He was right. Once they started, it would not end until every guard was dead. And then what? They would be forced to kill Hodge, too, breaking a direct order.

In his peripheral vision, Blackmane saw Isabel run for Ita, flinging herself at her friend and wrapping her like a human shield.

‘Cease fire!’ Hodge shouted.

Blackmane stepped around Tatum’s horse at the same time Isabel pulled an arrow from the quiver on Ita’s back. She pressed the tip of it to her neck before turning to Hodge.

‘If she dies, I die,’ she said through gritted teeth.

All the colour left Hodge’s face. ‘Put that down before you hurt yourself.’

‘Not unless you agree to let them both walk away, unharmed,’ she said, ice in her tone. ‘Promise me that, and I will come with you now. If one more arrow reaches them, I will drive this through my neck.’ She blinked back tears. ‘Do you hear me?’

Ita dropped to her knees beside Walnut, staring down at her dead friend.

Hodge raised his hands in a calming gesture. ‘All right.’

‘Swear it,’ Isabel demanded. Her hand was shaking now, the tip of the arrow drawing blood.

This was one of those rare moments where Blackmane felt completely helpless. He had no control over the situation, and the fact that Hodge did made it so much worse.

The earl swallowed. ‘All right. I swear it.’

Hodge rode over to Isabel, holding out his hand for the arrow.

She looked at Ita. ‘I am so sorry.’

Ita was too grief-stricken to even look up.

Slowly, Isabel removed the arrow from her neck, handing it to Hodge. The earl took it from her before gesturing to one of the guards to fetch her mare. When Isabel was safely on her horse, he looked at Tatum. ‘The tour ends here, Commander. I think you have seen all there is to see.’ His gaze slid to Blackmane. ‘It is time for you and your men to go home.’

Blackmane went to take a step towards him, but Tatum drew his sword and swung it downwards, blocking his path.

Hodge’s eyes never left Blackmane. ‘I would not loiter if I were you, defender.’ With that he turned his horse away.

Blackmane’s stomach twisted at the sight of Isabel on that horse with tears pouring down her cheeks and blood trailing down her neck. She did not so much as glance in his direction, and he was grateful for the fact. The last thing he wanted to do was add fuel to a fire he would not be there to oversee.

Hodge walked his horse over to Isabel’s, taking the reins from her and dragging them up over the mare’s neck. He wrapped them around his hand twice, clearly not taking any chances. Then, looking at Tatum, he said, ‘Safe travels, Commander.’