Demon Laird (Legacy of the Mist Clans) (29 page)

“Ronan, be careful,” Lia said in alarm.

“I will.” He looked around, lifting the lantern. The void was just as he remembered. “Do ye wish tae see?”

Ronan’s grin grew as she stuck her head in and looked around, nearly upside down.

“What is this?”

He extended his hand to her. “
Dinna vex yerself lass, ’tis perfectly safe, and I’ll help ye get out.”

She nodded then withdrew her head. Within moments
, her feet appeared. She jumped down and his arm encircled her as she landed.

He picked up the lantern again
, and with his free arm around her shoulders, he guided her forward, pointing out the red man-made bricks under the foundation. “’Many keeps were built over other structures or foundations. See how this brick is completely different from the stone we’ve used?”

“Aye.”

“’Tis entirely possible this was once a Roman, or even Saxon, fortification at one point in time.”

“Amazing,” she said, studying everything closely.

Ronan faced the same construction under the curtain wall. As he gazed at it, his idea finally began to come to life. “I need tae find Ian and Seamus.”

“Why?”

Instead of answering her question, he returned to the opening and levered himself up a bit so he could see the bailey around him. Aidan had descended from the wall walk and was speaking to Robert.

“Aidan,” Ronan barked.

Aidan turned sharply, but it took him a moment to determine exactly where his brother’s voice was coming from. His eyes widened when he saw Ronan’s head sticking out of the hole.

“What are ye doing?”

“Fetch Ian and Seamus—tell them I need them tae see this immediately—then I’ll show ye.”

Aidan nodded.

“I just saw them dicing in the shade of the west tower,” Robert told him.

“Thank ye.” Aidan hurried off and
Ronan dropped back into the hollow.

“What are you planning?” Lia asked suspiciously.

“My da once told me that Ian was one of the best sappers a battle commander could want. He has forgotten more about sapping than most will ever know. With Seamus being his shadow, I have a feeling Seamus is learning from him.”

“Sapping?
This is the second time I’ve heard the term. What is it?”

“Sometimes an attacking army will have me
n dig tunnels tae the corners of towers or walls. From there, they can weaken the foundation and the stone will collapse. That’s sapping.”

“All right, but we’re not the enemy outside our walls.”

Ronan grinned again and shook his head. ”Wait for Ian and Seamus tae get here, I want tae make sure my idea is even feasible first.”

They didn’t have l
ong to wait. Ian dropped into the void with the ease of a veteran, Seamus right behind. Aidan followed them.

“Home sweet home,” Ian said
. As he gazed at the foundations and the ruins they covered, he whistled softly. “All right, laddie, I be here. What’s the problem?”

“That massive siege engine outside our walls be the problem. But I wanted
tae show ye this.” His hand moved across a specific point of the red brick that was under the foundation of the curtain wall. “I wanted ye tae see this brick here: it’s not the same color red as what’s around it. It appears tae me as if it forms the shape of an arch.”

Ian peered closer, his brow wrinkled. He clamped his pipe between his teeth a
nd puffed on it. “Aye, laddie, this was an archway, and they filled it in later.”

“Aye,” Ronan said nodding. “Then it occurred
tae me tae ask what be on the other side?”

“If they filled in the arch, they probab
ly filled in a passageway it opened tae.”

“
Aye.” Ronan grinned at him. “A passage. Ian, instead of tunneling in, what if we tunneled out?”

“Out,
laddie? Now why would ye be wantin’ tae do somethin’ as daft as that?”

“B
ecause if I can use a tunnel tae get behind the enemy, I can destroy that siege engine before they finish putting it together.”

Ian’s brows flew up his forehead and he continued to puff on his pipe. “Aye,
laddie,” he said softly. “The mortar still appears strong. We would have tae reinforce the opening and the tunnel as we went, but it can be done. But are ye sure ye want tae do this, lad? If the enemy discovers the opening, they will walk right in here and dance a jig on our graves before they’re even dug.”

Ronan nod
ded. “Fetch me when ye be ready tae break through, and between the two of us, we can hide the entrance. But I need it fast, Ian. It will probably take them a month tae put that large of a siege engine back together. I’ll need the tunnel completed before that.”

“
Pssshaw,” Ian said. “That be nothing, laddie. We’ll have it done by the time ye need it.” He faced Seamus. “Gather the crew, we’ve got work tae do.”

Seamus nodded and scrambled out of the
void.

Ian faced Ronan again, his green eyes sparkling with mirth. “Well
, laddie, I haven’t had this much fun since yer da was taking us hither and yon tae help our allies.”

“I kenned
ye’d be the man tae call on, Ian,” Ronan said gripping his shoulder. “I’m leaving the gates open so the villagers can seek shelter, but as soon as that army arrives, I’m barring them. So if ye need anything, tell me as soon as ye can.”

“Aye,
laddie, I’ll ken more once I can see the earth with my own two eyes and hold it in my hands.”

“Thank ye, Ian.”

The old man nodded and returned to eyeing the wall and the arch Ronan had pointed out.

“Let’s leave them
tae this,” Ronan said. He levered himself out of the void then reached his hand down to help Lia. Aidan crouched, lacing his fingers together, and Lia used his hands as a step. She caught Ronan’s hand and he easily lifted her over the edge. Aidan quickly followed.

“I need
tae check with the sentries,” Aidan said. “As soon as I have the tallies, I’ll come up tae the solar.”

“Aye,”
Ronan said and guided Lia away.

