“Allow me to see.” She shuffled past Fiona and creaked the door open an inch. A serving maid bustled about the steamy kitchens and another lass scrubbed pots at the basin. A fire burned in the ovens and the aroma of fruit tarts wafted through the air.
Another maid hustled in, her hands stained red by some kind of berry. She removed the fruit tarts from the ovens, set them on two trays, handed one to the closest maid and picked up the other tray herself before the two of them walked out the door with the pastries in hand.
She closed the door with a snick and caught Fiona’s hand. “There’s one maid remaining, whom we need to get past. Do you think you can get her to leave without raising any questions?”
“I could.”
“Or I could.” Raspy words from Cedric. He removed his helm and scrubbed a hand through his short black hair lying hot and slick against his scalp, his blue gaze now clear.
Damn it. She no longer held any control over him, had somehow allowed it to slip free.
She nabbed ahold of his mind again and he held up a staying hand, his gaze narrowed. “Nay,” he uttered. “You dinnae need to make any more demands of me, or force me to your will. I am of more use to you with my thoughts as my own.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Coll has my allegiance, given to him during his recent visit. I remain in Jeremiah’s stronghold for one reason only, to keep an eye on Coll’s wayward brother. I listened in at the door while you both spoke. I too hold a touch of fae blood and Coll has always known that. I am at your service, will always remain loyal to our clan’s next chief.” He removed his wrist dagger and handed it to her hilt first. “’Tis time for the fae to live.”
“You’re truly loyal to Coll and Duncan?”
“Aye, the fae blood I hold is four generations removed, and although I hold no skill, my younger sister does. The path I’ve chosen in joining your brothers’ cause is to ensure my sister’s future. She shouldnae have to live in fear of Colin or Jeremiah and their devious desires.”
“I believe you, and call me Kyla. All my friends do.” She pushed Cedric’s offered dagger back toward him. “Please, you must help Fiona and I get safely away. That is all I ask of you.”
“Once I dispense with the maid, I’ll see you directly to the sea-gate entrance myself. Few are aware of it, but there’s a deep underwater tunnel that flows from the sea-gate into the keep, one a solitary man can swim through, provided he know where it lies. I do.”
“What are you suggesting?” She brushed a cobweb from her arm.
“You both need to be prepared for a swim. I’ll sneak you out of here myself through that tunnel.”
“Well, ’tis a lovely night for a swim.” She grinned at Fiona. “Wouldnae you say?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then wait right here while I see to the maid.” Cedric eased past them in the cramped space, flung the door open and closed it to within an inch.
Nose to the inch gap, Kyla held her breath.
Cedric strode to the lass and ordered, “The laird’s betrothed needs more clothing. Find the seamstress and have her take bolts of cloth to the blue chamber.”
“Aye, right away.” The lass rushed out the door.
Kyla bounded into the kitchens and hurried to Cedric’s side, Fiona one step behind her. “How quickly will she find the seamstress?”
“The seamstress left earlier this eve for the village five miles to the south. The lass will take some time to run that errand. Follow me. I’ll no’ lead you astray.” He walked into the storage room set to the side, opened a tiny door that creaked terribly then closed it after them as they all snuck outside.
In the dark of the night, the fresh sea air swirling all around, they flattened themselves to the keep’s stony wall, just out of the sight of the guardsmen patrolling the battlements high above. Cedric edged along until they reached a small nook where stones surrounded a fish pond sloshing with water and the odd lily pad floating on top. He knelt, removed several rocks from around the edge and murmured, “This is where the sea-gate’s underwater tunnel begins. It leads directly outside to the rocks near the landing.”
“Oh, how clever.” She never would have guessed a tunnel lay directly below them.
“I’ll go through first, discover Duncan’s exact position on the other side of the wall then return for both of you.” He rose to his feet. “I overheard you say you hold a merged link with your chosen one. Reach for him along it. Tell him I’m coming.”
“Of course.” In the future she’d need to take great care if a guard stood outside her door, that he couldn’t overhear her, although Coll had already told Cedric the truth, which meant her brother trusted this man implicitly. Since Coll did, so too would she. She opened her link, followed the pathway to Ronan’s mind and sank into sheer mayhem when she did, his thoughts a tangled and frustrated mess. “I have good news.”
“Speak it.”