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Chapter 14: Kieran
The castle looked abandoned. A blotch of grey amidst the forest lining up the crimson mountains behind it, the only lively thing about the castle was the moat surrounding it. The moat was filled with still water, and although the tow bridge was pulled up, it did not seem like anyone had visited this place for years.
“There is no movement at all,” Casja said. “Are we sure this is it?”
She was right.
The castle was not busy with the usual movement places like this had when they were occupied. There were no soldiers at the battlements, no guards at the gates. I did not even see smoke rising.
Two of the towers had collapsed where they stood, and no one had attempted to clean out the rubble. The exterior walls were covered with moss.
“The moat is full,” Gethin commented. “That usually means someone is keeping it that way.”
“Perhaps it has a connection to underground water,” I replied. “Some moats do.”
I paused for a second.
“But you are right,” I said. “I see a line of cut trees over there.”
“Perhaps it was the townsfolk?” Casja said.
We had spotted the small town from a distance. As we stood on this hill staring at the castle, it was behind us.
“No,” I shook my head. “The townsfolk have access to the forest in the East. They wouldn’t come all this way for wood. They would just use that forest.”
No one objected to that. I was pretty sure that I was right. The prisoners included children and the elderly. That sort of occupation would require heat that could not be sourced from fire elementals. Wood was the surest way to ensure the fae didn’t get sick from the cold.
“The castle is occupied,” Cari said. “I can sense them inside.”
That settled it. She had no reason to lie. Although I still had trouble trusting her completely, she had been very helpful so far. There were no other large structures around, and that meant if Fiona was right, this old castle was the only viable place for Lugh to have built the prison in this area.
“How will we get in?” Gethin asked.
“We can just walk in,” Cari suggested, staring somewhere in the distance rather than looking at the castle. “I can sense the guards and the soldiers. I can make them not see us at all.”
“It is standard procedure to have mind magickers in places like this to protect the minds of the guards,” I told her. “They will...”
“Oh, there is a mind magicker inside,” Cari interrupted me. “I can sense her. She’s weak with love.”
“Love?” Casja asked.
Cari nodded. “Her focus is off. She can’t stop thinking about a man. She will be no trouble. Her thoughts are focused solely on him. I think he isn’t responding well to her attempts. She’s in despair because of it.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “Can you control her?”
“I can,” Cari said, assuring me. “I am much more powerful.”
The bragging did not annoy me this time. Perhaps I was getting used to it.
“She would have no chance even if she wasn’t preoccupied with silly things like love,” Cari continued.
She sounded like a young, inexperienced girl. I did not see a reason to argue with her, but I could not help my smile.
