“Do you see any guards?” Cailin whispered, his voice shaking with fury.
“Nay.” Taog shook his head with disgust. “’Tis not fitfor an animal.”
“Indeed.”
“I see nay guards either,”Sir James said.
After one more glance around, Cailin grabbed the extra keys to the cells and shackles hanging on a nearby hook known only to him, his mother, and father, then moved to the wall on the other side of the master-at-arms’s cell. He pressed his finger in an indentation, pushed. A slight grating sounded as thestone shifted.
Paces away, Sir Petrus remained limp, his eyes closed.
Cailin stormed over, wrestled open the shackles; Taog and Sir James caught his body as the knight collapsed.
After a quick inspection, Taog met Cailin’s gaze.“He is alive.”
“Barely.” Cailin returned the keys to their hiding place. “We must hurry before the guards return and find him gone.”
The distant bongs of the church bell melded with the soft scuff of steps as they made their way along thesecret tunnel.
As they neared the stable, shouts from outside the thick walls made them pause.
Mouth grim, Taog glanced at Cailin. “Do you think the guards have discovered Sir Petrus is gone?”
“I pray not. Stay here.” Cailin hurried to the slits in the stable and scanned the bailey.
In the torchlight, a lone rider dismounted as other knightsran toward him.
“God’s teeth,” Cailin hissed, “’tis Sir Malcolm.”
“What is he doing here?” Taog asked as he held the master-at-arms propped between himand Sir James.
“’Twould seem,” Cailin spat, “his vow of fealty was naught but a ruse.”
The men surrounding the rider parted as his uncle strode toward them.
Cailin’s eyes narrowed as he watched Sir Malcolm’s animated figure while he spoketo the earl.
Gaufrid nodded, then began shouting commands. His knights ran toward the stable.
“What is happening?” Sir James asked.
“I couldna hear what Sir Malcolm said, but my uncle has ordered his men to prepare to ride, which could only mean one thing.”
Taog swore. “The bastard told Dalkirk the location of my camp. Nay doubt he also revealed that the knights who’d abandoned him were there, along with you and Elspet.”
“Aye,” Cailin agreed, meeting the Romani’s gaze, the fury there matching his. “We must alert them.”
“By now, my men will have discovered Sir Malcolm’s absence,” Taog said, “and have sent out men insearch of him.”
“Except they dinna know that he isna missing but a traitor.” Cailin hurried over to Taog. “Ride back and warn the camp. Sir James and I will follow with Sir Petrus.”
The Romani’s brows slammed together. “I refuseto leave you—”
“Our people must be warned. Either you go or SirJames. Choose!”
Eyes hard, Taog glared at Cailin. “I will go, but by God, take care.”
Cailin gave a curt nod, then stepped next to the master-at-arms and took his weight from Taog. “Godspeed.”
