Brotherhood: The Warrior Part 24

"Mmm. Whatever makes you happy."

Cat laughed. Truthfully, what made her happiest was the sensation of being in his arms. Of having his hard body against hers. She loved this man and this really was all she wanted in her life.

If only she could have it.

Closing her eyes, she savored every thrust of him against her. Every stroke she delivered to him.

And when she came, he joined her instantly.

Hot and sweating, she collapsed against him while he gathered her in his arms and held her to his chest like a precious bundle.

Neither of them moved for ever so long. It wasn't until hunger overcame them that Lochlan got up and dressed and went to seek food for them while Cat took her time washing and dressing.

They spent the rest of the day hidden, waiting for word from the others. As the hours pa.s.sed with no communication or word, Lochlan began to get concerned. Stryder would have had more than enough time to return to Rouen and travel back to the docks.

Where could he be?

As the sun set, he left Catarina hidden in the room and went to look for them. The king's ship was still moored where it'd been last night. Only now there was no activity except for two lone guards who watched over it.

Ignoring them, Lochlan continued on, scanning the street for any sign of the others. There were sailors aplenty, a few prost.i.tutes soliciting clients, and merchants negotiating deals and rushing to and fro.

His worst fear was that Stryder and group were now in royal custody for their parts in planning his escape. It would make sense. They'd helped him free Catarina and Lochlan was sure Graham would gladly relate the events to Reginald and his men.

"Lochlan."

He paused at the whispered shout. It took him several seconds before he located the source of it.

Dressed all in black with even a cowl to cover his head, Kestrel stood in the shadow of a building. He motioned Lochlan over to him.

As soon as he joined him, Kestrel pulled him deeper into the alleyway.

Lochlan ground his teeth as anger and fear a.s.sailed him. "Have the others been taken?"

"In a manner of speaking. Aye."

He scowled at the odd note in Kestrel's voice. "What do you mean?"

"The king spotted us as we came into town and demanded Stryder spend a few moments with him. Those moments have turned into all d.a.m.n day."

Lochlan let out a sound of disgust. "But Stryder's not under arrest?"

He shook his head. "Trust me. We put the fear of G.o.d into Graham and his brothers. He speaks one word against us and he'll be begging for death before he finishes the first syllable."

That made him feel a little better. "So we wait on Stryder?"

"Nay. The king could very well be watching him since he's the English king's champion. Stryder said for us to go ahead and he'd catch up to us. He thinks it best that he keep the king distracted while we make our getaway."

"And if he fails and is caught?"

"Don't worry. He won't. Stryder is smarter than that."

"What about my brother? Stryder said that he'd--"

"Again, don't worry," Kestrel said, cutting him off. "The Scot knows me and he'll let us enter even without Stryder." He indicated a small boat that was loading cargo. "They sail within the hour. I've already arranged pa.s.sage for all of us. Retrieve Catarina and hide belowdeck until it's safe."

"What about you?"

"I'll be there, but since the king has already seen me with Stryder, I don't want to draw his attention to you."

The man was extremely paranoid. However, given their situation and the repercussions that could fall on all their heads, it was probably a good thing.

Lochlan nodded. "I'll see you on board."

Kestrel drifted back into the shadows and actually seemed to have disappeared. Lochlan crossed himself. There were times when that man seemed to possess demonic powers.

Putting that out of his mind, he went back to the inn to collect Catarina.

He found her waiting by the window, picking at a loaf of bread. She let out a relieved breath the instant she saw him. "I was beginning to get worried."

"There was nothing to worry over. We only have a king who wants you captive and me dead...one who's staying at the end of this street, talking to Stryder and Simon. How could that cause anyone concern?"

"I see your point," she said, feigning relief. "How utterly foolish of me to be concerned."

Lochlan shook his head at her retort. "Stryder will catch up to us. We have a ship waiting to take us to England. As soon as you're--"

She stood immediately. "I'm more than ready to put as much distance as possible between my father and me. Let us run for that boat."

His heart clenched at her words. How awful to feel that way about the man who'd sired her, but then he'd felt no better about his own. It was a shame that the world was filled with such people.

He picked up her cloak and wrapped it around her before he lifted the cowl to conceal her face.

As he did so he was struck by the irony of a woman so vivacious wanting to be invisible. She deserved a man who could appreciate her unique qualities. One who wouldn't try to stifle her.

Closing his eyes, he kissed her on the top of her head. She took his hand in hers and that small gesture brought him to his knees. He squeezed her hand before he led her from the room.

