Page 55 of Highland Slayer
The three of them turned to see Mother Michael coming out of the mist. Anaxandra was behind her, wearing a long leather robe against the damp night, something that would keep the dampness off her. A crossbow was slung over one shoulder while a quill of several bolts was slung over the other.
The woman had come for a battle.
“I was speaking of an old pet, my lady,” Rodion said. “I used to have a pet owl, and we’ve been standing here listening to the owls call to one another.”
Mother Michael’s thin face turned in the direction of the mist. “That is what I came to tell you,” she said softly. “We have never heard owls here before. Nightbirds, we have. But never owls.”
That had Rodion and Estevan standing straight from where they’d been leaning against the gatehouse’s second-floor wall.Those few words, calmly delivered, had the surge of battle rushing through their veins. They were already in full battle attire, with both Titan and Rodion in full armor and protection, so they were ready.
Ready and waiting.
We have never heard owls here before.
The spooky night had just gotten spookier.
“Men sometimes communicate in battle with whistles and birdcalls,” Titan muttered. “I’ve heard it before. The Gordon have been known to do it.”
Estevan nodded faintly, his focus on the darkness before them. “If it is men communicating, we need tae remove the torches from the wall,” he said. “They can see everything we’re doing.”
Mother Michael swiftly turned to Anaxandra. “Tell everyone to douse their torches and stay where they are,” she said. “I do not want someone misjudging a step and falling to their death. No light in the bailey, either.Hurry!”
Anaxandra nodded and fled the wall, walking too quickly for Estevan’s liking as she made it to the stairwell and disappeared. He peered over his shoulder at the bailey below, watching her emerge from the tower and run to the first person she came across. After a brief conversation, that person ran off, as did Anaxandra, and they disappeared into the mist, carrying the message. Soon enough, the torches around the wall began to go out one by one. There were torches down in the bailey also, and those went out as well. Soon enough, everything was nearly black. There was no way to see anything.
Estevan returned his attention to the area in front of the gatehouse and waited. The owls were still calling to one another, only not as frequently as before. As he listened to them, an idea occurred to him.
“I’ll be back,” he told Titan. “Keep a sharp eye.”
Titan could barely see him in the darkness. “Where are you going?” he said. “You should stay put, Es. If you go over the side, you’ll break your neck.”
He grunted. “If I land on my head, it willna matter,” he said. “My da says my head is as hard as a rock. I willna hurt myself.”
Titan grinned, white teeth standing out in the mist. “You idiot,” he said. “Stay here.”
“I’ll be back,” Estevan said again, moving around Mother Michael. “I have an idea.”
“What idea?” Titan called after him. When there was no answer, he called again. “Estevan?”
But Estevan didn’t answer. He’d managed to find the tower with the stairwell and took the steps down to the bailey. Once there, he felt a little better because the truth was that he wasn’t fond of heights, and most especially heights without protection to keep him from falling. In the darkness, he quickly made his way over to the sanctuary.
The big, heavy entry door creaked as he pushed it open. Inside, there was some light as a few of the nuns moved around, mostly tending Leonore over near the wall. To Estevan’s surprise, Mateo was sitting on his bed, though his face was in his hands. Not that Estevan blamed him. Being sick in a strange place was never a pleasant experience. Making his way over to Mateo, he put his hand on the man’s forehead.
“Has yer fever abated?”
Mateo’s head came up, his eyes red and his face pale with illness. “I think so,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I do not feel as if I still have it. Why? Do I feel warm?”
Estevan took his hand away. “Nay,” he said. “But ye look terrible, Matty. Have ye eaten something?”
Mateo nodded wearily. “Some kind of pea stew,” he said. “It is giving me a belly ache.”
“Keep it down if ye can,” Estevan said. “Ye may need yer strength.”
“Why?”
Estevan lowered his voice. “Because we’re hearing sounds outside of the walls,” he said. “Like owls. Mother Michael says they dunna have any owls around here, at least not ones they hear.”
Mateo’s eyebrows lifted. “Birdcalls?”
“Aye.”
