Shades of Doon (36 page)
Trying not to look too hard at my surroundings, I rose and made my way around the edge of the cesspool toward the ladder. My sodden gown and cloak weighing me down, I had to stop on the third rung to catch my breath.
“Hurry, Vee,” Kenna encouraged.
“What time is it?”
“Nearly sunrise.”
The witch had given me until sunrise to change my mind.
Fear fueling me on, I raced the rest of the way up. Eòran lifted me out and set me on my feet. Before I could get my
bearings, I was surrounded by soldiers and ushered through a door hidden in the recesses of the wall. We climbed a rough stone staircase and emerged in the cramped passages of the catacombs.
Several guards fanned out around us, Analisa and Giancarlo standing watch beside them. Fergus stepped forward, bowing his great head. “Yer Majesty. Please forgive me for failin’ ye.”
Kenna rubbed the frozen flesh of my arms.
“Fergus, there’s nothing to forgive.” I met Duncan’s gaze as he stepped into view. “What about the rest of the people?”
“The Rosettis and your remainin’ loyal guard are freeing them now.” Duncan shifted from foot to foot, his fists balling and unballing reflexively.
“And Jamie?”
His eyes darkened with grief and then shuttered — so like his brother. “We havena been able to reach him.”
Ignoring the squeeze of my ribcage, I ordered, “Fergus, take three of my best guards and find Jamie. If I were Addie, I’d have him in the Keep. Try there first.”
Fergus gave a nod and then stooped to kiss Fiona’s forehead, whispering, “I’ll be back before ye miss me.”
“Ye better be.” She lifted her hand to caress his cheek.
His expression solidifying with determination, he turned away, rattled off the names of three guards, and they headed for the right passage.
“Fergus!” I stumbled forward, my voice breaking. “Do whatever it takes to save him.”
He glanced back, his light eyes glowing in the wash of my ring. “Aye, Yer Majesty.” He gave a quick bow, and then ran out of sight.
Fiona hovered at my side. “They’ll be back.” But I couldn’t tell if her words were meant to comfort me or herself.
“Kenna.” Duncan strode forward. “Stay with Vee and the rest o’ the guard. I’m goin’ with them.”
Kenna’s cheeks reddened to volcanic levels, but before she could blow, I grabbed Duncan’s arm. “No, you can’t. I have something more for you to do.”
He spun on me, demanding, “What could be more important than savin’ my brother?”
“For you and me, nothing. But I must think like a queen now.” I lifted my chin and fought back the emotion clogging my throat. “I have to put Doon first.”
He stared me down, his jaw flexing as he wrestled with the same internal battle I had to fight myself. I waited, needing his logic to win out over his heart before I continued.
Footsteps sounded through the corridor, moving fast in our direction. Eòran drew his sword and motioned the guards to fall in. Whispered voices and a low-pitched whine echoed toward us. I pushed past Eòran just as Blaz emerged from the left passage, followed by Lachlan, Greta, and a gang of kids. Ordering my men to stand down, I rushed forward.
A dozen faces came into view, and I realized they were all part of Jamie’s Crew. “Lachlan, why aren’t you escaping with the Rosettis?”
Blaz jumped up, sniffing my soiled clothing, but I pushed him down. The kids had torches and ancient-looking weapons — a mallet, some rusty swords, a hatchet. “What are you guys doing?”
Lachlan slid his sword into his belt. “We’re goin’ to rescue Jamie.”
“Yeah.” Greta stepped up next to him, dried blood scabbed on her throat where Gideon had held her at knife point. The other kids chimed in their agreement.
“He’d do the same fer us!”
“Jamie’d never leave us!”
“We can take that witch out!”
I couldn’t speak; my heart had leapt into my mouth. Kenna stepped up beside me, her eyes silvered with tears as she took my hand.
Duncan flanked my other side. “You all are verra brave, but my brother would want ye to get to safety.”
I couldn’t’ve asked for a better opening. Keeping Kenna’s fingers in mine, I turned to face Duncan. “That’s right. He would want all of the people to get to safety. That’s why I need for you to lead them out.”
He stilled, his brows furrowing. “Lead them out
where
?”
“Out of the kingdom. Across the Brig o’ Doon.”
M
y heart, which had leapt at Vee’s words, now plummeted as Duncan scowled at the ring in the palm of her outstretched hand. “Nay. Mackenna can lead them. I’ll no’ leave without my brother.”
