"I'm afraid that is not going to be possible, unless of course you can speak to the dead," Patrick said with a grim look on his face, "as I was nearing the body I heard someone running off. While I was out looking for him, someone beat me to him and slit his throat."
"Did you follow the person running?" Dominic asked, stiffening his posture and looking to Alannah.
"No, it was too dark." Patrick told him.
"Do think that is the handy work of the two men who have been stalking Alannah? And are they here now?"
"It could have been them, but I don't think so, it would appear that this person was killed by someone else. So possibly a thrid person."
'What makes you say that?" Dominic asked in a demanding tone.
"Because the one running away was small - my first thought was that it was a child running into the forest, but I do not think it was, this person knew what they were doing."
Dominic thought for a long moment. Then abruptly, taking Matias by the arm. "Let's go Matias, you and I are taking a little trip to Port Lira. The rest of you need to stay here; Patrick make sure you keep an eye on Alannah no one come in or goes out, understood? Block all the doors and and make sure all the windows are locked, and stay out of the glass room. Leave the lights to a minimum and then stay away from the windows. Mother make sure the curtains are drawn, I am going to the magistrate's house in town. Matias needs to answer for his part in this fiasco whatever that maybe. I will also be calling an emergency town meeting, I will get the townsmen to start searching the woods for the rest of the men Matias has been working with."
"What if Eraldo is in on this?" Erik asked "he will be expecting something such as this, and he will try and ambush you. IF he is behind this with our Father then his whole purpose will be to get you away from the house with Alannah here and vulnerable."
"That is where you and Jakob come in, Erik we have the element of surprise. Your brother does not know that the two of you are here. Nor does he know that I have upgraded the Islands defenses. If everything goes right I will be back soon with reinforcements, to take guard over the Chateau, while the others search the island for the remaining memebers of the bandits."
Erik and Jakob nodded in unison, Dominic knew he was taking a risk leaving Alannah here, but he also knew that she was in good hands. Between his mother, Maria, Patrick and her brothers he felt confident that nothing would happen to her tonight. He looked at her and wondered how someone like her could get under his skin so fast, he fell so completely in love with her, he could no longer see him without her.