by C.M. Owens
Chapter 14
Em settled onto a stool at Kay’s side, examining the injury with attentive eyes. “Oh, Kay, what happened this time?” she sighed, shaking her head. “This is far beyond a minor scrape.”
Kay winced in pain as Anne worked on the wound, biting back a cry. “It was Reese who saw them from the high road,” she informed her sister, her breath coming in short, shaking draws. “We rode to the chapel for arms, then on to confront Galeron.”
“And Galeron attacked you?” snapped Em, her voice harsh.
Kay shook her head. “To be fair, he asked for us to part ways without swords,” she explained. “We could hardly allow that, given the knowledge he has about the keep!”
She gasped as something was pressed against her leg, her breath leaving her in a sharp exhale.
Em looked up. “How is she, Anne?”
“She will mend,” the maid muttered, focused on her careful wrapping of the cloth bandage. “At least she might, if she would only stay still for a few weeks.”
“A few weeks,” ground out Kay, shaking her head. “We will be lucky to have a few hours.” Her eyes glanced toward the door. She gave a long sigh of relief. “At least I will be able to end this charade with Reese. It has gotten so difficult, these past days.”
Em shook her head with a deliberate movement. “No, not now,” she corrected in a steady voice.
Kay’s eyes shot to her sister’s, her face creasing in agony. “What good could it possibly do to keep up the farce now? The game is over! Our keep is about to be under assault!”
Em took Kay’s hands in her own, her face somber. “I know how you feel, but think about it,” she soothed, holding her sister’s eyes with her own. “What if we are overrun? Reese is a man of honor, and you are relying on his ability to deceive with absolute perfection.” Her gaze became more serious. “Just one mistaken word will reveal all. Galeron’s attention to detail is staggering. One glance, one movement, could alert him.”
Em gave a gentle squeeze to Kay’s fingers. “If Galeron realizes he has two hostages, and not just one, imagine what he might do.”
“I cannot put you at risk,” ground out Kay. “If anyone is to be taken for ransom, it should be me.”
A slight smile eased onto Em’s face. “What, and you will somehow convince Galeron that I am not worthy of holding? Remember, he had been told about the blonde sister, Mary. He had been told Mary was pregnant. The moment he sees me, and you at my side, he might remember those details and guess who we are.” She shook her head. “Our only hope is to hold off that knowledge for as long as possible. I need to stay hidden, and you need to stay in place as Kay, my maid. If he thinks he only has one hostage to chase down, it gives us an advantage.”
“I trust Reese with my life,” vowed Kay, her voice hoarse with emotion.
Em shook her head again. “I am afraid that I do not. Again, it only takes one word, one mistake to undo this. We have been very lucky so far, that everyone has done so well with the names. We only need to keep this up for another two days, until Father arrives. Remember, he is already on his way to us. It is best we stay with the status quo as best we can.”
Kay’s stomach knotted in frustration. It went against every fiber of her being not to tell Reese the truth.
Em’s hands tensed on her own, and Kay looked up. She saw the worry which swirled in her sister’s eyes. Her gaze dropped down to the unborn child swelling within her sister’s body, innocent and helpless.
Kay’s resolve weakened, and her shoulders slumped. If anyone had a right to make this decision, it was Em. Her sister clearly had the most to lose if something went wrong. If this is what Em truly wanted, then Kay would stand by her.
Reluctantly, her eyes still lowered, she nodded her assent. She longed with every fiber of her being to tell Reese, but she acquiesced, pushing away the growing pain in her heart.
There was the noise of running feet from the hall, and both turned their heads in alert attention. In moments Leland burst into the room with Reese hard on his heels. Leland scanned the room as he skidded to a stop, his face relaxing in relief as he spotted Kay leaning back on her bed.
“Keren!” he called out, coming up alongside her. “What is the damage?”
Em stood alongside Kay, catching Leland’s eyes with a sharp, penetrating look. “Yes, I am here to look in on my maid. Kay will be fine with rest,” she snapped.
Leland’s eyes flicked between the two women, and he nodded in understanding. “That is good to hear, Keren-happuch.”
Em’s gaze went down to her sister’s injury, and when she looked up at Leland again her gaze was smoldering. “So, tell me, how did my beloved Kay get injured?”
Leland flushed, his eyes holding hers. “I have no excuse,” he stated without hesitation. “I should have protected her.”
Key drew up to sit. “Hold on,” she called out. “I launched us into that fight when Reese would have had us go back for support. I take the blame for what happened.” She smiled, looking up at Leland. “Besides, I was only hurt because I looked away from my opponent when I heard hoofbeat on the ridge. If Leland has scolded me about that once -”
Em wheeled on Kay in outrage. “You took your eyes away from someone you were fighting?” she cried out in disbelief. “That is why you were hurt? You are lucky you only got your leg ripped open!”
Kay sighed, shaking her head. “I know, I know,” she agreed, looking between Em and Leland. “I admit it. I was wrong. I got distracted. I learned my lesson. Can we move on?” She brought her gaze more fully on Leland. “Were you able to catch Galeron?”
