Beneath a Midnight Moon - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,36
man, bound his hands and feet, and changed shape once again.
There were two guards playing dice in the dungeon’s antechamber. They looked up only briefly as Hardane entered the room.
He acknowledged them with a nod, then took one of the torches and started for the stairs.
“Crill, where are you going?”
Hardane glanced over his shoulder, his fist tightening around the torch. “To check on the prisoners.”
The guard shook his head. “It isn’t necessary. Hanse went down a few minutes ago.”
Hardane grunted. “I’ve got nothing else to do,” he remarked. “I’ll just see if he needs help.”
The guard looked at him suspiciously for a moment, wondering at Crill’s sudden ambition, and then he shrugged.
Hardane waited, but when there were no objections, he descended the stairs. His men would be storming the island in a quarter of an hour. He had to get his father out of the dungeon before then.
He saw the light from the guard’s torch at the far end of the corridor. Frowning, he watched the man for several moments, and then he grinned as he saw the man tip a bottle to his mouth. Apparently the guard kept a flask hidden in the dungeon.
The guard looked up, a guilty flush staining his cheeks, as Hardane walked up to him.
“Oh, Crill,” the man muttered in relief. “I thought—”
Hardane never discovered what the man thought. Drawing back his fist, he flattened the guard with a single blow to his jaw. He caught the torch before it hit the ground.
There was a stirring from within the nearby cells as the prisoners saw one guard strike another.
Hardane paid them no mind as he hurried toward his father’s cell. “My lord?”
Lord Kray approached the door cautiously. “What is it?”
“Better to die as a wolf than live as a dog.”
“Hardane!”
There was a world of relief, of hope, in the older man’s voice as Hardane slipped the key into the lock and opened the door.
For a brief moment, the two men embraced; then Hardane thrust the torch into his father’s left hand and the fallen guard’s sword into his right.
“We’ve got to go,” he said tersely.
“I’m right behind you,” Kray said, and quickly followed Hardane down the corridor toward the narrow winding staircase.
Hardane heard shouts of alarm, the hoarse cries of men in pain, and the harsh clash of metal striking metal as he reached the top of the staircase.
“We’re under attack!” One of the guards shouted the warning as he slammed the door that led outside. “Crill, arm yourself. . . .”
The guard’s voice trailed off, his expression changing from concern to confusion when he saw Kray standing behind Hardane, a sword in his hand.
The second guard stood up, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “What’s going on?”
“You’re under attack in here, too,” Hardane replied calmly. “Drop your weapons, both of you.”
The two guards exchanged glances and then they both lunged forward.
Hardane engaged the man on the left, and soon the air rang with the harsh clang of blade meeting blade. For a moment, his attention was divided between the guard and concern for his father, but soon he had no time to think of anything but his opponent, who wielded his sword with great skill. The guard managed to draw first blood, but it was Hardane who landed the fatal blow, his sword driving into the man’s chest, piercing his heart.
Withdrawing his blade, Hardane whirled around in time to see his father deliver the fatal blow to the second guard.
“Let’s get out of here,” Hardane said, assuming his own form so his men would not mistake him for the enemy.
“Wait!” Lord Kray took hold of his son’s arm. “You’re hurt.”
Hardane glanced at the blood dripping from his left shoulder. “It’s nothing.”
Lord Kray started to protest that the wound needed to be bound up, at least, but it was too late. Hardane was already out the door.
Whatever fighting had taken place outside the dungeon was over. Jared and the others stood in a ragged half circle, their swords drawn. The surviving prisoners were huddled together, their expressions malevolent as they waited to see what would happen next.
Jared smiled as he saw Hardane and Lord Kray emerge from the castle. Lord Kray paused to speak to some of the crewmen, while Hardane continued on toward the shore. Jared started forward, intending to pay homage to his liege, when a ferocious cry rent the stillness of the night.
All eyes swung toward the sound.
Too late, Hardane saw the Executioner bearing down on him.