Page 127 of The Splendor of Fire
Tears leaked out of her swollen eyes, and she groaned.
Isobel wrung her hands. “How will you get us out? It sounded like hellfire until about thirty minutes ago. Whose forces are these anyway?”
He took a deep breath. “Mine.”
Isobel’s eyes went round with shock. “Yours?”
“Aye. I’ve come to claim my place as chief as Father granted me sixteen years ago. Niall, Fingon, and Malvina are done. The field is lost.”
Isobel gave a sigh of relief. “It’s about time.”
From the bed, Ardis trembled and tears leaked from her eyes in a fresh stream. His heart broke for her as he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Is it all right if I let one of my warriors in to take you somewhere safe?”
Ardis gave an almost imperceptible nod.
He moved back to the door and whispered to Isobel. “Bar the door, and don’t open it for anyone until I return. I’ll knock twice.”
She nodded and he slipped back into the corridor and hurried back the way he came, finding Angus pulling himself through the hole Maman had created in the dungeon wall.
“I need your help. Come quickly.”
They made their way back to Isobel’s room, and after hearing his knock, she opened the door.
“This is Angus MacKay. He’s the Chieftain of the MacKays of Islay.”
Angus took one step into the room and looked at Ardis’s mangled face. “By the saints. What’s happened to her?”
“Niall.”
Angus breathed out an angry breath. “What do you need me to do?”
“Carry her through the tunnel away from what’s happening. Wait by the pond until I come for you. Keep her and Isobel hidden away.”
Angus’s eyebrows came together. “What about your brothers? You cannae go up there alone. I know you’re hurting because she’s gone, but getting yourself killed isnae gonna fix things.”
The pain he’d been trying to keep away rushed in with a scorching burn. “Do as I say and help them out of here.”
Isobel wrung her hands. “What does he mean go up there alone? Who’s gone? Not Moira. Please don’t say Moira.”
Angus’s voice became gentle. “Aye. She died this morning, at Cràdh prison. Drowned trying to escape.”
Hands came around Isobel’s mouth, and tears spilled over Ardis’s cheeks as she moaned.
A fissure of agonizing grief split his chest, and he found himself tightening his jaw trying to keep his composure once again.
Isobel’s soft voice carried deep understanding of the pain crushing his heart. “Léonid.”
He looked at Angus and tried to hang on to the anger which had driven him for hours. “Go. They need to get to safety.”
Angus crouched beside Ardis and put his hands on her shoulders. She recoiled in on herself as sobs racked her swollen mouth. Discernment washed over his face. “I’m so sorry, lass. I need to touch you to carry you out. We must get you to safety.”
Floods of tears flowed over her bruised cheeks, and she nodded, mumbling what sounded a bit like sorry.
“Don’t apologize. I know you’ve endured the worst. You heard what Léo just said. He’s gonna go take care of the monster who’s done this to ye and Moira. When you’re ready, put your arms out and I’ll take you straight out of this hell.”
Taking a deep breath, she put her arms out. Gently, Angus scooped her into his arms, and she cried out.
Pounding began in Léo’s chest. “I know it hurts, Ardis. But I need you to stay as quiet as you can. You can’t see it but the keep is deserted.Any sound you make will carry straight to Niall.” She clamped her mouth shut.