“We should all go.” The suggestion flew from my mouth before I’d had a chance to finish forming it. Immediately, Vee’s face pinched in refusal as Duncan stared stoically at the catacomb wall. “I mean, wouldn’t that be the wisest thing to do? Fergus can follow with Jamie.”
My bestie leveled her gaze on me, and in that moment I barely recognized her. “I’m the queen. The ruler of Doon. The Covenant resides inside of me. I
won’t
abandon my kingdom to Adelaide.”
Duncan stepped in front of me, facing off with his queen. “Nor will I.”
“Please.” I reached out to touch his shoulder, but he shrugged me off.
“Mackenna, this is none o’ your concern. Ye will do as your queen bids you.”
Before he could say more, Vee interjected. “So will you, Prince MacCrae. The vision was clear. As your queen, I’m ordering you to escort the people out of Doon.”
Duncan leaned forward to stare down my best friend. In all the time I’d known him, I’d only seen him as furious one other time — when the kingdom was on the verge of annihilation and his brother ordered him to babysit me. His jaw flexed as he stepped back. “As ye command, Your Majesty.”
Then he whirled in my direction, pointedly ignoring me as he brushed past to growl orders at his soldiers. “Intercept the Rosettis and have them lead everyone out through the dungeon entrance.” Then to others he instructed, “Get to town — round up every horse and cart ye can find. I’ll take what I can from the royal stables. We rendezvous at the western paddock beyond the village. Dinna allow the people to scatter. We travel light and fast.”
As the soldiers scattered to obey orders, Duncan’s tortured gaze briefly connected with mine and then jerked away, leaving me to feel as if my entire world had slipped from my grasp. Focusing on the vicinity of my right ear, Duncan said, “Say your good-byes. We leave immediately.”
I searched his unyielding face, wondering if he could discern my relief that Vee’s command prevented him from his suicide mission. But saving him meant deserting the one person who’d stood by me my entire life. For Duncan’s sake, I was about to abandon my bestie.
The girl who shared my brain took my hand in hers. “It’s okay, Ken. I’m ordering you to go . . . You swore an oath to me.”
I knew I couldn’t refuse and yet I could not bear to solidify the distance between Duncan and myself by agreeing. Twisted every way, what answer could I give except to beg in vain, “Please come with us?”
Rather than acknowledge my plea, Vee squared her shoulders in resolve. “I’m counting on you and Duncan to see my people safely across the bridge.”
Fiona materialized at her side. “I’ll stay with Her Majesty.”
“No, Fiona.” Vee leveled her gaze on our friend. “Fergus would want you to be safe. And I need you to look after the Crew. As a personal favor.”
If she disagreed with the command, she did not let it show. “As ye wish, my queen. But if I may, I would petition Her Majesty to bring my Fergus safely back to me.”
“I will,” she promised grimly. Nothing short of death, which was a very real possibility, would cause her to break it. “Now be off. You too, Eòran.”
Mutton Chops made a guttural sound as he whipped his head back and forth. Appreciation welled in Vee’s eyes at her guard’s blatant disobedience. He would never abandon her. As she turned to embrace him, she whispered something in his ear. Although I could not hear what was said, the way the old badger’s eyes flickered in my direction made me suspicious that she was giving him a special assignment.
When she straightened, she said, “I’m counting on you, Eòran. Now you need to go. The Protector’s grace go with you.”
As Fiona and Eòran began to usher the Crew toward the passage that would lead to the dungeon and the exit beyond, Lachlan handed Vee a torch and one of the swords he’d tucked into his belt. “The Protector’s grace remain with you, Your Majesty.”
Vee placed the torch in a nearby wall sconce and the sword next to it before dropping to one knee. “You are one of my best knights. I’m counting on you to get the Crew and Blaz to safety.” She kissed the dog’s head and then gave him a little push. “He’s yours now.”
Lachlan shook his head, his dark curls bouncing in the flickering light. “Nay, Your Majesty. I’ll keep him safe for ye until next time we meet. You can count on me.”
“I know I can.” Unshed tears, for the boy’s brave words or the loss of her beloved pup or perhaps both, shimmered in her eyes.
With a few orders from Duncan, Fiona, Eòran, and the ragtag pack of children warriors began to double back toward the dungeons.
