The Everlasting Covenant (13 page)

Trenton
’
s jaw muscle worked tensely, and he frowned at his brother.
“
If you would like to hear me admit that what I saw disgusted me, Sir Bart, I have no objection. You may even ridicule me if it makes you feel stronger and braver. Aye, most of your courage comes from taking advantage of those weaker than you. Surely you will stand bravely while a tied man is hanged, but would you meet him on the field? I did not see you in the fighting
--
”

Bart bolted to his feet as if he would take on his younger brother, but Quentin was quicker. His thick arm crossed in front of Bart
’
s chest.
“
This is useless,
”
he grumbled.
“
Sit down. No more of this, or I
’
ll take care of you both.
”
He waited patiently while Bart returned to his seat.
“
Madam, I know you have waited long to see captured deFraynes at your disposal. Were my father killed by them, I would feel likewise. But we must consider Father
’
s concerns. We dare not upset our new alliance with the earl.
”

“
If you are my sons,
”
Marcella said sternly,
“
you will stay until this is done. Then you may join Edward.
”

Quentin, Bart, and Trenton looked between each other, checking eyes. Anne edged toward the stair. She saw her broth
ers
’
passion for deFrayne blood waning, she hoped they would go with her father. But finally Quentin spoke up.
“
We will stay with you, madam, and see it through. I am for the capture of Sir Cameron, if possible, but I will not support theft or indecent execution. If it must be done, it will be done civilly. A quick death and proper burial.
”

“
I thought I raised men.
”

“
You did, madam. Men. Not dogs.
”

Anne slipped away. Small mercies had come to mean a lot. That they would not cut him to pieces almost caused her to drop to her knees and give thanks. She fetched her cloak and went out of the keep by the back stairs and wandered about
Raedelle in search of her father. She did not find him the whole of the day, nor did she see him in the hall for the evening meal. She tossed and turned through the night, wondering how to have a word with him before he left.

Then came a light tapping at her door. She had no idea the hour, the sky was black and the castle was not astir. She ran to her chamber door and quickly threw it open, as if Dylan might be standing there. Ferris wore his chain mail and carried his shield. He held a finger to his lips, warning her to be quiet.

“
I will go for Lord Forbes. Perhaps he will come, if I explain what my wife would do.
”

“
Be careful, Papa. I will pray.
”

“
Two things, Anne. First, wisdom and caution while young Dylan is prisoner here.
”
She nodded, eyes wide.
“
Do not attempt to free him. You will be caught
--
both of you. His death will only come faster. You will not be spared much misery. I fear death would seem welcome.
”
She nodded in agreement. She knew better than that. Even if there was a way to get him out of the hall, she could not fathom a method of passing through the gate.
“
Second,
”
Ferris went on,
“
no matter what, no matter if Dylan is freed or killed, Brennan Forbes is your hope. Your only hope. Do you know it?
”
Again she nodded.
“
The earl loves you deeply, praise God. Do not in a foolish moment forget what that means.
”
She shook her head. He reached out a hand and touched her dark hair.

“
I love you, Papa. God
’
s speed. Be safe.
”

She listened to the shuffling and clinking sound as Ferris descended the stair and left the hall. She lay still in her bed for another hour as the sun began to rise, and then she rose to dress, wondering how to face the day. There was more hope now than there had been. Brennan might come and stop their execution, even if he was likely only to transfer Dylan
’
s captivity to Edward
’
s camp. Still, Dylan was safer with Satan than in this keep.

She began to dress, pulling on a new working apron over a dark blue kirtle. She went to the small coffer on her table and opened it to retrieve the ring Brennan had given her. She stared
in some confusion at what she saw. A long, heavy iron key rested atop a pouch. She lifted the key and the pouch gingerly, as if they would bite her. Her first thought as she touched these articles was that someone had stolen them from Marcella and placed them in her coffer while she slept, or earlier, when she roamed Raedelle in search of her father. But on closer inspection she could see the pouch was sewn of a different fabric from the one her mother carried. She moved backward, dropping down onto the bed, looking at the pouch in one hand and the key in the other. She faintly remembered. It was Minerva
’
s. And then she knew.

The castle was asleep, the hour still before midnight. With a long nightdress covered by a smock, a thick shawl that almost reached the floor, and a small bed cap on her head, Anne ventured into the common room carrying a candle. She could see the guard before the cask room door, sitting on the rushes, leaning against the door. She nodded toward him. She ventured on into the common room and filled a chalice to the rim with dark red wine. She walked back toward the stair, carrying the brew. She paused at the foot of the stair, pensively, as if a thought had interrupted her progress. She turned and looked at the guard. Their eyes met briefly. She knew this one, and she smiled as she walked toward him.

“
Good eventide, Delbert. I
’
ve come for a cup of cool wine. I know you cannot leave your post for any reason. May I get you one?
”

He sat up straighter.
“
I ..
. ah, thank you, my lady. That is very kind.
”

“
Here then,
”
she said, handing him the chalice.
“
I
’
ll simply get another.
”
He started to take the cup to his lips.
“
Are you not allowed a stool or chair?
”
she asked.

