CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Connell
Connell sighed as he rode back to the fortress. He had sent word for the carriage and knew it should arrive in the morrow. His brows tented as the castle drew closer, the stench of blood nauseating his nose. He tried to focus on the rabbits tied to his horse. It was unfortunate he hadn’t been able to find another stag, yet rabbits would be good enough to make a stew from and the stag from the other day would be enough food. He just didn’t know if it would be enough when Glenton and his men returned.
He looked to the sky, the sun heating his face.Hopefully, they will not return tomorrow,he thought. They should be returning soon. It would be close. There was a possibility of Glenton seeing the carriage on the road unless he and the men decided to ride off the dirt path.Pray the latter be the case,he thought as he rode into the courtyard.
Connell jumped down and guided his horse toward the stables. He took off the bridle and gave his stallion a hefty portion of hay before slinging the rabbits over his shoulders and stalking inside the castle.
“Brann!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the corridor. He frowned when no one answered, but decided it was nothing to worry about. “Most likely cleaning the blades,” he said aloud as he entered the kitchen. He dropped the rabbits onto the table, tempted to cut the fur from their hinds, but paused, his thoughts going to Scott, wondering if the lass was feeling any better.
His feet took him to her rooms, and he knocked on the door. “Scott,” he called when the girl didn’t answer. His frown deepened. “Has everyone up and disappeared?” he muttered before knocking again. “Scott?”
Still, no one answered, and Connell’s stomach churned.Something is wrong,he thought, his hand on the door handle. He began pushing it open, but stopped himself, reminding himself that Scott wasn’t a boy, she was a young girl soon to be a woman. He couldn’t simply enter her quarters. But what if the girl had fallen over, or had gotten even more ill? What if she needed help?
Connell grimaced, hating that social decorum was preventing him from helping or seeing to Scott. He turned on his heel, breaking into a run, knowing exactly who he needed to tend to Scott. He ran up the steps, taking two at a time.
“Elsy!” he called as he drew closer to her chamber. “Elsy!” He pounded on the door, his feet shuffling back and forth as he waited for her to open the door.
But no one answered.
“Elsy!” he shouted, pounding harder. “Please, come out. I know yer upset with me, but I need ye. Tis Scott.”
Connell frowned when the door still didn’t open. “I fear she may be ill. She’s not opening her door.”
Connell blinked, wondering what was taking Elsy so long to answer. His heart thudded faster. His fingers twitched as he reached for the door handle.Is she ill now, too?he wondered while gripping the metal handle, slowly pushing it down.
“Elsy?” he called while opening the door, peeking inside, and looking around the room.
His heart stopped as he pushed the door further open, hearing it thud against the wall as he stalked inside. He ground his teeth as he looked around, finding no one inside. The world tilted and he felt like he was going to be sick. First, Scott not answering her door, and now Elsy gone.
“Elsy!” Connell shouted, turning on his heel and running out of the room. “Elsy!” he shouted as he ran down the corridor and down the steps. “Brann!” he shouted, rage making his voice sound more like a roar. “Where is that frustrating lad?” he muttered to himself as he threw the great hall doors open, finding no one inside. He turned around, stalking toward Scott’s door, banging on it once more. “Scott?”
This time, he did not care for decorum, he opened the door, his heart thudding harder and faster as he found the room also empty. His hands shook. His shoulders tensed. They could be anywhere. They could be long gone from here.
What if Glenton and the men returned while I was away?Connell thought, imagining Elsy tied to a tree as the men took turns whipping her. He imagined Logan drunk, a pitcher in his hand, ale on his lips. He imagined Donald sharpening his blades while Scott screamed for them to stop.
“Elsy!” Connell shouted as he ran toward the entrance, throwing open the doors and stepping into the courtyard. He stalked toward his stable, about to mount his horse in search for them, but stopped when he heard giggling.
Turning, his eyes widened as Elsy and Scott entered the courtyard along the dirt path. In Elsy’s arms was a basket filled with flowers and herbs. Scott was caring a bouquet of flowers. They were speaking, but Connell couldn’t understand the words, his mind too focused on Elsy’s smiling face and the sun shining down upon her.
She’s alive,he thought, his knees wobbling, his body going weak.They are both fine.
Connell should feel relieved, but all the worry left him and was promptly replaced by a fiery rage. His fists clenched at his sides as he stalked toward them, a dark scowl marring his face.
“Where have ye been?” Connell asked, his voice almost a shout while as he wrenched the basket from Elsy’s arms.
Elsy’s eyes widened. Confusion in her gaze mixed with anger of her own. Connell was hardly aware of Scott looking between them, her mouth open, worry tenting her brow.
“Go inside,” Elsy said gently, pushing Scott toward the door. “I will be inside in a wee moment.”
Connell inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring. He felt like a kettle on the fire, about to erupt into a shrieking whistle. His hand tightened on the basket, his gaze falling to the purple and pink flowers and the green leaves.
“I was in the garden behind the fortress,” said Elsy calmly, too calmly, as if she was speaking to a wild animal and not a fully grown man. “I thought it would be good for Scott to get some sunshine.”
“Ye went to the garden,” Connell said bitterly while shaking the basket in front of Elsy. Her eyes narrowed on him, yet she remained silent, like a serpent about to make its strike. “Without my permission?”
Elsy pursed her lips, her chin jutting out as she took a step toward him. “I was not aware I needed yer permission for a small outing.”
