Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 99206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 496(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Reena nodded and hurried over, Brigid close behind her, to the section of the wall she knew contained the concealed room.
She ran her fingers over the seam of the door. “It is here, but I do not know how it opens.”
Brigid felt where Reena’s hand touched. “A lever or something must work the door, otherwise the door would be too heavy to move.”
Reena looked about, Brigid joining her in the search.
“It would be close by,” Brigid said.
Reena nodded, running her hand over the stones near the door so as not to overlook anything.
“The peg,” Brigid said, her excitement growing. She hurried to a section of the wall where a metal peg protruded. She pulled on it, pushed up, attempted to twist and turn it, but the sturdy peg remained solid in the wall.
“Here, I found it,” Reena said, barely above a whisper. “Come feel this in the wall.”
Brigid hurried over and let Reena take her hand and guide it over the wall. She felt a slim, long piece of cold metal hidden between the stones.
“Amazing,” Brigid said. “It cannot be seen and barely felt if one did not know to look for it.”
“Someone certainly wanted something kept hidden.” Reena yanked on the metal lever, and Brigid’s hand joined hers as they both struggled to move the lever. It finally gave way, and a section of the wall creaked slowly open.
Reena was quick to collect two candles from the table, and the two women, hugging close beside each other, entered the room. They looked about, Reena holding her candle high to cast light over the dark, dank, cell-like space.
Brigid gave a small gasp and pointed to the back wall. “An iron ring to chain a prisoner. A cell for sure.”
“But why up here in the tower room when a dungeon exists below the keep?”
Brigid voiced her thought. “Someone did not want anyone to know who was kept here?”
“I would say that might be so.”
“There are no chests here.” Brigid shivered. “It is cold and damp and would be so terribly dark without the candles. I cannot imagine someone chained to the wall and left in such darkness. The darkness alone would frighten me.”
“A torturous thought for sure,” Reena agreed. “And one I cannot help but wonder over.”
At that moment the two heard a creak. When they both turned toward the sound, the door began to close quickly.
“Hurry,” Reena urged Brigid and pushed her through the opening, which had become considerably narrower.
Brigid gave a yell and barely managed to clear the closing door. She turned to help Reena, and both women realized there was not sufficient space for her to squeeze through.
“I will get help,” Brigid said as the door closed completely shut, and she shivered as she raced from the room, hearing Reena’s final word as her candle flickered out.
“Hurry!”
Magnus entered the great hall after a day of riding his borders and making certain his land was well guarded. He had traveled over hills and meadows, though the weather was anything but cooperative. A cold wind and snow flurries certainly did not announce that spring was but a week or so away.
His warriors did well in guarding his holdings. They were alert to their surroundings and aware of any intruders, except, of course, the Dark One. But then no one seemed to be able to prevent his entrance anywhere, and he was a friend who was welcome anytime at the keep.
His men were aware of every stranger that traveled his land, some proving harmless, others proving suspicious, but all were watched and their actions reported to Magnus. He knew Kilkern kept a watchful eye on Dunhurnal land, and he could almost predict Kilkern’s next move. Right now the man gathered force behind him, hoping to sway the king to his cause, as well as those lords whose lands surrounded Kilkern land. But Magnus was patient and his plan was to take no action, at least not yet.
Magnus sat on a bench before the hearth, stretching his legs out to warm his chilled bones. A pitcher of ale was quickly brought to the table. He was filling a tankard when Thomas entered the great hall.
Thomas joined Magnus at the table and appreciated the warmth of the hearth and the taste of the ale.
“We are well protected,” Thomas said, reaching for the full tankard.
“From what we see, but it is what we do not see that needs our attention.”
“Kilkern works on the king.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” Magnus said.
“You sound as if you worry not about it.”
“Kilkern’s complaints will benefit us.”
“How so?” Thomas asked.
“It never helps when too many know too much, and Kilkern has a loose tongue and thinks it benefits him.”
Thomas scratched his bald head. “You sound as though you wait for the truth to reveal itself.”
Magnus grinned and raised his tankard. “Kilkern is bound to slip up somewhere, and we will be waiting.”