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“On the contrary, you are the one who won’t get away with your deceitful ways.”
Maira ran over and picked up the High Sheriff’s dagger. “I’m going to help you, Jacob. You’re not alone.”
“Nay!” shouted Jacob. “Take your sword and Ricker and get out of here. Now!” He took her sword from his waist belt and threw it on the bed. She rushed over to retrieve it, putting it in the sheath attached to her back. Then she went over and got Ricker from the cage, holding him to her chest.
“Kill him, Jacob,” she said. “I’ll go out to the courtyard and see how your army is faring.”
“Nay, Maira, there is no army.”
“What did you say?” This startled her to hear this. She was counting on the villagers to help Jacob fight off the High Sheriff’s men. Jacob fought wildly against the High Sheriff as they moved around the room.
“You were right. I was only thinking of myself,” Jacob admitted. “I couldn’t let the villagers lose their lives for me. I let them go.”
“Nay!” shouted Maira, sorry now that she had ever put the idea into his head.
“No army?” The High Sheriff laughed heartily. “This will be easier than I thought.”
“Get the hell out of here and protect my son,” Jacob told her.
“Aye, Jacob. I’ll protect your son with my life.” She ran to the door as the two men continued to fight. But she stopped on the threshold when Jacob called out to her.
“Maira.”
“Aye, Jacob?” Holding Ricker tightly, she looked back over her shoulder at her husband.
“I want you to remember that whatever happens, I love you and always will.”
“I love you, too,” she told him, feeling the emotion welling up in her chest. She meant it. She was sure of it now, and she was sad that she had not told him sooner.
“Dada,” Ricker called out, about breaking Maira’s heart. She rushed out the door, pulling her sword from the sheath to protect Jacob’s son, and didn’t look back.
Jacob foughtwith the High Sheriff, and might have been able to kill him hadn’t three of his guards run into the room through the open door. One of them was his seedy sidekick, Delbert, holding on to the Bishop of Durham.
“My lord,” said Delbert. “You found Jacob.”
“Aye,” said the High Sheriff. “Get the bishop in here. We’ve got work to do.”
“You’ll not hurt the man,” snapped Jacob.
“Oh, I’m not the one hurting him, but when we are done you will look like the one who killed him.”
Jacob was at a disadvantage. He was wondering how he was going to fight off four men and save the bishop when he heard a sliding noise behind Sir Gregory. Glancing over the man’s shoulder he saw Alf and Tommy in the secret passageway waving their arms. He quickly made his way over to the bishop, grabbed him and pushed him into the passageway, closing the door and standing in front of it with his sword raised high.
“You’ll die for that,” bellowed Delbert, taking a step toward him.
“Wait,” said the High Sheriff. “I have a better idea.”
