want this fool so I can kill him.” “Hold him still, Bowden grab his head for me.” Alex walked to the side of the chamber where he’d left a large flask of his mother’s potion. He heard a scuffling sound and turned to see Dagda try to kick Bowden who, sidestepped him and slammed his massive fist into Dagda’s face, hitting him with enough force that the chair rocked back. Dagda made a whimpering sound as blood gushed from his nose. “My nose, what have you done?” “Not nearly enough for hurting my woman.” Bowden snarled as he stepped about Dagda and grabbed the top of his head with one hand and his chin with the other to wrench his head back. Alex stepped up to Dagda while the guards held him down. "You will have a few minutes to answer before the potion takes effect; in that time if you comply I can give you the antidote. It will mitigate some of the pain and stop the hallucinations, but only if given in time." Alex held the flask before Dagda's face. "This is your last chance, answer now or pay the price." "You wouldn't dare, your all going to die for this." Dagda spat. Alex shrugged. “You had your chance. Hold him still, Bow pinch his nose shut." Bowden nodded but made a face as he grabbed Dagda's obviously broken and bleeding nose making him yowl in pain. As soon as his mouth opened wide Alex grabbed the back of his head and forced it all the way back and then began pouring the noxious potion into his open mouth. Dagda tried to spit it out but couldn't as the potion poured from the flask and down his throat. When the flask was finally empty Alex stepped back and nodded to Bowden to release Dagda. "Now what?" Berne demanded. "We wait; it won't take long before the pain starts." Alex looked over at Isobel who had taken her seat again in the back of the room." Isobel you don't have to be here for this, you know I will question him for you." Isobel shook her head as much as it turned her stomach and went against her nature to do another harm she wanted answers, and if she was honest with herself she wanted Dagda to suffer for what he had done to her and her family. "No, I will stay. Though I took an oath to cause no harm I will argue with my conscious latter. He killed my family and beat me I want to know why and my family will not rest quietly in their graves till they are avenged." Isobel replied. Dagda's face contorted and he let out an inarticulate wail, as spittle ran down his chin. "What did you give me, what have you done?" "Ah it is beginning to work, now answer our questions or I won't give you the antidote. But be warned the pain you feel now will increase tenfold." Alex folded his arms before his chest as Dagda began to squirm. "Yes, damn you all to hell what do you want?" Dagda screamed. "You will begin with why you killed Isobel's family, if you answer truthfully and fully I will give you the antidote. Do you understand?" Alex asked. "Yes, damn you anything just make the pain stop," Dagda whined. Alex looked back at Isobel. "Ask your questions." Isobel stepped forward as a knot formed in her stomach, at last, she would have her answers but was she strong enough to hear them. She looked over at Alex who gave her a thin- lipped smile and she found her resolve knowing she was no longer alone. "Tell me why you killed my parents?" Isobel asked as years of pain and anger pushed up from where she forced them down. "Answer me or I will let you die, I'm no longer afraid of you. Your only a pathetic coward now speak." Dagda moaned. "I will tell you what you want to know?"