“I’m here,” came the weak response. “It’s so cold.”
“I know, little one. It won’t be much longer. Katryne?”
“I’m here. Elene, my barrel is sinking.”
“How much water is in it?”
“I can barely keep my head above it. Help!”
Elene told herself not to panic. She pushed against the lid, but it wouldn’t budge. There wasn’t nearly enough room to turn so her feet were where her head was now. She pushed herself down into a tight squat before surging upward with her hands by her head. They, and the top of her head, slammed into the lid. It burst open, and water surged in. She knew she’d laid sideways, but she hadn’t expected the wave that would try to submerge her. She swallowed a mouthful of briny water before she gathered her bearings. She gripped the edge of the barrel and pushed herself free. Her skirts tried to pull her to the bottom. She tore at them, gathering them to her waist. She frantically tucked them into her girdle as best she could. Her legs were free, so she kicked to the surface.
As her head emerged, she spun in a circle, taking in as much as she could. She spied Liam’s boats in the distance. She noticed she and her siblings were farther from shore than she expected. The current pushed them out to sea rather than to beach. She found both barrels, but she was unsure which one contained Katryne.
“Katy, bang on your barrel, so I know which one is yours.” Elene strained to hear over the sea’s voice. It was as though a sea monster taunted her as she tried to catch even the slightest noise. A rapping staccato sounded. Of course, it was the barrel farther from her. She fought the freezing water threatening to drag her under. She fought her clothes’ weight. She fought her fear. She wouldn’t give up on her sister. Not after all they’d endured over the years, and not after what they risked by escaping. She reached the large cask and gripped the lip, trying to determine which end was the top and which was the bottom. “Katy, I’m here. Tap on the lid. I don’t know which end is which.”
“The left side.” Katryne’s weak voice was barely audible.
“I don’t know which side is your left. Knock on the top.” When Elene heard the clear sound, she swam around to the opposite side. “I need you to curl up as small as you can. When I tell you, put your hands palms up by the top of your head. Jump and push off the bottom. I’m going to pull. Water is going to rush in, so you have to take a big breath before you jump. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Please hurry. There’s too much water.”
Elene could tell. The barrel was sitting lower in the water by the moment. She grabbed the edge and brought her feet up and beneath her until they rested against the wood. “I’m going to count to three, then you jump as high and as hard as you can. You’re going to bang your head, Katy, but use it to push the lid off. Are you ready?”
“Yes,” Katryne’s voice burbled against the water filling her soon-to-be tomb.
“One—two—three.” Elene yanked as hard as she could. She used her feet for leverage as she threw her weight backward. She pushed away with her feet as her arms tugged. The lid flew off, knocking her back and slamming into her mouth and nose. Pain ripped through her face, but she released the lid and swam back. She caught the shoulder of Katryne’s gown and pulled her sister into her arms. She held onto her with one arm as she swam to the third barrel. “Hang on, Katy. Johan?”
No sound met her. She tapped on the barrel once more, but there was still nothing. Fighting panic, she forced herself not to grow frantic. She ensured Katryne draped her arms over the top of the barrel before she moved to what she believed was the top. She tugged on the lip, but nothing budged.
“Katy, I need you to stay awake.” Elene watched as her sister’s eyes drooped closed. “When I get the lid off and pull Johan out, the barrel will fill like yours and sink. I need you to pay attention and swim. Can you do that?” Katryne had no choice. There was no way Elene could hold on to her sister while freeing her brother, and if Katryne clung to her, they would both go under.
“I can. Hurry and get Johan. I’m scared.”
“I know. I am too, but we have to be brave together. Hold on.” Elene felt her strength flagging as the cold seeped into her bones. She pried at the lid, but it wouldn’t budge, even when she used the same tactic as she did with Katryne’s. All it gained her was saltwater up her nose and down her throat. She felt around for the dirk in her boot, yanking it free. She’d nearly kicked the shoes off, but she knew she would need them once they were on land. They pulled at her like anchors, but she kept her legs circling as she tread water.
“Johan?”
Elene tapped on the lid of the barrel once more and listened. She heard a thud, so she knocked harder.
“Elene?” Johan’s voice barely reached her ears, but she was certain she heard her name.
“Yes, little one. I’m going to use my blade to pry the lid free. Keep your head away from the top. Shrink as small as you can.”
“I already am. It’s so cold.”
“I know, but you’re doing so well. Is your barrel filling up?”
“No. But it’s just so, so cold.”
Elene pressed her knife into the miniscule crack between the lid and the barrel, but it wouldn’t budge. She tried another spot, but it wouldn’t give. The freezing water made the barrel contract, trapping the lid in place. She shifted to move near Katryne.
“I can’t get the lid off, Johan. We’re going to kick to shore. I’ll smash the bluidy barrel if I have to. Come on, Katy. Help me now.” Elene put the knife’s handle between her teeth, not trusting herself to find the sheath in her boot. She grunted as she pushed against the barrel, kicking as hard as she could. She nudged her sister with her elbow and canted her head toward shore when Katryne turned glassy eyes toward her. She moved one arm to reach across Katryne’s shoulders, bringing her sister closer. She pressed her hand over Katryne’s, encouraging her to keep going.
“Liam,” Katryne whispered. Elene looked at her, noticing that she stared past Elene. The older sister turned her head to follow Katryne’s gaze. She nearly wept when she caught sight of the two birlinns cutting through the water toward them. She’d feared they would all drown before Liam was free of Gunter and could come for them. She watched as all oars sliced through the water, then the air, then the water again. She kept kicking, nudging Katryne again to tell her to keep fighting the waves. They couldn’t wait for Liam and the Highlanders to reach them if they wanted to keep Johan alive.
Elene grunted as her knee slammed into sand and seashells, but it relieved her to feel land. She pulled her dirk from her mouth and handed it to Katryne, who scampered onto the shore. Elene knew she couldn’t roll the barrel, lest she rattle her brother into unconsciousness. She pushed it up the sand, her knees bent, her feet sliding. But she finally drew it past the water’s edge. She tried once more to pull the lid free, but the wood was still too tight to give way.
“Johan!” Elene called.
