Micah stilled. He opened his eyes wider, studying Owen. “You swear it?”
“I swear to you, Micah, I will get Libby and bring her back.” Owen’s voice was thick with emotion. He didn’t want to wait until nightfall, but Harry’s logic was sound. Waiting until dark was the only real chance they had to get Libby out safely.
“I’ll sleep for awhile. And go with you, to get Libby.” Micah closed his eyes. And saw Libby. She smiled at him. You need your rest, Micah. You must live. Sleep now.
“I will sleep, Libby. I will sleep. I love you, Libby,” he whispered.
Rowena sniffed and Sophia wiped at the corner of her eye as they heard Micah speaking to Libby in his delirium. They worked in tandem to apply cool water to Micah’s fevered skin.
Sophia applied the poultice the doctor left that morning. “For all the good it will do with him thrashing about the way he does. He’s torn his stitches three times already,” she mumbled as she left his bedside to return some items to a tray holding medical supplies on a nearby table.
“Should I tie him down?” Wyldhurst whispered to Lachlan and shrugged.
“No. It would just make him angrier. It would certainly make me angrier,” Lachlan answered. “Don’t mention it to the ladies they might like the idea of tying him down.”
“Like what?” Sophia asked as she returned to check the poultice.
“Oh, nothing.” Wyldhurst shrugged.
The Scotsman grinned. He shook his head.
Wyldhurst, Lachlan and Owen got some broth and tea down Micah.
Afterward, Owen went into Micah’s study and spent two hours watching Cadbury hill from the telescope.
Harry let himself into the safe room and carefully removed the Greek scrolls from their earthenware jars. In their place he slid in other Greek scrolls he and Micah purchased in an Antiquarian Shop in Paris some years back. They were interesting to read but historically unimportant. He brought the jars out with him. “Decoys.” He explained. “In case we cannot execute our plan tonight. We’ll still have something to bargain with tomorrow.”
“What do you mean, we. You’re not going anywhere, Harry.” Owen said.
“I am the head of the Avalon Society, therefore I am going.”
“No, we’ve already sent Lyon into danger in London. We don’t truly know if we can get to Libby, or if Micah will live at this point. You will stay with your wife, and pick up the pieces of the other’s lives if we are met with further tragedy. As you said, you are our leader, and that is why you will remain. There is also the fact that only you know the locations of every safe house holding our Society’s acquisitions.” Owen rose. He looked at Harry. “It’s been decided by the rest of the original members present, that is that. Charlie and Gabriel have agreed to lead us in our mission tonight. They both are cool-headed in the midst of chaos. We will be fine.”
“And you will do as they say, Owen?” Harry asked pointedly.
“Maybe, maybe not. But I will come out of there with my sister.”
“I was not going to allow you go,” Harry’s gaze hardened as he met Owen’s.
“I promised Micah I would go. Libby is my sister; I will go. And that is the end of this conversation, Harry.” Owen crossed his arms defiantly. He continued to stare at Harry with hard blue eyes.
“It is not a good idea. You are too emotionally involved,” Harry posed.
“I’m going.” Owen declared. He moved toward the door. He stopped to look down at Micah then headed for the door. He paused only to turn and glare at Harry on his way out.
Harry looked to Wyldhurst after he heard the sound of Owen’s bedchamber door slam shut. “Lock him up somewhere before nightfall, would you, Luc?”
Wyldhurst nodded then asked Harry, “We are going up to Cadbury tonight aren’t we? We all want to get Lady Elizabeth back as soon as can be.”
“Yes, we are going. Owen is not. Once we reach the hill, he’ll go on up. He won’t wait for the order. That could get a lot of us killed.”
“He might not, Harry.” Lachlan said pointedly. “Owen is steady, a man you can count on. He’s a senior member after all.”
“This is his sister, Lachlan. I doubt they’ll let her live when the melee of attack starts. She’ll be the first to go; Owen knows it. Do you truly trust him not to go in before it’s time.”
Lachlan raised both his arms in surrender. “I don’t know, Harry. We’ll lock him up as you wish. I still feel he should be there. Micah can’t be.”