Once they were out of earshot, Duncan said to Vee, “I will do as commanded, but I won’t leave you alone.”
Vee glared at him. “One guard.”
A man I recognized from Duncan’s “war games” stepped forward. “I will stay with the queen — protect her with my life, m’laird.”
Duncan nodded in satisfaction, before addressing the remaining two soldiers, Analisa, Giancarlo, and myself. “We’ll make for the Brother Cave for weapons. From there the stables and on to the rendezvous point. Your Majesty should accompany us to the cave of Robert the Bruce.”
Vee took the torch and sword from the wall. To the soldier who’d volunteered to stay she said, “Go find Fergus. Let him know I’m waiting in the cave of Robert the Bruce.”
Without a moment to delay, we set off for the cave where the historic leader of the Scottish rebellion discovered the strength to persevere in his battle to liberate his beloved homeland. From there, Analisa could pick the lock of the iron door leading to the cavern that the princes used as their personal gym. The Brother Cave was not only full of weapons, it was also the shortest, most clandestine route to the stables.
Darkness dwelled beyond the door that barred our escape, indicating that it was still night. As if to reassure herself, Vee
muttered, “It’s not morning yet.” She sagged against a rock ledge, shivering in her soggy gown. Unable to acknowledge the finality of our parting, I wrapped my arm around her trembling back, trying my best to impart warmth and strength.
All too quickly I heard Ana’s congratulatory exclamation as the door squeaked open. Without a word to my bestie, I jumped up and jogged into the Brother Cave. As the others gathered weapons, I ransacked trunks until I found a stash of clothes. With my back to the others, I ripped the bodice of my gown open and let the cursed thing pool around my feet. Quickly pulling a coarse tunic over my head, I kicked off my slippers and slid my feet into Duncan’s ginormous spare boots.
Vee stood in the doorway, longingly watching our chaotic preparations. Crossing to her, I handed off the other pile of oversized yet dry clothes. “Here. I’m done facing the end of the world in a pretty dress. So are you.”
“Thanks.” She hesitated. Knowing her as well as myself, I could see her wrestling with her emotions, not only our imminent parting but her barely in-check fear of rescuing her beloved and facing Adelaide Blackmore Cadell, the terrible Witch of Doon. Holding the clothes between us like a shield, she offered me a wistful smile. “See you soon, okay?”
“Whatever.” Grabbing the clothes and dropping them off to one side, I wrapped my arms around her. The minute we made contact, moisture began to seep from my eyes. With a hiccup-y sob that signified the beginning of an ugly cry, I held her as tightly as I dared. And to my utter relief, she squeezed me back.
All too soon, I felt Duncan’s unyielding grip on my arm. “We need to make haste, Mackenna.”
Before letting go, Vee whispered, “I love you,” and I murmured it back.
Then Duncan, my own heart, pulled me out of the cave and
away from the other half of my soul. Stumbling alongside him in too-big boots, I scanned the night for some indication of the hour. Despite the inky, star-spangled sky, tendrils of pink and blue unfurled on the horizon. As I contemplated the ominous implication, a nearby rooster let loose an earsplitting crow as he heralded in the morning.
W
hat had I done?
I paced in front of the empty frame that had hidden Robert the Bruce’s axe for centuries and was now an empty shell. Much like Doon was about to be.
I’d followed the Protector’s vision and sent the Doonians out of the kingdom. But when Fergus returned with Jamie, what would we do then? How would we fight back with so few of us left? And without my ring to shield me from the witch’s magic?
Jamie would know what to do. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were losing time. All I could picture was the counter on a bomb, the digital display ticking off the numbers until the explosion.
Reaching the end of the passage, I spun on my heel for another lap, grateful for the soft, clean fabric of the oversized tunic and leggings. A vision of Kenna’s grief-stricken eyes as Duncan had pulled her away almost brought me to my knees. Would they make it to safety? Would I ever see my best friend again?
I gripped the handle of the ancient weapon and squeezed until the rough metal dug into my skin, refocusing my thoughts. I rounded a curve, and soft, golden light seeped in through the Brother Cave entrance, reminding me that Jamie was out of time. “Come on, Fergus,” I muttered. “Hurry.”
As the words left my mouth, the ground bucked beneath me and I tripped forward. My sword clattered to the stone floor, and I smacked hard against the wall. “What the — ?” I gripped the damp stone as another tremor shook the earth. This was no bovine stampede.