Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Me Laird, please, ye mustnae go that way,” a maid cried as Theo rushed past the people pouring into the halls, seeking refuge.
The clash of steel and the shouts of panicked men bounced off the stone walls, amplifying the chaos that swirled around him.
His eyes darted to the young faces that scrambled past him, and his chest tightened. Where was Amber? Had she been taken with Maisie?
It was a thought he didn’t want to consider at the moment. He had to remain vigilant. The keep could only take so many attacks before the walls came crumbling down. The only thing he could pray for now was getting his people out before Micah came barreling through.
Smoke curled through the corridor like a serpent as it slithered under doors and licked the stone. Theo moved with purpose through it all, remaining on high alert with a hand ready on his blade.
He marched down the corridor, his shoulders tight, his jaw clenched, hand hovering over the hilt of his blade.
After all, he had made a vow, not to the council, but to the keeper of his heart. It was because of Lavina that he charged through the corridor, pushing past the servants seeking shelter.
“Get yerselves to the council chambers—the tunnels are open. Ye’ll find safety in the foothills,” he barked while racing for Amber’s chambers.
For the life of him, he couldn’t understand how anyone could be so vindictive as to hunt down innocent lasses or storm another man’s home to drag them out.
The very thought raked down his spine like a hot iron.
He turned the corner into the east corridor and choked back a cough as the scent of blood and soot assaulted his senses. It was as if the bandits had already come and gone, looting everything in sight.
The whole scene made his stomach churn, but not from anger. His sole concern was Amber. The poor lass had been through enough and had seen the worst of mankind through her mother’s rejection. Theo couldn’t bear the thought of what she would think of him if he failed.
He shook his head as if he could shake off the thought and returned to the task at hand. The fact of the matter was, he wouldn’t fail. He refused to entertain that option.
A bolt of lightning flashed through the dark sky, drawing his attention to the window.
Theo inched closer as if enchanted by the sight before him.
Another streak of light illuminated the vast horde come to claim Maisie and Lavina.
It was against the gray silhouette of the stables that he spotted three figures.
If he didn’t know any better, he would have chalked it up to a specter come to haunt the field. But the sight of the figures fighting and resisting, being dragged into the stables, confirmed his suspicions.
“Maisie,” he gasped, pressing a hand to the cold glass pane.
He peered through the night and clenched his jaw. There was no way he’d be able to reach the stables before they saddled the horses. And the chances of them having horses ready were too likely.
“Ye’re nae takin’ them anywhere,” he hissed as he stepped back.
He drew a hard breath as he studied the window. There was but one choice, one way. His parents would roll in their graves knowing what he was about to do.
Using his arm as a shield, Theo burst through the window. Glass shattered and rained like diamonds around him. The gap to the ground was wider than he had anticipated. And as he fell, he had no choice but to roll and tumble to avoid breaking his ankles.
“I heard something over this way!” he heard an unfamiliar voice call out.
He didn’t hesitate to bolt to the nearest shrub for cover. Jumping between the shadows of the trees, he stole like a specter to the stables.
“Let me go, ye brute,” Maisie cried out.
The panic in her voice caused Theo’s chest to tighten. He drew his dirk from his belt and inched beneath the window of the stables. He rose slightly, stealing whatever glimpse he could get.
Maisie cried out again, and he felt as if someone had plunged their hand into his chest and ripped out his heart.
“Unhand me, ye fiend. If ye only ken who ye are dealin’ with—why, ye’ll wish ye were never born—” She broke off.
Theo could only imagine her kidnapper shoving something in her mouth to keep her quiet.
“Ye should have listened to the lass,” he muttered as he tiptoed around the corner, charging in with a righteous rage in his veins.
With quick, precise swings, he dispatched the bandit holding Maisie. She fell into the hay and scrambled to his ankles.
“I kenned ye’d come. I kenned it,” she gasped as he kneeled before her, checking her for injuries.
She didn’t seem to have any injuries. Maybe a few scratches he couldn’t account for, but other than that, she’d been spared.
“Aye. Now, where’s Amber?” Theo asked as the bushes nearby rustled violently.