“We need a diversion,” Wyldhurst thought aloud, “something strange and eerie, so they don’t think they’re under attack until it’s too late and they are.”
“Ah, something paranormal like. Good idea. Get Owen. Let’s get to the library and see what we can come up with. Send Charlie and Sinclair up to sit with the ladies. I’ll stay until they arrive. If we can come up with a diversion Owen can go, and we won’t have to lock him up. Otherwise, we’ll have to. Understood?”
Wyldhurst and Lachlan nodded.
Chapter Thirteen
Matthias Halfknight, Lord Sinclair, was a handsome man for his forty years. He was an extremely amiable and polite man. Neither Rowena nor Sophia knew him well. As they talked and he spoke to them of his beloved daughter, Rachel, whom he raised from birth after his wife died bringing her into the world, they both became forever endeared to him. A man who could love his child so much, and be such a large part of her life, was the best of men.
“I cannot wait to meet your little Rachel someday,” Rowena smiled at the dark haired man.
“Perhaps you shall meet her in September if our Brown Coat trouble has died down. Rachel loves to travel with me. She loves Cornwall, and the Chynoweths. They are family personified.”
“I am very eager to visit the Chynoweths in Cornwall. It will be my first visit to Menadue. You will come too, Sophia, with Lyon. You will come to Glastonbury from Wiltshire. We will travel together. We’ll stop at Templecombe and collect Libby and Micah. We will be a merry party on our two day journey to Bodmin!” Rowena spoke in an uplifting tone.
Sophia tried to smile. She wanted Lyon to return safely. How she wished he was not so far away in London. She prayed Micah and Libby would both live to join them in September. She felt so alone, even though all currently in residence at Horethorne Hall were kind to her. In a very short amount of time she became used to her husband’s company. It felt odd for him not to be with her.
Matthias detected Lady Glaston’s unease, even through her smile. He added, “We will enjoy ourselves immensely in Cornwall. It shall be a holiday for us all. Rachel and I, and her governess, Miss Hastings, of course, will travel with Charlie and Owen, I am certain. We may even, all of us, meet somewhere in Devon and make a larger traveling party.” Matthias smiled, as he tried to help Lady Glaston cheer Lady Amesbury.
“Yes. That sounds delightful.” Rowena went to sit at Micah’s bedside again. Her hand rested on his. She gave it a squeeze. She made a small surprised cry when he squeezed it back. “I think he feels cooler now, Sophia, what do you think? He squeezed my hand. Surely that’s a good sign, isn’t it?”
“He does feel a little cooler, Rowena. Maybe he can hear us?” Sophia said as she came to Micah’s bed side.
“Micah?” Rowena called his name. “Can you hear me?”
He squeezed her hand.
“I think he can hear me,” Rowena exhaled in relief. “Micah, they are going to rescue Libby tonight as soon as it is dark. Can you tell her in your dreams? So she will be ready?”
Micah squeezed her hand again.
She whispered to him as she smoothed a lock of dark brown hair from his forehead, “Micah you must get well. You must come back to us. Libby will need you and I still need my dear friend, Micah.” Her eyes watered.
Micah’s eyelids fluttered open. “Not going anywhere, Rowena.” His voice was weak and hoarse.
He spoke again. “Do something for me?”
“Anything, Micah.” Rowena smiled as she clutched his
hand and leaned over to better see his face.
“Call your Angel for us, for me and Libby. And for the others who go to bring her back.”
“I already have. You must call him too. And tell Libby to as well when you next see her in your dreams.”
His eyes closed again.
He was in Glastonbury, on the Tor, in the Tower of St. Michael. He was alone, until the Archangel came. Brilliant light surrounded the golden haired angel. His blue eyes were crystalline, warm and filled with kindness. They held the strength of pure love. His robes of red and indigo flapped in the breeze, vivid against the snow white of his large wings. His breastplate of gold shone brilliant in the light.
“Continue your faith, Micah. You and your lady are under my protection. You must tell them she is near the well. I will help her brother get to her. Tell them to watch for my signal. Believe, Micah, and all will be well.”
Micah was left alone in the tower with white feathers blowing all around him.
