“Tincture of opium. I managed to obtain it from the apothecary. We will pour it in Ma and Da's drinks, and it will knock them out cold. Then ye must take a drink of wine to the jailers as well. Ye will claim that it is from Da and offer it to them in jars. Then ye will break Torcall out.”
Ceana paused. Before her was the largest decision she had ever had to make in her life. Would she choose the love she had for her sister over the love she had for Torcall?
As if sensing her thoughts, Ceana spoke. “Ye must remember that this is nae for love alone. ‘Tis for justice.”
And with those words, Ceana’s mind was made up. She would do it. “How can I find the exit?”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Torcall couldn’t sleep. He didn’t suppose that he was expected to sleep. By the dawn of the next day, he would be put to death. It was ironic that in the few hours of the night, he had remembered almost every occurrence in his life, even as far back as the time when things were not so complex.
He thought of his maither, his faither, and the life they had led. Then, he thought of his uncle, aunt, and cousins. Then, he thought of Ceana. What cursed luck had he that even time hadn’t been on his side to hear her speak of her love for him? He hadn’t sensed it—no, he hadn’t. Especially when she had spoken so surely of the man she had loved—the man whose kisses had been just like his. He smiled a wry smile. It made sense now.
He wasn’t so shocked that her father had known that she had come under cover of night to see him. The man knew that he was innocent. It was probably guilt. Connor was a good man, and he couldn’t begrudge him for putting the safety of his family first. He would die if anything happened to Ceana.
Torcall wasn’t grateful for much, but he was grateful that he hadn’t given in to his urges and bedded her. That way, she was pure still and would be able to find a husband to care for her. The thought of another man putting his hands on her almost drove him mad, but there was nothing that Torcall could do.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the opening door, and he sat upright. He hadn’t any idea of what would ensue in the next hours except that he would be killed. He didn’t know when they would come to take him away. Something else he knew was that he would show no emotion. They wanted his pain and fear, but, by the gods, he wouldn’t show them. And so, he readied himself while the door opened and placed a blank look on his face, painting the perfect picture of calm when his insides were in turmoil.
He had expected anyone to walk in—anyone except Ceana. She was dressed differently, too. She wore breeches and a shirt that were the color of the night. Her face held a brave look, and his heart broke. Ceana, he thought to himself, what have ye done?
He reached for her before he could stop himself and pulled her into his arms. He would be greedy and steal a kiss—just one.
But Ceana pushed him away.
“Nay,” she said. “There is nae time.”
Her voice was different too—she was different.
“Why are ye here?” he asked. “Why are ye dressed like this? There are several guards outside. How did ye get past them?”
“We have to leave now, Torcall,” she said to him. Then, she handed him a small dagger. “Now.”
His hands itched for it. He knew that he would rather die fighting than being executed. But he looked into Ceana’s eyes and knew that he couldn’t do that to her. If he took that dagger, he would fight to die. He couldn’t let her suffer that fate, and so, he pushed it away.
“I cannae, Ceana,” he said to her and looked away. “If I were to take that from ye, I would fight to the death. Better to die with a knife in me hands than executed like a mere scoundrel. We will be caught, ye ken this. The soldiers--”
“We will nae be going through the gate,” she announced. And as hurriedly as she could, she told him about the hidden route.
Torcall was in shock by the time she was done. Freedom was a possibility once more, and it was hard to come to terms with it.
“So,” she said to him, “will ye come with me, now? We do nae have time to waste. The soldiers have drunk wine mixed with tincture of opium, but even so, we must make haste. I have with me fifty gold coins. It will nae make life comfortable but ‘tis better than naught till we find some other way to make money. We are nae going on horse, for it shall attract too much attention. We shall walk, and so, we must leave soon enough. Come!”
Still, Torcall paused. “Ceana, wait!” he grabbed her hands. “If we leave, we must go far away,” he told her. “Ye will ne’er see yer sister again. Ye are a close pair. I cannae let ye do this.”
“My sister understands that I must do this. It was she who told me about the route and gave me the tincture of opium.”
“But it was ye,” he took her chin in his hands, “ye, me love, who put the tincture into the drinks of the soldiers and yer parents. ‘Twas ye who braved the night to rescue me, was it nae?”
“Aye,” she said. “I cannae let ye die, Torcall. There wouldnae be a life for me after that.”
Pride swelled in Torcall’s chest. Not only did she think he was worth leaving the only life she knew, but she also risked death for him.
“If ye indeed follow me,” he promised her, “I will make sure ye do nae regret it, and one day, ye will see Alina again.” He touched his heart. “I swear it to ye by me life and by me honor.”
Ceana rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. “I believe ye, Torcall.”
Torcall nodded and took the knife from her hands. “Let’s begin the journey to a new life, me love.”