He pushed Maisie behind him, keeping a keen eye on the shadows, waiting for whatever it was to spring out.
“She’s ours,” a midget of a man sneered, charging with an axe over his head.
Theo jumped back, missing the axe’s blade by inches. Maisie squealed as she darted to the stall.
“Ye’ll have to get through me first,” he growled, his muscles twitching with anticipation.
If they wanted a fight, he wasn’t going to disappoint.
“Look out,” Maisie warned as the attacker came back around.
Theo was ready. With a quick feint to the left and a flick of his wrist, the man dropped dead to the ground.
“We need to find Amber,” Theo said.
“Where do ye think she is?” Maisie asked, her voice trembling as she reached for him.
“I thought she was with ye,” he answered.
Maisie’s eyes widened. “I thought she was right behind me… Oh God, where’s Amber?” She raked her fingers through her hair.
Theo could see the panic and terror overwhelming her. It was ripping through her like a wildfire leveling the crops.
“We’ll find her.”
“How can ye be so sure?”
“I found ye, did I nae?” Theo grabbed her by the wrist. “I need ye to tell me the last place ye saw her.”
Maisie shrugged as she glanced around the stalls. “Before we got here, I think I saw the guard taking her south.”
“That means they went to the garden.”
Suddenly, a pail dropped at the back of the stables.
Immediately, Theo clapped his hand over Maisie’s mouth, cutting off whatever sound was about to escape. He glared at her, silently warning her not to speak.
Her eyes went wide as saucers. She bobbed her head as he pushed her into the corner and stepped over the headless attacker.
“Ye had better be ready to meet yer maker, ye heathens,” Marcus bellowed as he charged out of the last stall with a pitchfork.
“Maisie stay back,” Theo ordered as he jumped over the nearest stall door and dropped next to a foal and mare to let him pass.
“Theo?” Marcus asked as he slowed down and dropped the pitchfork. Theo exhaled as he glanced to Maisie with relief.
“Marcus! Good, ye’re alive. I need ye to get Maisie to the council chambers,” Theo said, pushing Maisie into Marcus’s unsuspecting arms. “Make sure that Stephen takes care of them both. I’ve got to find Amber.”
“Theo, ye’ve got to find another way to get the people out. Those tunnels willnae last under heavy bombardment, and I saw the artillery comin’ our way,” Marcus said as he glanced at Maisie.
Theo paused as he glanced at Maisie. The unspoken question lingered in the air between them.
Was she truly more important than his clan? She was innocent, yes, but was her life more valuable than the men he was losing at that very moment?
“Micah willnae stop until he gets what he wants, and we all ken he wants me,” Maisie said.
Her voice broke from the stress, but Theo could hear exactly what she was saying.
Yet there was no way he was going to allow her to sacrifice herself for the sake of his clan.
He wouldn’t allow it. She was more important than the men who were dying for her in the field.
Maisie was family, and that was enough for Theo.
“Aye, but I’ll nae let ye become a martyr for yer silly cause.
Yer sister would never speak to me again.
I promised her I’d keep ye safe, and that’s what I will do.
Now, go with Marcus to the council chambers.
Ye’ll get as many people out through the tunnels as ye can. But I’ll nae leave Amber. I cannae.”
“Nay one is askin’ ye to, lad,” Marcus said, placing a hand on Theo’s shoulder. “I’ll take her to the council chambers.”
“Take the passage in the kitchen behind the sacks of flour. And see that ye make the loop to the chambers. Get people out. Keep our clan safe,” Theo instructed, his arms itching to hold Lavina again.
Deep down, he could feel the tug of the grave on his heels.
He let out a heavy sigh as he watched Marcus pull Maisie to the back of the stables.
If there was anyone who knew the keep like the back of his hand, it was Marcus. He was far more skilled with a blade than Stephen, but twice his age. All Theo could do was send up a prayer as he slipped out of the stables and headed back to the keep.
Where are ye, ye wee devil? I ken ye’re around here somewhere. If I were ye, where would I go to hide?
Theo arched an eyebrow as he scanned the dark windows until his gaze fell on the shifting shadows in his study. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
Amber.
It was her; he was certain of it.
