* * * *
Cailin met Sir Petrus’s gaze, the warning in the older man’s eyes assuring him that his mentor’s distrust for Blar ran deep. Cailin had known the knight since he was born, and until the day he’d departed, Sir Petrus had done naught without good reason. A point that would weigh heavily in Cailin’s decisions.
“We will discuss Blar later,” Cailin said at last. “For now, that he is alive and safe iswhat matters.”
Face pale, she nodded.
Sir Petrus glanced toward the covert entry. “I need to return before ’tis noticed I am gone.”
“Indeed.” Cailin clasped his mentor’s hand. Though Father Lamond’s suggestion of wearing the monk’s garb was excellent, he was thankful they hadn’t had to move into the castle and risk being identified. “We will meet here tomorrow atthe same time.”
His mentor nodded, then slipped into the stable.
Rubbing his jaw, Cailin glanced toward Elspet. She was watching him, her eyes dark with a combination of relief and worry.
Nor could he blame her. She wrestled with the fact that her stepbrother had joined the guard of the noble who’d murdered her mother and Blar’s father and despised the notion that his loyalties were in question. ’Twas unsettling indeed.
“Follow me.” He lifted the taper and headed down the tunnel. Golden candlelight spilled ahead of them, the air growing staler with each step. He smothered his instinctive reaction to the enclosed space. Since his forced labor on the pirate ship, he’d disliked being confined and would breathe easier once they reached the forest.
Fragments of daylight illuminated the tunnel ahead, and the air grew fresh. They were nearing the exit. His chest lightened and he slowed his steps, glanced over.
Chestnut-brown hair tumbled to frame her face taut with strain, and he ached to draw her to him, tooffer comfort.
A foolish thought, nor one he would linger on further. “About yourstepbrother—”
“Blar loathes the earl as do I. His loyalty is but a ruse. Once he has earned the earl’s trust, I believe he intends to escape and find me.”
For her sake, he wanted to believe she was right, but given Sir Petrus’s distrust, Cailin had misgivings. “Whether your stepbrother’s reason for his loyalty to my uncle is real or false, too much is at stake to take any unnecessary risks. Once I have overthrown my uncle and Tiran Castle is mine, you may speak with Blar.”
Anger flashed in her eyes. “Blar is the only family I have. Do you not realize how much he means to me, the risks I took to try to save him?”
“Indeed, because ’twas I who saved you, a debt you repaid by robbing me. Neither,” he drawled, ignoring the blush slashing her cheeks, “will I change my mind.”
Elspet turned on her heel, stormed toward the castle.
He caught her arm, whirled her to face him.
“Release me!”
“So you can do what?” he demanded, furious that after everything, she’d dare defy him. “Regardless of Blar’s loyalty, if you are caught in the castle, you would be arrested.”
Beneath the flicker of candlelight, what little remaining color in her face fled, but her voice remained firm. “Blar needs to know that I am alive, am here, and will helphim to escape.”
The image of her stepbrother laughing with the other fighters far from convinced Cailin that Blar was in imminent danger or was secretly plotting to save her. Given Elspet’s anger, reasoning she wouldn’t see.
“In time, your stepbrother will know you are safe. However much you dislike the fact, for now ’tis imperative that he remains ignorant of where you are.” She opened her mouth to speak; he raised his hand. “I want naught more than to confront my uncle and expose his deceit. However, too many within the castle are loyal to him to make such a reckless move. Once I raise a significant force, we will both have our wishes.”
Her mouth tightened, but shedidn’t argue.
As much as he wanted to let the matter drop, he’d experienced the consequences of her headstrong ways.
“You will swear that you willna try to approach Blar or find another means to inform him ofyour presence.”
Eyes blazing, she jerked free. “You would demand thatI swear such?”
“I would.” Cailin forced his tone to be hard. “Had you not stolen my sword after you drugged me, I would bemore lenient.”
“I returned your weapon.”
