All she could see were purple blotches against the blackness, spectres of the once glaring torchlight. The Earth stone twitched and she felt a silent snarl course through her. She felt like a predator, a huntress, a wild cat. At once, objects emerged from the darkness, including the figure of the guard.
“Get back, Donnan!” she called. Strength of Earth and Fire flowed through her and she brought the torch down hard upon the guard’s head. In that moment, she didn’t care whether or not she killed him. Though, in any case, she underestimated the thickness of his skull. He turned to face her and she unsheathed her knife, holding out both that and the torch. She also summoned a ball of fire which hovered in the air before her.
“Get into that cell,” she said, “or you will die.”
He flicked his sword, pressing it to her stomach, and she sent the fireball at him. He ducked, staggering backwards, patting at his singed hair. The fire burst against the back wall of Aedan’s cell, flames fading as they scattered. Donnan reached her side. With a crack like flint against fire steel, a larger ball of fire erupted into being.
“Last warning,” she said.
More footsteps approached.
“If you kill me, you’ll soon be outnumbered, apprehended and hanged for murder. No, you’re not going to kill me. But I could kill you, both of you gaol-breakers, and be greatly rewarded for the effort. I’ve killed lasses before,” he grinned, showing more gaps in his mouth than teeth. “But you’ll be my first witch.”
The footsteps came nearer and a pair of eyes glowed palely in the darkness. “And what makes you think I will let you kill mine,” said Tam stepping into view. He struck the guard’s face and the man fell to the ground, his sword clattering against the iron bars.
“Elf-shot?” she said.
Tam nodded.
Donnan took the torch from Kaetha and knelt down to shine it in the guard’s face. “You killed him.”
“I did,” said Tam.
“He was going to kill us.” Kaetha stepped over the guard’s body. “He deserved it.”
Donnan rose, coming at Tam, jabbing the torch threateningly towards his face. “But where’ve you been? Why didn’t you help us sooner?”
“Shut up and help,” said Kaetha, opening the cell again and dragging the guard. She could only manage a couple of inches. “Help me.” Together, they heaved the guard into the corner of the cell, and hid him as much as possible amongst the straw. “There,” she said when she’d stripped him of his cloak and wrapped it around her father’s shoulders. She removed her mother’s copper heron clasp and secured the cloak with it. “Look after that for me.”
She locked the cell door and helped Donnan support Aedan as they walked down the corridor. She only had to think it and the torch snuffed itself out behind them.
“Stop, Kaetha,” said Tam, his eyes glowing brighter.
“What is he?” said Aedan.
“It’s alright, Pa. Tam’s a friend. He’s helping us.”
“There’s something not quite – human – about him.”
“Not at all human, Aedan Baird,” said Tam in hushed tones. “Kaetha, you can’t leave. Not yet. This is your chance to weaken the one who has destroyed so many innocent lives. I’ve found a way through the tunnels into the keep. She’s here. I’ve seen her. This could be your only chance to take the Water stone, to stop it being used for death upon death. You must try.”
“I can’t. What about Pa?”
“Donnan can take him.”
“Not on his own.”
“I could, Kit, if you wanted me to,” said Donnan. “But I think you should come back with us now. It’s too dangerous.”
“I don’t want you putting yourself at further risk,” said Aedan. “Whatever it is that this creature wants you to do, it’s not your responsibility.”
“I want to get that stone from Meraud, Tam,” she said.
“Then you must do so. You have the advantage, three stones to her one.”
“But I’m not ready. You’ve seen what she can do. I’ll never be that powerful and,” she shuddered, “I don’t think I want to be. I came to save Pa. That’s what’s important.” Tam sighed. “You must do what you think is right.” Kaetha tried to ignore the obvious disappointment in his stony voice.
Aedan barely made a sound, yet she could tell that each movement brought him pain. “Poor wretches,” he muttered as they passed a row of cells. “I heard the guards talking,” he continued. “Most of these prisoners have Edonian blood.”
Kaetha hardened herself against the swelling of pity which rose within her. “Best we’re not seen,” she whispered, stifling the torchlight. “And when we get through, I’ll do my best to keep the three of us invisible.”
“Invisible?” said Aedan.
“Trust me,” said Donnan, “you don’t have to understand it, but she can do it. But Kit, what do we do if that thug of a guard is still at the entrance?”
“There’s something I can try,” she said. She let the power of the Fire stone stretch out before her. Through it, she sensed the energy of the buffeting wind, the moonlight, the roaring sea below the cliff. She sensed the bodies of horses in the stables, of men asleep in the barracks, watchmen high above them and, outside the entrance to the tunnel, a single guard. He was weary but she could sense his strength. “I will take his strength from him.”
“Kill him?” asked Donnan.
“No. If he’s found dead, someone will sound the alarm. We need him to sleep.”
“And you’re sure you can do that?” he asked. “Not take too much of his strength?”
She didn’t answer but, despite her doubts, she’d already decided to try and she wasn’t going to change her mind. She held out her arm in the guard’s direction and focussed on the power of Fire within her, feeling herself grow stronger,
