“You remember the diagram I drew for you?” she said to the three men. “You should find the outlet for the kitchen privy somewhere near the south-east corner of the curtain wall.” She looked at each of them in turn. “You all know the plan?”
“We do, lass,” Cian said. “Dinna worry, we’ll fulfill our part of the plan as long as ye fulfill yers.”
“I will.” She stood.
Deryn rose after her. He took her hands and stood looking down at her. His eyes were full of unspoken words.
“Be careful,” he said at last, his voice barely above a whisper. “Take no unnecessary risks. Promise me.”
“I promise,” she said, reaching up and brushing a lock of red hair out of his face. “I’ll see you soon, okay?” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. “I love you. Never forget that, no matter what happens.”
Then she released him, turned away, and strode off before he could reply, before he could say anything that would make her hesitate, make her question her decision.
She did not look back.
Chapter 17
Deryn watched Madeleine walk away from him and felt as though he’d been stabbed through the chest.
She’s walking into danger!a voice screamed in his head.And you’re letting her!
It took every ounce of his willpower to let her go.
A heavy hand settled on his shoulder. “Come, my friend,” Cian said softly. “We have to get into position. If all goes well, ye will see her again soon.”
Deryn nodded. Turning away, he followed his former commander down through the trees until the ground leveled out. The sun was starting to dip towards the horizon, casting long shadows across the ground. Torryn Keep rose perhaps half a mile distant, the stalls of the market—empty now as it wasn’t market day—hugging the walls of the castle.
Keeping within the cover of the trees, so they weren’t visible to the sentries patrolling the battlements, they edged around to the south-east corner where one of the round towers kept watch over the countryside. Here they hunkered down and waited. They would not make their move until it was fully dark.
It couldn’t come soon enough for Deryn.
MADDY STRODE WITH PURPOSEdown the last of the slope and out onto the road that wound along the valley bottom towards the gates of Torryn Keep. Her fear had vanished andnow a hot anger simmered in her belly instead. She walked with head up, shoulders back, eyes fixed on the closed gates of the keep.
She made no attempt at stealth and the sentries spotted her long before she reached the gates.
“Hold!” shouted a voice from the battlements. “Who goes there?”
