Hidden Knights (Knights of the Realm #3) - Jennifer Anne Davis Page 0,38
Axian. The journey to the City of Buckley would afford them plenty of time to catch up.
“Me too.” He released her before trying the door. Only, it wouldn’t budge.
“That’s strange. Is it locked?”
“It doesn’t appear to be.”
Maybe it was just stuck. “Let’s try another door.”
They headed past the great hall toward the servants’ quarters where the back door was located.
“Do you smell that?” Harlan asked, pulling Reid to a halt. “It smells like damp dirt or the ground after a heavy rain.”
She took a deep breath. “I smell smoke.”
“It’s valerian root. I’m certain of it.” He ran his hands through his red hair while pacing back and forth. Stopping, he sniffed. “Is someone burning it? It only works as a sedative if it’s ingested, not burned.”
“Sedative?”
Harlan headed toward the kitchen, sniffing as he went.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to find the source of the smell.”
“The smoke is probably from all the candles being blown out. I’m sure everything is fine.”
“Even so, what about the valerian?” As he pushed the kitchen door open, they were greeted by flames—the entire kitchen engulfed.
The sheer heat pushed Reid back. “Idina!” she screamed. Idina’s bedchamber was located right above the kitchen. Turning, Reid took off running up the stairs to warn her friend. She found Idina coming out of her room.
“What’s going on?”
“There’s a fire in the kitchen.” Reid grabbed Idina’s arm, dragging her downstairs. Thick black smoke poured out from under the kitchen door, filling the hallway.
Dexter stood at the bottom of the stairs, waving them on. “Everyone’s in the great hall.”
“All the doors are jammed,” Gordon said as Dexter, Reid, and Idina entered the room.
Ackley cursed. “Let’s bust a window. We can get out that way.” Picking up a chair, he banged it against one of the windows, shattering it. After setting the chair down, he broke a leg off and used it to clear the shards away. “Gordon, go first. Organize the soldiers. We need buckets of water. Get lines going.”
Gordon rushed over to the opening as smoke started filling the room. The fire was quickly spreading to other parts of the castle.
“Wait,” Harlan said. “I still smell valerian. Something is wrong.”
“I smell it, too,” Ackley said, leaning against the wall next to the window.
“We need to get out of here before the fire reaches this room,” Gordon said. “The smoke is getting bad.” He moved to put his leg through the opening to climb out.
An arrow shot into his calf. He crumbled backward, falling to the floor. “Everyone down,” he ordered.
Reid slid to the floor. Were they under attack? How could that be when there were hundreds of soldiers outside? Who would be attacking them and why?
Gordon slid across the room, propping against the wall near Reid.
“How bad is it?” she asked.
He made two fists, took a deep breath, and then reached down, pulling the arrow free. Blood gushed from the wound. “I’ll be fine.”
Harlan squatted next to Gordon, ripping one of the curtains down. He tore a strip of fabric off, using it to tie a tourniquet around Gordon’s leg. “This will help stop the bleeding.”
“I don’t see anyone out there,” Ackley announced as he peeked out the broken window.
“Wait here,” Dexter commanded. “I’m going to the second floor to take a look.” He ran from the room.
Leigh put out the last of the candles, sending the room into darkness.
Duke Ellington sat next to Reid. The smoke intensified as the flames moved to the sitting room next to the kitchen. “I need to get a few personal items from my office. Do you have the duke’s ring on?”
“No.” She’d left it in her room for the wedding ceremony.
“Go upstairs and get it. Then come right back here. Don’t worry about anything else. Understand?”
“Yes.” Reid rose, hurrying from the room. Thick smoke filled the hallway, making it hard to breathe. She sprinted up the steps, holding her breath. In her bedchamber, she could feel the heat from below through her shoes. Going straight to her dresser, she plucked the ring from her drawer and slid it on her finger. Since her pants were right there, she pulled them on, ripping the dress off and replacing it with a tunic. Her swords were lying on her desk, so she grabbed them, strapping them to her waist.
Someone went running past her room. “Dexter?” she called.
“What are you doing up here?” he asked, coming into her room.
“Getting the duke’s ring. What did you see outside?”