A Warrior’s Heart by Misty M. Beller
28
Brielle strained to refocus on the important details as she stood before her father and the council. They had to make a plan, but to do that, she must know all the people involved. “Any thoughts on who the other man is?”
“Evan said Gerald spoke French, but the second man was standing behind the bedcurtain and his voice was too muffled to understand. That makes me wonder if it might have been Hugo Lemaire.”
The lad’s face sprang to mind, and she could hear his lazy drawl in her ear. She didn’t think of Hugo as a man yet. He fell into the group of boys who had just reached the age of majority. His father had been killed in the same attack that took her mother, and his mama had kept to herself through the years. She performed her duties around the village just like the other matrons, but Brielle hadn’t had much interaction with her son. He did mumble when he spoke, and from her limited experience with the boy, his approach to life was as lazy as his manner of speech. He tended to take the easiest route to do the least required of him.
Perhaps Gerald had fed the lad his poisonous opinions, and the young man had grabbed onto the attention. Without a strong male presence in his life to teach him the right ways, he might be easily swayed.
She gave a slow nod. “He is a possibility. We would need to question him, but it seems wise to take him and Gerald into custody at the same time.” She scanned through the timeline of Gerald’s plan once more. His words might only be boasts if he was speaking to Hugo, but if he chose to go through with his plans, he might easily decide to shift timelines. Whether he took action or not, he had to be stopped before his poison leaked further.
She focused her attention on her father and Erik. “I agree we should act before tonight. And neither man must know we’re taking the other into custody. Which means we should either take them both at the same time, or one while the other is occupied.”
Relief slipped through her father’s gaze, and behind him, Erik nodded. She scanned the rest of the group as her mind whirled with possible plans to take the men captive. They needed to have everything lined up perfectly for any of them to succeed.
And they had almost no time to make it happen.
Evan couldn’t stop pacing.
Thankfully, Leonard didn’t comment on the fact that he’d left his fur pallet. The man just leaned against the wall. Watching. His expression looked half amused, half concerned.
But he wasn’t the one worrying Evan. What would the council say about him? Would they act quickly to stop Gerald?
Unless they didn’t believe him.
His gut churned as he sent up another petition in a long line of prayers. Give them wisdom, Lord. Give me wisdom. Help us take the right actions.
The bar on the door clanged, and he spun to see who was entering. He’d not even heard footsteps in the hall.
Brielle stepped inside, and from the stern expression on her face, she must know something.
Her gaze met his, then she swung her focus to Leonard. “I must speak with you both.”
She pulled her hand from her side, and he nearly gasped at the sight of his musket, shot bag, and knives. She set them on the floor by the door, then motioned him and Leonard near as she closed the door behind her.
Apprehension swelled his chest, tightening his breathing. Her father must have told her some of what they’d said. Only the part that concerned Gerald? Or also of his intention to speak to Brielle? Probably about his mission, too.
A pain speared his midsection. He’d wanted to tell her those details himself. In truth, he’d wanted her to be the first to know everything—except maybe Gerald’s plan. But it looked like the entire situation was out of his hands now.
I give it to you, Lord.As much as he hated this helpless feeling, God could guide the situation so much better than he could.
In a few short minutes, Brielle shared with Leonard the details of what Evan had overheard. Then she proceeded to tell them both of a plan that sounded riskier than he would have liked. In fact, Brielle seemed to be taking on the greatest risk herself. But she was including Evan as one of the helpers. And for that, a surge of anticipation washed through him.
“You can take your weapons.” She motioned toward his gun and knives as she met his gaze. “My father spoke to the council on your behalf, and they moved the vote up to today.” Something flickered in her eyes, but it passed so quickly he couldn’t decipher it. “They’ve voted to release you from guard but ask you not to leave Laurent yet.”
He straightened. They’d moved up the vote? Maybe this had been a natural result of determining whether he was trustworthy enough for his report about Gerald to be believed. And the vote may have been necessary to free him to help capture Gerald, too.
