Sibeal put her hands on her hips. “I thought you would find a way to send them both back to Brannagh together. I didn’t wish for any harm to come to little Clare!”
Her mother shushed her. “Oh, do stop fussing. I thought you despised the little brat.”
Sibeal nodded, as the pounding from her own heart muffled her hearing. “I did…at first, but she’s only an innocent little girl. I cannot imagine how upset she must be without her mother.”
“Oh, do us both a favor and relax. They will be reunited at Carraig Capall soon enough. The arrangement turned out more in our favor than originally thought.”
“Arrangement?”
Her mother’s lips curved into a have smirk as she dripped wax on the letter she’d been writing and then pressed in her seal. “Aye. With Lord Fergus and his men occupying Nuala Isles, it was the perfect opportunity to strike a deal with him. His men will cease their occupation of Aoife in exchange for Fiona and her daughter. It is a win-win for us, if I do say so myself. Soon we will have Órlaith back in our possession. Leland may have been the King of Kiely for a short time, but you, my daughter, you will be the Queen of the entire kingdom. ‘Tis your birthright. When this is all over, no one will stand in your way.”
Sibeal couldn’t breathe or think after hearing her mother’s confession. When she finally managed to speak, her words came out dull and lifeless. “You made an agreement with Lord Fergus—one of our greatest enemies. Most of his army came from King Malcolm—the same mad king who destroyed our city and murdered our people. How could you stoop so low?”
“I had no choice. Don’t you understand, Daughter? I didn’t have the leverage I needed to strike a deal with Fergus until you told me Fiona’s true identity. Once I had that information, I could proceed with my plan. Your father didn’t care for it at all, but I knew it was all for the best. I couldn’t let anyone stop me—not even him.”
Sibeal’s heart hammered against her ribcage as her mother’s words soaked in. “Is that why you killed him?”
She scoffed in disbelief. “How dare you accuse me of such an act. Your father had a weak heart. You know this well.”
Sibeal swallowed a lump in her throat, struggling to gather the courage she needed. “Aye and he also had yellowing of the eyes and his fingers and toes had turned purple before his death. Those are both symptoms of poison.”
Her mother’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “‘Tis the young physician who has put these thoughts into your head. He has turned you against me!”
“Stop avoiding the question, Mother.”
The countess let out an exhausted sigh. “I do not know how to respond, except to say, I would do anything to ensure your happiness. I long for you to have the life I never had. If you do this my way, you will have everything we ever dreamed of. All the sacrifices I have made along the way will have been worth it.”
Sibeal’s knees weakened beneath her and she sat on an armchair by her mother’s desk to avoid falling over. “I didn’t want to believe it,” she murmured. “I hoped I was wrong—that you still had some goodness in you after all. Now I know what you have become.”
Her mother rushed over and knelt by the chair, clutching both her hands. “Daughter, you must understand my reasons for being this way! I have had my heart broken…my dreams shattered before my eyes. Did you know I was once betrothed to King Donovan?”
Sibeal shook her head, briefly coming out of her fog. “No, I didn’t know.”
Her mother nodded. “We were promised to each other as children, but when the time came, he broke our betrothal in favor of Lady Aine of Kiely.” She gritted her teeth, gazing off into the distance as if reliving the memory. “He destroyed me and every day that Kielyan woman occupied my role as queen was pure agony. However, Queen Aine did not sit on the throne for long. I had my revenge. Regrettably, the young heir survived.”
Sibeal stared at her in horror. “King Donovan mourned the death of his queen for eighteen years before his own demise, believing she died as a result of a difficult childbirth. King Tristan grew up without his mother. Do you feel no remorse for what you have done?”
When she met Sibeal’s gaze, her eyes were void of emotion. “No and afterwards I did what I had to. I married the next man of station my parents chose for me, but I never loved again. I learned power was the next best thing and vowed to never let another man stand in my way—not even my husband.”
Sibeal drew her hands away from her mother’s grasp as guards burst through the door of the secret passage. They had heard every word of her mother’s confession. “I’m sorry,” she whispered as they seized her mother’s arms.