He shrugged.
“
I thought it best to place my back against the door, lest it move while I
’
m looking the other way.
”

She laughed lightly, teasingly, and the guard blushed. He was quite young and still a little shy with women, at least noblewomen.
“
I thought he was tied?
”
she asked.

He grunted and stood to a
towering height, thin and long-
limbed.
“
He is tied,
my lady, but I have been warned
...
”

“
Oh,
I
know,
”
she said.
“
He is said to be very dangerous.
”
She turned, placed her candle on the rushes, and went into the common room in search of a chair with arms. She dragged the heavy oaken chair toward h
im, cutting a path through the b
ushes.
“
You might as well be comfortable. I
’
ve seen him, this prisoner. There is no possible way that he can overpower you, he is not nearly as large and strong as you are.
”

The guard looked at the chair and frowned.
“
Sir Quentin might find my comfort amiss.
”

“
Then I suggest you return the chair to the common hall before Sir Quentin rises.
”
She lifted a brow.
“
You do plan to stay awake through the night, do you not?
”

“
Of course, my lady.
”

“
Then be comfortable. You can place the chair here, prop your feet on that keg, and never take your eyes from the cask room door.
”
The instructions she fed him with her guil
tl
ess gaze and sweet smile had the heavy oaken chair away from the door and the sentry
’
s back to the common room. She hoped for the best. If it did not work tonight, perhaps tomorrow night. There was always a different guard.
“
Good eventide, Delbert.
”

She went back to the common room, drew herself a new chalice of wine
--
this one void of Minerva
’
s herbs
--
and went up the stairs. She stood at the top, breathing deeply to calm her frayed nerves. She waited a long moment, put a foot on the stair, and then retreated to wait still longer. She couldn
’
t be certain how much time should be allowed for the herbs to take effect. If he did not drink the wine, there would be no deep sleep for the guard. She tried to think of an excuse she could give if she was seen in the common room a second time.

Finally, she bolstered herself, descended, and sighed audibly when she saw his limp form in the chair, his sleeping head tilted to one side. He still held the empty chalice in both hands, clasped over his stomach. Carefully placing her hand on his shoulder, she gently shook him. He slept. She took what might be her only chance.

Six steps led down into the damp, windowless cask room. Here they stored kegs of winter ale, wine, and a few bags of grain. This area had been dug under the stairwell many years before and was not intended as a hold for captives, but it served well. There were very few places in the small hold where one could stand to one
’
s full height.

Dylan
’
s head was upright, his eyes slightly glazed. His hands were bound at the wrists and held over his head by a rope attached to a beam above him. Very little protection from the cold had been accorded him, there was a pelt of furs beneath him, but no jacket or cloak. Tears stung her eyes. She placed the candle and the chalice of wine on the ground, not even covered by rushes here, and gently knelt beside him. Her cool hand trembled slightly as she caressed his cheek and his vision seemed to clear.

“
Another dream,
”
he mused.
“
They become ever more real.
”

She raised up on her knees and loosened the ropes at his wrists, freeing his hands.
“
Not this time, my darling. This is not a dream.
”

He rubbed his chafed wrists and stared at her in wonder.
“
How have you come here?
”

She shrugged her shoulders, modest in her victory.
“
I put sleeping herbs in wine for the guard and used my own key on the door.
”

He put his hands under her thick shawl at her waist and brushed her lips with his. Her hands caressed his chest.
“
Anne, they will kill you if you
’
re found here.
”

“
They will not find me. I have studied their habits. My family sleeps soundly, their good fortune brings them sweet dre
ams. But they are not careless –
all doors to the keep are bolted from within to keep us safe from attack, and to keep the guards posted outside from coming within the hall to swill ale in the dark, boring hours.
”

He thought for a moment and then he smiled at her. He touched her face.
“
My clever vixen. I would not have expected so much.
”

Anne retrieved the chalice, now only half full, for she had
extracted a few swallows of courage for herself. She passed it to him and watched as he greedily swallowed the wine. The empty chalice dropped to his side and he closed his eyes in new-found comfort.

“
Would that I could put a legion of guards to sleep, Dylan, and give you freedom.
”

“
Nay, you have dared too much already. I am a madman for want of you, Anne, but I want you to live! It is the only comfort I have in these last days.
”

“
You may yet have freedom, Dylan,
”
she said, her eyes cast down so that he would not see the pain there.
“
My father has somehow taken pity on me and has gone to appeal to Brennan, Lord Forbes. Brennan does not approve of your captivity or ill treatment. He would have had you kept with Edward
’
s other prisoners. Perhaps he will come.
”
She shrugged lamely.
“
Edward has not called for many executions. Just attainder when he is king, and exile. Only the highest nobles ...
”