Page 37 of Only By Grace
Behind her, she could hear the murmur of conversation between the others. Joy’s voice, lyrical but determined, carried over the steady rhythm of the horses’ hooves, occasionally arguing good-naturedly with Freddy. Patience and Ashley rode close together, their silhouettes a picture of quiet strength and unity.
As the hours dragged on, her body began to ache from the unrelenting pace, but she refused to complain. The urgency of their mission left no room for weakness. The moon had climbed higher in the sky, its light growing colder and more distant, when they finally crested a hill that offered a sweeping view of Kenmare Bay.
The bay glittered like molten silver, its surface rippling gently under the moonlight. The land around it was wild and untamed, dotted with the dark shapes of trees and the occasional flicker of a distant lantern. In the distance, perched on the edge of a rugged promontory, was Flynn’s own medieval castle—a forbidding silhouette against the night sky.
“There it is,” Carew said grimly, his voice cutting through the quiet. He reined in his horse, the others following suit, as he surveyed the keep with an intensity that made Grace’s stomach twist.
“How do you wish to proceed?” Ashley asked, his tone brisk and authoritative.
Carew’s gaze remained fixed on the stone fortress.
“We will approach cautiously. Reconnoitre. I doubt Flynn will expect us tonight, but we cannot assume he is unprepared. He did greetThe Selkie’sarrival, after all.”
“If at all possible, we need to find Maeve and get her out before Flynn has a chance to interfere.” Ashley had the most experience with these types of operations.
The task was daunting, and as Grace stood with the others, gazing at the imposing stone fortress, she finally grasped the magnitude of what lay before them. Similar to Donnellan, its high walls and narrow, arrow-slit windows spoke of centuries of defiance, a place meant to repel invaders and safeguard its secrets. It was not a welcoming sight. Grace, for all her imagination, could not picture any but a medieval army with flaming arrows and catapults managing to breach it.
The air around their small party was charged with tension as they huddled together in the shadow of a nearby grove, their voices low and cautious.
“We should surround it,” Carew said, his tone clipped and authoritative. His dark gaze was fixed on the fortress, every muscle in his body coiled with determination. “Positioning ourselves near all entrances is essential. There could well be an escape tunnel we cannot see.”
Grace nodded, her thoughts briefly straying to the stories she had read. Hidden tunnels and secret passageways were staples of the novels she adored, and they had a believability about them. She could almost imagine Flynn slinking away through some dark, damp passage, his shadowy figure disappearing into the cliffs.
Ashley leaned forward, his brow furrowed in thought. “We need to get someone inside,” he said. “If we rely on watching, we might be here for weeks with nothing to show for it. Flynn will know how to hide—if he even brought her here.”
Carew considered this, his expression grim. “Perhaps a servant could be bribed,” he conceded, though his tone suggested distaste for the idea.
“It is worth trying,” Ashley agreed. He glanced at his wife. “Patience and I can take that entrance,” he added, gesturing towards a smaller gate on the eastern side of the stone wall.
Grace, who had been listening intently, suddenly felt a spark of determination. A plan began to take shape in her mind, one that seemed as daring as it was logical. She hesitated for only a moment before speaking. “I shall go to the front door, looking for shelter,” she said, her voice steady.
The effect of her words was immediate. The entire group turned to her, their expressions a mixture of disbelief, astonishment, and doubt. Joy, however, looked at her with something akin to admiration, a spark of encouragement in her sharp eyes.
“Nay, lass,” Carew said after a moment, his tone firm. “I’ll not have you go alone. You do not understand what this man is capable of.”
Grace met his gaze without flinching. “Perhaps not fully,” she admitted, “but I understand enough. He has no quarrel with me, and as I am unknown to him, I do not believe he would find me suspicious. I am unassuming, unremarkable. They would not refuse me shelter.”
Carew’s eyes narrowed. “This is no jest. Flynn is dangerous.”
“I know,” Grace said quietly, “but this may be our best chance. He will not suspect me, and I can gather information. Perhaps I may even locate Maeve.”
Ashley looked at her closely, weighing her words. “It’s a bold plan,” he admitted, “but it’s not without risk.”
“All plans carry risk,” Grace countered. “If you have a better idea, I shall gladly step aside.”
Patience reached out to touch Ashley’s arm, her expression thoughtful. “She may be right,” she said softly. Then she turned to Carew and said, “A stranger asking for shelter on a cold night is far less suspicious than you pounding on the front door demanding to see your sister.”
Carew turned away, his jaw tightening as he studied the fortress. The flicker of torchlight on the walls seemed to mock their indecision. Finally, he sighed and turned back to Grace.
“If you insist on doing this,” he said reluctantly, “you must have an escape plan. I will stay close to the door, ready to intervene if anything goes wrong.”
Grace inclined her head, accepting his condition. “Very well, but I must appear to be alone when I approach.”
Carew stared at her, his expression dark. “This is reckless.”
“Yet necessary,” Grace said, her voice steady. She held his gaze directly, unwavering. “Do you trust me?”
For a moment, he said nothing. Then, with a reluctant nod, he answered. “I do, but I do not wish to risk you as well.”
