Chapter 23
Caitlin shook her headto clear it. Her ears were still ringing from the explosion and she was struggling to make sense of all that had happened since Kai had freed her.
Part of her still couldn’t believe she was free. Part of her still thought she was dreaming and that any moment now she would wake back in that room alone.
With an effort, she tried to focus on Kai’s words. She was so disorientated that she couldn’t figure out what it all meant or what the implications might be.
But then it hit her and the force of her realization left her reeling.
The king of Denmark and Norway had been in that apartment. If he had been killed in the explosion...
That’s what he was talking about,she thought.That’s what Snarlsson meant.
If the king had been killed on Scottish soil, then war between Scotland, Denmark and Norway, was inevitable—and Snarlsson, Lorna and Tobias would have won.
Resolve hardened in her stomach.No, she thought. Not on my watch.
“We have to get over there,” she said to Kai.
Kai nodded, his eyes determined as he took her hand and led her towards the wreckage. The others followed behind, their faces grim with the weight of what was at stake.
When they reached the steps up to the apartment, they found them blocked by rubble. Some of the king’s men were trying to shift it, but it was slow going as there were so many large chunks of masonry and furniture scattered across the stairs.
Magnus and Oskar joined in, helping the other men throw aside debris and carrying bits down from the stairwell.
But Caitlin knew it would do no good. Time was their greatest enemy now—every second they wasted brought them closer to a war.
She clutched at Kai’s shirt. “Is there another way up?”
Kai shook his head, his face filled with sorrow. “No,” he said, his voice gentle yet firm. “There’s no other way.”
Caitlin shook her head fiercely at him. She couldn’t accept that there was nothing she could do—she had to help. She ran to the door leading outside and looked up. There was a sheer wall above her but she thought if she tried hard enough then maybe, just maybe, she could climb it and reach the hole in the wall where the explosion had occurred.
“I have to try,” she said. “He might be alive up there. I might be able to save him.”
“No!” Kai growled, gripping her shoulders. “It’s too dangerous! I willnae lose ye! I canna!”
“Kai, listen to me! You know what will happen if the king is dead. War.” She gripped his arms fiercely, trying to make him understand. “You told me once that Irene MacAskill had a plan for me, well this is it!”
“Caitlin, this is madness. It’s too late. He’s already dead!”
“You don’t know that. I have to try.”
