Page 137 of Laird of Smoke
Slipping the vial of ginger out of the satchel, she placed it atop his chest of medicines and stole out into the night, headed for the convent.
Chapter 22
“Escaped, Your Grace?”
Adam couldn’t exactly say he was surprised.Even with shackles.But he thought it would take Eve a little longer to enchant the guards into letting her go.He’d hoped to return before she slipped her bonds and got herself into worse trouble.
According to the king, she’d managed to break free of her chains in less than a day.Even more impressive, she hadn’t used the power of her charm at all.According to what remained of her shackles, she’d picked the lock with the physician’s shears.
Adam had to hide his disappointment and dread.
It would do no good to accuse the physician of carelessness.The king had probably already given him a tongue-lashing he’d never forget.Besides, the man seemed almost as distraught over her disappearance as Adam.
It would avail Adam nothing to blame the king.He just had to come up with a new strategy that didn’t involve rescuing Eve…yet.Now that the lass was loose among bloodthirsty warmongers, the best thing for all concerned was to subdue the hostility on both sides.
“I think we can go ahead with the siege the day after All Souls, Your Grace,” he said.
“But we’ve lost our leverage,” the king said.
“Fergus doesn’t know that.”
“He will once the hostage returns to him.”
“I don’t think shewillreturn,” Adam said.
“Nor do I,” the physician chimed in.Then, immediately mortified at his own boldness and glared into submission by the king, he silenced.
Adam added, “She was abducted while under Fergus’s protection, Your Grace.She won’t trust him to protect her a second time.”
“Where do you think she’s gone?”asked the king.
Adam glanced at the physician.He knew something.But he wasn’t going to say it.
“It doesn’t matter,” Adam lied.He’d question the physician later.“As far as Fergus is concerned, Your Grace still holds her captive.”
“Fergus agreed to the truce?”
“Aye.He won’t attack.”
“Fine.”The king sighed.“I suppose ’twill give us time to build a trebuchet.”
Adam bowed and took his leave.
He hoped he could keep the stories he’d told straight.
The king believed Fergus was keeping the peace because he held Eve hostage.
Fergus believed the king was keeping the peace because he was waiting to amass a bigger army.
They both believed the siege would happen on the day after All Souls Day, which it would, but only because Adam had made it so.
He sighed.After this was over, he’d need to go on a very long pilgrimage to atone for all his half-truths.
Eve’s trek through the forest at night was blessed by the full moon.It shone like a light to guide her home, reinforcing her sense she was doing the right thing in returning to the convent.
Twice betrayed by a Judas, it was time for her to accept her fate.Life as a nun.Doing God’s work.Sworn to lifelong chastity.
But if this was her chosen path, why did the stars of her destiny blur overhead as she followed it?
