The tip of a stone outcropping emerged from the water. Honora’s heart pounded as she saw the stone shaped like a bird. There.
She waved to Bres and Conand, pointing toward the stone. There wasn’t much time; only a few hours before the tidal patterns would shift again.
But if anyone wanted to bury a treasure and make it difficult to find, this was the perfect spot. This stretch of land was the only stable ground—a haven in the midst of ever-changing waves.
When Conand approached, she motioned toward a small leather pouch he wore. “I need that, if you don’t mind.” He understood her gesturing and unlaced the pouch, handing it to her. When Honora pointed toward the stone outcropping, a smile spread over Conand’s face.
“We need rope.” She gestured toward the length of string that had bound the pouch to his belt, and pointed toward the boat in the distance. Conand spoke to Bres in Irish, and a moment later, the younger man returned with a length.
Honora held onto the rope, testing her footing as she eased onto the grey sand of the Bay. The tide had eased back, revealing more of the beach. She gripped the rope, skirting a patch of quicksand nearby.
Slowly, steadily, she inched her way toward the rock. She didn’t dare move any faster, for she could not trust the ground beneath her. Marie had filled her head with too many stories of folk who had been swept away by the tide. Or worse, those who had stumbled into quicksand and were buried alive.
When she reached the rock, she let go of the rope and ran her fingertips over the edges. Made of smooth limestone, it was buried deep below the sand. She knelt at its edge, feeling around for any crevices or fissures. There was a palm-sized opening near the side of the stone, and she reached deep within. Her palms closed over something small and round. Excited, she grasped it, but before she could examine the object more closely, she heard horses approaching.
Her mouth tightened when she spied John of Ceredys, not Ewan. Damn him. There was no time to search further.
She took the rope and used it to guide herself back to shore. Though she tried to move faster, still she kept her gaze firmly upon the sands. In the distance, the waves were getting rougher, the tips capped with white.
The sky grew darker, the afternoon shifting into evening. Honora reached Conand just as John and a small escort of men arrived. There was no sign of Ewan or Trahern, and a knot formed in her stomach.
Let them not be dead. Let them be safe,she prayed.
Amid their horses, John forced a prisoner to walk, bound and hooded. The figure wore shapeless clothing, and Honora could not tell if it was a man or a woman. The captive was smaller than she’d expected, perhaps an adolescent or a tall child. She reached for her sword, preparing herself for the worst.
The baron brought his horse up to the edge of the path, his smile dark. “I bid you welcome, my lady of Ceredys.”
“What have you done?” she demanded, pointing toward the prisoner.
“I’ve brought you a gift. Find the Ceredys treasure, and I will let the prisoner go.”
“Who is he?” She tried to move toward the prisoner, but John stopped her with the tip of his own sword.
“Patience, my lady.” He dismounted, keeping his weapon directed toward her throat. “I see you’ve been busy this day. What did you find?”
“Nothing.”
“But Marie told you to look here, didn’t she? You know where the treasure lies.”
Honora didn’t answer. “Who is your prisoner?”
A harsh laugh erupted from John’s throat. “Someone who tried to rescue you. A fool.”
With a gesture toward his man-at-arms, the hood was ripped away.
And Honora stared into the eyes of her sister.
Chapter Twenty-One
“I’mgoingafterHonora.Stay here, and recruit more men to help us.” Ewan readied his horse, preparing to mount. It had taken longer than he’d hoped, to reach the safety of the trees and their horses. He had to move quickly, to reach the coast before John did.
“You’re not going alone,” Trahern argued.
Years of being told he was too young, too weak to fight, suddenly snapped his temper. Ewan grasped his taller brother and rammed him against one of the trees. “These people are the reason Honora returned. Free the captives, and get the women out. I’ve no doubt you can find their husbands and brothers to help us.”
While John was distracted, this was their chance to solicit help from the villagers. And they desperately needed more fighters.
“I need you here,” Ewan said quietly. “Bring as many men as you can.”
