A blush warmed his cheeks as he realized her perusal. He guessed it was payback. He certainly hadn’t minded the glimpse of body he’d seen a few months ago.
A pair of hose and a wide-necked tunic was thrown in his face. With trembling hands he pulled the garments on. They smelled of old sweat and hard labor. The situation he had been trying to avoid swallowing suddenly tasted very real.
I just traveled through time. Holy crap! I’m in the…
He studied his surroundings as he sat to slip on the pointed, soft leather shoes Dominic just handed him. They were sitting at the edge of a forest. A dirt road led east toward a formidable looking castle. They were huddled on the outskirts of a small village with thatched roof houses. Wispy smoke billowed from holes in the roofs. Harrison could hear the mooing of cows, the clucking of chickens and the thud of hooves quickly approaching.
“Into the forest!”
Hands grabbed his collar, pulling him into the thicket. Landing on his back with a crunch, he held his groan in check, sensing Gemma’s body beside him.
“Where are we?” he whispered.
“I’m not sure. It looks like England. Fourteenth or fifteenth century maybe?”
She met his eyes. He read her apology and shook his head.
“It was my fault.” He touched her face with a gentle finger. Her eyes softened for the briefest of moments before snapping blank at the sound of her father’s voice.
The hooves were fading into the distance as the party got to their feet.
“Okay, slight change of plans I suppose.” Mr. Hart shot Harrison a death stare. “The castle up the road is currently holding an innocent man in its dungeon. He used to work in the stables, but was thrown in a cell after stopping the Earl’s son from taking advantage of one of the milkmaids. He’s been falsely accused of treason and is due to hang tomorrow.
“I’m going to arrange safe passage for him and his family. All we need to do is get him out of the castle and into the forest. He should be able to hide easily enough until dark. I’ll make sure a wagon comes by at night to collect him and his family.”
“How do you want to do it?” Dominic’s voice was all business.
Harrison had not seen this side of the guy before and admired his cool calm.
“We’ll do the split a little differently. You three and that guy…”
“His name’s Harrison.”
“I don’t care what his name is!” Mr. Hart’s hard glare made Gemma shrink. She lowered her gaze and Harrison felt a flash of anger burn for her. Reaching for her hand, he gave her fingers a quick squeeze.
“You will extract the prisoner while your mother and I get his family into the forest and organize the wagon.
“I want stealth. We don’t want anyone to know we’ve been in or out. The Earl is currently in attendance so the castle will be heavily guarded, although if we’ve timed this right, most should be eating in the great hall.
“Now, the wall along the riverside is the easiest to breach. There is access along the southeast side of the wall. It should be big enough for you to squeeze through. The tunnel will bring you up beneath the great hall. From there you will head east to the first tower. You will be most vulnerable at this point, so watch your backs. The dungeon is at the bottom of the tower.
“Once you have the man, I want you to head out through the stables. They’re adjacent to the tower, on your right. At the northern end, the last stall, there should be a space you can squeeze through. It will bring you out on the eastern side of the castle below the gatehouse. We’ll be waiting in the forest. You’ll need to be careful. If anyone spots you, they’ll raise the alarm and we’ll have hell on our hands. Dominic.” He placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Do what you have to do.”
Harrison felt a chill run down his spine as Dominic’s face set like concrete. His eyes were hard as he nodded.
“Look after the girls and bring them home in one piece.”
“I will, Dad.”
Harrison squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. They were about to break into a prison. His head swirled as he imagined how it might play out. The gnawing fear in his gut competed with sudden bursts of adrenalin.
I can’t believe you are actually excited about this. Wipe that smile off your face, you moron!
Gemma’s father gave him an assessing look, helping Harrison smooth out his expression. The man’s steely eyes then turned to his youngest.
“Can he look after himself?”
“He’ll be fine.”
Harrison was boosted by Gemma’s confidence, but it withered when her father approached him and grabbed his collar. “You want to get back in one piece, you don’t leave her side.”
