The Consolation Prize (Brides of Karadok #3) - Alice Coldbreath Page 0,110

them. Her stillness seemed to unnerve Waleran. “Get rid of her,” he gritted through his teeth at Una and she felt the point of the blade pierce her skin.

“Rose, this is my brother,” Una said, and felt the point dig further making her draw a pained breath. “You must let us pass out into the garden now,” she choked out as her brother’s hand closed tight about her upper arm.

Rose took a step back, but kept her gaze fixed on them. Seeing Rose was too much temptation for Abelard, and he sprang from Una’s arms for freedom. As he landed on his feet, Waleran aimed a vicious kick at the small dog and he went skittering into the wall with a yelp.

“Don’t!” Una cried and Rose whirled about. For a moment, Una’s heart froze thinking the slight girl would tackle Waleran. Instead, she seized fast on his other arm, breathing deeply through her nostrils as though trying to contain great anger.

“Get off me!” Waleran snarled, but Rose’s face was fixed and white and she did not speak to him, just glared at him with grim determination. “What is this?”

Una shook her head and when he pressed harder, she cried out. “I do not know.” If Rose was not so unique, she might have run for help, Una thought despairingly.

“Keep your voice down, or it will be the worse for you!” he threatened her.

“Where are we going?” Una demanded. Surely, they would not get far. Not with Waleran, hindered now in his flight by two women.

“You’ll find out,” he gloated, half shoving her through a side door. He tried to shake Rose off his arm but failed. “Well, if she wants to share our fate, she can,” Waleran sneered. When he shut the door in Abelard’s face, preventing him from following, the little dog flung back his head and started to howl. At least he would take no further hurt, Una thought, and maybe eventually his cries would alert the household that they were missing.

To her surprise, Waleran did not take them around the front of the house but headed instead down the garden. Una craned her eyes to scan for waiting horses or more men, but she could see no one else in the shadowy grounds save for the three of them. He must have been speaking the truth, she thought about being alone.

Suddenly, out of the darkness the ruins loomed far above them. With mounting dread, Una realized Waleran was making a beeline for them. She dragged her feet and shot a glance at Rose, whose eyes were still fixed sternly on Waleran’s eager profile. Did Rose even realize the danger they were in, she wondered?

Una ran her tongue over her dry lips. “These ruins are treacherous,” she said desperately. “I have been warned to stay far away from them.”

“You need have no fear,” Waleran assured her, coming abruptly to a stop at the bottom of the disintegrating stairwell. He flung them both before him, so both women stood at the foot of the steps. “They will serve our purpose. I have tested them.”

Una stared, for surely, she could see a glow of light around the first bend and in the remains of the chamber at the very top. Had he set torches in the old sconces? “You have tested the stairway?” she repeated weakly. “Waleran, the steps do not lead anywhere except into the sky.”

He nodded gleefully. “They will lead to our eternal glory.” He was mad, Una thought with terrifying certainty. Quite mad.

He stabbed the air with his dagger. “Get moving,” he said with menace, and walked toward them. Given precious little choice, Una reached her hand out to take Rose’s and they started climbing the steps with Waleran following close behind them.

13

Armand was descending the stairs two at a time when Otho appeared at the bottom, ashen-faced. “Well?” his brother-in-law demanded.

“She’s not in the solar or the attics,” Armand replied tersely. They looked at each other grimly. Armand had told Otho of Lord Vawdrey’s message that afternoon, and no doubt they were both thinking the same thing. The house was now in uproar with servants running hither and thither. Armand flung up a hand “Silence!” he roared. “Where’s that dog barking?”

“Sir, he’s in the kitchens,” Janet said, round-eyed. “Creating ever such a racket he is, none of us can quiet him without Rose and she’s nowhere to be found either.”

“Rose is missing?” Otho uttered sharply, but Armand was already making for the kitchen where Abelard was