A wash of relief swept through him. Thank you, Lord. He’d not even known to worry while the vote was taking place. God had gone before and prepared the way for his freedom. Guide us now in this mission, Father.
Leonard’s voice drew him from his prayer. “So, you want me and Wesley to be waiting in the assembly room? Who will you send to summon Hugo?” He didn’t seem surprised by Evan’s freedom, just focused on the job before them. Good man.
Brielle nodded as she turned to Leonard. “Andre can deliver the summons to him. People are accustomed to him taking messages for my father. He can say that all the men of age and hunting ability are being asked to come. That might even make him eager to be numbered among the men. Evan and I will station ourselves in the shadows of the cave to make sure he doesn’t bolt before you and Wesley can tie him.”
Evan nodded agreement for his part of the plan. He didn’t even know what this young ruffian looked like, but he’d learn quickly enough. It felt good to be numbered among Laurent’s protectors.
Within minutes, Leonard was off to gather his weapons and the man who would serve with him. Brielle motioned for Evan to follow her down the corridor. He grabbed his things by the door, then followed her out. They moved softly until they entered the chamber belonging to Brielle’s family.
Inside, Andre ran to meet them, full of questions for his elder sister. By the fire, Chief Durand and another man who looked familiar stopped their conversation to watch their entry. A glance around the room showed that Charlotte, Brielle’s sister, was the only other person inside.
Brielle motioned for her brother to be quiet. “I have an important task for you. I need you to deliver a summons to Hugo Lemaire. Tell him it’s very important.” She relayed the message about the hunters gathering. “Say it exactly like that, do you understand?”
Andre tipped his head. “Should I take that same message to Gerald?” The lad must have heard his father speaking of what was happening. Hopefully no one else had overheard.
Brielle speared her brother with her gaze. “No. He is out on a hunt. Speak of this to no one else.”
Andre sobered. “Oui.”
Brielle patted his shoulder. “Quickly.”
As her brother sprinted from the room, Brielle moved into action, striding to a side wall and gathering up her bow and quiver full of arrows. “Charlotte, I need you to use a bit of stealth and find Philip. Tell him to come to our chamber posthaste. Have him wait here until I return to explain what I need him for. He might be sleeping from his night shift but tell him it’s important.”
He hated standing like a sluggard while Brielle moved from one side of the apartment to the other, gathering weapons and giving instructions. But if he stepped forward, he’d only be in her way.
Instead, he lifted his gaze to Chief Durand and met the man’s eyes. Brielle’s father gave a firm nod, which Evan could only hope meant all was in order and progressing as it should. Too bad he couldn’t pull the fellow aside and ask how much Brielle knew.
No matter. He’d ask Brielle that question when Gerald was safely locked away. Brielle had said he would need to be tried by the council to determine his fate.
At last, Brielle spun and marched toward him and the doorway he was blocking. He reached for the handle and prepared to step aside but didn’t open the door yet.
When she stopped beside him, he murmured, “Where do you plan for us to watch from?”
He had no doubt she had places in mind. Better he know her intentions before they stepped out so he could be a help, not bumble loudly in the darkness.
“I’ll blow out the torch across from our door. Then we can tuck inside each of these last two doorways. There will be enough darkness Hugo shouldn’t spot us unless we make noise.” She was near enough he could hear her exhale when she finished speaking, and his body longed to close the tiny gap between them and wrap his arm around her. But this wasn’t the time, nor the audience to take such an action in front of. Later, Lord willing.
Brielle stepped into the hallway first, a good thing, for someone down the corridor greeted her. Audrey, from the sound of the voice. But he couldn’t quite make out the words, muffled as they were, and probably in French.
Brielle responded with a pleasantry also in French, then a few seconds later she opened the door wider and motioned him out.
While he eased the handle shut behind him, she stepped across the hallway and snuffed out the torch. Only their immediate area fell into murky darkness. Two doors down, another torch flickered brightly. The lights seemed to be stationed every two doors. Most people would think the light had simply gone out from the torch burning low, or maybe blown out by a soft breeze. There was certainly enough wind outside that a draft could’ve come in when someone opened the outer door.