Harrison swallowed and nodded.
“Don’t give me a reason to leave you here.”
“Dad!” Gemma’s protest was lost as Dom started laughing. “Shut up, Dominic!”
Her eyes were fiery when they landed back on him. He reached out and took her extended hand, trying to avoid the black emotion coming from Ruby.
Keeping his eyes firmly on Gemma, he let her guide him through the forest and up to the castle.
It wasn’t until they slowed and crouched along the edge of the large stone wall that reality hit him once again. Like a bomb exploding in his stomach, he felt the shrapnel of fear and disbelief shred his insides.
I’m in the Middle Ages! I’m about to break into a castle in the Middle Ages! This isn’t real! This can’t be real!
*****
Gemma stole a glance over her shoulder and took in Harrison’s pale expression. How could she have let this happen? He shouldn’t be here. What if he wasn’t touching her when they went back? She had no warning signs on their return. Reaching behind her, she pulled him closer, needing to feel his warm breath on her neck as they waited for Dom to squeeze through the tunnel.
“I know you’re probably struggling with reality right now.” She watched the river amble past and wondered how it could be so calm. If it only knew… “This isn’t a dream, okay? I need you to stay close and alert. Just forget where you are and focus on me and what we’re doing. Do you understand?”
She felt his breath wisp up and down her hairline as he nodded.
“You’re strong enough to do this, Harrison. Just stay next to me and I’ll get you home.”
His lips were warm as they brushed the nape of her neck. She felt a flame lick down her spine.
“Let’s go.” Ruby’s command was stark. She crouched low and pulled herself into the space.
Gemma tried not to think about the waves of anger that radiated from her sister as she squeezed into the narrow gap and began crawling over the damp stone. The air was freezing. The trickling water beneath them was soaking into the wool of her tunic, making it stink. She held her breath and kept on crawling. Moments later Dom was grabbing her hand and roughly pushing her behind a stone pillar. She breathed in. Placing her foot lightly on Harrison’s head, she kept him in the tunnel until the scuffle of feet had faded.
Ruby hadn’t spoken a single syllable to her since their confrontation after school. Thankfully, she hadn’t breathed a syllable to her parents either, although that felt somewhat irrelevant now. She hated the rift between them, but…
What am I supposed to do?
She glanced back at her boyfriend. His brown eyes were focused. She watched his lean body maneuver easily through the passageways and felt the fire stir in her belly. Catching his gaze, she shot him an encouraging smile. It was returned instantly.
She couldn’t live without him.
The battle she knew awaited her at home was heavy on her mind, but as the raucous laughter from the great hall reached her she was suddenly aware that this battle had to be won first.
The idea sent a charge racing through her body. Determination took over, forcing images of Ruby’s anger, her parent’s horror and Harrison’s sweet gaze out of her mind. She had a job to do.
Her focus was complete by the time
they descended the spiral staircase and entered the dank bowels of the tower. The cool, stone walls wept, sending a trickling echo running through the narrow passageways. Dom’s frame looked massive in the confined space. The torch he held to guide them bobbed in front of them. She stayed focused on the flame and tried not to think about what might be crunching beneath her soft leather shoes.
The party slowed as the stairwell opened up with light. Gemma felt her hand being squeezed. Harrison’s breathing accelerated. She squeezed back as they crouched against the wall. Staring through the dim light, she caught her brother’s eye. He gave them a nod. Standing from their positions, they took the last few stairs down into the dungeon.
It was the smell that hit her first. Old blood and decay peppered with the sweaty stench of fear. She gulped back her gags and covered her mouth as they crept past the first cell that looked to contain a man so emaciated she doubted he had any breath left. His body was encrusted with filth, his long beard matted into the hay he lay upon. His sunken face was hollow and his glassy eyes didn’t even register the movement past his cell.
A light hand brushed the nape of her neck and squeezed. With a little nudge Harrison moved her into the heart of the dungeon.
