Page 49 of The Lord's Compass
Faith and Eric exchanged a look, both uncertain of what to say, but Abello continued.
“There is nothing to hide from me. I know about the treasure and received word from England as to who you are and why you are here. You cannot allowDonRaphael’s family to find it.”
“But why?”
“It was not his to begin with, and they will not do the good with it that your friends will. Now, take the map and return to England. Give it to Mariana’s relatives.”
“Mariana?” Eric repeated. “You know who Mariana is?”
“Of course. My great-grandfather served her, and those who moved in after her. He passed down the legacy with each generation.”
“What legacy?” Faith asked. “I know Cassandra will have so many questions. If you could just tell us?—”
She was cut off by a banging and shouts from below, and Abello rolled up the map and passed it to Eric.
“There is no more time,” he said. “Come, I will show you a way out.”
Eric grabbed their bags as Abello opened the door and looked from left to right. Already, they could hear men below, calling out their assumed identities.
“There is no escape,” Eric said, turning from one way to the other in search of an exit as he rubbed his brow in distress. “The stairs will lead us right to them.”
“Not these,” Abello said, sliding around a statue with surprising agility, into the cutout in the wall behind it. He placed his hand on the statue’s head, and just when Faith thought he was going to break it off, it snapped backward, causing the stone wall behind it to groan as it opened the other way.
“A passageway!” Eric exclaimed. “That must be howDonRaphael escaped me last night.”
“Likely, yes,” Abello said, leading them down the stairs beyond. “He also knows about this passageway so it will only give us a few extra moments until he discovers that you are gone.”
The entry closed behind them as they rushed down the stairs after Abello. Faith had no choice but to hold onto Eric’s arm as she grasped her skirts in the other hand, doing her best not to trip down the stairs on her ankle, which was still sore.
“But what about you?” she asked between pants. “Will he know that you were involved?”
“No,” Abello said. “Our family has been loyal servants to the Palencia family for generations. At least, soDonRaphael thinks.”
At the bottom, the hidden exit led them out into the gardens.
“This is where we part ways,” he said. “Follow the river until you are back to the town. Keep hidden, forDonRaphael has friends everywhere. You are not safe until you leave San Sebastian.”
“Thank you, Abello,” Faith said earnestly, as Eric reached out and shook his hand. “I wish you had told us sooner, but thank you for everything.”
“I am only playing my role, as you are,” he said. “Farewell. And move quickly.”
Abello disappeared, returning through the passageway as quickly as he had entered. Faith and Eric looked at one another for a moment in wonderment, their connection broken when they heard a shout.
“They’re gone!” resounded from the estate’s front entrance.
Eric, carrying both bags, gripped Faith’s arm as they took off into a run as fast as Faith’s skirts and injured ankle would allow.
“I am holding you back,” Faith said, panting, and Eric gave her a sideways glance, even as he was barely breathing any heavier than usual.
“Never,” he said. “We are in this together.”
They weaved through the trees, following the river, until the town appeared in the distance. Faith wondered how they would ever make it to the port without being noticed, but when they emerged onto a street, Eric slowed them down.
“We will only cause a scene by running,” he said. “Best to appear that we belong here – but walk quickly now.”
She nodded as he slowed his long stride to match her ungainly one as they made for the port.
“What are the chances there is a departing ship?” she asked.