“How could you betray me like this, Sibeal?”
She wiped tears from her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Mother. I couldn’t allow you to hurt anyone else. Forgive me.”
She didn’t respond, but only glared in Sibeal’s direction as the charges against her were listed. As they took her mother away to the dungeon, she buried her face in her hands. The truth had finally been revealed, but it was little consolation for her wounded heart.
A few moments later, strong arms encircled her. “‘Tis all right, Lady Sibeal. King Leland will be lenient in her punishment for your sake. You did the right thing.”
She nodded and leaned into Niall’s comforting embrace. “I know. I only fear it was too little and too late. I doubt anyone will be able to rescue Lady Fiona and Clare now…not with my mother’s plan in place.” She looked around the room with wide eyes. “Where is Leland? I must speak with him.”
“He’s gone, Milady. He took a small company of men with him to Carraig Capall. After hearing your mother mention it, he left right away. I am going, too, but I had to make sure you were all right before I left.”
Sibeal let out a strangled gasp. “Niall, we must stop him! He could be walking right into a trap.”
He shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. I thought your mother wanted you to marry Leland. Why would she wish to bring him harm?”
“She must have changed her mind after Leland announced his betrothal to Lady Fiona. She said no one would stand in my way after this was all over. I would be the queen of the entire kingdom.”
Niall looked at the ground, appearing deep in thought. “If I leave now, I’ll have enough time to warn him.”
Sibeal rose from her chair and crossed to her wardrobe to grab some traveling clothes and a small weapon in a leather pouch from her father. “I shall go, too. Fergus’ men might listen to me if they know I’m Lady Kyna’s daughter.”
He approached and gripped her shoulders. “No, Milady. You must remain here where it is safe.”
She met his worried gaze, emerald eyes pleading for him to listen. “Niall, this is something I must do. I’ve been on the wrong side for much too long. This is my chance to do something good. Please do not take this from me.”
He released a deep sigh before his troubled expression turned into one of mild amusement. “I will depart in five minutes time. If you wish to accompany me, I suppose there is no way I can stop you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Out of Time
Leland and his company pushed their horses to travel as quickly as possible across the rugged terrain. Artair kept a good pace beside his master, ears up and alert to any sign of danger. When the peak of Carraig Capall came into view, Leland motioned for the ten men accompanying him to slow down. They traveled on another few minutes before Leland ordered two of the men to stay behind—one with the horses and the other at a nearby peak as a lookout. Then he continued forward with Artair and his eight remaining men on foot.
It took them about ten minutes to reach the valley floor and then the large rockface shaped like a horse stood before them. They crossed a small stream and then followed the rugged path until it led up to the rock formation and opened up into a series of deep caverns forming the feet of the horse. To a foreigner the area was a never-ending maze of rock, dirt and small pools of standing water one had to be carefu
l not to fall into, but Leland knew the area well, having played in the passages with Tristan as a child.
They traveled through the small passages with Artair leading the way, his nose sniffing the ground. Leland had begun to lose hope when the dog found a small shred of burgundy fabric stuck in a tangle of thorn bushes growing from cracks in the cavern walls. He picked it up, recognizing it as a piece of Fiona’s gown. Then a few minutes later, he found another. His heart thundered with joy. She’d left him clues.
Finally, they reached a small clearing where a waterfall cut through the rock and cascaded into a deep crystal-clear pool with grass and wildflowers surrounding it. When he inspected the ground surrounding the pool, Artair led him to another small piece of fabric and a sunken section of grass. Leland rested his hand on the place, still feeling warmth. He looked up at his three guards. “They were there, only moments ago. Come, if we make haste, we can catch up to them.” They quickened their pace, entering another cavern on the far end of the pool.
After several minutes, Artair barked and ran into a dark passage, right before a piercing scream echoed through the cave. “Fiona!” Leland rushed forward away from his group, reaching for his weapon. He turned around a bend in the path where the cavern widened into a large cave with light from the outside filtering through the cracks. Then he heard Artair growling and the sight before him, made Leland’s heart drop.
