by Lisa Shea
Click.
The lock came open.
Kay let out her breath in a long gasp; she had not realized she was holding it in. She quickly withdrew the key, tucking it into the pouch at her belt, then slipped the lock free, pulling open the grate. The cellar door opened inward, and she gave it a push, reaching past it for the torch that hung on the wall. She moved quickly now, going to light the torch from the fire in the workroom, returning to slip within the gate, pulling it closed. She put her hand through the grate, re-seating the lock in its place, closing it so it was almost fully shut. That would pass all but the most close examination, should anyone walk past it. Then she stepped back and closed the wooden cellar door.
Her heart soared. She had done it. She was in the cellar, the grate was unlocked, and now she simply had to wait for Reese to come for her!
She moved carefully down the stairs, settling the torch on the far wall, not lighting the others. Not tonight. She would only have this one light so the glow did not shine beneath the door at the top of the stairs.
She began lifting each box, one by one, and moving them from the hollow wall to other parts of the cellar. It seemed a long while before she had cleared the area. She sat, exhausted, on one of the boxes to stare at the blank stone wall.
What time was it now? Midnight? Maybe the soldiers had been unable to get to the caves at all. Perhaps they had been stymied by the men on the wall or another force beyond their control. Were they even coming for her? Was this all a hopeless gesture?
She moved over to the wall and put her ear against it. She could hear nothing. Was anyone beyond that solid barrier?
She glanced around the room and spotted an old iron bar which was used to pry open boxes. She picked it up and went back to the wall. Holding the bar by one end, she rapped solidly against the wall.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
She put her ear against the wall. There was no response.
She slumped, her hope fading. She sat down against the wall, her fingers finding the carven heart in the stone, and she laid her head against the wall. With the other hand she continued her message.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Silence.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Silence.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
The faintest echo came to her, as if the most far off mountain had rebounded her call to her …
thunk … thunk … thunk …
Kay almost cried out in relief. They were coming for her! Reese was coming!
She renewed her tattoo, and with each round the answering call got louder, more steady. It seemed like no time at all before the response was immediately on the other side of the wall, vibrating her hand with the force of the message.
She stood, backing away, and now she could see the wall shiver, shake, as the blows began to push the individual blocks out from the flat surface. Dust cascaded loose, and she glanced nervously up the stairs. She knew that she and her sister had played loudly in the cellars many times without the servants knowing their location, but attentive soldiers were not absent-minded maids. Would the men in the barracks feel the vibrations?
There was a grinding noise and the center block slid toward her. She rushed forward, putting her arms out, catching the heavy stone with a grunt and carefully lowering it down to the ground.
There was a low call, soft and urgent. “Kay?”
Kay ran to the dark hollow, putting her face against it, desperately trying to see a face within. “Reese?”
A hand came through the opening. Strong. Sturdy. She clung to it, almost crying. She clasped it with both of her own, bringing it to her face and kissing it.
“Kay, it is all right,” came Reese’s voice, comforting from the darkness. “I am here for you.”
Kay’s throat closed up; she could barely speak for the emotion that overwhelmed her. “Reese …” she cried, pressing his hand tightly to her face, to her lips, wishing she could climb through the narrow opening to wrap herself in his arms.
Reese’s hand held her cheek for a moment, then it gently began to draw away. “Kay, you have to let go.”
Kay knew this was true, and yet she found it almost impossibly hard to relinquish her hold, to draw her fingers back. The hand vanished again into the darkness, leaving her alone … alone …
The work began in earnest, and soon the blocks were sliding free in quicker succession. Some were drawn back into the darkness, while the others coming toward her she took with effort and lowered them down. Then the hole was large enough for a man, and Reese was climbing his way through. She was in his arms, was being spun around by him, was being kissed … kissed … She wrapped her arms up his back, pulling him close, melding her body against his with every ounce of her strength.
Finally he drew back, looking down at her with shining eyes. “Keren-happuch, I am so proud of you.”
Kay nearly laughed out loud, and her body shone with her joy. “Only my father calls me that,” she admonished Reese, running her hand through his thick hair, relishing the feeling of his arms strong around her body. “Kay is how you have known me, and Kay I shall be.”
The hole had widened as if by magic, and in a moment Eric was stepping through, sword out, looking around the cellar with a quick eye. His gaze stopped on Kay. “I suppose we cannot convince you to head back down the tunnels, to go to the safety of the camp with your sister?”
Kay’s eyes grew fierce. “What, abandon Serenor when it needs me the most?”
Eric chuckled, glancing at Reese. “I practically had to tie Em to her bed to get her to stay behind,” he admitted.
Reese nodded. “That is why I had Leland come prepared,” he responded.
Leland moved through the opening, carrying a leather tunic and sword. “Did I hear my name being mentioned?”
Kay put her hands above her head, and in a moment she was suited up. When Reese handed her her sword, she stared at it for a long moment.
Her voice was a whisper. “For honor.”
The sword seemed to shine in the torchlight.
Reese gently turned her to face him. “The only reason I am agreeing to this is, if you are out of my sight, I will be obsessed about your safety,” he cautioned, his eyes serious. “I need you to stay right behind me. If I get distracted because I am worried about you -”
Kay nodded. “I will shadow you and stay quiet,” she promised without hesitation.
