Chapter 18
Sienna slipped through the door into pre-dawn darkness, water bucket in hand. Exhaustion weighed on her after the night’s chaos.
“Sienna.”
She spun, bucket raised like a weapon. “Calan?”
“Yeah.”
Relief washed over her, but worry for Liam and Kitto settled deep.
From the deep shadows near a towering schist pile, her brother stepped forward. “The hunters are still out. I had to take the long way around to avoid them.”
“Where are Kitto and Liam?” Her heart banged against her ribs on spotting her brother’s expression.
“Liam got shot. The vet removed the bullet and gave us antibiotics, but he spiked a fever overnight. Jules is watching him while Kitto gets some rest.”
A low growl hummed in Sienna’s throat at the unfamiliar name. Jules? Who was that? She’d feel better once she saw Liam herself.
“Pa, Jago, and Jamie went to the camp to grab equipment. Ma and I packed. Now we have to figure out how to get out of the village.”
“We have a vehicle,” Calan said, grinning as he took the water bucket from Sienna.
“A vehicle? Big enough for everyone?”
His grin widened. “You know the mayor’s campervan? We have it.”
Sienna gasped. “He’ll have you arrested for stealing.”
“Nope. Jules said her father left for France yesterday morning—took the family car with her mother and sisters and told Jules to follow in the campervan. She’s supposed to meet them there but decided to help us first.”
“You told her where we’re headed?”
“No, but Kitto trusts her—they’ve been friends for ages. I think we can too.”
“I don’t know—”
“Judge for yourself,” Calan said.
“Where are they waiting?”
“Near the old campgrounds. We didn’t see any hunters down there. From the gossip we picked up, they searched near the mayor’s rental home.”
“They came to the house, but I refused to let them inside.”
Calan wrinkled his nose. “They’ve been out all night. I kid you not. I didn’t get much sleep either.”
“Since you’re here, is there anything you need to take, bearing in mind we won’t have much room, even in a campervan?”
“This one is large,” Calan said.
“We’ll need to drive via the back roads. Navigating some country roads will be difficult if the vehicle is too big.” Sienna led the way into the cottage.
When her mother spotted Calan, she gave a glad cry, engulfing him in a crushing hug even though he towered over her. Sienna busied herself making coffee because she expected her father to arrive soon.
“Calan, can you help me stow the camping equipment inside the cottage? We mightn’t be able to take it with us, but there is no sense in leaving it to get damaged outside,” their mother said.
Calan busied himself following their mother’s instructions, and by the time her father, older brother, and Jamie arrived, they had packed everything away.
They had a quick coffee, did a final clean, and prepared to leave.
Papa moved through the cottage slowly, his fingers trailing along the wooden mantelpiece he’d carved when Jago was born. In the kitchen, Mama paused at the window overlooking her herb garden, her hand pressed against the glass.
“Ready?” Sienna asked, compassion welling inside her. Leaving was difficult, but it had to be so much harder for her parents, who’d built their lives here and raised a family.
Her father nodded but didn’t move, years of memories anchoring him here. Slowly, he shuffled to the door, the last to step outside. His weathered hand lingered on the frame, tracing the worn marks that measured his children’s growth.
“We’ll be back,” Tamsin whispered, her voice faltering.
Hedrek closed the door with a soft click, final and heavy.
Jamie appeared at Hedrek’s elbow without being asked, shouldering the heaviest pack before any of her brothers could protest. “I’ve got this,” he said, and Hedrek’s grateful nod said everything.
Without speaking, they hastened away from the village, taking the less-traveled path down to a gravel road. Each of them carried a pack and had to ensure the contents didn’t rattle and reveal their location.
Sienna took one last glance at the cottage that had been her home for her entire life.
Sadness filled her as she reflected on how they’d mostly had a good life here until the mayor had brought change.
The indistinct murmur of voices drifted to her seconds before two hunters appeared.
Sienna didn’t dart, but glided to the right until she was out of sight.
They’d been lucky this morning. Very lucky.
They kept moving in single file, with Sienna taking up the rear. They didn’t speak, each aware of the danger of voices carrying. She promised herself they’d keep the land taxes current because if they ever returned, she wanted the land and cottage to be there for her parents.
It took an hour to walk to the campgrounds. Sienna didn’t initially see the campervan because Jules had parked it behind a tall hedge, which did an excellent job of camouflage.
Sienna burst into a sprint when she saw her younger brother. “Kitto, how is Liam?”
