Rebel's Cage (Book 4) (35 page)

She
should
have let Liam use his powers. If she hadn’t been so quick to stop him, he might have still been alive. If she’d thought to use her own …

Another sob welled up inside her and she shut her eyes, unwilling to let it loose. She had to think. She had to concentrate, or Liam’s sacrifice would mean nothing.

She could feel her
ayarn
beneath her sleeve. If they stripped off her clothes, they would find it, though they might not know what the small stone was for. Even so, she had too little time left before she would lose it. But what could she do? Burning through her ropes would only expose her as a sorcerer, and she simply didn’t have the power or the skill to fight more than one of them at a time. But if she didn’t make an effort to escape …

Louder noises surrounded her now and she opened her eyes, twisting her head beneath the soldier’s arm to see a huge encampment spread out across the bottom of a valley. They hadn’t seen anything of this as they’d travelled! Even as the sky darkened, she could see dozens of fires lit, smell food being cooked, voices raised enough to conjure the picture of a living city, here in the middle of nowhere.

The soldiers made no fuss of her passage through the camp. In fact, if anything, they went to some lengths to keep her presence hidden from their comrades. Aching in every limb, she was manhandled down from the horse and hustled into a small tent. There, a hissed discussion regarding her immediate fate gave her some element of hope – only to be dashed a moment later, when the leader of the dark band announced that he was going to enjoy her first, and the rest of them could wait in line.

The men chuckled at that, leering at her with evil eyes and stinking breath and she felt so sick she knew she was going to throw up – but with the rag stuffed in her mouth …

She breathed deeply through her nose, willing the nausea to leave her, willing her strength to stay – but all she could see was
Liam before her, still and dead, his body growing cold even as she watched.

Hands drew her back further into the tent, tossed her onto the ground where some filthy blankets lay in the semblance of a bed. There was some muted discussion about the wisdom of using this tent, but the soldiers were far too preoccupied to worry about it much. And then they moved on her, holding her down while their leader ran his hands over her body. She began to shake, closing her eyes so she wouldn’t remember this, hoping they’d let her live long enough to worry about it. She knew she was crying, but she could hardly feel the tears leave her eyes. She tried to think of Father, of Mother, her sisters – even of the courage of Uncle Robert, but nothing made those touches go away. She heard the men laughing at her tears, heard them pass a bottle around between them as the leader’s touches grew more intimate.

She bit her cheek, trying not to shudder at the touch. She couldn’t bear to show any fear – but by sweet Mineah’s blood, she
was
scared! She was, and there was nothing she could do about it. Nothing at all …

Something changed. For a moment, she hardly dare open her eyes for fear of what she might see, but then the hands touching her withdrew abruptly and the men around her scrambled to their feet, leaving her bound on the floor of the tent.

And then she heard it. Voices raised in surprise, orders being shouted, booted feet moving in this direction. The men again whispered between themselves, but this time with open fear.

Hope once more surged within her, but she couldn’t find an explanation that would fit. She could have no allies within this—

The tent door was ripped open and the men instantly snapped to attention. A barked order had them part and suddenly she could see. Two men stood there. One, a soldier of some rank, the other with fair hair, dark eyes and dressed more richly than she had ever seen before. In his hand was a glass bowl, filled with some half-glowing liquid that rattled at the back of her memory without giving up any answers.

‘Well,’ said the fair-haired man, his scarred face moving into a wide smile. ‘Look what I found.’ He glanced around the tent a moment, then back at the soldiers who had murdered Liam. ‘Get her up off that floor. Find a chair from somewhere. And have these men flogged while you’re at it.’

Helen could hardly spare a glance for her attackers then as they were pushed outside. She couldn’t take her eyes from the man who stood and watched her carefully. The one the others called Sire.

She knew who this was – and now
he
knew who she was as well.

*

‘Robert! This way! Quickly!’

He turned, saw the others gathered at the bottom of the gully and swiftly made his way to them, slipping and sliding on the icy ground. Already it was getting dark, a thick fog falling just when he needed it to be clear. They were too close to the village, too close to what was sitting on the other side.