The room filled with soldiers, and Eric came over to join them. “What is the situation?” he asked Kay, rolling his broad shoulders in preparation.
“They added a grate before the cellar door,” explained Kay, looking between the two men. “However, with Stephen’s skilled help, the lock is now open. The servants are all abed. The barracks are stuffed to the gills with soldiers, most of them asleep, but a few are awake. Only a few can be on the walls, I imagine, as lookouts. It seems they expect the main attack would be in the morning if the mercenaries did not show up.”
“That makes sense,” agreed Eric. “It is what I would have done.”
Reese settled his hand on the hilt of his sword. “Where might we find Jack and Galeron?”
Kay smiled. “They are up on the top floor, isolated and alone.”
Reese’s face drained to white. When he spoke, he voice was wound tight. “They slept in your suite?”
Kay placed a hand against his cheek, reassuring him. “I told them to take the two empty rooms – my father’s and my sister’s – to keep them as far away from the initial attack as possible. I thought it would help you make progress through the soldiers, to have those two distant and unable to coordinate a defense.”
The color eased back into Reese’s face. “Yes, that will help immensely. Thank you.”
Leland moved up to the group. “We are ready,” he informed the others. “We should get this started.”
Reese turned to Kay again. “I need you by my side,” he stated again, his face tense with concern. “Stay with me.”
“I
swear,” she vowed, stretching up to give him a long kiss.
His arm slid up her side, almost drawing her in again, but then he was stepping back, smiling ruefully. “I would lose the night in your embrace,” he groaned, his gaze held on hers. Finally he turned, bringing his attention to Eric and Leland.
“Let us start.”
Kay resettled her grip on her sword, and her heart firmed with determination.
Whatever it took, she would see Serenor freed.
Chapter 18
Kay pressed herself to the front of the group, her voice the barest of whispers. “Let me take the lead, at least for now,” she suggested, her hand on the door. “If I am spotted, no alarm will be raised. I can act as a scout for as long as we can remain unseen.”
Reese’s brow furrowed, but he nodded. “You stay nearby,” he instructed, his tone brooking no argument.
“Of course,” agreed Kay. In a moment she had cautiously pulled back the basement door, then peered through the metal grate toward the quiet barracks. The room was completely still now; only the sound of a chorus of snores emanating from the dark room. All soldiers were taking every opportunity for rest before the battle to come.
She nodded. One by one the crew slid off to the left, staying in the shadows. They moved their way along the back edge of the work room and toward the narrow servant’s stair which led between here and the floor above. This smaller path allowed food and supplies to be brought up to the main dining hall without disturbing any sleeping soldiers.
Reese motioned his hand toward the wall nearer to the barracks. Half the men crept to press their bodies against it. One soldier acted as a lookout, peering carefully around the corner at the slumbering soldiers.
Kay took the lead again, moving cautiously to the narrow stairs. She worked her way up them one at a time, the pain in her legs reminding her that she was far from healed. At the top of the stair she peered out into the main hall. She was in an alcove behind the head table. The embers glowed softly from the fireplace, but otherwise the large room was deserted. Everyone was either sound asleep or manning the walls, watching for any sign of danger.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
Slowly, carefully, the remaining crew made their way across the expanse. They wove around tables and stools, and, after long minutes of tense care, they reached the other side.
Another motion from Reese, and the other half of the men moved their way silently down the front stairs, cutting off the second egress from the barracks. Only Reese, Leland, Jevan, and Eric remained with Kay.
Reese started up the stairs first, ensuring Kay was safely nestled between him and Leland. They took the stairs slowly, cautiously, alert at every step for the sound of metal on metal, the sign that the battle had been raised below.
The keep echoed in its silence.
They reached the top landing. Reese carefully pressed the door open, peered inside, and then waved the group in. The room was stark in the deep night. Shafts of moonlight streamed in the row of windows, creating a patchwork of light and dark that patterned the floor. The three doors on the far wall were closed.
Kay tapped Reese on his shoulder. “Let me lure Galeron out,” she whispered. “If you can take him unawares, that only leaves Jack to deal with.”
Reese’s eyes held hers for a long moment, then he nodded in agreement. The four men moved to stand in the deep shadows on either side of the master bedroom doorway. When they were set, Kay took in a deep breath, then approached the sturdy wooden door.
She gave a gentle knock on it, calling out, “Galeron, I need to talk with you.”
Almost immediately there was an answering creak of motion, then the thud of feet on floor. Kay took several steps backwards, moving clear of the door area and standing in a dark strip between shafts of moonlight so her form would be shadowed. She did not want Galeron to spot her sword or armor until it was too late.
The door creaked open and Galeron emerged from his room, running his hand through his curls as he shook the sleep from his eyes. “To be called by your voice in the middle of the night,” he mused, his lips curling in a smile. “Few things could be higher on my list. Just what would your pleasure be? Feeling lonely already, are we?”
