Page 53 of Highland Storm

“Untie me,” growled Lennox.

“No’ yet.” Phoebe looked back over her shoulder at Orrick. “Ye have to promise me that ye’ll help me and stand against Euan. He’s only tryin’ to get rid of my faither, and I canna have that.”

“Of course, I’ll help ye, Phoebe. I never liked listenin’ to Euan. He wants everythin’ for himself and treats me like dirt.”

“And if I untie ye, ye’ll promise no’ to hurt Hawke or any of his friends?”

“Look at me. I’m wounded and hurt and can barely move.”

“All right,” she finally agreed, hunkering down next to him. She took her throwing knife from under her skirt, noticing the way Lennox eyed her leg. She suddenly didn’t trust him in the least. “Nay, I changed my mind,” she said. But before she could move, Lennox grabbed her knife, pushing her down and hurriedly cutting the ropes that held his feet. “Give me that.” She pushed up to her knees but he kicked at her next, sending her sprawling on the ground.

“What’s going on?” asked Orrick, walking toward them from the door.

Lennox managed to cut the ropes at his wrists next. “Ye always were naught but a daft wench with straw in yer head,” spat Lennox. “Euan and I should have killed ye long ago.” Lennox started to come at her with the knife, but Orrick walked around the end of the stall.

“Nay! What are you doing?” asked the old man.

Instead of attacking her, Lennox turned, plunging the knife into Orrick’s chest, and taking off at a run. He stole a horse and left the stable.

“Nay!” screamed Phoebe, crawling on her hands and knees to the old sorcerer. With tears in her eyes, she pulled her throwing knife from his chest. There was blood everywhere. “Orrick, I am so sorry,” she cried, realizing his death would be her fault. “I didna mean for ye to die.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Hush, lassie, and get me my bag of herbs quickly and something to bind this wound.” To her surprise, Orrick sat up without her help. He was a strong, determined man.

Phoebe rushed to the other end of the stall, grabbing Orrick’s bag and hurrying back. “What can I do?” she asked, feeling so helpless. “This is all my fault. I am so sorry.”

“First of all, calm down,” said Orrick, not seeming at all panicked like she was.

“But ye’re dyin’, Orrick.”

“Who said I’m dying?” He smiled and reached out for the bag.

“B-but Lennox stabbed ye in the heart.” She cocked her head, surprised to see that there wasn’t blood squirting out anymore.

“I’m a lot more resilient than you think, lassie. Now hush up and let me teach you a little more about healing herbs. Where is my book?”

“It’s right here,” she said, pulling it from her bag and wiping away another tear with the back of her hand.

“Let’s wrap my wound and get back to your room where we can talk in private.”

“My room? Ye want me to go back there?”

“Aye. Why? Were you planning on leaving? I don’t think Hawke would like that. Plus, he’s already going to be furious that we let Lennox escape.”

“We didna let him escape, it just happened. No’ to mention, Lennox stabbed ye. Och, Hawke is goin’ to hate me now.”

“Does it matter to you what he thinks? I thought you two were enemies.”

“I’m no’ so sure anymore, Orrick. But mayhap ye can look into yer crystal orb and tell me if Hawke thinks of me as an enemy or a lover.”

“Nay, Phoebe. Only Hawke can tell you that. But I think if you look into your heart, you’ll know the answer for yourself.”

“Mayhap,” she said, wanting to believe that Hawke thought she was more than an enemy. But she supposed a lot would depend on if Orrick died and how angry Hawke was going to be with her that Lennox escaped. Well, she’d find out when he and his friends returned. If they returned at all.

Chapter 17

Hawke snuck through the shadows of the courtyard, making his way to the dungeon of Crookston Castle. By sheer luck, he’d managed to find the secret entrance, and now he and his friends were on a mission to save his grandfather.

Logan and Ethan followed right behind him while Caleb stayed back with the horses, watching for trouble.