Page 69 of Wolf's Return
“Threelivre. No more.”
Didier released her and the witch hunter dragged her to her feet and propelled her further into the chapel. Constance sought the aumônier, pleading with her eyes.
“Eveque Faucher.” The aumônier chased after them. “I do not think—”
“You know naught of these matters, Touissant. Two different colored eyes is a sign she has the second sight. She is a witch, there is no doubt. Now pay the man.”
The witch hunter pushed her through the door of the sacristy. The aumônier, wringing his hands, did not follow.
Constance’s heartbeat wildly in her chest. “Please, please. I am not a witch. That man lies.”
The witch hunter ignored her, dragging her down a set of stairs.
“He says he is my father. I only met him last eve. When he snatched me from the keep and took me into the forest.”
He opened a door and dragged her into a dark and dank room. “Be that as it may, I know a witch when I see one.”
From a hook on the wall, barely visible in the flickering light from the oil lamps in the corridor, he took a loop of rope and bound her wrists together.
He shoved her to her knees. “Say your prayers, witch. Perhaps God may see fit to forgive your black heart.”
“Please. I am begging you. Please believe me. I am not a witch. Ask Seigneur Gaharet d’Louncrais. He will vouch for me.”
“D’Louncrais?” The witch hunter smiled. “Little witch, you have just sealed your fate.” He turned on his heel and left the room, slamming the door behind him. A scrape of wood and a thunk echoed in the darkness as he barred the door. Constance slumped to the floor. Of the two visions of herself yet to prove true, it was this one that would come to pass.
Chapter Forty-Two
D’Artagnon buckled the last of his armor on and stared at the walls of the Langeais village. It was no consolation his assumption Didier would bring Constance here had been right. He prayed to the fates he was wrong. That Didier was not taking her to Faucher.
Sniffing her out with the miasma of odors from the village would take time, even if all three of them walked the streets. But time was not on their side, so they had sent the boy, Remi, in to scout ahead. First to the chapel. If the witch hunter had her…
A gray wolf slunk out of the forest and brushed against his leg. He dropped his hand to Vladimir’s ruff, taking comfort in the old wolf’s presence.
“Friend of yours?” asked Edmond.
D’Artagnon jerked his head.
Edmond shrugged. “Good enough for me.”
“Here comes the boy,” said Aubert.
Remi ambled along with the other villagers down the road until he got further from the gate, then he slipped away, heading toward their concealment.
“Something is sure going on in the chapel,” said Remi, as he joined them in the forest. “Aumônier Touissant is in a right state.”
A fist tightened around D’Artagnon’s heart. “Do they have Constance?”
Remi held out his hands. “If I had to guess, I would say yes. Aumônier Touissant was on his knees praying as though thedevil himself had paid him a visit when I entered the nave. When he saw me, he grabbed me. Told me to go find you.” He pointed at the twins. “Said it was a matter of great urgency.”
D’Artagnon grunted. “We go to the chapel.”
“Do we need a plan?” asked Remi.
D’Artagnon unsheathed his sword. “I have a plan.”
“Very direct. Is he always like this?” Remi asked the twins.
Edmond and Aubert drew their swords.
