The Innocent

man may see she is unscathed.'

Gwyll moved quickly off.

'What suggestion does your master have for a meeting place?' the lord of Gwynfr asked.

'He offers you two choices, and if they do not suit, he will accept your choice, my lord. Just over the English side of the border are the ruins of an old hall. We call it Briarmere. Or we could meet atop the verge, on the border itself,' Sim said.

Merin ap Owen thought for several minutes on the selection. He knew Briarmere well. The ruined stone hall was a place from which an ambush could easily be set. He had himself attacked hapless prey from there. If he could get there first… on the other hand, if the lord of Ashlin got there first… no. This time Briarmere would not suit. On the other hand, atop the verge was an excellent site. Out in the open there was no place for anyone to lay in wait. He smiled. Ranulf de Glandeville had thought the same thing, else he would not have offered so obvious a choice. 'The verge, in ten days' time,' he said.

'Agreed,' Sim responded. 'I will bring the gold, and you will bring my lady in exchange.'

'Nay. You will bring the gold, and then you will wait until the gold has been brought back to me. I must ascertain that your master has been honest, and not filled the ransom bags with small stones topped by gold pieces. When the gold is all in my hands and counted out, then the lady will be brought to you. I will bring her myself to be certain she is delivered safely into your hands. The verge is but a few hours' ride from Gwynfr.'

Sim’s instinct was to protest the method of exchange, but he knew he had not the authority, nor did he have any real choice in the matter. Merin ap Owen was absolutely in charge.

'In ten days' time my courier will be awaiting you' came the reply. 'There will be no one with him. He will be alone as must you.'

Sim nodded.

'Sim!'

He turned, and saw the lady Eleanore had entered the hall. 'My lady!' He bowed to her, but she took his hand and asked, 'How are all at Ashlin? My husband, old Ida, Fulk, Willa, and Simon?'

'They are all well, lady, and eager for your return home,' he told her. She looked well, if pale, and perhaps a bit drawn.

'How long?' she said.

'I shall bring the ransom in ten days' time, my lady, and then once the lord Merin has satisfied himself that all is right, you will be brought to me, and I will escort you home.'

Elf nodded. Then she sighed. 'The end seems so much longer,' she said, 'now that I know the end.'

'As you see, your lady is in good condition,' Merin ap Owen said. 'Now, go, and tell your master so you may return quickly with the ransom.'

'Aye, my lord, I will,' Sim replied, bowing. Then he quickly left the hall.

'So,' Isleen sneered, 'your husband was willing to give up what small wealth Ashlin had for your return. He must be in love, but he will not think so highly of you come next winter when you all starve.'

'We will not starve, Isleen, although I will admit with our livestock gone, it will be harder for us; but God will provide,' Elf responded. 'I cannot help but wonder where you will be next winter.'

'What does that mean?' Isleen snapped, her blue eyes blazing.

'I have not the experience, of course, but it does seem lord Merin might be growing bored with you. After all, what can you offer him that other women cannot?' Elf smiled tauntingly. What was it about Isleen that brought out the worst in her?

Isleen flew at Elf, her claws bared, but Merin ap Owen jumped between the two women, laughing.

'You hitch!' Isleen hissed.

'Whore!' Elf returned angrily. 'Do you expect me ever to forget my brother, and what you did to him?'

'Had you cured Richard, you should be drying up in your convent now, a perfect fate for you!' Isleen shouted. 'Instead you gained a husband who obviously loves you and a fine estate.'

'But you murdered Dickon!' Elf shouted back.

'Aye, I did,' Isleen said with devastating frankness. 'He was a boring man who expected me to be his servant. He had no real manners, or delicacy of refinement in our bed. Not at first, but I will tell you that I soon grew to hate your brother! I enjoyed seeing him suffer! I was glad when he finally breathed his last!'

'God forgives you, I know,' Elf said, 'but I do not think I can, though it be a black mark on my immortal soul. You are the most evil creature I have ever met, Isleen. God help you.'

'Save your pity!' Isleen snapped. 'I do not need it. Pity yourself, for I will have succeeded in destroying Ashlin when that ransom is delivered. What will you go back to, sister? A ruin, and a host of hungry, whining serfs!' Then she laughed.

'I will go back to a husband who loves me, Isleen,' Elf said, knowing that she spoke the truth. 'Our love will survive even your wickedness, and Ashlin will survive because we will rebuild it together. I should rather be poor and in want with Ranulf, than be the whore that you have become, have always been!' She shook off Merin ap Owen’s restraining hand. 'I am not afraid of her, my lord, nor can she harm me.' Then Elf walked proudly from the hall, her head high.

'I want her dead!' Isleen said low through gritted teeth.

'Harm a hair on her head, my pretty bitch,' he replied, 'and I will kill you, but it will not be an easy death. You will suffer as no one has ever suffered before.'

Now it was Isleen who shook him off. 'You are a fool, my lord! You want her. You ache for her. You need to feel her fair white body beneath you to still the burning in your loins, but you will not take her. The ransom is practically yours! You do not mean to return her until it is safely in your hands. Why not have your pleasure, then, of this pale creature that you desire? Who is to know? And can her husband ask for the return of his gold because you have lain with his wife? Do you think she would even choose to tell him what you did to her?'

'You are jealous, my pretty bitch,' he purred at her. 'You think to tempt me into a dishonorable act to wreak your revenge on the lady Eleanore; but I am not a fool, Isleen. I am not like the other men who have passed through your miserable life. I see you for what you are.' His hand stroked her jawline, moving to her throat, his slender fingers tightening just slightly about her neck. 'You cannot entice me to injure the lady’s body… or her soul. You must surely understand by now that I am not a man who can gain pleasure as easily as other men. I need to inflict pain upon my bed partner, Isleen.' His fingers tightened as he bent to brush his lips against hers lightly. Lifting his dark head he saw the fear in her eyes. Merin ap Owen smiled. ' I think we understand each other, do we not?' He looked down into her face, releasing her, noting the marks of his fingers on her white neck. Brushing the skin lightly, he smiled again. 'The lady Eleanore could not bear my passion, Isleen, but you can. You are mine, and I will keep you here with me unless you do something to displease me greatly, in which case I shall not return you to Clud the whoremonger, my pet. I shall give you to my garrison. They will, in a very short and unpleasant time, kill you.'