Page 89 of Sins of a Scot
“When ye get tae the kitchen, there is a rear door that leads out into the gardens. Cross the lawns and upon reaching the wall, follow it tae the right. Ye’ll come across a small gate that the servants use. There are only two guards there.”
“Is that all?” Iseabail pressed.
The guard nodded.
“Very well. Now, step further inside the cell.”
The man did as he was told.
“Give me the keys,” Iseabail continued.
The guard did so, but the ring was large with many keys attached to it.
“Tell me now, which key locks this cell?” she asked.
He pointed to a dull brass key that looked just like all the others.
“Good. Now step back.”
When the guard did, she grabbed hold of the door and looked at him for the final time. “Ye will forget everything ye have told us. Now, sleep.”
The man’s legs gave way and slumping onto the floor, he was asleep in seconds.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Owen could not deny it. He loved watching Iseabail work. Her gift was powerful, and so far, had been more than useful in their quest. Once again, she had worked her wonders to save them, and as the guard did everything she asked in a trance-like fashion, he realized how she had been able to escape from the dungeons of his father’s castle.
Once Iseabail had locked the cell door, imprisoning the guard, the group gathered.
“We should move quickly,” Owen said, grabbing a flaming torch from its metal bracket on the wall. “The guards are bound tae relieve each other at some point, and we want tae be as far away from here as possible when the next one arrives.”
“Indeed,” Hamilton agreed, gesturing in the direction the guard had told them to go. “Lead on.”
Owen turned and headed down the corridor, closely followed by the others. Her father had ushered Iseabail in front of him, and Keane followed at the rear, keeping a sharp eye out for any activity behind them. After passing more cells situated on their left and right, they reached the end of the corridor. Owen approached it slowly, keeping tight to the wall. With a slow movement, he peeked his head around it to check, only for him to swiftly retreat and turn to the others.
“There’s a guard at the end o’ the hall, but he’s facing away from us,” he whispered. “We need tae move as quietly as possible tae get across tae the opposite corridor.”
The other three nodded, none of them breathing a word.
“All right. We’ll go one by one. Iseabail,” Owen said, gesturing for her to come closer to him.
He moved her into a position where she stood by his side but still remained hidden behind the wall.
“When I say go, ye run across the hallway as quickly as ye can,” Owen said, gesturing to the corridor opposite.
She nodded and took a deep breath. Owen leaned his head out again to check, and then waving his hand, indicating for her to go, he heard her hurried but light footsteps cross the corridor. When they stopped, he glanced across at her. She gazed back breathlessly, clearly nervous as they all were.
He followed the same process with Hamilton and then Keane. Then he was there alone. The three waved at him eagerly, and with a final glance, Owen was about to follow when the guard moved on his feet and turned around.
Sharply he brought his head back behind the wall, his heart thumping in his chest. The guard’s footsteps echoed in the corridor, seemingly getting nearer and nearer.
If I have tae put this man down, I will.
He waved at the others, trying to communicate to them to get back from the corner so the guard would not see them. They did as he asked, all the while, the footsteps seemed to be getting nearer.
Until, they stopped.
Owen held his breath, readying himself for whatever might happen next. At least he had the element of surprise, and thus, held the advantage. Straining his ear to hear, there seemed to be no sound at all, but all he could do was wait. Peeking his head around the corner now was too great a risk to take.
