Chapter 39
“Why not seek Sir James directly?” The same warrior’s voice she had heard at the provision’s buttery during their escape from Sgàrlaid Castle rebuffed Sèidrich.
“Discretion,” Sèidrich replied like the fingers of death caressed his tongue, “same as the purpose we held at a distance till this midnight moment. If the Lady Fawnella is present, she will now be asleep, so we may approach in secret and secure our plan for attack.” That had been earlier.
Who knew having to rest after almost drowning would now save them.
“Lady Fawnella?” Kameron’s voice invaded the rustling through the trees she heard outside made by the newfound threat. Her eyes snapped toward the young lad’s.
“Sèidrich is here and nearly upon us,” Nella declared.
Kameron’s jaw gapped. “How?”
“I do not know, Kam. Alas, he is, and he prepares to strike.”
Lady Dagny stepped forward curiously. “Who is Sèidrich?”
“An enemy, my lady,” Kameron answered somberly.
Callum needed to be warned, but how? Her eyes settled on a cloak draped over the chair by the hearth. Embroidered with luminescent thread in most ornate fashion, full hood, and not hers; perfect!
“My lady.” Nella reached for the find. The wool same as butter in her grasp. “Please may I take this for but a moment?”
“For certain.” Lady Dagny nodded.
“Lady Fawnella.” Kameron’s brow grew wrinkled by worry. “Nae, Sir Callum would not take kindly to you venturing beyond while I remain. Nor do I.”
“Only to the front archway,” she assured, then promised, “I shall not step beyond this.” Kameron shifted his weight on his feet like the floor had grown flames.
“Kam, ’tis the only way. You remain, bind Sir James’s wrists and ankles and gag him before he rouses.
Then keep watch over Lady Dagny.” The young lad finally nodded solemnly.
Throwing the cloak on her shoulders, she raced for the door.
“Kam, barricade the door from the inside with the board here.” She slammed her palm on the oak.
“Aye, my lady.”
Her feet barely touched the rushes as she raced the passageway abandoned at the late hour.
Leaning her skull, she heard Sèidrich order in the forested labyrinth beyond, “We shall place a full barrier about the abbey same as a castle’s curtain wall.
” No! Her shoulders stiffened. Gracious, how many warriors were out there?
The provisions raider replied, “Sèidrich, there are only four of us.” Her shoulders lowered.
“There would have been none if we had not abandoned the others before Chief MacHarris ensued the slaughter. Perhaps you would care to join those already killed? I may arrange this directly.” That coward had left his men-at-arms to die.
“Nae, Sèidrich, we shall see to the placements.” The provisions raider gasped the reply like Sèidrich had raised a weapon at him threateningly.
“Make certain the crossbows are nocked soon as you are settled. I do not seek another mistake in their escape as at Sgàrlaid Castle. Whether they are inside with Sir James’s already in irons or yet to approach at dawn they shall be in our sights once they emerge.
Slay Sir Callum and Lord Kolson first, then the others.
” Her hands fisted at her sides. “However, leave Lady Fawnella. Our ultimate employer shall wish to speak with her.”
“What of Sir James if he is in irons?”
“My lord would not seek for him to fall into an enemy’s grasp; slay him as well. Now, step quickly and stay silent from now till dawn, not even a sneeze or cough from any of you.”
Her temple lowered more before rustling by feet sounded the perimeter.
The shuttered doorway almost seemed to mock her challenge in trying to warn Callum when the latch refused to budge.
Release! The groan by hinges aired after finally giving way.
Trying to shadow her face, she yanked the hood higher over her hair till it brushed the tops of her brows.
She stepped out into the late-night air.
Please let this disguise work at remaining hidden from Sèidrich!
“Is that Lady Fawnella?” the provisions raider asked from afar. How far and which direction?
“Nae, it must be Lord Kolson’s sister,” Sèidrich raged. The cloak worked! “Stop starin’ and move like the others!” They were northeast perhaps sixty paces at that tree line. The other would-be assassins?
A vicious whisper ground out. “Hell! I stepped on a sharp stone.” That warrior was southeast, seventy – nae, more like eighty paces away.
“Quit moanin’ and move your arse.” Those two were still together, same distance.
“Hold a moment, fuk, my boot is warm. I think it pierced the leather and my foot is bleeding.”
Would Callum know it was her? Please, my knight, realize this is not Lady Dagny Kolson.
“Scotsman,” Holger’s voice puffed from across the stable yard at Callum, “my sister is just there. Something has gone awry.”
“How do you know it is Lady Dagny?” Sir Brayden inquired.
“The cloak.”
“Nae, Northman,” Callum murmured, “’tis Nella.” Any other time she would have smiled. One look – he knew!
***
Callum heard Holger argue, “No, Scotsman, our sire gave my sister that cloak.”
“Northman, the way her hips move, ’tis Nella, I would know her anywhere,” Callum said in an iron tone. “However, you are not mistaken something is amiss.”
From their vantage the shadows about the female form came clearer as she moved closer toward the lone torch outside the open threshold. The face raised their direction; her delicate features fell into view.
“Shit,” Holger bit out, “’tis Lady Fawnella. I am seeking the abbey right now.”
Nella’s left hand raised the cloak open till her right hand was seen but oddly hidden by the drape on the cloak she held in her left grip as if she didn’t want someone else to see her give a signal toward them.
What had she heard? Her right palm raised before her stomach toward them in a motion one would use to say stop.
“Northman, halt.”
“Why for fuk’s sake?”
“Look upon Nella.”