He felt himself falling deeper into the depths of the obsidian gloom. He stopped himself and struggled to fly upward. He realized he was awake. He felt someone holding his hand. “Rowena?”
“It’s me, Gabriel. Dusk is upon us, and I came to connect with you and Libby before I leave.”
“Archangel Michael said she is near Arthur’s well on the hill. He will help you get to her in time. He said to watch for his signal. There is a map of Cadbury in my study, on the wall. You’ll know where the well is when you see the map.”
Gabriel smiled and nodded. “Good. We needed an ally. We could hope for none better than Archangel Michael. Close your eyes, Micah. I need to find Libby one more time.”
Micah closed his eyes. He saw his Libby inside a light colored tent. The canvas flapped and cracked in the wind. She lay still and silent. She was so pale he feared she might be dead. He saw the man come out of the shadows. The man’s pale yellow hair glowed eerily. His light green eyes gleamed with evil in the scant light. It was Percy Davitt! He held a knife in his hand; Micah’s own knife that he threw into Davitt’s shoulder in Glastonbury!
He watched in horror as the yellow-haired man rested the blade against His wife’s cheek. He made a small slice. Blood trickled down.
“Tell me what I want to know this instant, and I will leave you with this one small cut. Tell me a lie and I cut out your eye. Tell me nothing and I will carve my initials in your face so no man, not even your husband and brother will ever be able to gaze upon you again.” Davitt lowered his knife to her face again. “Tell me now or lose your eye!”
“Libby! Move Libby. Roll away! Tell him the scrolls are in London. In a safe house! Save yourself, Libby!”
Micah pushed himself to a half reclining position as his eyes flew open. “Libby! Libby!” He reached out, grabbing Gabriel Chynoweth by the coat. He pulled himself up. “Did you see that, Gabriel?”
“I saw, Micah. I saw it.” Gabriel tried to calm his friend and ease him back against his pillows.
Micah swung a leg off the side of the bed. He tried to stand and failed. He fell limply back upon the bed again. He still clung to Gabriel’s coat. He pleaded, “Libby needs help now! We have to help her. It is Davitt! He has my knife. He’s going to kill her. Go. Go! Save my Libby, damn you! Go now! Why are you all still here? Davitt has Libby. He means to cut out her eye! To kill her. Please, go help her!”
Owen was in the room when Micah sat up. He heard every word Micah told Gabriel. He turned and silently left the room as Micah pleaded behind him. Briskly he walked down the hallway. He entered his room. Owen loaded his weapons. He hid them and extra ammunition in his coat, clothes and boots. He didn’t get his cape or his rifle. Harry would have him locked up if he thought he was going solo. He knew it.
Owen easily walked past Micah’s door. Wyldhurst and Lachlan were holding him down. Micah was still pleading for them to get Libby. Micah’s wife. His sister. A tear trickled down Owen’s cheek as he thought of the hell Libby was going through, and Micah right along with her. He went downstairs and left the house. He saddled his horse in the stable. He took a hunting rifle and some shot for it from the cupboard in the stable room. He rode out, toward Cadbury Hill. Dusk was upon them, it would soon be dark.
Charlie caught up to him down the lane.
“I’m not going back. Harry will lock me up,” Owen shouted defiantly. He swung his horse around. He raised his rifle to aim it at Charlie.
“I’m not going back either, Owen. I’m coming with you. Libby is like a sister to me, same as my own sisters. You are like a brother to me. Micah is our good friend. I’m coming with you. We’re wasting time here.” His solemn blue eyes met Owen’s.
“Let’s go get Libby.” Owen nodded as he lowered the rifle. “First we’ll stop in the Pub at Templecombe and have a very quick pint, in case we are being watched by Brown Coats. We’ll leave our horses near the rear and sneak out the back of the tavern then be on our way. Are you armed?”
“Of course,” Charlie chuckled. “I’ve four pistols, six knives and I took a hunting rifle from the stable just as you did.” Charlie grinned.
“You watched me?” Owen asked.
Charlie merely nodded, grinned and urged his mount forward.
After Wyldhurst and Lachlan got some laudanum down Micah, he quieted. Two teary-eyed and exhausted ladies sat holding his hands.
