Part 24 (2/2)

The man nodded before he left them alone.

Cat let out a slow breath as she lowered her cowl. Even so, she knew better than to count on their safety just yet. She wouldn't feel completely relieved until France was out of her sight.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of someone running down the hallway outside. They were headed for her room.

Lochlan pulled his sword from its sheath an instant before the door was slammed open.

Kestrel was there, his cheeks red from his run. ”The king is coming. We have to hide the two of you immediately.”

Chapter 14.

”How is that possible?” Lochlan asked.

Kestrel gave him a droll stare. ”I don't know. Now we can either hide you or keep arguing until you're both taken into custody. Your choice.”

Cat growled at the man's sarcasm. Any other time, she might have had an appreciation for it. In this moment, however, she could have done without it. ”Hide us where?”

Kestrel bolted the door behind him before he indicated a group of barrels against the back wall.

Cat glanced at them skeptically. Nice thought, but unless they had enough time to empty the barrels, which would leave a most obvious clue as to where they were hiding, it was a useless one. ”Those are full.”

”Really?” he asked, his face a mask of mockery, ”I wasn't planning on putting you in one. Stand on top of it and crawl up there.” He pointed to the ceiling.

Now that was even more ridiculous than hiding them in the barrels. ”They'll find us there.”

”Trust me. No one ever looks up. No one. Even as low as this ceiling is, it'll never occur to them to seek you there.”

Lochlan looked as skeptical as she felt. ”Are you willing to bet your life on it?”

”Nay,” Kestrel said with a smile, ”but I'm willing to bet yours.”

Cat was sure the unamused look on her face matched the one on Lochlan's.

Lochlan glanced up at the ceiling, then narrowed his gaze on Kestrel. ”If they find us, you're the first one I kill.”

”Please. Better to die quickly by your hand than be tortured again.”

Before Cat could ask about that phrase, Kestrel had them climb up the barrels to the ceiling.

There was a small ledge that barely accommodated her. Poor Lochlan was left hanging by the strength of his arms and legs. She wasn't even sure how he managed it. No doubt it was painful.

But he didn't say a word about it.

Satisfied with their positions, Kestrel threw netting around them, tucking it around their bodies before he nodded. He stepped down to peer up at them. ”You don't make a sound and they'll never know.”

Before she could blink, he was out the door.

Still not completely sold on this plan, she glanced to Lochlan. ”This isn't very comfortable, now is it?” she said, trying not to speak too loudly.

”I can think of better times I've had.”

She smiled at his unexpected humor given the danger they were in.

At least until she heard voices outside. But it wasn't until she heard her father's that she started to panic. This was a foolish place to hide. They were practically in plain sight.

Just as she was about to try and run, Lochlan took her hand in his. The steely blue eyes bolstered her courage immediately. ”Trust in Kestrel, la.s.s.”

She wasn't sure why Lochlan trusted him, but as the voices drew closer, she realized she didn't have any choice except to see this through.

She heard her father growl. ”I swear that girl is half witch like her mother. I've never seen anyone vanish into thin air before.”

”Well, sire, the informant swore that she would be heading out this night on a boat for England.

And this is the most likely boat for her to take.”

”Are you sure we can trust your informant?”

”Aye, sire. He heard them planning their escape.”

”Who else was in the planning?”

”Lords Stryder of Blackmoor and Simon of Anwyk.”

Her father cursed. ”Two men I can't touch or intimidate and there they both sat across from me, looking me in the eye and not telling me of this. d.a.m.n them to h.e.l.l.”

The door rattled on its hinges.

Cat held her breath as it was thrown open and a group of four guards came inside to search. She tightened her grip on Lochlan's hand. This was it, she was sure of it. Any second they'd look up at see them.

Closing her eyes, she prayed furiously.

Below her, the guards overturned the barrels, threw crates aside, and looked everywhere for them.

Except up.

She truly couldn't believe it as they finished their search, then filed one by one out of the room.

”'Tis empty, Your Majesty.”

Her father cursed in the hallway before they moved to the next room down.

Cat let out a nervous laugh.

Lochlan motioned her to continue her silence. ”We're not out of this until they're gone and we've sailed,” he whispered.

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