Col's watch turned out to be the last one before dawn. The light watch he called it. The easiest watch usually assigned to him since his older brothers still treated him as a child needful of protection rather than a protector in his own right. His stiff bearing spoke of just what he thought of that notion, the underlying rebelliousness evident in the toss of his head. Charity had the feeling that if Edeen hadn't broached the matter of them running off to save Toren, that Col would have done it on his own anyhow.
They slipped easily past the little group of slumbering Highlanders that had been with Col and Shaw when they’d first found her at the castle. They slept wrapped in their long blanket-like plaids around the dying embers. On an unconscious level, they were all probably accustomed to the thread of Col's boots during the early watch and to the light steps of Edeen as she preferred to wake before the men and perform her morning ablutions in private. Which they’d agree would be their explanation should any awaken. Though a few of the men stirred, none fully awoke.
Soon the three were in the forest, walking in silence while they made their way down slope toward the gray castle. By early afternoon, they came to the back of the stony fortress where Shaw and Col had first come upon Charity the previous day.
Col led them around to the front of the austere structure where there were, indeed, tall wooden gates and several guards stationed out front and two more up in the round towers to either side. There was also an adjoining stable where it looked as though many of the guards not stationed at the doors lingered.
Not that she could blame them. The castle seemed rather dank and foreboding. Who knew what they’d find inside. It reminded her of what she thought Sleeping Beauty's castle should look like, remote and surrounded by a dense forest. All it needed was giant thorns and the witch to turn into a dragon. Aldreth couldn’t turn into a dragon, could she?
Charity frowned at the thought.
Keeping well back in the brush, Edeen revealed her plan and Col immediately began arguing.
"I do not like it."
"Do ye think I'm enamored with your part in it?" Edeen countered. "Ye have to grab the guard in the first place whilst I merely retrieve what we need from his mind."
"You're my sister. I do not want ye probing minds of strange men."
"For the love of—" Edeen threw her hands up. "Now ye sound like Shaw and Toren."
"In this 'tis well I do."
Edeen crossed her arms beneath her breasts. "'Tis not. And for the matter, I do not want my younger brother risking himself against the witch's guard."
"Hired mercenary I could take in my sleep. Do ye think that I cannot?"
"No," Edeen conceded, laying her palm on his arm. "I believe in your skill. As I request ye to believe in mine. 'Tis for Toren we do this."
Oh nicely played. Charity was impressed with how easily Edeen manipulated her sibling.
"Fine." Col pulled against Edeen's hand like a hare would pull at a snare. "But you two remain here." He stepped behind a patch of thicker brush and turned back, poking a finger at the air. "I mean it. Not a toe away from this spot."
"We will," Charity and Edeen sang out in unison and then looked at each other.
"Will he be all right?" Charity asked, worry for the young man clamping around her chest.
"Col, aye. He's a crafty one. Been sneaking around, catching us all unawares since he was of the age his abilities came upon him. He favors sneaking in as a rat and then shifting suddenly into a bear or lion. Will likely more than not cause the poor guard to swoon."
About fifteen minutes later they heard rustling in the bushes. Edeen slid a slender knife from her belt, perfectly hidden along the leather, which Charity glanced at with a touch of envy. Why hadn't she been given a weapon to hide in her belt? Why hadn't she thought to ask for one? Because she didn't generally wander around Seattle armed. That's why.
Some kind of bird chirped and Edeen's posture relaxed. She shoved the knife back beneath her thick belt, out of sight.
Col lumbered into view with a guardsman draped across his shoulders in a fireman's carry.
"Is he hurt?" Charity ran forward to assist in getting the guy off his shoulder.
Edeen stepped forward to help. "He's no good to us unconscious."
Col lowered the guy and situated the floppy arms along the man's sides. The guard looked to be in his late thirties with a wind-chapped complexion around a rough dirty blond beard. Old scars criss-crossed his hands.
Across the unconscious guard, Edeen gave Charity an I-told-you-so smirk. Then to Col, "Did anyone see you?"
"D'ye believe me daft? I nipped him when he stole away to fill the dung heap, if ye take my meaning."
"You can't probe his mind while he's out?" Charity studied the man's breathing, while holding his wrist and counting his pulse. The healer in her couldn't do less.
"Without being pulled into his dreams, nay." Edeen shook her head.
"'Tis too dangerous." Col slashed his hand through the air.
Edeen's lip twisted. "I need him awake and aware to differentiate between what's real and what are imaginings of a dreaming mind."
"I can help with that." Charity smiled. Finally something she could do.
Col and Edeen both nodded and warmth swelled into Charity's belly at the tiny bit of trust thrown her way.
"Let me first." Col pulled thin twine from a crude pouch hanging from his belt and made quick work of tying the man's wrists together. "Go on then."
Charity tried the direct approach first and tapped the guard's cheek. "Hey, wake up." His head rolled to the side.
Col's expression turned bland. "I could have done that."
Charity shrugged and this time placed her palm over the man's chest and concentrated on bringing the core of her magic up into her fingertips. She just needed a little burst of healing to buzz him with, just enough to refresh him and make his body feel well rested and energized. She and her sister boosted each other all the time during a harried day at the herbal shop, especially when Lenore had scheduled back-to-back massages with a long day on her feet. Worked better than a five-hour energy drink.
The magic coursed through her and—exploded. Magic ripped up her spine and into the back of her neck. The guard jerked beneath her hand like a man zapped with CPR paddles. He fell back and his eyes snapped open, bulging.
Col held him down. "What did you do?"
"She's not accustomed to so much power flowing through her," Edeen explained. "In her time, there is not a steady source of magic."
Col's head wrenched up, his forehead furrowed. Charity imagined what he must be thinking, the ramifications of little magic left in the world because of what his people were about to go through with.
"What are you about? What's going on?" The guard thrashed against Col.
"I didn't know that would happen. Is he okay?" She'd thought piggy-backing on Toren's magic was intense, but this was, this was…like riding a thunder cloud pulling magic from the fabric woven in the air. And sun. And earth all together—and it flowed into her own core—into herself—she'd never felt anything like it. Imagine what she would be able to heal or cure with this kind of magical source in her own time? Cancer. Arthritis. Spinal injuries.
"He's fine," Edeen assured. "Startled is all." That made two of them. Edeen placed her palms upon the man's temples while Col held him steady.
The guy's eyes practically bugged out of his skull. "Stay away from me, witch. Get back." With his hands bound and occupied by Col, the mercenary started kicking.
Charity promptly sat on his legs and got bucked around while Edeen managed to stay perfectly still and focused.
The air hummed with the distinct vibration of magic being used.
Loose strands of Edeen's hair lifted like they were caught in static from a balloon.
The guard quieted. His face relaxed.
Edeen withdrew her hands from his head and smiled. "I have it."
That was quick. "Have what exactly?" Charity asked
.
"The corridors we need to take to Toren's prison, the location of the keys, and where the postern door is. Would ye believe Aldreth's arrogance has her post only one guard where the kitchen help throws out the slop?" Her smile was dazzling and dangerous. "We can do this."
Charity grinned back. It was a crazy foolish plan with little chance of success, but coming here through time had been impossibly crazy as well.
“Déithe spare us all." Col's forehead crinkled.
They were going into the witch's lair.
Chapter Fourteen