Tom grasped the knife’s handle and gentled it free, seemingly indifferent as the corpse slumped forward. Turning the blade from side to side, he ran a finger along its back. Gaelic letters were etched into the metal, and I squinted to make out the words—Brigid Burdach.
“That’s my knife!” I sputtered indignantly.
“So it would appear.” Cate managed an even tone, though I assumed her surprise rivaled my own.
Tom flicked his eyes to the woman. “Whoever stole it knew what they were about, as no mortal blade could have killed her.”
Henry pointed the spear tip at the corpse. “Do you mean to say that this is the witch Carmen?”
“I believe so.” Cate picked up a lock of black hair. “Deri must have favored the father in her coloring.” She released it, letting it fall back into place.
With such a gruesome distraction, I would have missed the next hiss from the tunnel if it didn’t make my nape creep each time it opened.
“Who do you think stole the knife?” Henry asked.
My mind raced over the many faces from the Sea Witch. In truth, most of the men had appeared capable of murder, and I looked to Ailish for help. “Did any of the crew carry Tuatha Dé blood?”
Ailish stared at the witch, her face screwed to a knot with thought. “Me nose didn’t say so, but there weren’t much to smell over the scent o’ the captain’s cargo. Could have been any one o’ them I suppose.”
Cate traced a gloved finger around the gash in Carmen’s chest. “It wasn’t the crew.”
“How do you know?” I asked, mesmerized by the movement as she completed the slow circle and then followed a line along the knife’s upward path.
Her finger came to rest atop Carmen’s heart. “Because I know who’s responsible. Do you agree, Tiarnach?”
“Aye,” Tom confirmed, “I thought the same the moment I saw the blade.”
The same what? I looked between the two of them, frustrated by their uncanny ability to communicate with so few words.
Henry propped the spear against the throne and leaned forward for a closer look. “Tell us what you’re thinking.”
Cate withdrew her hand from Carmen. “That we’ve been played for fools—”
A scream sounded in the tunnel. I whipped around just as two gigantic torches flamed to life, one on either side of the throne. Their green light stung my eyes, and I jerked back, a cry of alarm stuck in my throat. Ailish squeaked her surprise and bumped into me in an equally hasty retreat. A spasm jolted my spine, and Cate grabbed hold of my arm to keep me upright when I stumbled from the dais. Regaining my balance, I found Henry and Tom standing in front of us, swords drawn and their eyes fixed on the tunnel.
Footsteps echoed and Sean appeared, his face contorted with rage. “Watch out—” His warning cut short as he stumbled forward and sprawled on the cavern floor with a dense thud that made me wince. Marin appeared next, her expression no less pained than my brother’s. She moved in a slow shuffle, Julian directly behind her. His hat was gone, and a brown lock skimmed his cheek, having come lose from its binding.
Havoc ran through me as I grappled to make sense of the scene. My eyes flew over each of them—Sean on the floor, Marin with her head tilted back, Julian grasping a fistful of her hair like a tether.
Gracious heaven! What is happening?
Sean struggled to his feet. Blood dripped from his forehead into his left eye. He wobbled and shifted to a wider stance to keep his balance. Instinct took over, and I made to go to him when Cate grabbed my elbow. “Wait,” she whispered.
I settled back on my heels, worry thrumming my ribs like a washboard. Eerie green light flickered across our faces and stone surroundings, lending an unearthly quality to an already surreal situation.
Tom adjusted the grip on his broadsword. “What’s the meaning of this, my lord?”
Julian’s upper lip curled to a sneer. “Ask her ladyship,” he said, tipping his head toward Cate. “She nearly had me figured out twice before we entered the dolmen. If not for Deidre Byrne filling the air with Cailleach’s power, she’d have certainly discovered the truth.” He stepped farther into the cavern, yanking Marin along with him. She yelped in pain, but made no attempt to escape.
Sean swayed toward him. “Let her go, Stroud. She’s done nothing to you.”
“Oh, but she’s plenty to do for me,” Julian chided him. “Marin’s safety is collateral for your good behavior.” He turned a cold stare at us. “That goes for everyone here. Come near me, and she’ll pay for your foolishness.”
The man spoke boldly, considering he carried no obvious weapon. Tom and Henry must have thought something similar for they started a curved path that would leave him hemmed in on both sides.
Julian released an exasperated breath. “Now, I told you not to do that.” His mouth thinned, and a second later Marin whimpered and started to writhe in pain. A thin trail of blood ran from one side of her nose. It crested her lips, and continued to her chin, where several crimson drops fell to the ground.
Ailish squeaked beside me. Tom and Henry halted their course.