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Anything to survive. Ailene knew what he meant. Sacrifice some part of her body to get a killing blow in. Blackthorne had never been in battle. Would he take the bait as she had? She started advancing, looking for anything.

"It's too bad you released her Stuart," Blackthorne shouted. "She's too good to disarm. I shall have to kill her. Instead of getting her back a little soiled, you won't get her back at all."

We'll see about that, you prick, Ailene thought. She engaged him in an extended attack, trying to get him to trip over the candle stand she'd thrown down before, but he shifted sideways so he didn't have to step over it. She paused, showing her disappointment at failing to trick him and he saw a small opening as she stopped, panting, aware she was beaten. He lunged, aiming for her left breast, a most tempting target. Suddenly her arm was there and instead of penetrating her lung, his rapier went into her arm. Before he could withdraw his sword, hers went into his throat.

"Bite on that, you fucking monster."

"You cheated," he gasped, blood flowing into his mouth.

"No, I survived. You didn't." She stabbed him through the eye to be sure, then again through the heart to be really sure. If he wasn't already three times dead, and she didn't desperately need medical attention, she would have cut off his bollocks. She turned and went to Teárlag. She was hanging in her chains, alive, barely conscious, her body striped by his whip.

"My poor Teárlag, he's dead now. Our tribulations are over. I'm sorry to ask you this, dear Teárlag, but you have to bandage my arm before I bleed to death. It requires you to move, no matter how painful. Where's the key to your manacles?"

"Probably in his waistcoat pocket. It's where he normally kept it when he chained me."

Ailene looked and found a key. She couldn't resist kicking his body again as she stood up. Ailene went to the manacles and released Tearlag's legs first so she'd be able to stand when her arms were freed. Teárlag nearly crumpled to the ground when her first arm was released, clinging to Ailene's neck to keep from falling. Ailene released the other arm and lowered her to the floor. She picked up her ruined dress and handed it to Teárlag.

"Tear off a couple long strips about four inches wide. You'll need to tie them around my wound. Tie it tight. We need to slow the bleeding."

She waited patiently for Teárlag to comply, slow to move, suffering a great deal of pain. When her arm was bandaged, she went to the crack in the door and put the fingers of her hand through.

"Hello, Stuart. Wonderful shot, my love. I love you. I love all of you."

Stuart was crying and kissing her fingers. "I thought I'd lost you, dear heart. I was dying inside."

"You saved me though. I knew you'd find some way to do it."

"Ailene," Thorburn said, "I'm in awe of you."

"As I am of you. If you could see the pile of dirt on this side of the door, you'd know how amazing it was you moved it even so much as an inch. Speaking of the dirt. It's going to take awhile to remove it. I've only got one wing and Teárlag can barely move."

"Make sure the dungeon door is locked so no one can enter and just move the dirt next to the door so Frang can slip through. He's the thinnest and he won't need much room to get in. He can take over moving the dirt as soon as he gets in."

"Aye."

Ailene found a way to bar the door on the inside. Apparently Blackthorne liked his privacy when he was here. She found a shovel next to the pile and struggled to move enough of the pile for Frang. It was mostly with her right hand, with the left unable to do more than guide the shovel. She couldn't lift with it at all. After about a half hour, Teárlag was able to stand and came to help. The work went faster, though it was still an hour before Frang squeezed through. When he got hold of the shovel, he quickly cleared enough for Stuart and Thorburn to get through.

"Excuse us, your Lordship, but our women are naked and we'd appreciate it if you remained in the tunnel for now," Thorburn said.

"Aye, I understand."

"Are you okay, Teárlag?" Thorburn said.

"Better now he's dead. It's the last time he'll ever hurt me."

"It was a brave thing you did, lass. I can't say how much I appreciate what you did to save Ailene," Thorburn said. "I'm in your debt."

"We're in your debt," Stuart said. "I'll give you anything you desire except for my wife."

Teárlag put her hand on his cheek. "You're welcome."

"Can you put on your dress, Ailene?" Stuart asked.

"Blackthorne cut it off, dear. The remnants are holding my arm together."

"Teárlag, can you wear yours?" Thorburn said.

"If anything were to touch my skin now, I'd scream. Let Ailene wear it if she can. Enough people have seen me naked lately, I've learned not to be much embarrassed by it. Can we set fire to this place? I never want to see it again."

"Some stuff might burn, but we'd need oil. It might help our men outside if we could start a fire here," Frang said, "but I don't see lamp oil, only candles."

"Put the rest of Ailene's clothes on the wooden rack, set fire to them, maybe the fire will grow," Stuart said.

While Frang worked on the fire, Ailene put on Teárlag's dress. Given their relative sizes, it was tight and because she left off the under shift, leaving it for Teárlag to wear later as her pain lessened, she felt improperly exposed. She knew the Magistrate was in the tunnel, but at least she had something on; Teárlag had nothing. She handed the shift to Thorburn, letting him carry it for when Teárlag might abide something touching her skin.

"Stuart, we'll kill anyone tries to stop us. We no longer have to hide our presence. Be ready to let fly should any oppose us. God help them if they try. We'll go out the front door so watch the house across the street."

"Aye, dead it is."

"When we leave the house, Frang, look left and protect our flank, Ailene, watch the right," Thorburn ordered. "If you would assist Teárlag, your Lordship, I'd be in your debt."

They traveled down the tunnel, and up the stairs. They came out, but didn't bother replacing the cabinet and hiding the tunnel. Before he opened the door to the street, Thorburn said, "Weapons ready."

They went out the door, Thorburn and Stuart looking ahead to where the sentinels were stationed, Frang left and Ailene right. The magistrate helped Teárlag as much as he could, mostly by supporting her on his arm. An alarm bell rang and a man came out the door. Stuart launched an arrow and drew again. The man collapsed in the doorway. A second backed away, holding his hand up and away from his sword.

"Your Master is dead. Unless you want to follow," Stuart said, "you'd best head for distant parts. The King's Magistrate has seen what Blackthorne's done here and I expect most of you will find your way to a noose if you remain."

He nodded, backed slowly away, headed for the Manor. There didn't seem to be any response to the alarm bell. Perhaps the responders were too busy, still under attack by Bjarkë and the men of the Keep.

"Frang, keep your eye on that copse of trees to the south. Guards were stationed there during the day. Stuart keep your eye out for the men watching from the ridge to the north of where we hid."

"Aye."

"Your Lordship. I'd appreciate it if you could keep your eyes off my future wife's nakedness. I know it's hard, but try to resist a little."

Lancaster guiltily looked at the ground.

"Thorburn! Your wife?" Teárlag exclaimed.

"I can't let a courageous lass like you get away. It would be foolish and my father didn't raise foolish children. Why didn't you tell me you carried my child?"

"I didn't want you obligated, my Lord. If I carried even a wee piece of you away, I'd be happy. I do not want you marrying me for sake of the child. It was my choice to risk it. I'll only marry you if you love me."

"I didn't realize how much I loved you until I thought I was losing you. It's how I had the strength to move the door."

"You can forgive my sins, Thorburn?"

"You nearly sacrificed your life for us, Teárlag. What kind of man would I be if I couldn't."

"Oh, Thorburn, my love. I'd hug you if I could," Teárlag said, crying.