Finnlay was waiting for him. ‘Three of the children have found us! Young Sayre thinks something has happened to Helen but I can’t …’

Robert gripped his shoulder, offering a scant second of comfort before making his way to where the three were being fussed over by parents too scared and relieved to scold just yet.

‘Can you tell us where Helen and …’

‘Liam,’ Finnlay supplied.

‘Where Helen and Liam are?’

All three children looked up at him, wide-eyed, as though they were looking at a ghost.

‘Liam … is dead,’ said one of the boys. Sadness filled his voice. ‘They were going to the village, to get supplies. They never came back. We found Liam’s body by the road. Helen just wasn’t there when—’

‘Did you try Seeking her?’ Finnlay demanded.

‘I … I … I’m sorry.’

‘Damn it, Sayre! You left my daughter—’

‘Finn!’ Robert took his brother’s arm and pulled him back a little. The boy had obviously told them all he knew. Turning,
Robert found Murdoch. ‘Get everyone back to the Enclave. Don’t stop to rest, or to eat. Just get on the road now! Use any means necessary to get up to the Goleth. If the path is unpassable, ask for sanctuary at St Germanus Abbey. They’ll take you in, no matter what you might be. Either way, don’t stop until everyone is back in safety. Do you understand?’

‘Of course. Good luck.’ Immediately he began ordering the others to move, herding them towards horses, leading them out into the night. Robert watched only until he was sure they were on their way. Then he turned back to Finnlay, who was watching him with wide eyes.

‘What now?’

‘Now,’ Robert replied, turning back towards the hill, ‘now we find Helen.’

*

‘I don’t like the look of this at all.’

Finnlay didn’t argue. Just looking at the patched landscape below them made him physically ill. The village, the royal encampment, the lights, the fires, the moving shadows of horses and soldiers. All too much and all at the wrong moment.

He looked aside at Robert. ‘Are you sure she’s still down there?’

Robert frowned up at where the moon would be rising if there wasn’t so much cloud around. ‘I told you, I’m not even sure I’m Seeking Helen’s aura. I
think
she’s down there, but there are so many Malachi around the village, it’s impossible to tell where she is exactly. Damn,’ he swore softly, taking a step back from the top of the hill. ‘This would be so much easier if you could Seek her yourself. But of course, for all we know, Nash might be down there with Kenrick and …’

Robert seemed to be talking to himself. Finnlay watched his brother in silence, knowing that Robert would have an idea they could start with. At least, he
hoped
Robert had an idea, for Finnlay was fresh out of them. Instead, the bleating pulse of urgency rattled through him, insisting he just get on with it, just go out there and get her to safety, without any idea where she was – or with whom.

Of course, Kenrick had to be here as well, didn’t he? Silently,
he prayed that Kenrick didn’t have her. That she was somewhere else, in relative safety. Silently, he begged the gods for some mercy and equally silently, he watched his brother.

‘I don’t think Nash is down there.’ He stared at the village, his head tilting this way and that, a frown on his face, his left hand raised a little, as though he still used an
ayarn.
Then, his voice oddly confident in the darkness, he said, ‘You remember, years ago, before Nash got his claws into you – you were playing with a form of … what did you call it? Tandem Seeking? Where you tried Seeking through another person’s
ayarn?’

‘Yes. That’s what I was doing when Nash caught me.’

‘And you were Seeking with Fiona, but she was a day’s ride away from you, wasn’t she?’

Finnlay’s eyes widened, understanding all too much. ‘You’re not serious! But … I mean, how …’

Robert’s expression was about as grim as he’d ever seen it. ‘We don’t have time to search the whole camp ourselves. I need to know exactly where she is. Once we have a location, I can get her free – I hope.’

‘But tandem Seeking won’t disguise my aura from Nash.’

‘No – but just as I can’t Seek Nash, he can’t Seek me. If you Seek through me, use me as your tandem link, my presence should shield you. She’s your daughter, Finn. You’ll need only a glimpse.’

Finnlay was already nodding in agreement. Before Robert could say another word, he reached out and took hold of one strong wrist, feeling the lifeblood pulse through, warm and comforting. With his other hand, he brought forth his
ayarn
and steadied his breathing.

