Brant considered his friend's question carefully, before answering truthfully. That he was finding his home to be lonely, and empty. He was frustrated, that there was no word about Esme, despite the large number of people who were looking for leads.
"As for Cora, well she just seems so obscene, after Alisa," Brant replied.
"Who is this Alisa?" Robert asked, recalling Brant had looked for her, at Isabel's Castle.
"While I was being held prisoner, I was frequently visited by a young serf. She kept me from going totally mad. I grew quite fond of her, but when I was released, someone, probably Isabel, had made the girl disappear," Brant said.
"Someone gave you a serf, for your amusement, while you were being held prisoner, by your wife?" Robert questioned, incredulously. "That does not seem like, something Isabel would do. I can ask Richard, if he knows anything about the girl, if you want me to."
"That would likely to be a waste of time," Brant said, dismissing the offer. "She was just a serf, but very different from Cora. More importantly, I can find no trace of Esme. I do not know where she is, who may have her, or even if she is still alive. That is what troubles me most. There has been no demand for anything, in exchange for her return."
Brant did not say that both situations, Esme and Alisa, were a constant reminder of the deep sense of gloom, and helplessness, that had plagued him, during his many days of captivity. He was a knight who had faced death many times without fear, yet, he had known fear, while being held, isolated in that damned cell. His life had been totally in someone else's control. They could have held him indefinitely, until he went stark raving mad.
"Well, you can not allow yourself to give up hope, Brant," Robert said. "There is still reason to think, someone may have her, as long as she has not been found dead. In the mean time, come, can't you try to enjoy the distraction of some company?"
Brant nodded in the affirmative, before the two rejoined the others.
Robert and Kate, had been there for several days, when a messenger arrived, with word from those watching Peggy. The Lady had been observed going to the postern gate, in the middle of the night, where she had met a man. The lookout nearby, believed he had heard the Lady saying, “Tell him he had better come to see me. I want to see my daughter, or I am going to tell Brant”.
Brant determined that he would be riding back with the messenger, to wait for ‘him’, to show up. Although, the early winter weather was not all that inviting, it was a relief, to finally, have some lead on Esme. He was not going to take any chance that this lead might get away. Could he finally, be close to finding his younger sister?
Robert insisted on going along, and with Brant’s mood somewhat lightened, he teased, “You would think with the new bride, you could find better things to do, than sit outside in the cold, waiting to hopefully catch a rat, Robert.”
“You would think, but the bride is with child, and suffering an inclination to wretch at will,” Robert replied, with a laugh.
Brant joined in with his friend's laughter, as the two men left the hall, to get their destries saddled for the ride.
Brant and Robert, had been biding their time, for nearly two days, waiting for any sign of Peggy’s mystery man, in a wooded area, from which they could see the postern door. There were men inside the Castle, who were loyal to Brant, also. He paid their wages, as Peggy could not be bothered, with managing her own property. The weather was quite unpleasant, however getting any information about Esme, was worth the discomfort to Brant. Robert was equally determined to wait this out, because he felt somewhat responsible, for the girl’s plight. Brant might not have allowed Esme to go to her mother's, if he had been at home, rather than a prisoner.
It was quite late at night, when the faint sound of muffled huff beats, alerted them to the approach of two men, who were walking their horses. Near the edge of the woods, one man handed his mount’s reigns to the other, before moving forward, toward the fortress wall. Brant signaled to a couple of the men with him, to move around behind the lone figure, with the horses. The others remained out of sight, until he was quietly, subdued. By that time, the postern gate was opened, and the other man had slipped inside.
Brant, Robert, and their men, ran toward the gate, to block the culprit inside. They had covered most of the approximately two hundred feet, when torches flared inside the castle wall. The mystery man pulled the gate open, to attempt an escape, but seeing his path blocked, he retreated back inside. Drawing his sword, Brant followed him in, cornering him inside the curtain wall.
In the well lighted inner bailey, Brant easily recognized Avery.
“You betrayed me to him,” Avery angrily accused Peggy.
“Nay I did not. I would not. I love you. I just wanted to see my daughter," Peggy shouted.
"He is here, waiting for me. You helped him trap me, you witch," Avery shouted back.
"You promised if I helped you, you would kill him. There he is, kill him,” Peggy yelled, giving Avery a small push toward Brant.
“Shut-up, you stupid slut,” Avery shouted, outraged by her damning comments. "You disgust me."
"I have done everything I could to help you. Where is Esme? You promised you would keep her safe. What have you done with her?" Peggy yelled, in rising hysteria.
“Shut up! I say,” Avery yelled back.
In desperation, to stop her from divulging all she had done to aid him, Avery slashed at her with his drawn sword, cutting a long gash in her neck. The men surrounding them stood frozen in shock, watching as Peggy slowly crumbled to the ground, with blood gushing from the mortal wound.
While the others around him, stood transfixed in horror as Peggy drew her last rasping breaths, Avery turned his rage toward Brant. He swung his sword wildly, as he advanced on his enemy. All the while, continuing his tirade, now aimed Brant.
“She was supposed to be loyal to me, and to help me kill you,” Avery shouted.
With that, he took an enraged hack at Brant’s head, which was easily deflected. There was no way out of this, Avery knew. He would either be killed, or imprisoned. But it would be satisfying, to take his enemy to the grave, with him.
"He was supposed to be on my side, and help me best you," Avery yelled, continuing his verbal assault. “He double-crossed me, and took your damned sister."
In his anger, Avery was leaving himself exposed to Brant’s sword. He could easily have eliminated his enemy. However, he wanted information out of the man. Avery lowered his sword to hack at Brant’s leg. Brant quickly blocked the swing.
“Who took her from you?” Brant asked his furious opponent.
“He told me he sent your sister home to you,” Avery replied, with a bitter laugh. “It looks like he crossed you, too.”
In the background, a child began screaming “mama”, as she tried to run to her mother’s lifeless body.
Avery laughed, in disgust, “Peggy always wanted me to claim that little bastard.”
The disclosure that he was Hannah’s sire was telling for Brant. He always suspected that Peggy was involved in the ambush on his father. He had been certain that Avery or his sire, actually perpetrated the crime. Now Brant knew his suspicions were correct.
Avery took several more incautious hacks at Brant, leaving his torso exposed. He was trying to merely defend, against Avery's aggression, to keep him talking. However, after a few minutes, Brant noticed that Avery seemed to be calming down. He was becoming more focused, on trying to do injury to his opponent. Brant was forced to swing his sword in offense, attempting to injure his angry enemy.