He paused downstairs to settle his account before he took her outside to the docks. It was darker now, with storm clouds brewing. He didn't see any sign of Kestrel as they made their way toward the boat Kestrel had indicated.

Lochlan allowed her to mount the gangplank first. He scanned the docks one last time before he followed her up.

A small, heavyset sailor approached them. "You the Scot's man?"

"Aye."

"His lordship told me to put you below." He showed them to a cramped room that held four chairs and a short table. "Stay here and we'll be sailing very soon."

"My thanks."

The man nodded before he left them alone.

Cat let out a slow breath as she lowered her cowl. Even so, she knew better than to count on their safety just yet. She wouldn't feel completely relieved until France was out of her sight.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of someone running down the hallway outside. They were headed for her room.

Lochlan pulled his sword from its sheath an instant before the door was slammed open.

Kestrel was there, his cheeks red from his run. "The king is coming. We have to hide the two of you immediately."

Chapter 14.

"How is that possible?" Lochlan asked.

Kestrel gave him a droll stare. "I don't know. Now we can either hide you or keep arguing until you're both taken into custody. Your choice."

Cat growled at the man's sarcasm. Any other time, she might have had an appreciation for it. In this moment, however, she could have done without it. "Hide us where?"

Kestrel bolted the door behind him before he indicated a group of barrels against the back wall.

Cat glanced at them skeptically. Nice thought, but unless they had enough time to empty the barrels, which would leave a most obvious clue as to where they were hiding, it was a useless one. "Those are full."

"Really?" he asked, his face a mask of mockery, "I wasn't planning on putting you in one. Stand on top of it and crawl up there." He pointed to the ceiling.

Now that was even more ridiculous than hiding them in the barrels. "They'll find us there."

"Trust me. No one ever looks up. No one. Even as low as this ceiling is, it'll never occur to them to seek you there."

Lochlan looked as skeptical as she felt. "Are you willing to bet your life on it?"

"Nay," Kestrel said with a smile, "but I'm willing to bet yours."

Cat was sure the unamused look on her face matched the one on Lochlan's.

Lochlan glanced up at the ceiling, then narrowed his gaze on Kestrel. "If they find us, you're the first one I kill."

"Please. Better to die quickly by your hand than be tortured again."

Before Cat could ask about that phrase, Kestrel had them climb up the barrels to the ceiling.

There was a small ledge that barely accommodated her. Poor Lochlan was left hanging by the strength of his arms and legs. She wasn't even sure how he managed it. No doubt it was painful.

But he didn't say a word about it.

Satisfied with their positions, Kestrel threw netting around them, tucking it around their bodies before he nodded. He stepped down to peer up at them. "You don't make a sound and they'll never know."

Before she could blink, he was out the door.

Still not completely sold on this plan, she glanced to Lochlan. "This isn't very comfortable, now is it?" she said, trying not to speak too loudly.

"I can think of better times I've had."

She smiled at his unexpected humor given the danger they were in.

At least until she heard voices outside. But it wasn't until she heard her father's that she started to panic. This was a foolish place to hide. They were practically in plain sight.

Just as she was about to try and run, Lochlan took her hand in his. The steely blue eyes bolstered her courage immediately. "Trust in Kestrel, la.s.s."

She wasn't sure why Lochlan trusted him, but as the voices drew closer, she realized she didn't have any choice except to see this through.

She heard her father growl. "I swear that girl is half witch like her mother. I've never seen anyone vanish into thin air before."

"Well, sire, the informant swore that she would be heading out this night on a boat for England.

And this is the most likely boat for her to take."

"Are you sure we can trust your informant?"

"Aye, sire. He heard them planning their escape."

"Who else was in the planning?"

"Lords Stryder of Blackmoor and Simon of Anwyk."

Her father cursed. "Two men I can't touch or intimidate and there they both sat across from me, looking me in the eye and not telling me of this. d.a.m.n them to h.e.l.l."

The door rattled on its hinges.

Cat held her breath as it was thrown open and a group of four guards came inside to search. She tightened her grip on Lochlan's hand. This was it, she was sure of it. Any second they'd look up at see them.

Closing her eyes, she prayed furiously.

Below her, the guards overturned the barrels, threw crates aside, and looked everywhere for them.

Except up.

She truly couldn't believe it as they finished their search, then filed one by one out of the room.

"'Tis empty, Your Majesty."

Her father cursed in the hallway before they moved to the next room down.

Cat let out a nervous laugh.

Lochlan motioned her to continue her silence. "We're not out of this until they're gone and we've sailed," he whispered.