Kitto frowned as she pushed past him. “His forehead is hot, but he’s sleeping comfortably.
Jules thinks it’s best to let him wake naturally.
He’s not due to have more antibiotics until tonight.
Come and see for yourself. I’ll introduce Jules before we pack and take off. Jules, have you met my sister, Sienna?”
Jules was a pretty blonde with bright blue eyes and loads of confidence. She didn’t hesitate to shake hands with Sienna.
“My parents, Hedrek and Tamsin Teague,” Kitto said, and Sienna realized Kitto had confidence too. His friendship with Jules helped him blossom. “You’ve met Calan already, and this is my older brother, Jago, and our friend, Jamie.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Kitto talks about you often, so I feel as if I know you already.”
“Where is Liam? I want to see him,” Sienna said.
“He’s in the back. Kitto will show you. I’ll help everyone stow your gear,” Jules said.
“She’s bossy,” Calan muttered.
Jago grinned and brushed past, lugging a heavy pack. Calan and Jamie followed while Sienna darted after Kitto.
“How is he? Truly?” she asked.
“He didn’t sleep much during the night. I think he had bad dreams. He shouted a few times. Honestly, Sienna. I worried someone would hear him and come to investigate.”
Kitto opened a side door and stood aside to let her enter before him.
She gasped because the entire vehicle interior was luxurious, with the rich scent of leather. Everything appeared top-of-the-line. No expense spared. Where did the mayor get his money?
Liam lay buried beneath a pile of blankets, only his ruffled dark hair visible.
Sienna crossed the room in two strides and sank beside him, her nose wrinkling at the mix of antiseptic and sweat.
She pressed a hand to his forehead and winced.
Heat poured off him, and her feline instincts stirred, sharp with alarm.
Dark shadows ringed his eyes, and his breathing was too shallow.
“You said he’s on antibiotics?”
“Yeah, the vet told us to keep him comfortable and get him to drink plenty of fluids. He seemed fine last night. Tired, but he spoke to us.”
“Okay, Ma and I will keep watch over him.”
“No, you and Ma will need to sit up front with Jules. None of us can sit up there because we’re taking the fastest way to get away from Stoneford. Jules can drop us somewhere quiet, and we can hire a vehicle to take us north. I’ll watch Liam.”
“But—”
“No, we have to appear normal. Anyone searching for us will look for men and women.” The distant sound of engines made Kitto’s jaw tighten. “No arguments. We need to move.”
Sienna smoothed a lock of Liam’s hair off his forehead and nodded before backing up and exiting the campervan. She made way for her father, brothers, and the few bags that hadn’t fit in the side lockers.
Her mother hovered, her discomfort clear in her shuffling feet and lip biting.
“Ma, it’s going to be all right. Kitto wants us to travel upfront with Jules.”
“Can we trust her?” Ma whispered. “She’s the mayor’s daughter.”
“Just because I’m his daughter, it doesn’t mean I’ll turn you in to the hunters.
Kitto and I have been friends for months.
” She paused, and the attitude seeped right out of her.
“I’ve never told my parents about Kitto and me because they would disapprove, but I think my younger sister saw and told my father.
My father gave me a lecture about choosing friends wisely, and my parents sent me to boarding school.
We kept seeing each other, but only when I was at home for the school holidays. ”
“Your father called in the hunters.” Sienna tried not to sound accusing, but it leaked into her words.
“I know. Look, we can talk on the way. Kitto and I studied the map last night and have picked out three different campgrounds. We can discuss and choose the one you think will work best.” She rounded the front of the vehicle and climbed into the driver’s seat.
Sienna nudged her mother, and they entered via the passenger side. A door slammed shut, and Jules started the engine.
“Everyone ready?” she asked.
There was a chorus of assent from the rear, and Jules pulled away from their sheltered spot and onto the gravel road. Jules wasn’t a tall girl, but she drove with confidence and skill.
“Won’t your father notice you’re gone?” her mother asked.
“He and Mama and my younger sister have already left for France, but Papa wants the campervan there too. I’ll take it as I promised, but I intend to help you get out of Stoneford first. I detest what he has done to your family.
Even before the hunters came, he pressured the other villagers into causing trouble.
And it was all because of my friendship with Kitto.
We’ve done nothing wrong. I trust Kitto and know he won’t try to kiss me or attack me, or worse, because he’s honorable.
My father sees only his differences. I want to help, and I won’t tell my father or the hunters a thing. ”