Maira rushed to the kitchen with Ricker in her arms, happy to find Cleo and all of the servants waiting for her. Most of them had items in their hands that could be used as weapons, whether it be a broom, a poker from the fire, or even just pots and pans.

“I’ve rounded up the servants and we’re all here to help Jacob,” Cleo announced.

“Good, because he dismissed his army and he’ll have no other help,” said Maira feeling horrible now. “Cleo, it’s my fault he has no army and that he is probably going to die trying to protect me.”

“He’s not going to die,” said Cleo in a firm and scolding voice. “Maira, you need to stay strong.”

“But I can’t fight as good as a man. I don’t have the physical strength. I know that now.”

“Then look inside yourself and find strength there instead. You are a Follower of the Secret Heart, Maira. Do I have to remind you of that?”

“Nay, I know. But I don’t know what to do.”

“The queen had faith that one day you would do wondrous things. She had faith in you and now you need to have faith in yourself. Don’t let her down. Don’t let any of us down. We are all counting on you. Especially Jacob, whether he admits it or not.”

“You’re right,” said Maira with a determined nod. “Now, the first thing I need to do is to save Morag and Branton.”

“There you go,” said Cleo just as the secret door opened and out ran Alf and Tommy, along with the Bishop of Durham.

“What’s going on?” asked the very confused bishop.

“Bishop,” said Maira. “The High Sheriff wants you dead and he is planning on framing Jacob just like he did three years ago with the death of the Bishop of Somerset.”

“Oh, I see,” said the bishop. “What can I do to help?”

“Cleo,” said Maira. “Go with Tommy, Alf and the bishop. Take Ricker as well and get to the stable. Get in a wagon and ride out of here as fast as you can.”

“But what about you?” asked Cleo.

“I’m staying to help my friends as well as to help Jacob.”

“I’ll do what you say but I don’t like the idea of leaving you behind.”

“It’s more important that you protect the bishop and the children,” said Maira. “Take the tunnels and you should be able to sneak out to the stable. I will go out to the courtyard and try to make a distraction.”

“Be careful, Maira,” warned Cleo. “We would hate to lose you. You’re the best thing this castle has ever had and I’d like to see that continue.”

“With any luck, you’ll see not only me but also Jacob bringing Durham Castle back to what it used to be.”

Maira first made her way up the battlements, knowing she could use the help of Branton since he was good with a blade. She hid in the shadows and waited until there was only one guard standing with Branton, getting ready for the High Sheriff’s word to throw the boy off the battlements. Then when the guard walked over to take a piss over the side wall, she snuck up behind Branton.

He saw her and turned his head. She put a finger to her lips to warn him to be quiet. Then she used her blade to cut the ropes that bound his hands and feet. Branton quickly took the noose off from over his head.

The guard looked over his shoulder, and Branton rushed him, knocking him over the wall into the moat and taking his sword that was resting against the wall.

“Good work,” said Maira.

Branton’s eyes opened wide. “Look out behind you.”

Maira turned to see another guard with his sword raised, about to plunge it into her back. Branton knocked her down and jumped over her and thrust his sword into the man’s chest. The guard fell over the battlements into the courtyard.

“You killed a man to save me,” said Maira in shock, not expecting this at all.

“I know. It’s the first man I’ve actually killed and I’d do it again if I had to in order to save someone who means so much to me,” Branton told her.

“Then you might get your chance. There is a guard holding Morag in the courtyard. We need to save her next.”

“Let’s go,” said Branton, leading the way.

When the guard fell from the battlements into the courtyard, it caused the distraction needed. Maira saw Cleo driving the wagon over the drawbridge with the bishop holding Ricker in the back. Tommy and Alf rode out of the stable on horses and headed toward her.

“Morag,” said Maira as they approached her. Branton fought with the guard while Maira cut her ropes.

“Maira, I’m so frightened. We’re all goin’ to die,” cried Morag.

“Nay, you won’t. Be strong, Morag.”

“Maira, we’ve got horses,” called out Alf as the boys approached. “Get on, quickly.”

Maira helped Morag atop the horse with Alf, but she did not join them. “Branton, go with them to protect them,” said Maira.

“Nay, I won’t leave you,” protested the boy, taking down another man. Branton was proving to be a loyal warrior.

“Do it. It is an order,” she shouted. “I need someone who can protect them and it has to be you.”

“What about you, Maira?” asked Branton. “Who will protect you?”

“I’ll take to the tunnels and go back to help Jacob. Now please, I don’t want to have to worry about Morag and the boys.”

“I’ll protect them, Maira. You can count on me.” Branton jumped atop the horse with Tommy and they all managed to leave the castle just as the High Sheriff came out of the keep. Behind him was Delbert holding a blade to Jacob’s throat. Jacob was bruised and bleeding and could barely stand.

“Jacob!” cried Maira, rushing toward him with her sword drawn.

“Take a step closer and I’ll kill him,” shouted Delbert. Maira noticed Jacob’s hands were tied behind him and that he could barely walk. By the angle of one of his legs it almost looked as if it were broken.

“Nay, don’t hurt him,” she begged. “Please.”

“Fight me, wench,” said the High Sheriff. “It turns me on.”

“What?” she asked, backing away as he drew his sword.

“Leave her alone, it’s me you want,” Jacob shouted.

“Nay,” snarled the High Sheriff. “You’ll watch us fight and then you’ll witness me taking the wench right here in the courtyard in front of everyone. That will prove she is my wife and not yours.”