Fiona and Clare were sitting on the ground with their hands tied together. “Leland, I told you not to come,” his betrothed sobbed.
He sighed, knowing it had all been a trap. The scraps from her dress had been deliberately dropped to lure him in. “I love you, Fiona. How could I not come?”
A dozen soldiers came out of the shadows, surrounding him in an instant. He fought at first as his guards came in to defend him. They slew two of the enemy soldiers before another scream echoed off the rock walls.
“Drop your weapon immediately, or the princess and her daughter will die,” the leader of the company shouted, holding Fiona against him with the blade of the dagger pressed against the delicate skin on her throat.
He obeyed and motioned for his men to do the same before lifting his arms in a non-threatening manner. “Kill me if you want, but let them go free.” He met Fiona’s gaze again, drinking in every detail of her lovely face. Even if he met his end that day, at least he had seen her and Clare one last time. He would die a happy man knowing they were safe from harm.
“I do not take orders from you. Only King Fergus.” The man grinned at him and pulled Fiona and Clare back with him toward another narrow passage. “Kill this so-called King of Kiely and his guards. Then join me outside,” he ordered before disappearing into the darkness.
In one last act of desperation, Leland made the signal for Artair to follow. It alerted some of the men and one aimed a crossbow at the dog, but he turned the bend in time to miss the arrow. He prayed Artair would follow Fiona and Clare, but remain invisible to the enemy.
Sibeal and Niall entered the caverns coming in from a different direction, with the hope of catching up to Leland in time. Upon reaching the peak directly facing Carraig Capall, they met one of Leland’s guards. They spoke with him for a moment, discovering the king and eight guards had been inside the rock formation for over half an hour without any signal of their well-being.
“Something is wrong. Leland would have given you word by now. He could be in danger.” He motioned toward the guard. “Come with us. We could use the extra sword.”
They traveled into the valley and found themselves in a series of narrow caverns. Sibeal followed Niall, who said he knew of a shortcut to the oasis in the center of the rock formation. When they reached the waterfall, she stared at its beauty for a moment before scanning the ground for small round stones. After gathering several in a pouch attached to her belt, she took out her father’s shepherd’s sling and practiced swinging to warm up her arm.
Niall eyed the leather strap in amusement from a few feet away. “What do you intend to do with that thing?”
“What do you think?” She grinned while loading a stone into the leather pouch. She swung the weapon to one side and then aimed at a spot in the cavern wall directly in front of her. It struck the target with deadly precision, dislodging a large sliver of rock. “My father taught me to defend myself well.”
“I see that now, Milady.” Niall smiled at her and gave a slight bow of respect. Then he busied himself studying the footprints around the pool’s edge. “They were here only moments ago.”
Sounds of a battle echoed through the cave and he turned to Sibeal with intense hazel eyes. “Stay here and find a place to hide. I will return for you when it is safe.”
She started to protest, but he was gone in an instant. Sibeal found a dark overhang in the side of the rock wall and hid in the shadows for several minutes, but the sound of swords clashing and men shouting in the nearby cavern drew her out. Two men she cared about dearly were involved in a battle to the death in there. She couldn’t hide while knowing they were both in danger.
Mustering all the courage, Sibeal had within her, she slid another rock into the pouch of her shepherd’s sling and journeyed into the dark passage. The fighting grew louder as it echoed off the stone walls and her heart pounded in fear. Everything within her screamed to not go further, but Sibeal couldn’t help herself.
When she finally turned around a bend, the passage opened up into a large cavern. To her horror, there five men already lying on the ground, appearing to be dead. Three of them were Leland’s guards and the other two, enemy soldiers. She watched as an unarmed Leland dodged a swordsman’s advances. Sibeal had to stifle a scream several times as the enemy soldier almost killed the King of Kiely several times.
Niall struggled to hold off the remaining men. He clashed swords with one while another aimed a crossbow at him.
