He paused in front of the fireplace, his eyes drawn upward to the rune carvings there. Centered above all, theansuz,his father’s symbol, Odin’s rune.
A closer scan disclosed a fine, dusty powder on the hearth at his feet. As if something long closed had been opened.
Damn!
He’d forgotten these had been the chambers shared by his father and his Tinkler whore. It would only make sense his father would have built in one of the ridiculous hidden passageways the old fool had loved so much.
But the entries to the passageways were so well disguised, if a person didn’t know how to gain access, it could take hours to open, even if one knew where to look. Only someone familiar with this particular room, this particular passageway, could possibly utilize it.
“Has Christiana yet left for her visit to the witch?”
“Hours past, my lord,” Ulfr assured him. “My men made mention of it at the guard change.”
Clever lass, his sister. Or it would appear she thought herself clever. But not clever enough by half, as she would soon learn.
“Did she travel alone?”
“I will find out for you, my lord.”
If indeed Christiana thought to rescue her new sister, it seemed unlikely she would have left her beloved brother behind.
Ulfr had reached the hallway when Torquil called out.
“No. You will accompany me. Send one of yer men to verify and bring word to the dungeon. Have my brother sent as well. I’ve use for him.”
A frisson of anger sparked through Torquil’s body and he increased the speed of his steps.
They thought to outmaneuver him? He was so far beyond their level, they had no idea what penalty they would pay for their impudence.
Had she stayed in her room, Mistress Danielle would have been only a pretend widow. Now she would be one in truth.
Thirty-eight
AS USUAL INhis life, the gods were having their amusement at his expense.
Malcolm glanced over his shoulder as he rode, needing a quick check on his companions to reassure himself they still followed. He’d spent the better part of his life in the saddle, leading men from one crisis to another, but this was an entirely different experience. How did one even begin to travel with a gaggle of women in tow? Strong women, to be sure, but women nevertheless.
Yes, the gods must be laughing at their latest ploy. Choose the one man in the whole of the world who repeatedly failed the women he was given to protect and surround him with a company of women to lead. And not just any women, mind you, but the three women who meant more to him than his own life.
He reined in his horse and, behind him, the women slowed as well. Circling back to join them, he made his decision.
“We’ll set up camp here for the night. We’ve a strong lead on any who might follow and this looks to be an easily defendable location.”
He would have commented on the exhaustion he saw in their faces, but he felt sure that would have gained him only their denials. As it was, they hastened to act on his suggestion with nary a protest between them.
“We’ve little in the way of provisions, only what I would normally carry on a day visit to Orabilis, but it should be enough for this night.” His sister pulled a small pack from her animal and joined Elesyria, who already led her mount to tether in the trees.
He dismounted and fell in step beside Dani, a peace settling over him as she reached out to clasp his hand.
“Stop worrying. They probably don’t even know we’re gone yet.”
“I’m no worried,” he automatically denied, even as she smiled up at him.
“You’re doing that thing again, pinching your nose. Either you’re worried or your skin is starting to crack with all that dried flour coating it.”
He loved that she’d learned so very quickly to read him so well and best of all, that even when she knew she was right, she allowed him his dignity, in giving him an escape from the truth.
Pulling her close, he kissed her soundly, laughing aloud when she pushed him away.