“You bastard!” Jacob broke away from Delbert but as soon as he did, Delbert hit him over the head with the hilt of his sword. Jacob fell to the ground, shaking his head as if he were dazed.

“Don’t kill him yet, you fool. I want him to suffer first,” snapped the High Sheriff.

Maira had no choice but to fight with the High Sheriff. He toyed with her at first, and then started coming after her with his blade with a vengeance.

She fought her best, but the man was crazed and, soon, her sword was flung from her hand and he pushed her to the ground.

“Now, it’s time for a little fun,” said the High Sheriff, untying his breeches and straddling her. Maira fought against him but he held her down with his body and one beefy hand.

“Leave her alone,” screamed Jacob.

Maira heard the snap of ropes and a scuffle and then the sound of a body hitting the ground. Jacob somehow manage to kill Delbert and pick up his sword. He charged the High Sheriff, limping on his hurt leg.

“Get him, you fools,” shouted the High Sheriff, sending a dozen guards toward Jacob. “Kill him.”

“Nay,” Maira cried, digging her nails into the man, but his arms were covered in leather and it didn’t do much to deter him.

Just when Maira thought it was the end for her and Jacob, she heard shouting and looked over to see the servants of the castle run out of the keep. They started fighting with their makeshift weapons.

The next sound came from the front gate.

“Charge,” came a shout that sounded like Will. He rode through the gates with the villagers following. They all had their weapons and burst into the courtyard fighting against Sir Gregory’s soldiers. She even saw Jacob’s brother, Father Frank, with a rake in his hand.

Maira’s heart soared. Jacob’s army, as well as the servants, had come to his aid. She kneed the High Sheriff in the groin and managed to roll out from under him. She picked up her sword and started to fight with his soldiers to help the villagers.

Jacob managed to break out from the soldiers holding him, trying to ignore the pain of his leg as he picked up a sword in each hand and limped over toward Sir Gregory.

“No one is going to take what is mine,” he growled. “And no one is going to touch my wife and live to tell about it.”

The High Sheriff got up and grabbed his sword but it was too late. Jacob’s vengeance would finally be served. He took the man down and stuck both the swords through the High Sheriff’s heart. Then he looked up and shouted loudly.

“Stop the fighting,” he called out. “The High Sheriff is dead. I won’t have the deaths of innocent people on my head. Those knights and soldiers who will pay allegiance to me, drop your swords and get down on one knee. For those who still follow Sir Gregory, I will give you one minute to get the hell out of here and never return.”

There were some men who hightailed it out of the courtyard, but most of the soldiers vowed to honor Jacob and got down on one knee.

“Jacob!” Maira dropped her sword and ran to him. He gathered her in his arms and kissed her over and over again.

“Maira, I don’t ever want anything to come between us again.”

“And neither will it,” she said.

“Where is my son?” Jacob scanned the courtyard.

“There’s the boy,” someone yelled. He turned to see Cleo driving a horse and wagon into the courtyard. The Bishop of Durham was in the back with Ricker cradled safely on his lap. Behind them rode Alf and Morag and Branton and Tommy. They all came to join him.

“Ricker,” shouted Jacob, reaching over and taking the boy from the bishop. “Come here, Son.” He held the little boy to his chest and kissed him, keeping one arm around Maira at the same time. He was never going to let go of what was his again.

“Someone else approaches,” shouted one of the soldiers.

“Maira, I think it’s your father if I’m not mistaken,” Jacob told her.

Maira looked up to see her father riding through the gate with a small army of men.

“Father,” she cried, running to him.

Rowen, her father, dismounted and gathered her into his arms.

“Maira, I’m sorry I sent you here. As soon as I realized it was a mistake, I came right away. I only hope I’m not too late.”

“Father, the High Sheriff was a horrible man and framed Sir Jacob for killing a bishop three years ago.”

“Sir Jacob?”

“Father, I’d like you to meet Sir Jacob Quincey. My husband.”

“Your . . . husband?” Rowen cocked his head and studied Jacob. “I don’t understand.”

“We’re married,” Maira told him. “Jacob is the man I chose to wed.”

“All right.” Rowen nodded, looking at the dead bodies of the High Sheriff, Delbert, and about a dozen others. “What the hell happened here?”

“My lord, if I may,” said Jacob, holding on to Ricker, limping over to them. “I would like to explain everything to you. But first I want to say I am in love with your daughter, Maira, and would like your permission to marry her.”

“But I thought you were already married,” said Rowen.

“We are, but I would like your blessing.”

“This is the man you want as your husband, Maira?” asked Rowen.

“He is, Father. I love him.”

“But hasn’t he been excommunicated not to mention stripped of his title if I’m not mistaken?”

“It was all a mistake,” said Jacob.

“I can vouch for that,” said the Bishop of Durham getting out of the cart. “The High Sheriff tried to kill me and Sir Jacob saved my life. Sir Gregory was also responsible for killing the Bishop of Somerset. I will personally talk to the pope and make sure that Jacob’s excommunication is reversed and that his title is restored.”

“Would you really do that for me?” asked Jacob with a large smile.

“I’ve seen some remarkable things here today,” said the bishop. “If all these villagers as well as the servants, including women and children, would risk their lives to come to your aid, then I am sure you will be not only Lord of Durham, but you will be granted the title of High Sheriff as well.”

“I would like that,” said Jacob softly, pulling Maira to him and kissing her atop the head.

“Dada, I like, too,” said Ricker, making everyone laugh.