Garvin had brought their mounts up to the front steps, so they wouldn’t have to walk to the stables. Roderick’s horse stood still while Star was dancing around impatient to leave.
“I think yer horse is ready to stretch her legs, lass,” Garvin said as he helped Siena to mount.
“Thank you, Garvin,” Siena tightened her hold on the reins. “She is a bit frisky today. Perhaps she is trying to stay warm.”
Garvin chuckled.
Once Roderick had mounted, he looked at her and asked, “Now lass which cave did you take Michael to? We have three different caves for safety.”
“It was the one in the hill off the main road. Your wife told me about it as I had not remembered seeing a cave when I came.”
“It will be easy enough to get to and we can return before the weather turns too bad. Ye can ride, can’t ye? I’ve not actually seen ye on yer own horse.”
Siena frowned at him. “Of course, I can ride.” It was one of the few things she’d taken pleasure in doing back home. Roderick raised a brow in question. The man seemed to have little faith in her abilities, and she wondered if the icy air wasn’t hitting him in the face like it was hers. He acted like it was a mild summer’s day and they were going for a ride in the country.
Roderick turned and led the way out of the castle. They cantered down the road until they came to a cave carved into a huge dirt mound. No one would ever guess that it was anything but a hill the way they had disguised it. The entrance had loose brush that looked like bushes in front of the opening.
Roderick dismounted and pulled the brush out of the way and sat them to the left of the opening. Next, he helped Siena dismount. They led their horses into the mouth of the cave, so they would not be out in the stormy weather. There was plenty of room for them and there was straw on the ground indicating this was where animals were kept.
“This is a most unusual cave,” Siena commented as she unwrapped the plaid and shook off the snow. She watched Roderick strike a flint. He held it to one of the torches until it burned bright orange. Next, he lit the other four torches that were in metal brackets along the wall.
“We made the cave ourselves. As ye can see, it is well supported with timbers and supplies for anyone who would have to stay here. He grabbed one of the torches and lit the pile of wood that was already stacked in a stone circle located in the middle of the cave. She watched the white smoke spiral up and out an opening that had been made in the roof so that the cave wouldn’t become smoky.
“The pit is for warmth?” she asked.
“Aye. We built it to hide our women, so they would be safe during an unexpected raid. Unfortunately for us, it dinna work when yer brother attacked.”
“I wonder why they didn’t use it?”
Roderick shook his head. “I dinna ken. It appeared that a few women were on the road headed toward the caves when they were struck down and left for dead. ‘Twas the way we found them.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said. It was no wonder Roderick was bitter. She would be too.
Siena wandered to the back of the cave where there were two very large, square timbers stacked on the floor. “This is where I left Michael.” She knelt down and looked around the dirt floor. Spotting a small gray stone, she picked it up. It was cool and smooth to the touch.
“Do ye remember anything?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Elen said if I’d find a small stone and keep turning it over and over in my hand that maybe I could see something. You have to remember that I’m still new at being a seer.”
“I dinna imagine these things can be forced. We’ll give it some time.” He spread a tartan out and motioned for her to join him by the fire. He liked the sound of her voice … it was soft, pleasant and English. He smiled at the thought. Who would have thought that he’d like anything English?
The timbers behind them had been draped with furs for softness, and now they had fire in front, which gave warmth from the chilly air outside.
“Did ye light a torch for Michael?”
“I did long enough to get him settled, but I put it out when I left. I was afraid someone would see the light. I did tell him his mother would be along shortly so not to be afraid. He had his favorite stuffed rabbit.”
“Ah,” Roderick nodded. “Michael is afraid of the dark.”
Siena noticed that he didn’t speak as if he thought his son was dead. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know, but I’d hoped his mother would be along shortly with the other women, and he wouldn’t be alone. I’m sure I warned your wife that there wasn’t much time.”
“’Tis not yer fault, lass.” He extended his hand out toward her. “Let me see thecreag.”
“It is nothing special.” She handed him the stone that she’d been turning over and over in her hand. For just the briefest moment, their skin touched, and she felt the oddest reaction. As if she’d come alive for the first time. It gave her warmth inside.
Roderick took the warm stone and held it in his fist. If only the stone would work.He’d never believed in any kind of magic. Now he was desperate. “I dinna see how thiscreagwill do anythin’.” He dropped it back in her hand.
“I don’t know either. She caught the stone then glanced toward the opening. “Is that rain? It sounds funny.”
