Lord of Fire,Lady of Ice(89)
“Don’t worry for me, dear cousin.” Della took another step back. Stuart was saying all the right things, but his eyes made her uneasy.
“But I do.”
“I should get back inside. They will be waiting for me.” She reached within a pouch hidden in the folds of her skirt for a flint to light the torch lying at the bottom of the passage. “Take care of yourself, Stuart. Mayhap come back in a few fortnights for a visit. I will speak with Blackwell on your behalf. Mayhap, after your tempers have cooled, a reasonable truce can be made. I should hate to never see you again.”
“Nay, don’t waste your breath on my behalf.” Stuart stormed off into the trees. She could hear his voice in the distance as he yelled, “It would seem you have chosen your side.”
Della waited a moment until she no longer heard him moving around. Turning, she made her way to the hidden entrance. She jumped down into the hole, found the torch, lit it and then hurriedly reached to latch the opening shut. Something in the way Stuart had looked at her scared her. He was no longer the boy she knew in childhood.
Taking a deep breath to calm the skipping of her heart, she made her way back through the passage. With a determined frown, Della decided she would have their wars no more. She would speak to Brant about Stuart, heedless of her cousin’s passionate denial of wanting a truce.
* * * * *
“Where is she?” Brant grumbled under his breath. Fear for his wife’s safety made his temper hot and short. He didn’t like feeling helpless. He didn’t like not knowing where she was. Reaching his warhorse, he jumped on the animal’s back. He turned to Gunther who did the same. “They have searched everywhere for her. There is no sign.”
“She has to be within the castle walls. The bridge has not been lowered,” Gunther answered. “Do you think Stuart has kidnapped her? He did say he would take back what was his.”
“I don’t know, but it would seem likely.” Brant tried not to let his uneasiness show as he ordered a man to open the front gate.
“Nay, m’lord!” Edwyn ran to the men. Brant whipped around on his stallion. The seneschal eyed their drawn swords. “Do not!”
“Do you know where she is, Edwyn?” Brant asked.
The elderly man shook his head in denial.
“Then we have no time to waste. If she is within these walls, she is safe. However, if she is not, we must leave while there is still a trail to follow. Stuart could have crossed the moat with her.” Brant began to rein his horse away, but the man stopped him again.
“If he did, it would be a mistake. Della cannot swim,” Edwyn insisted. “She would scream if he even tried to take her into the water. Sir Stuart knows this. You must come with me, m’lord. I have something to show you.”
Brant swung down from his horse and hurried to follow the seneschal, giving the order to leave the front gate closed. The man at the wall nodded, signaling the change in orders. As Brant strode after Edwyn, Gunther followed right behind.
The seneschal led him into his chamber. Taking a torch off his wall and lighting it, he moved to the small hidden door.
“Do not waste my time for this, Edwyn. I have looked in the secret chamber.” Brant began to turn in exasperation. His heart pounded with dread and he felt Della was not within the walls of the keep. His head ached with all that could happen to her out of reach of his protection.
“Nay, it is the secret passage,” Edwyn persisted when Brant would go.
“What?” Gunther asked, surprised. “There is a secret chamber?”
“Yea.” Before Brant needed to explain further, Edwyn opened the door leading to it. The men followed the seneschal through the small door into the domed chamber. Gunther let loose a low whistle of appreciation. Brant scowled. Gunther shrugged.
“Where does the passage lead?” Brant looked around the room, not seeing an exit.
“Outside the bailey walls, m’lord,” the old man answered. “If she was taken, then it would be best if they didn’t know you came.”
“Yea, he’s right,” Gunther added. “Sir Stuart would be listening for the bridge. All it would take is one good archer to knock you from your horse.”
“Quiet,” Brant ordered suddenly. He dashed his hand through the air. “What is that noise? Rats?”
The men turned to the sound of scraping stone. It came from the other side of the chamber. Unexpectedly a false wall fell forward and a snuffed torch was thrown onto the floor to land at their feet. The Vikings watched in amazement. Edwyn grimaced in foreboding. A delicate hand reached up, feeling around the ledge until it found hold on a stone.