Page 77 of Healing the Highland Sinner
“Aye. Escape tunnels,” she replied. “I figure we can use them tae get intae the compound, find me braither, then use them tae get back out without raisin’ any alarm.”
He flashed her a grin. “’Tis a lot of hope in that plan.”
“Ye’re welcome tae stay out here and guard the horses.”
Ellair pulled a face. “Ye’ll nae get rid of me that easily. I told ye, I made me choice,” he said firmly. “I’m comin’ with ye.”
“Then move quickly, quietly, and only when I tell ye tae. Ye got me?”
“Aye, master. I got ye.”
“Dinnae call me that. And stop bein’ such a donkey.”
He chuckled. “I cannae help what I am.”
She turned away so he couldn’t see her lips quirking up in a smile. It quickly faded though, as she drew her dagger and motioned for Ellair to follow her. They flitted through the darkness like shadows, moving from tree to tree, bush to bush, until they stood outside the mouth of the cave with their backs pressed to the stony wall, silent and listening.
“I dinnae hear anythin’ in there,” she said softly.
He shook his head. “Me either.”
Before she could say more, Ellair drew his sword and plunged into the darkness of the cave ahead of her. She wanted to be angry with him for taking control of the situation like that, but there was part of her that was relieved since she was still nowhere near as skilled with a blade as he was. She held her breath, tense, and waited.
“’Tis all clear,” his voice drifted out of the darkness. “Naebody’s here.”
Relief flooding her chest, Rosalind took her hand off the hilt of her dagger and stepped into the cave. Ellair was a few feet in, completely cloaked by the darkness. If she didn’t know he was in there, he could have snuck up on her and cut her down before she even knew he was there.
“The cave is shallow,” she said. “There’s a ladder that leads down intae the tunnel.”
“I’m surprised ‘tis nae guarded.”
“I’m guessin’ Sinclair daesnae ken about the tunnels,” she said. “Though, I suppose I shouldnae be surprised. He never was much fer the histories.”
As her eyes adjusted to the dim, ambient light, they walked to the back of the cave and just as she’d said, there was a large, dark hold with the top of a ladder poking out of it.
“There it is,” she said. “I should warn ye, the tunnels arenae very big. It will be a tight fit.”
“Well, let us hope they dinnae collapse on us while we’re in there.”
She chuckled darkly. “Thanks fer puttin’ that intae me head.”
He grinned at her as he stepped onto the ladder and began the descent into the tunnel below. She waited until he’d disappeared from view completely before stepping to the edge and looked down. The darkness was impenetrable.
“’Tis clear. Ye can come down,” Ellair’s voice drifted up to her. “And ye’re right. ‘Tis a very snug fit down here, but at least it feels sturdy though.”
Rosalind closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She had never been one for small, cramped places, and this tunnel was going to test her like very few things in her life ever had. She fixed Blaine’s face in her mind and said a silent prayer, asking for the strength to see this through. She opened her eyes and blew out a breath, then swung off the edge of the hole and onto the rickety ladder that trembled beneath her.
“Here goes naethin’,” she said and began to climb down.
CHAPTER 34
The crawl through the tunnels had been tight and uncomfortable, but they finally arrived at the ladder that would lead them up and into the keep. At least, that was what Ellair was hoping. The truth was, he had no idea where this was going to lead them. There was enough room at the access point for them both to stand up, but it meant they were pressed together tightly.
“This is it,” he said.
“Aye. This is it.”
“And where is this ladder goin’ tae go?”
