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fire.

Her steps slowed as she reached the doors. Should anyone catch her leaving, they'd surely try to stop her and most likely rush off to tattle to Balan. She needed to be stealthy. Easing the door open, she peered about, surprised to see that the bailey was completely empty. It seemed everyone was busy elsewhere, and if she were quick, she might slip out of the keep and cross the bailey without drawing attention. The men on the wall were the only worry, but the surcoat she wore over her gown was almost the same brown as the gowns Gatty and her daughters wore. From the wall, they might mistake her for one of Gatty's daughters . .. she hoped.

Smiling to herself, she slipped outside.

"There you are," Balan said as Clement, Cecily, Estrelda and Thibault hurried to join everyone else waiting on the wall.

"We are sorry, my lord," Thibault gasped as the group came to a halt before him. "Lady Murie came below in search of something to eat, and - "

"She is out of bed?" he asked with dismay.

"Aye, but she is just sitting at the trestle table eating the soup Clement made for her," the man rushed to assure him. "But that is why we are late. Clement got the soup and Estrelda fetched her some ale, and then we came out through the kitchen door and had to walk around to the wall the long way." He hesitated, then asked, "We did wonder if you wished her here as well, but - "

"Nay," Balan said, cutting him off. "She is the reason I called you all here."

"She is?" Anselm asked with amazement.

It was Gatty who asked, "Surely you are not thinking that she had anything to do with this latest attempt on your life, my lord?"

"Of course not," Balan snapped. "Why would you think so?"

"Because the last time we had a meeting up here on the wall like this, the two people we left out were the two we thought possible suspects," the woman explained.

"We had a meeting up here before?" Osgoode asked with surprise. Then his eyebrows flew up as he realized he was one of the two who had been left out. "You all thought I was trying to kill Balan?"

"And I," Cecily murmured quietly.

When everyone looked uncomfortable and avoided making eye contact with either the maid or his cousin, Balan said, "It does not matter. And I did not call this meeting to talk about whoever is trying to kill me. This meeting is about my wife. I wanted to talk to you all at once so that I was sure absolutely everyone understood, including the men on the wall."

When they all nodded and peered at him attentively, he said, "I want my wife watched at all times. She is not to be alone for a moment. I want at least two men following her every moment of every day until my attacker is caught. But I also want the rest of you to keep an eye on her. Is that understood?"

There was a moment of silence, and then Anselm cleared his throat. "We understand, my lord, but the killer is after you, not your lady wife. She is perfectly safe."

"She is not perfectly safe," Balan countered. "She was - "

"My lord," Erol tried to interrupt.

"Not now, Erol." Balan scowled and then continued, "She was nearly killed today trying to rescue me. And she was forced to drag me back to the castle on her own and naked after the attempt before that. 'Tis obvious - "

"But my lord," Erol tried again.

"Not now!" Balan snapped. "Where was I? Oh yes, 'tis obvious that so long as I am in danger, my wife is in danger, and I will not have it! I want her watched at all times. I will have her safe. Are there any questions?"

"Aye," Erol said, sounding a bit snappish himself. "Is that not your wife slipping off into the woods alone, while we stand here talking about guarding her?"

Balan stiffened, then whirled to peer over the wall. He saw his wife disappear into the woods. Cursing, he spun away and ran for the stairs.

Chapter Seventeen

Ash-keys and ash leaves were both considered lucky, but the best ash leaf was an even one - which is how Murie found herself up an ash tree when she first heard the sound of hoofbeats. Pausing in her hunt, she glanced down curiously, her eyes widening as her husband charged past on Lightning.

He was