Sitting on a chair, his legs stretched before him, his head drooped to the side in slumber, was a tubby guard. Dominic dispatched him before he had a chance to wake and the man now lay in an unconscious pile on the ground. He extracted the man’s sword easily and threw it into his right hand, testing the weight. Ruby rummaged for the keys around the man’s waist and threw them to Gemma.
“Try the lower cells. Dom and I will keep an eye on the door.”
Gemma descended the small staircase and checked the two cells below. The first cell was gracefully empty. She hurried to the next and found what they were looking for. Slumped in the corner, his head resting back against the cold wall, was a man who looked to be in his early thirties. His beard was thick, his hair like wild straw and his eyes as still as a lake at dawn. She noted the shackles around his ankles and prayed she had the key for those too.
His head popped up straight when he heard her slide the key into the lock. He showed no fear as the door was flung open and his two rescuers rushed in to start working on his manacles.
“Are you injured?” Gemma fumbled with the keys.
“Here, let me.” Harrison took the keys from her grasp and began testing each one in a calm, efficient manner.
Gemma glanced back up into those still eyes and watched them turn at the corners.
“You must be the angels I’ve been waiting for.” His eyes glistened with reverence as he raised a frail hand, pausing an inch from her face.
Unnerved by his awe, Gemma decided to go for business like. “We’re getting you out of here. Your family’s waiting for you in the forest.”
“God bless ye.” His lips quivered into a smile. “I’ve been praying for deliverance since entering this hell and just this morning I found peace knowing I would die. Then God decides to rescue me.” A brief chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head. “He is a wonder.”
A look of exuberant joy spread across the man’s face. Gemma smiled too, drinking in the elation of the moment.
“Well, let’s get you out of here then.” Harrison threw the shackles away with a smile. Reaching forward he carefully placed his arm beneath the man’s and helped him to his feet.
Gemma took the other side when the man stumbled. “He’s weak.” She looked to Harrison. “We’ll need to take it easy.”
Harrison’s nod of affirmation froze as they heard the damning words reach them from the top of the stairs.
“Hurry it up down there! Sounds like company’s on its way!”
The sharp clang of metal on metal followed swiftly and Gemma felt her insides clench. She shot Harrison a worried frown.
“We’re going to have to carry him.”
“No.” The man’s voice held an urgent energy. “I may need support, but I will run as best I can.”
His eyes held no fear as Gemma wrapped a firm hand around his waist and hauled him out of the cell. The peace that seemed to emanate from him was enchanting and calmed her nerves.
As they ascended the stairs, a guard raced toward them with his sword raised. Gemma pushed the men away and stepped to the side in the nick of time. Metal crashed on stone. She slid her foot out of harm’s way. Grabbing the torch from above her, she turned to face her opponent, crouching into a fighting stance. The guard looked at her with a leering smile as they circled each other. The sounds of her siblings fighting faded into the background as she focused her energy on surviving the battle.
The guard attacked first, his huge broad sword arcing through the air, its heavy descent enough to cut her in half. She caught the sword with her torch, deflecting the blow. In one fluid motion, she snapped the wood free and clubbed the guard in the face. He dropped out of the way, just as another guard came barreling towards her.
His blade was heavy as it tried to steal her upper left arm. She flinched away, but not fast enough. The blade clipped her shoulder. She dropped the torch with a sharp cry. Her eyes grew wide as she watched the hay catch alight. She hated the vulnerability of being weaponless.
She dodged the next blow, only to fall over the stool behind her. Landing with a thud, she felt the air rush from her lungs and fought to find more. The guard approached her with a low laugh, raising his sword high for the plunge. She readied herself to roll out of the way, but found the need vanish as her name was yelled and Harrison’s arms wrapped around the guard’s waist in a brutal tackle.
Gemma jumped to her feet and ran to assist, but found the gesture unnecessary. Harrison’s tackle had smashed the man’s head firmly into a stone pillar, knocking him out cold. Harrison stood tall and brushed his hands on his thighs before turning to her.
