After a deep breath, Lorna pushed the block. Cold, dank air hit her in the face as the entrance slowly creaked open. She lifted the lantern and guided the beam, flashing it first one way, then the other. Bloody hell, the way was narrow. It also shot straight ahead, leaving no place to hide. She forced herself not to look back and search for Gunn. Instead, she moved forward at a slow, steady pace, alert for any sign of Murdina and poor Bella.
After she had continued on for a few paces, the door resealed with a heart-stopping thud, surrounding her in darkness except for the lantern. Cold sweat dotted her upper lip and everywhere else.
I can do this. I have to do this.
She pulled in another slow, deep breath. The place held plenty of air. She was fine and needed to stop being such a coward. She could do this.
The air reeked of musty dampness and the greasy sootiness of her sputtering lantern. But therewasair. That was all that mattered.
Her heart jumped, and she swallowed a shriek as warm breath brushed across her ear.
“It is all right, my love. I am here.”
His presence strengthened her. She turned her head until her cheek brushed against the bristly softness of his beard. “I am glad ye are here,” she said just as softly.
He nudged the small of her back, silently urging her onward. She lifted the lantern and moved faster as her eyes adjusted. According to the map, just up ahead was probably where Murdina had snatched Bella. When she reached the spot, she paused and gave the area a closer look to see if any clue was left behind. Other than a few faded scratches probably from the builders, nothing stood out.
With two possible directions from which to choose, Lorna decided to step up the game. “Bella!” she called out as long and as loud as she could force. “Bella, I am coming for ye! Dinna be afraid.”
Then she heard it. To the right. The loud echo of taunting laughter.
The infuriating sound made her itch to find Murdina and teach her to pick on someone who could fight back rather than wee bairns and lonely men blinded by their painful pasts.
Chapter Fourteen
Lorna shoved themap back into her belt and followed the intermittent laughter and scratching sounds coming from the passage to the right. Anger and worry fed her pace. She moved faster until almost running.
A hard yank on her belt knocked the wind from her. Gunn pulled her back and whispered against her cheek, “Slow yerself. She means to lead ye into that pit up ahead.”
Teeth clenched, Lorna silently raged at herself. How could she be so gullible and allow Murdina to manipulate her like that? She patted his arm and nodded while holding the lantern higher. The blackness of the floor a few strides farther revealed the trap.
Two could play that deadly game. She crouched and cast the beam of light across the floor, searching for anything she could use to drop into that hole and make some noise.
Gunn knelt beside her and pressed close again. “What are ye doing?”
She placed her mouth close to his ear. “I want her to think I fell in there. Lure her to us.” In the flickering light, she made out his nod of agreement.
The largest thing they found was a broken block discarded by the stonemasons. Gunn moved it to the pit’s edge, then nodded back at the lantern. He was right—they had to douse the light if she meant to make Murdina think she fell.
The cold sweat of her mild claustrophobia returned, sinking its teeth deeper into her fears. She swallowed hard and shook it away. Shehadto do this. For Bella’s sake.
Before she killed the flame, she got the tinderbox out of the bag and held it tight. That would keep her from fumbling to find it in the inky blackness.
She motioned for Gunn to drop the bait. He dipped his chin in agreement and threw the block into the pit; it bounced off the sides and filled the passage with the echo of its tumble. She cut loose with a loud scream, then dwindled it to nothing more than a whimper. With Gunn crouched beside her, she pinched out the lantern’s flame. Now they would wait and see if Murdina took the bait.
The woman didn’t make them wait long. Up ahead, deep in the darkness, a pinpoint of light flickered. Lorna eased the dagger free and slowly stood without a sound. Gunn rose beside her. His comforting heat and familiar scent gave her the courage she needed to stay sane in the suffocating blackness.
The light bobbed closer until Murdina’s face appeared to float above the flame. The excitement glittering in her eyes and the cruel slant of her mouth made Lorna wonder if the she-devil teetered on the edge of madness.
She almost felt sorry for her. Almost.
As soon as Murdina reached the pit, Lorna let the dagger fly.
The wretch screamed and grabbed her shoulder. Her candlestick dropped, plunging them back into total darkness. The scrabbling of her steps and muttered cursing faded into an echo as she scuttled away like a rat seeking safety in the shadows.
“Shite!” Lorna swept her arm through the blackness, found Gunn’s hand, and pressed the tinderbox into it. “I was aiming for her throat. We have to hurry and catch her. Because of me, she might hurt Bella.”
He struck a spark and relit the lantern, then lifted it, flooding light across the narrow ledge to the left that led around the pit. “Dinna fash yerself, m’love. Ye did well to hit her at all in this darkness. With her injured and lacking her candle, we will catch her. Come.” He caught hold of her hand and took the lead, lifting the lantern high to light their way.