Leland shook his head in frustration. “He must have studied every twist and turn of that area around the ravine. We scoured the area for any trace of them, but they were completely gone. I thought it best to come back and make sure word was sent for reinforcements.”
Reese stepped forward. “We should send to Lord Weston for support as quickly as we can,” he insisted. “We do not have the manpower to defend against a full attack.”
Em nodded. “Word had already been sent,” she confirmed. “We will have a full contingent of my father’s men within two days.”
“Which means a full thirty-six hours before anyone arrives back here,” mused Kay, running a hand distractedly through her hair. “Galeron knows every problem with this keep - every issue, every weakness. He deliberately held us back on making repairs, so that he could make use of his knowledge.” Her eyes went to Reese and Leland. “If Galeron returns with the full force of the MacDougals behind him, how long can we expect to hold out?”
Reese looked to Leland, his eyes somber. “We would be hard pressed to last that long,” he admitted quietly. “The men here are willing, but you saw the lists that Galeron compiled, Kay. The main gates are worn. The hinges on the drawbridge are giving way. He is going to know exactly where to hit us.”
“We will have to do our best,” vowed Kay, glaring at her injured leg before pulling to swing around to the side of the bed. All three people moved forward in alarm, attempting to hold her back.
Kay shook her head in frustration. “I will not lie in bed when we are about to be overrun,” she snapped, “leg be damned. Surely there is something I can do!”
Reese’s eyes were steady on her. “You can sit in the solar,” he advised. “You can act as a look out. If that wound festers, you will not do anyone any good.”
“Sit in the solar,” huffed Kay, her voice tense. “What, like father would punish me, locking me in my room. So I can sit there, staring out the window, staring out at that tree.” She gave a low chuckle. “I suppose now I can stare at the tree and those carts …”
Her voice trailed off, and suddenly she was in motion, pushing herself up and stumbling across the room.
“Good God, Kay, where are you going?” called out Reese. He came up alongside her, moved his arm around her waist, and caught her as she stumbled hard against him.
“I have to get to the solar,” she ground out. “Those carts, t
hose carts …”
She tripped again, and Reese drew her up, lifting her into his arms with a gentle heft. In a moment they were moving across to the stairs, climbing slowly but steadily up the long spiral. Behind her Kay could hear her sister being helped along by Leland.
Reese brought her over to the window and gently lowered her down. Her eyes went immediately to the covered wagons, and beside her Reese stiffened, his arm drawing tightly against her waist. They stood in silence as the footsteps came up the stairs, as Em and Leland came over to stand beside them.
Em looked out at the brightly lit meadows. “The carts are in motion?” she asked in surprise. She pressed forward, peering. “With an escort?”
“Fifty men,” agreed Kay, her eyes moving across the tiny forms. “Thirty mounted.” She watched them for another moment. “They are taking it slow – those carts must be heavily laden. It was all a ruse. The carts hold their siege gear, and they sat there right under our noses.”
She glanced at the trees, then back at the slowly moving group. “I give them eight hours before they get within arrow range.”
Reese turned to look at the others. “It will nearly be dark by then,” he warned “They will be able to get to our doors by tomorrow dawn without a scratch.”
“Not if I can help it,” ground out Kay, glancing at Em. “When they reach that tree, we will be ready.”
“Ready for what?” asked Reese, looking between the two.
“I have been shooting at that tree since I could walk,” nodded Kay, looking back out the window. “I have great night vision. My lady has a strong arm. We would play a game. If I launch a lit arrow at something, and create a target, she can plow an arrow into the spot without fail. That tree was planted as our marker, the furthest we could shoot from this very window.”
Leland nodded. “I will fetch your bows and as many arrows as I can gather,” he agreed. “This is the best of all solutions. It keeps you two safe up here while the rest of the soldiers man the walls. Even if you can whittle down a few men as they go – or slow them up – it will be a huge assistance to our efforts.” He turned and in a moment he was gone.
Kay turned to the window again, then staggered as her leg gave way. Reese was instantly supporting her; guiding her back to the couch. “It will be eight hours before you can do anything, before they are within range” he pointed out. “You should sleep now, to gain your strength. It sounds like it will be a long night.”
Kay sat back on the couch, weariness overcoming her. “Normally I would argue, but I have to admit you are right,” she sighed. “You just swear to wake me up the moment they are in range. I do not want to lose one moment of effort against them.”
“I swear it.”
His gaze softened as he looked down at Kay. “You are a woman who is full of surprises,” he added quietly. “So much has gone on today. It is hard to know where to begin.”
His eyes moved over to Em, to her rounded belly. “For example, I have a few choice words for your father, Keren.”
Em’s mouth tweaked into a smile. “I am sure you do,” she agreed with a chuckle. “I am afraid that will have to wait until after we defend the keep and he reaches us.”
Reese nodded. “I will do my best to ensure he finds this keep safe and sound, with all inhabitants equally secure.” He bowed to both women, then turned.
Kay listened to his footsteps until they faded from hearing, and then she stretched out on the couch.
In moments she was fast asleep.
