Heather smiled. “The Dragon will be pleased that I am keeping myself occupied in the keep. And I have no doubt that he will quickly be made aware of my intentions, and I will learn fast enough if he objects. Besides, I am the lady of the keep and you must follow my order.”
“As you say, my lady,” Nessa said with a bob of her head and a slight smile.
Heather called out to the two warriors sitting nearby. “I require your help.”
They both looked at each other and stood with some reluctance.
“I am not going to run off on you and cause you trouble with the Dragon. Since you both have been tasked with guarding me, I am going to put you to work. I want you to assist me in cleaning out the one room on the upper floor.”
They both looked at each other again, before the one turned and spoke. “No one is permitted up there.”
“I think the Dragon will permit it since it will keep me tucked safely away in the keep. One of you, go and ask him, while the other will come along with me and Nessa?”
They both shook their heads and the one who spoke before, spoke again. “The Dragon will have our heads if we leave our post.”
With a pleasant smile and a gentle tone, she said, “Then I would suggest that you send another warrior to deliver the message, since I am going up there with or without you.”
The one warrior went running and the other followed behind Heather and Nessa as they walked to the stairs. The other warrior returned shortly and by the time they reached the upper floor a third warrior appeared.
“My lady,” he said with a nod and turned to the two warriors. “The Dragon gives Lady Heather permission to do as she wishes in the room, and you are both to help her with whatever tasks she sets for you. I am to stand guard over you all.”
“Wonderful,” Heather said and grabbed the torch from the sconce and stepped just inside the room. “Your names?” she asked the two warriors who followed her.
“Duff,” the shorter of the two said.
“Tam,” the other said.
“Well, Duff and Tam, I think we will start with that heavy tapestry on the window.” She raised the torch some so they could see it. “I need you bothto take it down off the window so that we have some light.”
The two men set to the task and with a few sharp tugs the tapestry fell to the floor, flooding the room with what light the stormy sky allowed.
Heather continued instructing the warriors and Nessa, and joined in to help as well, though the three protested. After a while they stopped, realizing their protests were useless, Lady Heather would do as she wished.
Pieces of furniture that were rotting from age were used to start a fire in the small fireplace and chase the damp chill from the room.
Heather was making her way toward the corner of the room, having spotted a planked coffer chest she thought she could put to use when she saw Nessa pick up the cradle that had caught Heather’s eye when she had first gazed upon this space. “Place the cradle aside, Nessa. I think it will serve as a good gift for Bea and Douglas for when their bairn is born.”
“That is generous of you, Lady Heather,” Nessa said and handed it over to Duff.
Heavy chairs scarred with age seemed to stand as sentinels, keeping her from getting to the coffer. Tam was quick to come to her aid and began clearing the way.
Heather was relieved to see Nessa’s cheeks full of color and tears no longer clouding her eyes. This task kept her too busy to think of Fife and how he had shattered her heart and trust. She knew itwould take time for Nessa to recover from this horrible ordeal.
As soon as Tam moved the last chair out of her way, Heather approached the coffer with a smile. It was just what she needed to hold the many garments that overflowed the small chest in her bedchamber.
She reached out as she took another step closer and the next thing she knew, the floor gave way beneath her and she plummeted down with it.
“Oh my God, Lady Heather,” Nessa screamed as she disappeared before Nessa’s eyes.
The two warriors ran to the hole in the floor and when the warrior who stood guard outside the door ran in, Duff shouted, “Get the Dragon!”
“Lady Heather, are you all right? Can you hear me?” Tam called out down into the hole.
“I can hear you,” Heather called back. “I am fine.” At least she thought she was since she felt no true pain.
“I am coming down there to get you out,” Tam yelled.
“No,” she yelled back. “Get me the torch.” She almost shouted with excitement, believing she discovered the secret passage, but bit her tongue. Rhys did not want anyone to know about it.
