The further he went, the more of a picture that Malachi was beginning to build of what had happened. Several men, heavy set and strong, from their bootprints, had intercepted Valaria and Roe. They had changed direction abruptly, heading up into the hills together, on foot.
There had been little attempt at disguising their path and Malachi was glad of this; the emphasis seemed to be on speed rather than any form of stealth. They were confident men, sure of themselves and their positions. Soldiers after a recent victory perhaps. Malachi thought of the grave that they had found and he grimaced, some victory.
There was only one point where he was not sure where they had gone; the ground had grown rocky on this section, without the soft mud that had made tracking them so easy. He dismounted, looking this way and that for signs of their path.
He frowned, staring into the undergrowth. Was that something catching the moonlight? He bent down and looked closer, finding a small silver ring. Malachi slid it into his pocket and then returned to his horse, glad of a clear direction.
He could smell the fire from the farmhouse's chimney long before the building came into view. Malachi dismounted at a safe distance and tethered his horse before venturing further.
He watched the house for a long time, noting the path that the guards made as they patrolled. Waiting until one of them neared, out of sight of the other guard, Malachi struck, smothering his cries as he pulled him back into the shadows by the barn.
"You found a man and a woman earlier, where are they?" He spoke quietly into the man's ear, holding him with a vice like grip.
Clearly, the guard did not understand his French, so he repeated it in Spanish.
"The Frenchman was taken for questioning."
"Then you should pray that he still lives." Malachi hissed, tightening his hold.
"He does, I swear it, He's inside."
"Where?"
"Ground floor. Room next to the kitchen."
"And the woman?"
"She wasnt harmed. She's in the attic room. Please, sir, let me go. I can show you, I..."
Malachi silenced him abruptly, snapping his neck. He dragged the man's body to the undergrowth behind the barn and approached the house.
Moving silently, Malachi entered the house using a small side door, finding himself in the kitchen, although what would normally have been a warm and inviting environment was now cold and dead. Malachi paused, hearing the sounds of someone pacing the corridors, yet the moment he heard them disappear, he carried on. Standing outside the door that the guard had mentioned, Malachi could hear the sound of ragged breathing within.
He found Roe stretched out on a table, shackled tightly. He had been beaten badly and was bleeding from a number of small wounds, calculated to cause pain rather than to cause too much damage.
"Etienne." Malachi whispered as he reached up to unlock his shackles. The scout groaned, his eyes fluttering open.
"Mr Crane... I'm sorry, I couldn't stop them. I..."
"Hush." Malachi shook his head, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "I'll find her. Come now, lets get you out."
Malachi supported Roe, carrying him out of the house, once he was sure that they were not in danger of being seen by any of the surviving guards. He left him in the trees, out of sight, hopefully, with promises of his return.
He had no idea how long he had to work, but it seemed that the easiest way of reaching her without being spotted was to climb. He stopped outside the single attic window and knocked lightly, not wanting to cause any panic by startling her.
