Slumping against the bars, I grasped them for support as I banged my head against the metal. Behind me, Kenna stirred for the first time in over an hour. She’d been uncharacteristically despondent since the guards had locked us up, staring into space as if the slimy stone walls were the last thing she’d ever see.
Fergus emitted a humorless chuckle and continued to address himself in the third person. “So now as second-highest commander of the royal guard, Fergus is committing treason.”
The unmistakable click of the locking mechanism caused me to step back as the heavy iron door creaked open. Duncan rushed in and gathered Kenna into his arms. His disheveled hair stuck out at odd angles, and a purpling bruise darkened his right cheekbone.
Kissing the top of her head, he asked, “Are ye all right, Mackenna?”
Kenna buried her head in his chest, her words muted. “I know how it must look, but we’re innocent. We found out about the witch but we were trying to stop her. You have to believe m—”
“Shhh.” Duncan smoothed her hair. “How many times are ye going to put me through this? Doncha think I know yer innocent?”
“Uh, guys?” Their reunion was touching, but I didn’t have time for romance at the moment. “Sorry to interrupt, but I’ve got to see him. Now.”
With a great sigh, Fergus turned his doleful face toward me. “Jamie’ll not see you, lass. Ye’ll not make it past Gideon’s men any more than I did. They got the jump on me.” His black eye and swollen lip were evidence that he’d given it his best shot.
“I’m not giving up.” There had to be another way. Stiffening my spine, I met each of my friend’s eyes in turn, landing on Kenna’s last. “I’ll go by myself if I have to.”
Ken pulled out of Duncan’s arms. The hardening of her features echoed my own determination. “I’m coming with you.”
Next to me, Fiona squared her shoulders. “Me too.”
Already half a dozen shades of pink, Fergus emitted another grave chuckle. “Seeing how I’m already slated for the dungeon m’self, count me in. Where Fiona goes, I go.” They shared a quick smile that filled me with optimism. They were good people—and good always prevailed … didn’t it?
I turned to the only one of us yet to speak. Other than me, Duncan had the most to lose. If he chose not to go against his sovereign’s orders, I wouldn’t blame him. “Duncan?”
His dark-brown eyes, so like Jamie’s, turned and focused on my best friend. “Aye. I’m in.”
We stepped from the cell into the corridor. To our left, the dungeon guards sprawled lifelessly on the ground. As I stifled my reaction, Kenna gasped. “Are they dead?”
Duncan shook his head “Nay. Just unconscious.”
Of course, the scuffle and moan made sense now. They had to knock out the guards in order to rescue us. It wasn’t just Fergus who’d committed treason, but the king’s own brother. Unfortunately, I had a sinking feeling if we didn’t get to Jamie soon, facing treason charges would be the least of our worries.
Following Duncan’s lead, we crept through the back passages until we arrived at the main corridor to the castle chapel unnoticed. At the entrance, Gideon barred our way, flanked by a half dozen guards. Although he stood at attention, tremors racked his emaciated body. His visible skin was a patchwork of flakes and sores. “No one is ta disturb the king.” His bluish lips twisted in a sneer aimed at Duncan. “Not even you, m’ laird.”
Duncan squared his linebacker shoulders. “You’ve caused enough mischief for one night, Gideon. Stand down!”
“I’m verra sorry, sire. I canna. I have my orders. And so do my men.”
“Oh, fer Heaven’s sake!” Fergus reared back and delivered a knockout punch to Gideon’s nose.