The stench of neglect permeated the thick air, and Storm raised her sleeve to her nostrils. She hurried to the lad’s side, and he cringed and tried to move away.
“I’m here to free you,” she whispered and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.
He peeked from beneath his folded arms, then raised his face. “I prayed you’d come for me. Every night I prayed.”
Storm’s heart ached. She had heard those words time and again from prisoners she had freed, and all she could think about was the prisoners who had prayed and whom she had failed to rescue.
“I need you to do as I say.”
“I will, whatever it is I will do it.” He uncurled himself, groaning with every move.
“Wait,” Storm urged. “Do nothing yet.”
He nodded and stilled, relief in his tear-filled eyes.
“What is your name?” she asked, taking his hand and gently stretching out his thin arm.
“Henry Doddle,” he said and reached his other hand out to her.
Storm tenderly rubbed the lad’s stiff and injured limbs before she asked him to stand. She took stock of his bruises and determined that while he had been beaten badly, he suffered no broken bones.
“We’ll be setting a fast pace, Henry—”
“I’ll keep up,” he said adamantly.
Storm patted his shoulder. “You are a brave lad.”
Burke suddenly appeared at her side. “Does he require help?”
“I can walk on my own,” Henry insisted.
“Good,” Burke said. “Then let’s get going.”
Storm went with the lad, leaving Burke to carry out the remainder of their plan. He was to devise a dummy of sorts to serve as a decoy. Philip had determined that the soldiers barely paid heed to the lad. If they thought him asleep, it would provide more time for their escape. They could place a good distance between them and Mewers before the lad’s absence was realized.
Storm wanted out of the area as fast as possible, knowing that the Earl of Henwood would be furious when he discovered a prisoner had escaped. It would mean his reputation, since he boasted loudly about his impregnable prison cells. He would surely have his soldiers out hunting down the culprits.
“We don’t rest,” she ordered as they set a fast pace for home.
“The lad doesn’t look fit enough to make it,” Burke said from behind her.
“The men will carry him if necessary,” Storm said, “Now be silent and keep up.”
It was a relief when night finally came, for it was only then they stopped. No fire was allowed though the night air held a good chill. Storm saw to it that Henry was fed and a blanket wrapped snugly around him. The poor lad was asleep in no time.
Storm assigned the men to guard the perimeter. Tanin disappeared into the woods, his post being the most important. After all had been arranged, she settled down to take the first watch.
“Sleep, I’ll take guard,” Burke offered, leaning against the large boulder she perched on.
“The first watch is always mine.”
“Don’t trust anyone?” he teased.
She didn’t find him funny. “A good leader knows when her men need rest.”
“And a good leader knows when to rest herself.”
“True enough,” she agreed, “but I’m not tired.”
