The three women squealed with delight and hugged each other. Reena fussed over Mary, finding a black velvet robe, though the sleeves too long, for her to wear. Reena saw to freeing her hands, folding the velvet sleeves back several times, then the three gathered around the table to share the morning meal and talk.

“First, we must know you are well,” Reena said. “You looked so very pale yesterday and then Decimus told us of the child you carry.”

“I am fine.”

“Are you sure?” Brigid asked, placing a protective hand on her rounded stomach. “You do not want to take a chance with your or your child’s life.”

Mary rested crossed hands on the table and prayed the choice she was about to make was a wise one. She had no doubt that she could trust the two women; it was that she would be placing them in danger that made her reconsider.

“Your note was clear,” Reena reminded her. “You need help and that is why we are here.”

“The help comes with a steep price. It places you both in extreme danger. I have no right to ask you to take such a risk.”

“We are friends.” Reena said, covering Mary’s hands with her own.

“Brigid, you are with child and I understand if—”

Brigid added her hand to theirs. “You are with child as well, and as Reena said we are friends.”

Mary nodded and spoke before she could change her mind. “I helped two prisoners escape the fortress and was only returning from a day’s walk when you arrived.”

The two women stared at her in shocked silence for a brief moment.

“You took a risk being with child and being Decimus’s wife,” Reena scolded out of concern.

“I risk much more than an escape,” Mary said and looked to each woman.

Reena spoke low. “There is gossip in the fortress about the babe’s father.”

Mary grabbed hold of her goblet of cider and rested back in her chair. “What is being said?”

“That you were with child before reaching the fortress,” Reena confirmed. “Since all knew you arrived on your wedding day, and due to Decimus’s firm belief in Church doctrine on celibacy before marriage, it is thought he is not the father.”

“Decimus will learn of the gossip soon enough,” Brigid said. “What then?”

Mary thought the timing perfect. The gossip would serve her plan well and lead to the conclusion of the ideal solution to her problem, though she required help in implementing it.

It had to be carried out precisely, leaving nothing to chance and making certain that in the end the Dark One had no choice but to follow her plan. Was it fair of her not to give him a choice? But then he was not giving her one. He insisted they could not stay together. She thought otherwise and intended to prove herself right. She had to; she refused to live life without him.

“Mary,” Reena said, drawing her out of her musings. “Decimus will show no mercy if he should discover you helped prisoners escape. And I hate to think of the consequences when he discovers the truth about the child you carry.”

“I have a plan.”

“Will it free you?” Brigid asked hopefully.

“I will need to go away and never return,” Mary said with sadness, knowing she would miss her friends. “There is no other way.”

“We will do what must be done to free you,” Reena said firmly, choking back a tear.

Brigid refilled their goblets with cider. “Does the Dark One know?”

“Aye, the Dark One knows that I carry his child.”

“And what says he?” Reena asked.

“He insists that I go away never to see him again. He claims he must continue with his work here, and that I and his child would be safer far away from him.”

“He saves many lives,” Brigid said, “the numbers too numerous to count.”

“He has sacrificed enough of himself. It is time for him to live,” Mary said, angrily. “There will always be someone who needs saving. He cannot save them all. The people must begin to save themselves.” She sounded selfish and she was, for her husband’s sake. “And he is bound to be caught eventually. Who will free him then?”

“He chose to take that chance,” Reena said. “Can you not convince him that you and the babe need him more?”

“I have tried, but he is stubborn and I fear for his life. You may think me selfish, but I want him with me. I do not ask that he surrender his battle, just that he change how he battles. All good warriors change tactics from time to time. How else does he avoid capture by his enemy?”

“What you are telling us is that the Dark One is not a willing participant in your escape plan, which makes for a more difficult success,” Reena said then grinned. “Though not necessarily a failure.”

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