Reese’s dagger was at his throat in an instant, and Galeron’s eyes flashed with surprise. “You? How in the world?” He glanced out the window, his confusion becoming even thicker as he saw his men quietly walking the ramparts. “What could I possibly have overlooked?”
Reese pressed the blade tighter in against his skin. “Hush,” he snapped in a low whisper.
All eyes turned toward the remaining closed door. Reese backed up with his hostage while Jevan, Eric, and Leland moved cautiously toward the room.
The door flew open. Jack strode out, his head held high, a sword in one hand, a dagger in the other. He ran his gaze scornfully over each person present, shaking his head when he saw Galeron’s state.
“And to think she thought you were the better man to hold this keep,” he shot out in disgust. “Caught by the oldest trick in the book.”
Galeron’s voice was calm. “It was impossible to anticipate this,” he retorted. “How could any help have made it in past our defenses tonight? The odds of that were astronomical!”
Jack rolled his shoulders, settling deeper into his stance. “Your damned lists cannot account for everything,” he snapped. “And I will not be coming quietly. If you men want me, you will have to come get me.”
Reese’s voice was quiet, but it rang across the room with certainty.
“Jack is mine.”
Jack’s grin turned wolfish, and a low chuckle dredged from his throat. “Still feeling upset about that little love pat I gave to your girlfriend?” he asked, his eyes sharp. “Once I am done with you, believe me, she will get what she really deserves.”
Reese’s face stilled, and he nodded to the trio of men. In a moment Leland and Eric had moved to stand protectively before Kay. Jevan placed his own dagger at Galeron’s throat, pulling him back, forcing him to his knees to minimize his threat.
Kay’s heart thudded against her chest as she watched Jack and Reese circle each other in the darkened room, moving from streaming moonlight to darkest shadow and back again. Each man held his blade surely in his grip, their eyes intent on each other. Each watched the placement of the foot, the tilt of the shoulders, the sliding of the gaze …
Jack’s attack was as swift as a viper, Reese spun beneath it, countering, and the fight was on. Jack moved with lightning speed, swinging his sword down over his head toward Reese’s right shoulder. Reese dodged further to the right, letting the sword skitter down his own sword’s length, whipping the tip around to spin toward Jack’s ear. Jack threw his sword up and right, catching Reese’s blade on his own, twisting the hilt to send the edge at Reese’s neck. Reese ducked under the swing, pulling the blade hard toward Jack’s stomach. Then they were in the shadows again, and it was a blur of steel on steel, the stamp of landing feet, the grunts of hard exertion as each man battled for his life.
It took every ounce of control for Kay not to run forward, not to try to help in some way, to instead remain frozen by Leland. She knew if she made one tiny motion toward the fray that his strong arms would easily overpower her, force her to watch in fear … in hope …
The combatants spun into the light again, the dust motes sparkling in the glow. There was a red slash across Reese’s arm; a matching one ripped raggedly across Jack’s stomach, streaming blood. Both men were breathing heavily.
All at once Jack took a step back, drawing his hand to his stomach almost involuntarily. He cursed in a guttural snarl, his hand becoming instantly wet. A long moment passed before he spoke.
“I concede,” he bit out in a growl. “Here, take my sword.” He turned his sword around so it was hilt first and offered it to Reese with a cold stare.
Everything in the room went into slow motion. Reese reached forward with his left hand to take the hilt as Jack began to sp
in with the dagger in his own left hand. Kay drove toward him in a panic. Leland grabbed at her arm, dragging her down onto her knees with a sharp yank. Her two damaged legs slammed onto the wooden planks, and she screamed in agony. Reese intercepted the dagger with his left hand, driving his sword hard, straight through Jack’s center.
As Kay fell sideways, Jack fell in the same direction. They both landed with a heavy thud, facing each other, Jack’s cold, lifeless eyes gazing into her own.
The distant ring of battle sounded from deep beneath them, but Kay could barely draw in a breath, so overwhelming was the agony cascading over her from both of her legs. Reese was at her side in a moment, and she moved her hand shakily to his arm, to the wound which opened up his tricep.
“Are you all right?” she managed to gasp through the pain.
He shook his head in gentle amusement, leaning forward to kiss her tenderly on her forehead. He carefully helped her back up to her unsteady feet, then nodded at the other three. Jevan went first, ushering his hostage down the stairs, then Leland and Eric followed, with Kay and Reese bringing up the rear.
By the time they made their way down to the barracks, the brief flare of combat had already been brought under control. The soldiers’ hands were tied with sturdy rope and they were being ushered down into the basement tunnels. The main doors to the keep remained sturdily shut, and there was no sense that the troops outside had heard anything.
Eli nodded as the group came into the room. “That was easier than we could have hoped for,” he reported. “They didn’t budge an inch until that yell came from above, and even then their responses were sluggish. It was an easy enough task to keep them from mounting much of a fight. Most never even made it to their feet.”
Jevan looked around the barracks area, allowing himself a low chuckle. “I certainly would expect much more from my own soldiers,” he mused.
Galeron shrugged in acceptance. “It is hard to get good help nowadays,” he agreed. His eyes moved down the length of the barracks, and then stared in surprise at the open cellar door, at the remaining soldiers who were being escorted down into its depths.