Sophia rose to get her needle and thread to repair Micah’s stitches where they tore his skin during his exertion to try and leave his bed.
“Owen and Charlie are gone. I can’t find them anywhere,” Newt hurried into the room.
Harry nodded. “They’re gone. I can’t blame them after what Micah told Gabriel. But Charlie is very cool-headed. I trust he will keep Owen from doing anything rash. In fact, I’m certain that’s why he went.” Harry looked to each of his colleagues currently standing in the room. “Study the map in Micah’s office. Make certain you know where Arthur’s Well is. Go get Libby. Come up the side near the well. Watch for the signal from the Angel. Bring her back.”
The rest of the Avalon Society members left Horethorne Hall just twenty minutes after Owen and Charlie.
Matthias Halfknight and Harry stayed with the ladies and Micah. Four of Gabriel’s men and Elveston kept watch downstairs. Arthur Trevelyan, Gabriel’s cousin headed the outside guard which consisted of the men who were employed by Micah at Horethorne Hall.
Libby saw Micah in the mist.
“They are coming for you, sweetheart, Owen and the others. Stay away from the man with yellow hair. He means you harm. Wake up, Libby. You need to be awake now. I will see you soon.”
Libby opened her eyes. She heard someone enter the tent. She saw a man with dark hair.
“She’s compliant, not moving. She’s good and drugged still. Her eyes are glassy.”
“Leave me alone with her.” Another voice came from behind the dark-haired man.
“Crow said you are not to kill her until we have the scrolls. They may want to see her before we make the exchange,” the dark haired man warned before leaving the tent.
“I won’t kill her, yet. I have not decided whether I want to disfigure her face and enjoy her charms or just kill her. I wish to choose the option that will bring Wincanton the utmost pain.”
Libby looked toward the tent opening. She saw a man with pale yellow hair. His eyes were so light and pale a green color they looked unnatural. She saw the gleam of a knife in the man’s hand.
“So, you are the wife of Wincanton. Lady Wincanton?”
Libby nodded slowly.
“I should rather carve his skin, but alas, he is not here. I’ve heard he was dead, or close to it. I hope it is truth and not a rumor. Good riddance, I say.”
No! He is not dead. Could not be dead! This man was trying to frighten her, to goad her.
“Do you know where the scrolls are?”
“What scrolls?”
“What scrolls! Do you take me for a fool, you little bitch? What scrolls! If you are Win
canton’s wife, you know where the scrolls are.” He brought the knife to her cheek. “So tell me, Elizabeth Wychcombe, Lady Wincanton, if you do not I shall cut out your eye. I want your brother and your husband, if he lives, to think of me every time they gaze upon you. Providing, of course, I decide to let you live. I want them to never be able to forget me.”
“I cannot tell you, sir, because I do not know the location of the scrolls. They were moved to another location upon our arrival in Templecombe. Where, I do not know. I am not privy to Avalon Society business. None of the ladies are.” Libby lied.
She tested her hands, to see if she could move them. She said a quick prayer to Archangel Michael for protection. She thought she saw the white outline of an angel behind the yellow-haired man, though she could not be certain. Libby fervently hoped that if this wasn’t a dream the angel was real.
“You’ll have to do better than that.” The yellow-haired man rested the blade against her cheek. He made a small slice. Libby felt the pain. She felt the blood rolling down her cheek. “Tell me what I want to know now, and I will leave you with this one small cut. Tell me a lie and I cut out your eye. Tell me nothing and I will carve my initials in your face so no man, not even your husband and brother will ever be able to look upon you again.”
She heard Micah’s voice at that moment. Libby! Tell him they are in London. In a safe house. You don’t know where. Libby nodded. “I overheard them talking. All of the relics including the scrolls were put in a safe house in London, the Avalon Society’s main safe house. There is a secret chamber. But I do not know where the house is. Only that it is heavily guarded.”
“Ah, probably their club. Well done, Lady Wincanton. I shall merely leave you with a token of my appreciation, for today.” He sliced her cheek further. A sick grin spread across his face as he cut her. “I thought to enjoy your body now. I do think your husband and brother would be highly angered by my use of you, but alas, there is too much blood. It would be messy.”
Lords of Honor Page 22
