She searched his eyes.

Before she could reply, Tatum’s voice echoed down to them. ‘Blackmane!’

Something in his tone had the defender on instant alert. He quickly strapped on his weapon. ‘Let’s go.’

They made their way back along the narrow path to the main part of the cave, where a few of the women were now tearing skins off rabbits.

‘Wait here,’ Blackmane said.

Isabel followed his line of sight to where Tolly and Tatum stood, talking in hushed voices. An uneasy feeling flourished in her stomach. When Blackmane reached the others, Tatum handed him a piece of parchment. He read it, then quickly folded it in half.

Ignoring his clear instructions, Isabel walked over to find out what was going on.

‘What is that?’ she asked.

Blackmane tucked the parchment into his pocket before turning to her. ‘I told you to wait with the other women.’

She looked at Tatum. ‘Is it to do with my family?’

The commander shook his head. ‘No.’

Losing patience, she stepped up to Blackmane and fetched it from his pocket herself. The fact that he did not try to stop her confirmed the note had something to do with her. Upon opening it, she immediately recognised Hodge’s handwriting.

One every hour until she is returned to me.

- The Earl of Hereford

Isabel felt like she had stepped into freezing water. Then hot water. She read it again. ‘One what every hour?’ she asked, looking up at Blackmane.

‘One dead,’ he said quietly.

The nausea hit her hard. ‘One person?’

The smallest nod.

She read it again, then again. ‘Where did you get this?’

No one replied.

She looked between them all. ‘Where?’

Blackmane shifted his weight. ‘It was attached to one of the corpses.’

Her face collapsed. ‘One of them? How many are there?’

‘My men found three,’ Tolly said. ‘But that was close to an hour ago.’

An hour ago. ‘Where?’

‘A few miles from here,’ Tatum said. ‘He must suspect you’re in the area.’

She pressed a hand to her stomach, taking a moment. ‘Can you take me there, please?’

Blackmane shook his head. ‘Absolutely not.’

‘I am not a prisoner. I am free to leave,’ Isabel replied. ‘Please, open the door.’

Blackmane drew a breath and nodded to Tolly.

‘We’ll all go,’ Tolly said. ‘The forest is crawling with soldiers right now.’

The sunlight was disorientating as they climbed out into it. They walked a short distance to collect their horses from a woman who somehow knew to expect them, then rode the rest of the way, Isabel on the back of Blackmane’s horse, dreading what was to come. The three men watched their surroundings carefully, never speaking a word between them.