Inside, Andre ran to meet them, full of questions for his elder sister. By the fire, Chief Durand and another man who looked familiar stopped their conversation to watch their entry. A glance around the room showed that Charlotte, Brielle’s sister, was the only other person inside.
Brielle motioned for her brother to be quiet. “I have an important task for you. I need you to deliver a summons to Hugo Lemaire. Tell him it’s very important.” She relayed the message about the hunters gathering. “Say it exactly like that, do you understand?”
Andre tipped his head. “Should I take that same message to Gerald?” The lad must have heard his father speaking of what was happening. Hopefully no one else had overheard.
Brielle speared her brother with her gaze. “No. He is out on a hunt. Speak of this to no one else.”
Andre sobered. “Oui.”
Brielle patted his shoulder. “Quickly.”
As her brother sprinted from the room, Brielle moved into action, striding to a side wall and gathering up her bow and quiver full of arrows. “Charlotte, I need you to use a bit of stealth and find Philip. Tell him to come to our chamber posthaste. Have him wait here until I return to explain what I need him for. He might be sleeping from his night shift but tell him it’s important.”
He hated standing like a sluggard while Brielle moved from one side of the apartment to the other, gathering weaponsand giving instructions. But if he stepped forward, he’d only be in her way.
Instead, he lifted his gaze to Chief Durand and met the man’s eyes. Brielle’s father gave a firm nod, which Evan could only hope meant all was in order and progressing as it should. Too bad he couldn’t pull the fellow aside and ask how much Brielle knew.
No matter. He’d ask Brielle that question when Gerald was safely locked away. Brielle had said he would need to be tried by the council to determine his fate.
At last, Brielle spun and marched toward him and the doorway he was blocking. He reached for the handle and prepared to step aside but didn’t open the door yet.
When she stopped beside him, he murmured, “Where do you plan for us to watch from?”
He had no doubt she had places in mind. Better he know her intentions before they stepped out so he could be a help, not bumble loudly in the darkness.
“I’ll blow out the torch across from our door. Then we can tuck inside each of these last two doorways. There will be enough darkness Hugo shouldn’t spot us unless we make noise.” She was near enough he could hear her exhale when she finished speaking, and his body longed to close the tiny gap between them and wrap his arm around her. But this wasn’t the time, nor the audience to take such an action in front of. Later, Lord willing.
Brielle stepped into the hallway first, a good thing, for someone down the corridor greeted her. Audrey, from the sound of the voice. But he couldn’t quite make out the words, muffled as they were, and probably in French.
Brielle responded with a pleasantry also in French, then afew seconds later she opened the door wider and motioned him out.
While he eased the handle shut behind him, she stepped across the hallway and snuffed out the torch. Only their immediate area fell into murky darkness. Two doors down, another torch flickered brightly. The lights seemed to be stationed every two doors. Most people would think the light had simply gone out from the torch burning low, or maybe blown out by a soft breeze. There was certainly enough wind outside that a draft could’ve come in when someone opened the outer door.
In the opposite direction, a torch was mounted at the corner where the short hallway to the exterior door split off to the left. Hugo would come in that door from outside, then turn left at the crossroads, moving away from them on his way to the assembly room.
Brielle motioned for him to stay tucked into her family’s doorframe, and she moved down to the one closest to the corner.
Of course she would put herself at the most risk.
He tightened his grip on his gun and made sure his knife was positioned for easy access. No telling which one he would need if he and Brielle had to step in and halt Hugo’s escape. Aiming the gun at the man should stop him quickly, as long as there was enough light for the youngster to see the weapon.
He worked hard to school his breathing as they waited in silence. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and he could only pray his breaths didn’t sound as loud to anyone else as they did to him. For her part, Brielle was so silent he would have never known she was there.
Only a few minutes passed before the scrape of wood and rush of wind signaled the outer door being opened.
He froze, straining to hear every sound. A voice murmured from that direction, then a shuffling footstep echoed down the hall.
As the sounds drew closer, he could make out two sets of footsteps. The shuffle might belong to Hugo, and the crisper tread sounded like Andre’s.
He flicked his gaze to the place where Brielle was hiding. He couldn’t even make out her outline in the darkness. Had she realized her brother would accompany the man? Did she worry he would be caught in whatever ruckus ensued? Even with four armed guards—counting himself—they couldn’t know for sure Andre would be safe.
He gripped his gun tighter. He would have to make sure nothing happened, both for Andre’s safety and for Brielle’s.
Soon enough, two figures came into view. For about two seconds, he could see both outlines before they turned the opposite corner and faded into darkness again. Hugo was only a head taller than twelve-year-old Andre, and not much stouter. Surely the barely grown man couldn’t put up much of a fight.
Down the hallway, Andre’s voice drifted to them as he told Hugo in French that everyone else was likely already in the assembly room.
The swishing sound must be the door opening, then closing.