In the opposite direction, a torch was mounted at the corner where the short hallway to the exterior door split off to the left. Hugo would come in that door from outside, then turn left at the crossroads, moving away from them on his way to the assembly room.
Brielle motioned for him to stay tucked into her family’s doorframe, and she moved down to the one closest to the corner.
Of course she would put herself at the most risk.
He tightened his grip on his gun and made sure his knife was positioned for easy access. No telling which one he would need if he and Brielle had to step in and halt Hugo’s escape. Aiming the gun at the man should stop him quickly, as long as there was enough light for the youngster to see the weapon.
He worked hard to school his breathing as they waited in silence. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and he could only pray his breaths didn’t sound as loud to anyone else as they did to him. For her part, Brielle was so silent he would have never known she was there.
Only a few minutes passed before the scrape of wood and rush of wind signaled the outer door being opened.
He froze, straining to hear every sound. A voice murmured from that direction, then a shuffling footstep echoed down the hall.
As the sounds drew closer, he could make out two sets of footsteps. The shuffle might belong to Hugo, and the crisper tread sounded like Andre’s.
He flicked his gaze to the place where Brielle was hiding. He couldn’t even make out her outline in the darkness. Had she realized her brother would accompany the man? Did she worry he would be caught in whatever ruckus ensued? Even with four armed guards—counting himself—they couldn’t know for sure Andre would be safe.
He gripped his gun tighter. He would have to make sure nothing happened, both for Andre’s safety and for Brielle’s.
Soon enough, two figures came into view. For about two seconds, he could see both outlines before they turned the opposite corner and faded into darkness again. Hugo was only a head taller than twelve-year-old Andre, and not much stouter. Surely the barely grown man couldn’t put up much of a fight.
Down the hallway, Andre’s voice drifted to them as he told Hugo in French that everyone else was likely already in the assembly room.
The swishing sound must be the door opening, then closing.
Evan prepared his body to sprint forward but held every part of himself still so he could hear the first sounds of alarm.
Andre’s footsteps coming toward them were the only sound through the corridor. “I think he believed me, Brielle.” The lad’s whisper could probably be heard all the way down to the storage room, and Evan had to fight both a cringe and a chuckle.
Brielle’s silhouette appeared against the light filtering around the corner as she stepped from her hiding place.
Evan did the same.
“Go to our chamber. Wait there.” Brielle’s voice barely carried loud enough for Evan to hear, especially since she was already striding toward her brother and the assembly room.
Evan pushed forward to catch up to her but had to step out of Andre’s way so the lad didn’t run into him in the dark.
Outside the double doors, Brielle pressed her ear to the crack between them. Evan held his breath so she could hear better.
The murmur of deep voices drifted from inside, but not loud enough to make out distinct sounds.
Brielle whispered, “It doesn’t sound like he’s struggling.”
A thread of relief stole over Evan. Maybe they could take both men into custody without trouble. Then he would only need to ensure Gerald’s punishment would stop him from ever being a threat to Brielle again. That might be harder to accomplish than the capture.
Brielle pulled open the door and slipped inside before Evan could request to go first.
So, he followed her. Just following this woman kept him on his toes.
Leonard and Wesley had Hugo lying facedown on the floor, with one man on either side of him. It looked like Wesley was tying Hugo’s wrists.
Leonard stood as Brielle approached. “He’s ready to go to the holding room.”
“He gave you no trouble?” Brielle spoke English, but in a low voice.
“I’ve done nothing wrong.” With his cheek pressed against the stone floor, Hugo’s lazy French was a challenge to decipher.
“That will be up to the council to determine.” Brielle’s French was much crisper. She stepped back and motioned for the men to lift Hugo and lead him toward the door.
As the group passed by Evan, Hugo shot him a curious gaze. “What’s he doing out?”
No one answered, and they moved into the hallway. Evan fell into step beside Brielle as they followed the prisoner and the other two guards. Thankfully, no one else entered the corridor during the walk to the cell at the far end. The fewer people who knew what was happening, the better.