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for his anger. " 'Tis simply a measure of safety I take to ensure Medland passes into Baron Balmaine's hands without contest."
    "Then he will be coming soon," she concluded.
    "A sennight—no sooner." Finished with her, he turned and walked to where his knights were gathered near the doors.
    So many questions whirled about in Graeye's mind, she thought she might go mad, but she knew that pursuing the matter would be useless. Lifting her chin, she turned and looked across at William and the steward.
    "All is lost," she said, pushing the words past the painful tightness in her throat.
    At their continued silence she left the hall. Without benefit of a mantle to protect her against the lingering chill of morning, she set out to discover her father's whereabouts.
    She knew full well the precipice upon which his mind balanced, and was worried for his welfare. Also, she needed to ask him whether she would be allowed to remain at his side to care for him, or if he intended to return her to the service of the Church.
    It was no great undertaking to discover where Edward had been taken, for with expressions of concern castlefolk pointed Graeye to the watchtower.
    Along her way there, she became increasingly uneasy by the great number of the king's men positioned about the walls. They were alert, ready to stamp out any signs of uprising. That unlikely possibility almost made her smile. Not only was the number of Edward's retainers considerably depleted from Philip's foray to the north, where he had given up his life for a cause as yet unclear to her, but few would be willing to challenge the king's men for their lord. They disliked him so.
    At the watchtower a surfy knight halted Graeye's progress. "You would do well to return to the donjon, my lady," he said. "No one is allowed to see the prisoner."
    "I am his daughter, Lady Graeye," she explained. "I would but see to his needs."
    Shaking his head, the man placed his hands upon his hips. "My orders are clear. No one is allowed within."
    "I beseech you, let me see him for but a short time. No harm will be done."
    He wavered not a notch, though she thought perhaps his eyes softened. "Nay."
    Later Graeye would question what drove her to be so bold. Grasping her skirts, she ducked beneath the man's elbow and managed to make it up the flight of steps before encountering the next barrier. The first knight close on her heels, she came to an abrupt halt when faced with the two men who guarded the room where her father was imprisoned. They had heard her advance, for their swords were drawn and trained upon her.
    The knight behind needn't have gone to the trouble of seizing hold of her, for she could go no farther. "You—" He snapped his teeth closed on his next words.
    Unable to check the tears flooding her eyes, she looked up at him. "Just a moment," she choked. "'Tis all I ask."
    The angry color that had flooded his face receded; then, miraculously, he acquiesced. "Very well," he said, a corner of his mouth twitching in a slight smile, "but only that—a moment."
    Releasing her, he motioned for the guards to stand away. They resheathed their swords and stepped back, their eyes never leaving her.
    After a brief hesitation, during which Graeye was certain he had reconsidered the wisdom of allowing her to see her father, the knight threw back the bolt and opened the door.
    Murmuring her gratitude, she stepped past him and entered the frigid room. She had expected to be given privacy with her father, but the man had no intention of allowing that. His great bulk throwing a shadow across the floor, he stood in the doorway as she crossed to where Edward huddled in a corner of the room.
    She lowered herself to the floor and waited for her father's acknowledgment. His forehead resting on arms propped upon his knees, he seemed not to notice he was no longer alone.
    Her heart swelled with compassion for the pitiful heap he made. True, he had often been unkind to her, had never loved her, had not once