He
took Lia to the solar, but even though he had diverted her with his rediscovery of the void, her shaking had not really eased. He guided her to a chair, poured a cup of wine, and crouched before her. She lifted the cup to her lips, trembling so hard she nearly spilled it. Ronan waited, watching her in concern. When she placed the cup on the table, he captured her hands in his.

“Lass, please tell me what vexes ye.”

“I… I’m not sure.”

He frowned, his fingers tightening on hers.

She drew in a deep breath. “The trebuchet,” she whispered, her brows furrowing. “I think I remember the sound it makes when it launches.”

Ronan’s thoughts scrambled. He remembered her saying she was a foundling
. “Sueta found ye in Cumbria.”

“Aye.”

His hand tightened on hers. “Lass, what do ye remember?”

Her shaking increased tenfold and a tear spilled down her cheek
, followed quickly by a second.

“Nay,” he whispered, brushing them away. “Forgive me, lass, I
dinna mean tae make ye cry. But I think this important.”

“
Wood under my feet,” she whispered, “stone walls around me. There came that strange sound I mentioned afore. Then a great booming noise. The wood under me shivered and rolled like the waves crashing against the shore. I couldn’t keep my feet, I couldn’t run.” Her tears flowed faster.

Ronan stood and pulled her into his arms, holding her
tightly, his hand gently caressing her hair. He settled his cheek on the top of her head, murmuring soft reassurances.

“I remember fire,” she whispered, her voice so soft he could barely hear her.
She clung to him, depending on him to remain standing. “The heat was unbearable. I screamed and cried for my mother. I couldn’t find a way out. Then a woman appeared, running through the flames. I thought at first it was my mother, but she wasn’t. She scooped me up and carried me out of the flames. She kept my head tucked against her so I couldn’t see where we were going. Then she put me on my feet amidst a throng of people and disappeared into the crowd. People were pushing and shoving. They knocked me down, I struck my head and they nearly trampled me, but I managed to crawl away. I remember standing on a rock, trying to see over the people, through the blood in my eyes—all the time the only thing I could do was cry,
Mother
…
Mother
… but my mother never came. I never saw her again.”

“Lia, I am so sorry ye suffered so terribly. How many days before Sueta found ye?”

“I know not, I can’t remember. Sueta believed it was due to the blow to my head. I only know she found me wandering in the smoking rubble, still crying for Mother. For a time, Sueta thought it was the only word I could speak.” Her sentence ended in a choking gasp.

Ronan’s heart twisted against what she had suffered. His arms tightened around her as she sobbed her
anguish, her tears hot against his skin. For a time, all he concentrated on was calming her grief.

“Lass,” he whispered when her sobs finally slowed. “Because ye ken
yer letters in three different languages, I’d wager ye were nobility.”

She gulped down a sob and looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed and liquid. “What?”

“I believe ye were the child of the noble family that held the castle.”

“Castle?”

“It had tae be one, lass, for a trebuchet tae be brought against it. They wouldna trouble with such a siege engine if there werena walls tae be breached.”

“But I’m not sure if the sound I remember was a trebuchet. I was so young
… everything blurred together. Some images make no sense.”

“Aye, lass, but ye are correct, it makes a telling sound when it releases.
But the noise of the impact, the floor under yer feet acting as fluid as water—ye have described a strike that only a trebuchet can offer.”

“But I might have been a daughter of a servant.”

“Sometimes nobility will teach servants tae read and write tae assist them in the running of the keep, but it is typically Common English. Rarely is it Latin—only if the servant assists the steward or constable of the keep. But learning the letters of three languages? Nay, lass, ’tis unlikely ye were the child of a servant. I’m willing tae wager you were a child of a noble family who appreciated extensive book study and the knowledge of history.”

Lia stared up at him as if struggling
to comprehend his words.

Unbidden, h
is fingers gently dried the tears from her cheeks. “After I destroy Edward’s precious War Wolf
and send these spineless curs running back tae him, I will endeavor tae discover yer heritage.”

“But, why?”

“’Tis important ye ken it, lass. Ye may be an heiress and have good land awaiting ye.”

“You…
you would send me away?”

His lips lifted and his gaze focused on her mouth. “Nay,” he whispered, lowering his head. “I’d have y
e by my side for the rest of my days.” He touched his lips to hers and lightly toyed with her mouth. Her hand touched his chest and fire roared through his body, bringing him brilliantly alive. His kiss deepened, and the anguish he had known vanished as she responded so wonderfully to him.

A knock sounded on the door,
interrupting their moment. Lia jerked away from him, her expression stunned, and her face still much too pale for his liking. She stared at him as if coming out of a trance.

“Lass, what’s wrong?”

The knock sounded again and Lia flinched away.

“A moment,”
Ronan snapped at the fool on the other side of the door. “Lia?” he asked, his voice gentling. He suddenly worried he had offended her.

“I’m…
all right.”

“Ronan,” Aidan said from the other side of the door. “’Tis urgent.”

Ronan sighed heavily; he had forgotten he had told his brother to come to the solar. “Enter.”

Aidan stepped through, holding a parchment in his hand.

Ronan realized his mistake as Lia bolted for the now open door. “Lia, please,” he said softly.

She hesitated, looking back at him. “I will prepare your medicant. I’m sure you will need it if the look on your brother’s face is any
thing to judge by.”

Ronan scowled, his gaze returning
to Aidan, only just realizing she was right.

****

Lia headed straight for her room, trying to slow her step and still her shaking hands. But the turmoil of reliving her terrible childhood memory and then the comfort of Ronan’s strong arms around her, added with the wonderful sensation of his kiss, only made the confusion raging within her worse.

I would have ye by my side for the rest of my days.