Without hesitation, he made a beeline for his study window. He froze between shadows and smoke as Micah’s men continued their advance.
There was no doubt the keep would fall. Far too many people were going up against them. But Theo could save Lavina and Amber, and Maisie. He could save his family, and that was what mattered most.
“She’s in here. I saw the little brat come in here,” he heard the muffled voice through the window.
He peered over the sill. A wave of gratitude washed over him. He’d have to bless whoever kept the fire going. It was in the rusty orange light that he managed to spot Amber hiding under his desk.
She was trapped. Two beasts of men were coming around the desk, leaving her no room for escape.
Theo had to act fast. He jumped up and slammed his fist into the window. The sound of shattering glass sliced through the tension.
“Amber, run. Now,” he boomed.
Amber didn’t hesitate. She bolted from her hiding place, undeterred by the men closing in on her. Theo opened his arms as she launched herself at him.
The catch was sure.
Her little arms wound around his corded neck. “I kenned ye’d come. I kenned it.”
“Ye had me worried sick,” Theo said as the men took one look at him and bolted from the study.
“They took Maisie.”
“Maisie’s fine; I found her in the stables. She’ll meet us at the council chambers.”
“The keep,” Amber whimpered.
Theo carried her back through the stone walls. “It’s just a stone structure. We can rebuild it, but I cannae rebuild ye,” he murmured. “Right now, we have lives to save. Can ye help?”
Amber pressed her lips together as she squeezed him tightly. “Aye. I’ll do what I can.”
“That’s a good lass,” Theo praised. “Now, let’s get some people out of this mess, shall we?”
He hurried around the keep, clinging to the stone walls. Every sound echoed in his ears and made his chest tighten. There was no telling for certain if Lavina fled or if she’d be there, waiting. He wanted her to be waiting at the opening to the tunnels, but it was just a hope.
Pushing through the side door to the kitchen, Theo expected resistance. It was a relief and a surprise to find the room empty. It was a stark reminder of just how dire the situation had become.
“Over here,” he said, slipping between the shelves.
“What is this place?” Amber asked as he pulled back a large burlap sack.
“The tunnels. Yer ancestor thought it wise to build an exit that wounds through the land. He dug the tunnels first before building the keep.”
“Lavina said that the keep was a place where our family smuggled liquor,” Amber countered.
“And how would she ken that?” Theo shook his head. “The books. That woman needs a proper library. Nay, the keep wasnae used for smugglin’ liquor. But that’s neither here nor there. The fact is, we can use this passage and others to get people out.”
“Council chambers?” Amber asked as her little eyes grew wide with curiosity.
Theo’s lips curled into a smile. “Where do ye think we’re goin’?” he asked as he rounded a corner.
His heart leaped into his throat when he saw Lavina. There she was, as he had hoped, waiting for him.
“Theo?” she cried, rushing toward him.
She wrapped her arms around them both as she planted kiss after kiss on his forehead.
“It’s good to see ye, too.” He chuckled.
The ground quaked under Theo’s feet. Something massive had plowed into the walls—something that could level the place in a matter of minutes.
“We’re out of time,” he said as rocks fell around them, sealing them off from their only exit.
“Theo?” Lavina gulped, turning to him for an answer.
Despite the direness of the situation, Theo wouldn’t break. He pressed his lips to hers, savoring all he could.
“This is goin’ to stop. Yer uncle is goin’ die,” he hissed as his future suddenly faded from his view. “Stephen, Marcus, ye both ken the tapestry of the fountain in the foyer.”
“Ye cannae think we can make it there,” Marcus gasped in disbelief.
“What choice do ye have? Ye stay here and have the roof cave on ye, or make it to the tunnels,” Theo snapped. “I dinnae ken about ye, but I want to see ye live.”
“Then come with us.”
“I cannae. Yer uncle will keep huntin’ ye down, and I willnae be able to live with meself kennin’ that I did nothing to stop him. Nay. I’m goin’ to end this madness now. Keep them safe.”
“Theo, nay, ye cannae do this to us,” Lavina begged.
Stephen wrapped his arms around her, pinning her to him.
“Get her out of here. I’m goin’ to stop the war.”