The key was attached to the guard’s belt. Knowing speed was of the essence, she hacked at its tie with her knife until it came free. She was at the door within seconds, unlocking it and almost falling into the pitch-black room beyond.
“Kit—are you here?”
“Hmmph?” came a muffled voice from within.
She rushed out again to fetch the lantern. When she came back and held it aloft, her jaw dropped in amazement.
The light bounced off the walls of a room she had never known existed. All around the sides were shelving and racks on which a veritable arsenal of weaponry was stacked. The flood had clearly wrought some violence here, for there was a tide mark along the walls, and the kegs looked stained. But everything was ordered, with some items raised on pallets, and a pile of cloths lay in the middle of the floor, presumably having been used for cleaning.
She stared open-mouthed—she’d understood that Kirlham and Kate were traitors, but hadn’t quite envisaged the full extent of their treachery. Why, this arsenal could destroy the lives of hundreds. Did any cause, religious, political or otherwise, warrant such carnage?
But where was Kit? Lifting the light high, she spotted something moving in a corner. It was a man, cruelly bound both hand and foot, lying on the damp floor of the inner chamber. She threw herself down, fingers trembling as she removed the gag. This was followed by a colorful series of curses from his bruised mouth. God be praised—he was alive! But his sleeve was black with blood, and there were injuries to his face and fists, too—evidently, he had not been taken without a fight.
“Alys, begone from here. You endanger yourself.”
Not after all she’d risked already. Shaking her head, she wrestled with his bonds, employing the knife where she could safely do so.
“Nay, Alys. They will kill you, too. Get away from here—there is no time to lose!”
“I’m not going without you. Walsingham will be here soon. Rupert has gone to fetch him.”
He gaped at her. “Rupert? What could you know of Rupert?”
“Explanation can wait.” The last severed piece of rope fell to the floor. “Can you walk?”
“There’ll be a guard.”
She smiled. “I’ve dealt with him.” She’d collect the costrel on the way out, so no one would know the guard had been drugged.
“How?”
“You’ll see. Come, don’t waste your breath in talking. I must tend to your injuries.”
“Ah, Alys, my dear, sweet angel.” Kit staggered to his feet, wincing as they took his weight. “I don’t deserve this sacrifice you make.”
“I intend to make no sacrifice. I’ll see us both free of this, and the perpetrators punished.”
“You’re putting on a brave face for me, I know.” He accepted her help, leaning on her shoulder. “But there is more danger here than you know. Go back to bed, and pretend you have never been here. I’ll make my way out in a moment.”
“Never. And I have eyes to see exactly how much danger I am in. Should I take a weapon, do you think?”
“Foolish girl. They are more likely to harm you if you threaten them. Besides, all the powder is soaked.”
“I daresay it can be dried out. I’ll help myself to this thing.” She paused in front of the firearms in the rack.
“It’s an arquebus. But you would do better to take a dag. It is smaller and can be concealed amongst your skirts. I’ll take the arquebus—it will serve as a walking staff. And we’ll need powder and shot as well.”
She knew the agony Kit must be feeling as the blood rushed back into his wrists and ankles, but he forced himself onwards, trying not to lean too heavily on her. As his cramped body became used to movement, he was able to exert himself more. By the time they arrived at the cellar steps, he seemed to have recovered some of his strength.
He pulled her to a halt. “No, wait, Alys. We are going back into danger instead of away from it. Go back to the tunnel—it leads from the room where you found me and out towards the highway.”
She shivered. “I’ll not get far in my nightgown and bare feet. We need not flee—they may not discover you are gone until daylight. And where will they look for you then, do you think, in the house, or on the road?”
“More likely on the road, I suppose. But I cannot remain in the house. Every moment you spend in my company puts you in peril. Think on that, Alys. You know we had much better part company.”
“But you’ve lost blood. Even if I were to let you run from the hounds, you’d not last long. Allow me to at least bind up your arm before we decide what’s to be done.”
“I never imagined you were so stubborn, woman. Whence comes this new war-like character?”
She decided to take that as a compliment. “You said yourself, you can never truly know a person until you see their mettle tested. I am being tested now, and I believe my entire future may depend upon the next few hours.”
When he opened his mouth, she pressed her fingers against it. “No more protesting. The die is cast, and we are in alliance. All are abed as far as I know, and my room will be the safest place of concealment.”
If she judged rightly, Kit was in too poor a condition to put up much resistance. She helped him limp through the kitchens, grabbing the bottle of aqua vitae as they passed through, then paused at the foot of the stairs. Was he up to ascending them?
She indicated his arquebus. “Come, give me your piece so you may grasp the handrail and ease yourself up.”
“Under other circumstances, I would