The thick frame swung around and saw her gesture. He sat back down on the straw with a solid crunch. Nella must have heard as she nodded slightly.
“Nella, is Lady Dagny well?” Callum asked. She nodded and Holger let out a long exhale beside him. “What is amiss?”
Her palm became a wiggle motion with her arm. “What in the devil’s ass does that mean?” Holger barked quietly. “A wave?”
Callum’s brows clashed together. “Nae, slithering, same as a snake.” She nodded. Why would she make a motion for a snake? Oh, shite! “A snake hisses. The symbol, are you referring to Sèidrich?”
Somehow despite being enshrouded in complete darkness – perhaps it was the sound signature from his voice – but her eyes met his across the stable yard as she inclined her brow.
“Sèidrich is present, Nella?” She nodded. Hell, that meant MacHarris must have fallen! Or Sèidrich turned coward and ran.
Sir Brayden groaned quietly while reflecting Holger’s previous curse. “Oh, for fuk’s sake.”
Callum’s eyes searched the murky darkness. Not a damn thing! A few paces beyond the abbey it was a veil by darkness.
His gaze darted back toward the summoner. “Nella, how many warriors do you believe ride with him?”
She lifted her fingers while Holger said the number. “Four warriors.” The Northman leaned forward then pressed her harshly. “Tell us where they are, my lady?”
Callum clenched his jaw. She’d just alerted them to a trap and the cocksman was demanding an answer! Sir Brayden didn’t take to it either as he said dryly, “Perhaps we should send the lady out into the night to hunt them as well.”
Holger glared at Sir Brayden.
“Nella, are you able to point the direction they are hiding?” Callum asked.
The three of them focused as she raised two fingers then pointed southeast from her. “Two warriors are southeast, have it, Nella.” She made a motion like walking with her fingers then flashed five fingers then a zero. “Walking paces, they are fifty paces from you that direction?”
She nodded and Holger emanated a grunt like a mate who had grasped a lover’s hips before he murmured, “Fuking flawless, the lady is a find unlike any.”
Callum ground his teeth. Now was not the time to challenge the Northman.
He had to find then slay these traitors before dawn.
He would see about reiterating his claim regarding Nella was his or he’d challenge the Northman to a forbidden Viking tradition of a “holmgang” where warriors would battle till death.
Nella made the snake motion with her hand and wrist again then pointed another direction with the hand gestures following as Callum interpreted them out loud.
“Sèidrich and the fourth warrior are nearly sixty paces northeast from you.” She bowed her head.
“We shall see to them, Nella. Please go back inside and bar the door on your and Lady Dagny’s chamber. ”
She lifted her hand to her lips, kissed them then pressed them onto her heart before standing a moment in the torchlight. If his love for her could cause the night to turn into day, the sun would be beaming overhead directly.
“My heart is yours as well, Nella,” he vowed. “I shall return for you.” She pulled the cloak closed before the door shuttered behind her.
“The kiss gesture was meant for me, Scotsman,” Holger taunted, adjusting his sword in the scabbard while they sought the ladder.
“Halt your tangents and see to the traitors,” Callum ordered darkly. “You take the first pair with Sir Brayden.” He tore his bow from his shoulder. “Sèidrich and the second present are mine.”
Moments later, the bramble pulling at his ankles, Callum maneuvered his path through the darkness.
As his eyes adjusted more into the murky surroundings, he searched the terrains.
With a glance back at the abbey’s stoop as reference in navigation, his feet found their way silently.
An inward grin curved his lips. Nella always said he moved like a phantom; now was the time to use this skill.
Stepping left at the large shadowy outline, most likely a boulder, he heard a tiny rustle ahead in the night’s darkness. Two figures shone by the tiniest silhouette from the sliver of a moon above after the clouds fell away by a stern gust before stillness claimed the winds once more.
There. The tall lean one on the left had to be Sèidrich… What was he doing leaned over? Click. Placing a bolt on the crossbow. The other shadow was squattier, on the move, and headed this way!
It must be a silent kill. Should these foes holler, this may place the second concealed charge by Brayden and Holger at risk.
Put an arrow in that thick throat of the approaching warrior.
The bow string pulled his fingers as he lifted it, as if eager to deliver the arrow on the target.
Wait… let the foe take two more steps this way… Release now!
The silent iron killer flew the air; the warrior emanated a small wheeze with his neck twisting at an unnatural angle after the arrow pierced.
Don’t let him collapse or this will alert Sèidrich!
Callum leapt forward, like a stag crossing an ocean, catching the dead warrior before a thump could hit the ground.
Laying him silently onto the terrain, Callum immediately nocked the next arrow from the quiver hung across his back.
Was Sèidrich’s only weapon in hand the crossbow? He narrowed his eyes as he stepped over a fallen branch. His lips curved. Aye, it was poor choice for the fight to come. A hare hopped in the bramble near him, cracking a twig. Sèidrich’s head snapped up his direction.
Sèidrich. Will. Remain. Silent. Setting his jaw, Callum charged the snake like mercenary who began raising his crossbow the same moment.
“The distance is too short for the bolt to inflict damage,” Callum snarled. “My arrow is not.”
Sèidrich knew it and his mouth began to open wide to yell a warning at the other warriors.
Now! Callum’s fingers released, and the arrow flew true and quick and landed right into the open hollow of Sèidrich’s mouth before he could spout a sound.
The evil foe gave a tiny gurgle noise before meeting the ground on his way back toward hell’s gate.
Wiping his brow, Callum looked at the peaceful abbey.
“Nella,” he whispered, knowing she would hear, “Sèidrich has re-joined his underground maker.” And will threaten you no more.