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17. Maureen & David

A dowdy nurse of the earl's daughter escorted Bryan to a locked room in the keep tower of the earldom. "You'll be able to talk to the dears through the serving peep, sir."

"What!" Bryan blurted angrily, "This is an outrage! No one here has seen fit to free them?"

She shook her head and looked up with confusion in her eyes. "Oh, no, sir, no one dares defy the orders of the fierce Baron Bennet!"

"Bennet!" he cried as though it still had not sunk in. When Gregory had told him that he suspected Bennet's treachery, Bryan was skeptical until he crossed the border and saw the Baron's coat of arms on many of the dead. " 'Swounds, what sort of sorceress is this that can turn the finest into monsters!" he wailed.

"Ah, then, you too can taste the foul witch's deadly brew!" The nurse said, then called through the peep of the heavy oak door, "My dearies, are you there?"

"Obviously!" answered an angry youthful voice. The young Earl came to the aperture. "You will pay dearly for this betrayal, nurse!"

 "Oh, my kind young master, find it in your heart to forgive a fearful old woman," she sputtered remorsefully. "Still, I'd rather your gentler justice than the ferocious stroke of the baron's blade."

The young earl frowned at Bryan. "And who are you?—one of Bennet's treacherous dogs?"

"Nay, from the honorable legion of Lord Lance."

The young man gripped the serving sill, smiled and yelped, "Glory be to God!"

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