She was terrified that his voice would carry to the camp where Hodge and the defenders were sleeping. ‘Out for a ride.’

He turned to the guard at the gate, grinning. ‘“Out for a ride,” she says.’ He looked back at her. ‘Have you lost your mind?’

She tilted her head. ‘Not to my knowledge. Is there a problem?’

‘You can’t just ride off into enemy territory.’

She adjusted her grip on the reins. ‘The thing is, they may be England’s enemy but not mine. I was born and raised in Llanelieu.’

His smile faded. ‘Lord Hodge will have my head if I let you leave.’

She laughed at that. ‘Nonsense. You were right there when he said, “You are my guest, not my prisoner. Let there be no confusion about that.” So all that’s left for you to do is open the gate and wish me a safe journey.’

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. ‘You can’t leave.’

‘You are mistaken. Step aside, please.’ She looked to the other guard. ‘Open the gate.’

The man looked from her to Webb and back to her. ‘I don’t think I’m allowed.’

She released an impatient breath. ‘Webb, did His Lordship not say that I was free to come and go as I please?’

Webb looked utterly confused now. ‘Well, yes, but—’

‘But nothing. Step aside and open the gate, or I shall go wake him and tell him that I am being harassed for simply wanting to enjoy an early morning ride.’

‘Early morning?’ the guard said. ‘It’s the middle of the night.’

‘Hampstead Keep is farther east,’ she explained. ‘The sun rises earlier there.’

Webb frowned. ‘A few minutes earlier at most—’

‘Open. The. Gate.’ The words came out like a queen commanding her subjects.

He shook his head as he wrestled with the decision, then finally turned to the gate guard. ‘Open it.’

The man looked far from confident as he made his way over to the drawbar.

‘I’ll be speaking with His Lordship the moment he wakes,’ Webb said when she rode by him.

She glanced in his direction. ‘I do not doubt it.’

Her heart sped up as the gate closed behind her, the drawbar sliding into place. She had done it. She was out of there and on her way to see Ita—or to be killed by wastelanders trying.

Feathers flashed overhead, and a smile spread across Isabel’s face. Extending an arm into the air, she watched as Margery swept down and gracefully landed on her.

‘Hello, sweet girl.’

Margery eyed her in the dark.

Guiding the eagle to her shoulder, she said, ‘You are going to want to hold on. It is time to pick up the pace.’

CHAPTER 11

Blackmane’s eyes opened as the first light of morning pushed through the gap in the tent. Rising, he glanced over at Alveye and Tatum as he stepped into his boots. They were still asleep. He grabbed his cloak from the end of his bed and swung it around his shoulders as he exited the tent. Hadewaye was seated by the fire, cleaning his sword. He looked up when Blackmane stepped out.