My reassurance was apparently enough. Within minutes, her breathing evened, and her body sagged in the weariness of slumber. I allowed myself to doze for a little while too, knowing I’d need all my energy for later.
When I awoke, I wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but the silence in the camp indicated now was the time to make our escape. I arose stealthily and dug through the chest until my fingers connected with the false bottom. With the click of the hidden lever, I located the knife Cecil had hidden there a day ago when he’d advised me to use the chest in the case of an evacuation or capture.
I pried the knife loose and carefully slit the canvas at the rear of the tent. From what I’d ascertained, Sir Aldric had only posted one guard at the front opening. He assumed two unarmed noblewomen would be helpless, that he had no need of extra precautions the way he might for a man.
In fact, I doubted he would have given a man the privacy of a tent, likely would have chained him, and kept him under careful watch.
A twinge of guilt pricked me. I was breaking the commander’s trust and spurning his chivalry to me as a woman. Just as quickly as the prick came, I smoothed it away with assertion that he was getting only what he deserved for taking us against our will. Lord Pitt could have worked out his grievances with my father in some other manner that didn’t involve our abduction.
When I sliced an opening large enough to squeeze through, I woke Izzy and cautioned her against any sound. Using the stealth and silence Cecil had taught me, I crawled out motioning Izzy to follow my every move as carefully and quietly as possible.
We crept along the ground in the darkness, following the route I’d mentally planned, dodging the other guards who kept watch over the camp. The knights were alert to any movement and noises outside the camp but wouldn’t be paying attention to rustle from within—or at least that’s what I was counting on.
We slithered among the gorse and heather, and it seemed to take hours to reach the creek bed. Once we were there, we skirted the horses so that we wouldn’t cause any of them to shift or snort or make any other noises that might draw notice from the guards.
“Stay here,” I whispered to Izzy from a low spot near the water’s edge behind a tangled clump of gorse. “I shall be back in a few minutes.”
“Where are you going?” Her whisper was threaded with anxiety.
“I need to cut my horse loose.” I’d already decided we could only chance freeing one of our horses. Mine was the better of the two choices. He was sturdier and could carry both of us for a longer distance. I’d also used him in my training over the past few years. I was counting on him slowly working his way out of the herd and then following my trail to where I’d be waiting for him upstream.
Crouched low, I crept past the horses, doing my best to stay close to the ground so they wouldn’t catch my scent. Several of their ears pricked as I approached, but I was silent enough that they didn’t bother with me.
When I reached my horse, I let my fingers glide along his flank, assuring him of my presence. At his soft nickering welcome, I held myself motionless, praying none of the guards would observe me among the dark shadows.
Finally, I lifted my knife and sawed through the lead rope that bound the horse to the others. As the fastening fell, I brushed my hand over his muzzle and nostrils, letting him breathe me in.
I backed away, this time wading in the creek, heedless of the cold water seeping into my boots. I’d take off my shoes later and let them dry tomorrow. But for now, I had to use the soft trickle of the creek to mask my steps.
I reached the gorse bush and Izzy well ahead of the horse. As we waited, my heart thudded with the need to be on our way. We’d taken longer than I’d anticipated, and our lead was diminishing with every passing second.
I’d almost given up hope my horse would reach us, when his soft nicker greeted us. “Let us make haste,” I whispered to Izzy as I reached for her hand. “Stay low until we are well out of sight.”
For several minutes, we crept down the creek bank using only the light of the stars to guide our way, until at last I could no longer see any traces of camp. I halted and allowed myself a moment of exaltation. Although we still had a long ride ahead of us, I knew Cecil would be proud of me for escaping undetected.
“We are far enough away to ride.” I released Izzy’s hand and patted my horse. “I shall help you mount.”
She didn’t respond. Instead she stiffened and sucked in a sharp breath.
“Ready?” I cupped my hands to form a step for her. I didn’t like the idea of riding bareback any more than she did. But we had no choice. Retrieving the saddle would have cost us time we didn’t have.
“Come now, Izzy.”
“And where, pray tell, are you ladies going?” At the question spoken in a low voice, my heart plummeted with dread.
I pivoted to find Sir Aldric watching me. Under the faint starlight, his features were an unyielding marble grooved with slanted angry lines. Next to him, another knight had captured Izzy and held her with both arms twisted behind her back.
Without giving the two a moment to prepare for an attack, I lunged with my knife and stabbed it into the knight holding Izzy.
He cried out and recoiled, letting go of my sister and falling away from the knife. I grabbed Izzy, threw her behind me, and ducked to escape Sir Aldric as he reached for me.
“Get on the horse, Izzy,” I shouted at her, even as I dodged another of Sir Aldric’s snaking arms. Behind me, Izzy had stumbled to the ground and was scrambling to regain her footing. I had to hold off Sir Aldric a few more seconds while she mounted. Even if I couldn’t escape with her, I could at least send her away and pray she would find the way to Lionel and Depnor Castle without me.
As Sir Aldric lunged for me again, I swept the knife at him. He jolted back before it could slit his throat, but the tip grazed his cheek, drawing a thin line.
He lifted his fingers to his face and tested the slickness of his blood, as if he couldn’t believe a noblewoman had dared to harm him.
“Make haste, Izzy.” I lifted the knife and took another swipe at Sir Aldric. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that the other knight was straightening and recovering from the initial shock and pain of his wound.
At the rasp of his sword against his sheath, I didn’t have to see to know he was advancing upon me.
“No,” Sir Aldric barked. “Put your weapon away. I shall deal with the girl.”
Girl? Did he think I was as helpless and incapable as a child?
“Get the horse,” Sir Aldric ordered his companion even as he circled me, eyeing my knife, the blade dark with blood.
I kept pace with his movements, attempting to gauge his next move so I could be prepared. My muscles tensed and I tightened my grip on the knife.
Behind me, my horse whinnied and protested the other knight’s approach. In that moment, I realized Izzy wouldn’t be able to mount without my help. If I told her to run, where would she go? She wouldn’t make it far on her own.
The frustration of my foiled plans emboldened me. Without warning, I broke forward and jumped at Sir Aldric. Though I moved swiftly and brought my knife down forcefully, this time he caught my arm and jerked it up. The sharpness wrenched my socket and seemed to tear my arm from my body.
Even though I didn’t want to scream, I did. The pain in my joint was excruciating. His thumbs pressed into my wrist forcing my grip off the knife so that it clattered to the ground. In an instant, he twisted both of my arms behind my back so that I couldn’t breathe through the pain. I sucked in a gasping breath and blinked to keep myself from passing out.
“Now, where did you say you were going, my lady?” he growled.
I bit back my angry retort. He may have stopped me this time. But I’d find a way to escape. Eventually.
Chapter
4
Lady Olivia would be the death of me.