I said, “Liam, I need ye tae get me a shovel and meet us at the back gate near the tunnel door. I ken where the last vessel is, I will need tae dig it up.”
“Aye, I will meet ye there.” He raced up the steps tae the courtyard.
I said, “Wilfrey ye ready tae flee?”
“Yes, let us get out of here, I have changed my mind on this whole century.”
CHAPTER 41
MAGNUS
A STORM IN THE COURTYARD
Iraced down the corridor, clutchin’ my sword, with Fraoch one step behind. We entered the stairwell and descended the steps, fast, with m’shoulder against the wall tae keep on my feet.
Fraoch said, “Is he headed tae the gates?”
“Aye!”
We hit the bottom floor, sprinted from the stair, through a short corridor tae the door that opened on the courtyard as a blast of wind knocked me back against the wall.
I put my arm up tae block the gusts that were hurlin’ heavy objects at the walls. I fought the wind tae look around, tae see: auld woman Mary wailing where she was trapped in a back corner.
Fraoch yelled over the wind, “I will get her or she is goin’ tae be pummeled!” He fought the gale, moving around the edge of the yard while bags of grain were slung, and firewood was flung.
Dirt and gravel peppered me, a sand spray, as I tried tae fight against the gusts tae the center of the storm. I had nae clear sight of Birk except his foot afore I lost the ability tae see anything. Then the gale strengthened, a blinding flash raised my hair, an electric charge as lightning struck the wall, like a cannonball,a deafening crash. A whole wall of windows shattered, sending glass flyin’. At the same time a thunderous rumble grew as stone fell. There was a sizzling, screaming heat, and then slowly the wind died down, leaving in its wake a huge blazing fire
I gaped in confusion.
The fire was growing and spreading on the roof of the keep, our home.
Fraoch had been blocking Auld Mary from the wind, now he stood, looking up for a brief moment, as if in shock. “Och nae, Og Maggy, a blaze!”
Birk was gone, with three of our vessels and the storm had risen, brutally, then faded almost as fast, leavin’ a devastatin’ hole in the south wall and the fire roaring on the roof above us. It had taken hold fast, the way auld dry timber does, and now twas alive and furious, crawling along the roofline with sparks flyin’ up intae the dark sky — the sound was the worst of it, a deep, continuous roar underlaid with cracking and splitting.
I was in shock over it, frozen — Fraoch yelled, “The nursery!”
“Och nae!”
We raced for the stairs.
CHAPTER 42
LADY MAIREAD
I CANNA LOSE YE...
Ipulled up my skirt from the hem tae run with Wilfrey, bending low through the small tunnel. I could hear Wilfrey grunting behind me with the effort. We came out at the end in the darkness near the river bank. Wilfrey rubbed his thighs after the crouching caused his muscles tae ache.
Liam met us there, racing around from the back of the castle carrying a shovel.
We took but a moment tae look back at the castle, red hot flames dancing against the sky, and smoke billowing intae the night.
Liam said, “I need tae get back.”
“Aye, hand Wilfrey the shovel.” I patted Liam on the cheek. “Thank ye for yer help saving Lizbeth’s life. Ye are a good son, Liam. Ye are my favorite of all my children’s spouses even with that messiness in yer past.”
“Ye ken of it?”