“Wow. Thanks.” Gemma gulped as he enveloped her in a bone-crushing hug. “I didn’t realize you were that strong.”
He pulled back and looked down at her with such intensity she forgot to breathe.
“Gemma, when it comes to looking after you, I’ll find whatever strength I need.” That said, he turned, grabbed the sword deftly from the fallen guard’s hand and held it out to her. “You’ll probably do better with this than I will.”
Gemma smiled as she watched him dash across the stones and haul their prisoner up.
“Let’s go.” He tipped his head toward the entrance.
Gemma dodged the small fire that was sizzling out in the damp hay and followed them through the path of carnage that Ruby and Dom had made for them.
She could still hear the odd ring of metal as they ascended the stairwell and realized with a sinking heart that this was in no way over. So much for stealth. By the sounds of the yelling above them, the castle was now on full alert. She just prayed her father wouldn’t realize and abort early. The struggling man ahead of her was worth saving and she would do anything to get him to that forest.
*****
Harrison stepped aside to let Gemma lead the way. He watched her lithe body pause at the top of the stairwell, scanning the lightened corridor above. The sword was poised easily in her hands. He didn't know how she was holding it up like that. It weighed a ton. Yet another reminder that she was super human.
He shook his head in amusement at the fact that even though she held a weapon that could slice a man in two, she still looked elegant. She caught his gaze and sent him a look that made his knees quiver. Then she vanished around the corner.
The man beside him was getting heavy as his obvious mistreatment was taking a toll on his body. Harrison gritted his teeth and hefted the man higher onto his shoulder. They shuffled after Gemma as quickly as they could, following the sounds of clanging metal that had to be the effort of Ruby and Dom. He hoped they were okay.
As he rounded the corner and watched Gemma immerse herself in the quick disposal of a guard, he realized they were fine. Dom’s huge leg kicked a guard to his knees and
a swift swipe with the hilt of his sword had the man seeing stars. Ruby was jumping over her fallen opponent and beckoning them to follow her.
Harrison wove through the discarded bodies and picked up his pace as he followed the quick trio. He wasn’t sure where they were. Dom must have led them to the adjacent tower. He hoped he knew where he was going.
The sound of pounding feet behind him punched a vial of adrenalin into his system and he quickly shifted the man to his back so he could run. The man’s head bobbed on his shoulder, his ragged body rattling against him as he bounded down the stairs.
“Look out!” Gemma’s voice made him duck as an arrow whizzed past his head. He heard the cry of someone behind him as he watched Gemma reload the bow in one fluid motion.
She had ditched the sword for a more effective weapon. She looked like a female version of Robin Hood as she sent another arrow flying. Her long braid flicked at the base of her spine as she swung around and pushed him forward.
“Go!”
He turned back to watch her fire one last shot before spinning after him.
“Run to the stables!”
He did as he was told, ignoring the burning in his legs as he burst out into the sunlight.
Turn right, right?
He spotted what he thought must be the stables and felt his belly drop. The open expanse of courtyard made him vulnerable. He had to get himself and the weight on his back through the open space and not get hit by an arrow or blind-sided by a broad sword.
Sure, piece of cake.
He steadied his breathing and set off. An arrow flew past so close to his head he felt his hair move. Another arrow shot out from the stables injuring a guard on the turret above him. He saw Ruby’s arm drop out of view as she backed further under cover. Moments later he was joining her.
With the help of Dominic, they managed to get the man out through the wall.
Harrison turned to make sure Gemma was just behind him. Instead what he saw was a hairy fist flying straight at his face.
Chapter Twenty-One
Warwick, England - 1393 AD
Gemma shot her final arrow and dropped the bow as she raced to the stables. Bursting into the building, she flew to the end stall and scrambled into the hole, all too aware that this was not over. They still needed to get to the forest and the man they were carrying was not in great shape.