“—traitorous ways will come to light.” If her heart were a bird, it would have flown in delight. She was free from the shadow by treachery in the courtier’s eyes; her fears were now unfounded! “A great deal has taken place below us. Your knight has sent out two small clusters of guards. One is to secure Castle Sgàrlaid and seek the state of Clan MacHarris in their victory against the gathered gallowglass. The other is bound for the abbey to aid in the escort of Sir Brayden and my delegation. So, all is tying up neatly with one exception.” Holger raked his gaze over her. “I may consider another way to press you to my side henceforth—”
“Do not be make excuses,” a voice rang through the open doorway from… from afar. She tilted her head slightly. “How is it Sir Callum has suddenly appeared?” a deep Scottish tone questioned angrily as they began to move further away.
“My lady,” Holger whispered, “a chronicle?”
She nodded; the Northman turned pale and silent as a ghost.
“I do not know. All is prepared for us to take our leave directly and discreetly. Sir Callum has ordered double the guards around the king. My lord, you must forfeit the chance of seizing the crown,” a second brogue re-butted as the sound signature turned back to stationary. They must have stopped moving.
“Only for a time. Do not question my resolve,” the lord retorted. “I have not cut Lord MacMardan down for nothing. What word of Sir James?”
A third voice sounded. “None, but we shall know soon enough.”
“Soon enough, are you both fools? The knight already turned traitor once to save his own hide, he will do so again if he is discovered.”
“I told you; you should have let me poison that MacCade chieftain myself, placed the blame on Sir Sean, then forced him into the role of captain with threats once the king was dead. You have mistaken Sir Sean’s desire to be named captain as you have mistaken every step blinded by your own ambitions,” the second voice said.
The lord replied, “Not all is lost and if you dare speak to me—”
“We will dare anything,” the third voice retorted. “You have placed us all at risk by your greed to cut Lord MacMardan from the folds and setting your own plan with Sèidrich who has now vanished without even a missive. Too soon. ’Twas too soon to seek this!”
“The siege rages at Kenilworth Castle in honor of Simon happens as we stand here speakin’ idly. The time was to be nowhereupon Scottish soil!” the lord sneered.
Her feet began for the door after she snapped the fancy broach off Holger’s doublet.
“My lady, what are you…”
She waved her fingers, silencing him. “Northman, follow me. The pair who gasped in the great hall are not the traitors, ’tis another who ventured this way.” Holger drew his sword, appearing at her side as they stepped out into the passageway.
No! It was empty. Where had the voices traveled from?
“Move,” the owner of the third voice sounded, and her head snapped the opposite way. The words had floated up the curved stairway like rain hitting metal. One issue; there were two sets of stairs! Which one were they upon? Her feet began bolting for the steps’ entry on the left.
“Lord Kolson,” she advised, “I am uncertain which stairwell they ventured. You take the right; I shall take the left.” An iron grip clasped her arm, halting her.
Should she stab him with the pin? “Release me,” she demanded instead. “They are taking their leave. From all I could gather there may be one on each stairwell.”
“If you are harmed, my lady” – Holger lifted an eyebrow – “the Scotsman will have my cock, and I do favor having it even if you do not.”
Where were the traitors? Silence. No! If she lost them all was lost!
“Think of our kingdoms not with your…” She waved her hand at his loins. His grip loosened a wee bit; she tore free, bolting for the right stairwell.
“Fuk all, go then,” Holger cursed, charging for the opposite stairwell from hers.
Raising her skirts higher, she began leaping down two steps at a time. If her heart beat any louder, she would be as useless as a paddle boat on a frozen loch to hear. Mouse! She dodged right, almost hitting her skull on the torches’ sconce.Cat! She flew left as the prowling beastie chased the long-tailed find upwards past her. As she scrambled, her palm caught the edge in a stone, while her feet landed the ground. Was the passageway only one direction? Aye, move!
Lifting the skirts higher, her wimple flittering on her neck like a ship’s sail in a tempest, her chase snapped to a halt. The passage dead ended! Which way? Frantically spinning about, she searched with her gaze; shadows and not a soul. Everyone was still in the great hall.Shuffle. Shuffle.There. Right, go right.
Her feet slammed the granite as much as her heart did her ribs at the fevered pace.Don’t lose him!She rounded the next corner briskly then whimpered when her elbow nicked the stone wall. An archway appeared ahead.There he is!
The light streaming in from the open outer entry illuminated a lone figure whose hair was as bright a red as the sun’s rays.
“My lord!” she called out.
The stranger halted, turning on his heel, facing her. Weaves of salt riddled around his temples with a gaze dark as her own. “My lord!” she huffed, racing the last stretch. “I believe you dropped this on the passageway.”
Raising the broach higher, she reached him.Pause him, keep him here; a guard or Holger will come.
