Page 108 of Laird of Steel
“The wall walk?” Merraid’s words trailed off as she wondered if Carenza was distraught enough to do something dire. Something deadly.
“I’ve looked everywhere,” Feiyan murmured. “She’s nowhere to be found.”
Gellir’s sigh was full of defeat. “She’s run away.”
“I’m sure she’s here,” Merraid said, only half sure. “Maybe she felt ill. Maybe she’s closeted in a garderobe somewhere.”
“We’ve got to find her. Quickly. And quietly.” Feiyan shook her head. “I can’t have the Laird of Dunlop finding out we’ve lost his daughter.”
“I’ll check the garderobes,” Merraid offered.
Lady Feiyan nodded and left.
Merraid turned to Gellir to assure him, “She wouldn’t run away.” At least, she wasfairlycertain Carenza wouldn’t do that. She seemed like a woman of honor.
Still, Gellir looked crestfallen. Who could blame him? He’d had lasses pursuing him half his life. And the one lass he needed to fall in love with him was incapable of feeling anything for him but heartbreak.
They searched every garderobe in the castle, not an easy task in shackles. Then they checked all the outbuildings. The gardens. The orchards. The tiltyard. The stables. The underground passage to the firth.
She was nowhere to be found. And the clans were already gathering at the chapel for the ceremony. The Laird of Dunlop had a worried furrow between his brows. He no doubt suspected something was amiss with his daughter, whom he hadn’t seen since his arrival.
Merraid had never seen Gellir look so downtrodden. His eyes were flat and emotionless. His shoulders were stiff. His jaw was tense.
“Let’s check the armory one more time,” she murmured, eager to get him away from the suspicious gaze of the bride’s father.
The armory was empty except for Hew, who started when he saw them, knocking a targe from the wall.
“Gellir,” he said, picking up the targe. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the chapel?”
Merraid thought she could well ask Hew the same thing.
Gellir smirked. “I have to find my bride first.”
Hew blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I fear I’ve lost her.” There was so much deep meaning and pain in that phrase, Merraid felt her throat thicken.
“Lost her?” Hew awkwardly licked his lips, as if he didn’t know what to say. “I’m sure she’s around here somewhere. Have you checked the keep?”
“Aye,” Gellir said. “We’ve looked everywhere.”
“Ye haven’t seen her, have ye?” Merraid said to Hew. “I mean, since ye arrived?”
“Why would I have seen her?”
Merraid narrowed her eyes. That was a curious reply.
Gellir shook his head. “I’ll need to let her father know she’s missing. A wider search will have to be started.”
“Nay!” Hew blurted.
Merraid frowned.
“I mean,” Hew continued in a more casual tone, “I wouldn’t do that. Her father can be a bit short-tempered. We don’t have to let him know yet. Can we not ride out and look for her ourselves? Quietly? Just you and me, Gellir?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Gellir said, lifting up the shackles for Hew to see.
“What the—”