By the gods, it had been a long time since he’d done this. A long time since it had been safe for him to try. But he had not forgotten.

The power rose in him like a mighty wave, gushing forth to be used as he saw fit. Almost reeling with the familiar joy of it, he focused on Robert’s aura, since he had no need of an
ayarn
of his own.

Then he let go.

A split second and he was there, in some tent, surrounded by soldiers, their faces grim and full of distaste. The picture came clear and sharp, the way it only did with tandem Seeking.

She was still alive! She was right there, in front of him, her eyes filled with fear. A faint movement under his hand brought his rampant panic under sudden control. Instantly, he swung around, looking further and further until he caught a glimpse of—

Cold air strangled his throat as his eyes snapped open. Robert was looming above him, holding his arms, steadying him.

‘Why? Why did you stop me?’

‘You went too far, for too long.’

Finnlay tried to wrench himself free, desperate to go back and see her, make sure she was …

‘Stop it!’ Robert shook him, his voice loud on the empty hill. ‘Calm down, Finn! It’s all right! I saw her, too. She’s still in the camp. We have to get moving.’

‘But Robert, she’s with—’

‘Kenrick. Yes, I know. Now let’s go!’

*

‘Now what possible harm could come with you telling me your name, eh?’ Kenrick kept his voice sweet. She was such a young thing, barely into her woman years. He didn’t want to scare her any more than necessary – at least, not yet.

She sat on her chair, her arms pulled behind her, her huge dark brown eyes watching him, sensitive to his every move, his every breath. Just being a part of such scrutiny was addictive. If he’d not had other plans for this child, he might have considered keeping her as a pet – tightly leashed of course.

He tossed the stone up into the air, catching it where she could see. She had fought him, but eventually he had taken it from her, and now he knew she could do nothing to stop him getting what he wanted.

‘Your friend,’ Kenrick continued, enjoying the sliver of hunger gripping his belly. ‘The one you were with when my men captured you. He’s still alive, you know.’

‘Liar! I saw him die.’

‘Child, you don’t know what you saw, do you? He fought with my men, they took him down and carried you away. When I realised what you were, I sent men back to that spot in the woods. They found your friend and took him to my surgeons. He still lives, though perhaps not for much longer.’

‘What have you done to him?’

‘Stopped his bleeding, nothing more. I could, of course, be so much kinder to him, if you’d just tell me your name.’

He could see her debating with herself, trying to work out if he was lying or not. She had no way of telling that the squad had yet to return either way. Of course, if the wounds were as his men had described, the boy would indeed be very dead by now. But would she take the bait?

‘Helen,’ she murmured, her pretty face crumpling at the idea of giving in.

‘Helen what?’

Her gaze shot up to him and he prepared to rephrase his threat when she added, ‘Douglas.’

And there, between one breath and the next, was the answer to his heart’s desire. He could not have stopped his smile had the safety of his realm depended on it.

‘Guard! Get her a horse and bring mine around here. I’m going out to the monastery – and try to keep DeMassey and his men from following me!’

*

The glimpse had been enough. Just that awesomely powerful splash of aura against his Senses, supplied by a brother unaware of just how gifted he was. But then, when the brother is desperate to find his daughter, he can be forgiven such tiny flaws.

Robert kept Finnlay close. It felt too good to be doing this with him, familiar and comforting for them both to be fighting on the same side again, after so long. Robert determined to enjoy the peace for as long as it lasted, and prayed the reward would be to find his niece safe and alive.

Each step he took, however, brought him closer to another battle, one he’d hoped not to face so soon. Kenrick was around here somewhere; the man who had murdered his own sister,
Galiena, Robert’s new bride. And Kenrick now had Helen. The man who had chosen evil, chosen to follow Nash.

With each step, Robert’s fear rose. What if he couldn’t control the demon? What if seeing Kenrick and rescuing Helen was enough to set the demon alight – how would he scramble back to safety?

But he could feel it rumble inside him, with every thought of Helen and the monster King.

They stole through the camp, moving from one shadow to the next, doubling back, using what cover they could and doing without when they had no choice. Robert could have crossed the dimensions and made himself invisible, but Finnlay had never mastered that trick, and it was far too dangerous for him to start learning now.