Sibeal remained in the shadow of the passageway. She thought quickly, swinging her shepherd’s sling and aiming at the soldier. It struck him directly in the temple and he fell unconscious. Niall looked down at the fallen man in surprise and then glanced toward the shadows where she hid. He winked in her direction and a proud smile graced his lips, bringing a rosy hue to her cheeks.
After defeating another soldier, Niall grabbed the enemy’s sword and tossed it to Leland. Once the king had a weapon in his hand, the tide of the battle changed in an instant. The men fought with swords while Lady Sibeal continued launching rocks at the enemy from the shadows. Within a few minutes three more of the enemy soldiers had fallen.
“Thank you, Niall,” Leland said while wiping sweat from his brow. “I am forever in your debt.”
Sibeal came out of the shadows and into the larger part of the cavern, relief washing over her. “Leland, I know I’m the last person you wish to see, but I couldn’t allow you to be killed.”
His eyes studied hers with uncertainty. “Thank you for your aid, Lady Sibeal. We will have much to discuss in the future, but for now, please return to the castle. One of my guards will accompany you.”
Tears filled her eyes, seeing the mistrust in Leland’s eyes. She had betrayed him and Sibeal knew she deserved whatever punishment she received for her part in Fiona and Clare’s abduction.
As the king turned to join his men, a flash of color caught her attention. One of the wounded enemy soldiers rushed toward Leland with a dagger clutched in his hand.
Sibeal lunged forward to protect her king. Everything happened in a blur as her body jolted and a strangled gasp escaped her lips. She didn’t feel pain—at least at first. One of Leland’s guards fought the would-be-assassin as strong arms caught her from behind. Sibeal was slowly lowered to the ground with her head resting on someone’s lap. Another person put pressure over the wound in her abdomen to slow the bleeding. Her vision blurred as a man’s face appeared on her right side.
“Sibeal, stay awake,” the man pleaded while holding her hand. “You’re going to survive this.”
Her vision cleared and Lela
nd’s face came into focus, his deep brown eyes filling with tears. The beautiful sight coaxed a smile from her trembling lips. How many times had she wished to be in Leland’s arms? Now her dream had come true. “You’re still here,” she whispered.
He nodded and squeezed her hand tighter. “Aye, you saved me, Milady.”
She grimaced as a wave of pain washed over her for the first time. “My father always saw the good in me. I never want to be on the wrong side again.”
“All has been forgiven, Lady Sibeal,” he reassured. “Please hold on.”
Tears dripped from her eyes as she continued gazing at him. “I would have happily lived in a simple cottage with you, Leland. I realize that now.”
His eyes filled with confusion. “I thought you wanted to marry a king?”
“No, it was what my mother wanted, but now I realize I only ever wanted you.” Sibeal gasped for breath as sudden pain radiated through her entire body. She looked down for a moment, noticing Niall tending to her wound—trying to save her. She feared his efforts were in vain.
“Shh…” Leland whispered, smoothing back her hair. “Just look at me and relax. Don’t try to speak.”
She focused on his handsome face again, blinking a few times in an effort to stay awake. It became harder to take a deep breath. “Be happy, Leland. That is what I wish…for you. Go find Fiona and Clare. They will make you happier…than I ever could.” She released his hand and pushed his arm away with her last reserve of strength. “Go, Leland. Go now…before it’s too late. Go!” She closed her eyelids as a few tears escaped, not wanting to watch him depart.
“Thank you, Lady Sibeal,” Leland whispered—his voice thick with emotion. “I shall never forget what you’ve done.” A light kiss brushed her forehead before he transferred her to the ground, pausing to place his rolled-up cloak under her head for a pillow. Then all was quiet.
The next time Sibeal opened her eyes, she was cradled in a man’s arms. The sunlight shining on his face revealed they had emerged from the dark caverns. “Niall,” she whispered in relief as he carried her under the shade of some trees. “Shouldn’t you be…with your king?”
Lady Fiona's Refuge (Ladies of Ardena Book 3) Page 14
