Free Sharon Lanergan by The Prisoner

himself.
    On the small table next to him was the scrap of cloth he’d found behind the castle.
    What did it mean?
    Tap, tap.
    Brian smirked. It was about time.
    “Come,” he said, snatching the square of cloth from the table.
    The door opened without any sort of hesitation, telling Brian all he needed to know without even glancing at the door.
    “Join me for a drink, Nick.” He gestured loftily to other chair.
    Nick sat down on the small wooden chair. It creaked under his weight. He eyed the decanter next to Brian.
    “Want some?” Brian asked. When Nick nodded, Brian poured him a splash of wine in the other goblet.
    “You don’t seem terribly surprised to see me,” Nick commented, his expression unreadable.
    “I saw your arrival,” Brian admitted. “I was a bit surprised then.” He smiled ruefully. “Not sure why I was, though. I should have expected this from those three.”
    “They’re concerned about you.”
    “Yes, I know. I’ve lost my mind, you know.”
    Nick grimaced. “This is nothing to jest about.”
    Brian downed his wine and poured another. “Isn’t it? I find it all infinitely amusing.”
    “What has happened to you?”
    “Hmm.” Brian leaned back in his chair. “Let’s see. I saw the only woman I loved murdered in front of me, I found out about the death of my father from Finius Loutrant. Ah, yes, and I was locked away by the same Loutrant for what was it, thirteen years?”
    Nick raised an eyebrow, then sighed. “You are more sarcastic and bitter than when I left here.”
    “And you imagined I would change?” Brian shook his head. “You are all so wrong, Nick. I have changed. What you see is the real Brian. Or at least the Brian I am now.”
    “I’m not sure I believe that. You’re hiding, Brian,” Nick said. “Whenever things don’t go your way, you hide. If Father was displeased with you, you just avoided him. If a woman got through to you, you pushed her away.”
    The all-knowing Nick had spoken. Only he didn’t know anything. Brian shrugged. “Believe what you will. I care naught.”
    Nick took his first sip of the wine. He appeared to study the color of it in his goblet.
    “Everyone would like it if you came down to dine with us,” Nick said after a moment.
    “I don’t think so.”
    “Why?” Nick raised his gaze to Brian’s. His gaze was full of judgment.
    “I tried it once and it was a disaster.”
    “Keep trying.” Nick stood up and walked to the door. “You may not want or need them, but they need you.”
    The door closed behind Nick.
    Damn him.
    Brian threw his goblet across the room.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
    The silence was deafening.
    Constance picked at the swan on her trencher, not wanting to meet the gazes of the Fitzroys.
    Brian hadn’t come down.
    She knew he wouldn’t, but they all held out hope he wouldn’t be able to ignore Nick’s request.
    “So, Nick,” Telford finally broke the silence. “How are things at your new castle?”
    “Good,” Nick answered. “Being so close to the sea brings new challenges, but Marion loves the view.”
    He smiled when he mentioned his wife. Constance liked that. Nick and Marion were in love. Constance stuffed the meat she’d been playing with into her mouth. Chewed it, trying to think of something other than a happy marriage.
    “In fact, Tel, I was thinking, sometime in the next few months, mayhap you’d like to come to the castle and help me with crops and the village,” Nick suggested.
    Constance glanced at Telford and saw his face light with immediate interest.
    “I’d like that very much,” Telford enthused.
    “Why don’t you take Telford home with you this time?” Brian asked from behind them.
    Constance turned, shocked to her core. Brian stood just a few steps away from the dining table. His dark hair was wet, as though he’d recently bathed. He wore a dark blue jerkin, which closely matched his eyes. And somehow he appeared less thin than last time she saw him. Was it a