Chapter 16

Chapter

Sixteen

A t first, Elara was uncertain if the sound was truly a bell ringing or if she was still in some far-off place where Alden just did...that. Except, he jolted from the bed.

"Is that a bell?"

"It is."

They sprang into action, both he and Elara bolting from the bed. He donned his shirt while fetching her clothing. Elara had no time to consider all that happened, to be aroused by Alden's hands as they aided her in dressing.

"Fire?" he asked.

"Aye," she said. "That bell has rung just once before, a chimney fire that was contained in the kitchen."

"Go," she added, aware that Alden needed to get out before being seen coming from the corridor that led to her chamber. "I will follow."

"No," he said as Elara fetched a pair of shoes, not wishing to spend time lacing her boots. "I am not leaving until you are safely out of this chamber."

If it were not for the dangers of smoke, this chamber would be safe enough. Much of the castle would be, in fact, as it was mostly made of stone.

"Alden, go," she said, putting on her second shoe.

He did not move.

Stubborn man.

Finishing quickly, Elara ran into the antechamber to fetch her key. Alden followed, and finally, seemed ready to leave. But first, he kissed her, and damned if Elara did not care that Blackwood, or part of it, might be on fire. She wanted to stay here, in this chamber, with this man, but of course, could not.

"Be safe," he said, breaking apart from her. "Go, now."

Not waiting to watch him leave or fix the tapestry behind him, Elara did just that. As she raced down the spiral staircase, she began to hear shouts of "fire" and "hurry." Praying Alden would not be seen, she followed the others down to the ground level and out into the courtyard. Immediately, she smelled and saw the smoke at the same time.

"The stables," she cried, racing toward the massive stables where more than a hundred mounts were housed.

It was one of the first provisions made at the castle when it was procured. After falling into disrepair, the last surviving relative of the Blackwood family producing no heirs, the castle had gone uninhabited for many years. Stories of it being haunted kept most away until its strategic position, and lack of an owner with enough coin to restore it, made it the perfect training grounds for their purpose. The combined funds of many nobles sympathetic to Empress Matilda's cause, including Lords Ashford and Bennington, the only two noblemen living in the region, made repairs, expanded the stables, and added additional guard barracks that could be used by recruits.

Unfortunately, in the mayhem, Elara could not get near the stables. She was forced to watch, along with many of the others, as buckets of water were carried through the crowd. She could hear Lord Stirling's voice, asking for a path to be cleared, but she could not see him.

A sickening sound of horses' neighs and the sight of thick black smoke rising in the sky made Elara fear the worst. Stirling, and others, continued to shout as recruits crowded around the area, making it difficult for anyone to get by. A bright orange and red glow illuminated the night sky, one that, at any other time, would be awe-inspiring.

It was only when the crowd finally began to part that she saw him. Alden was as magnificent as the flames were terrifying. Larger than any other man around him, he pushed through the crowd, shouting as some of the others tried to do. "Move back," he said, forcing the recruits and servants alike away from the area.

Their eyes met.

His relief, at seeing her safe no doubt, was as evident as his determination to see the water buckets made their way to the stables. With his aid, and another of the recruits almost equally as large as Alden, they managed to push back some of the crowd.

Elara watched as a line formed and buckets made their way from one person to the next. She jumped into the line, as did many others upon seeing it, and it quickly extended from the well all the way down to the stables.

Behind her, she assumed the horses were being evacuated, and Elara prayed none were injured. Later, after seeing cart after cart make its way down the hill, she realized the stored wooden tanks of water must have been tapped, the carts filled with barrels of more water than they could possibly carry.

It was much later, as the flames disappeared and the smoke began to clear, that it became apparent the buckets were no longer needed. The fire was out, the damage uncertain. Elara no longer saw Alden, or any of the instructors, but the crowd had thinned, and she was able to make her way toward the stables. There, she spotted Eamon talking to Gareth.

"Sir Eamon," she said, rushing up to him. "What do you know?"

"We lost more than one mount; others have suffered burns and smoke inhalation. An assessment is being conducted now. I was telling Gareth, it seems the south stable has collapsed, but we were able to contain the fire to it alone. An assessment will be needed on the morrow to determine whether the heat caused any cracks on the newer stables, which are made of stone."

Elara asked the question that had been foremost on her mind, aside from the safety of the horses, since the bell first rang. "What was the fire's cause?"

"Unknown, but my thoughts were much the same as yours. Pardon, my lady. Gareth." Eamon hustled away, though Elara could not see where the swordmaster was headed.

Gareth nodded to a clearing on the edge of the crowd. Elara lifted her gown and joined him.

"He said more than one. Do we know how many?"

Elara's own mount was housed in one of the newer stables, and therefore safe, but knowing as much did not make the loss any easier.

"Some are saying three, others five. Either way, 'tis too many. Do you believe as I do?"

"That the fire was intentionally lit?"

Stirling was calling for the recruits to return to the castle, but none seemed to be listening. Elara searched for Alden, but did not see him.

"My father says your body knows before your mind, that it has a longer recollection. Listening to it can often be beneficial," Elara said. She stopped looking for Alden and gave her attention back to Gareth, who appeared confused.

"Apologies," she said. "It was my way of saying, though I've no evidence for it, that aye, I believe 'tis very possible something is amiss."

"If that is so..." Gareth lowered his voice. "Our traitor is becoming more brazen. If this was to distract or sabotage us, I cannot guess."

"Why then"—it was the question she could not answer—"have we not already been exposed? It would seem an easy enough task and one which would make such subterfuge unnecessary."

Gareth shook his head as the man Elara had been looking for came toward them.

It mattered little they were surrounded by chaos. Elara's heart leapt at the sight of him—her desire to touch him, hold him, was strong.

He looked her up and down, as if assuring himself she was safe.

"Where are the others?" he asked Gareth, but not taking his eyes from her.

"Roland brought the women safely away from the keep, though I know not where. I have not seen Darien since the fire began. Did he come out with you?"

"He did not."

Darien stepped into their circle from behind her.

"Alden has been spending more and more time...in the inner courtyard garden. I presume that's where you were this eve?"

There was little to smile about this night, but the seriousness of Darien's expression as he asked the question did lighten the moment.

"Precisely, I was in the courtyard," Alden said, his voice gruff and his cream linen shirt nearly black with soot. He'd obviously been close to the fire. Too close, to her thinking, if he was covered so completely. Smears of black on his face made him even more fearsome looking than usual.

"We are all safe," Gareth said. "'Tis what matters most. Alden, could you escort Lady Elara back to the keep? Darien, help me urge the men back inside? The fire is contained; watches have been stationed to ensure it remains so."

"Of course," Darien said.

Elara hesitated.

"There is naught to do here, my lady. I will inspect the site myself," Gareth said, his meaning clear.

"Come with me?" Alden nodded toward the keep, and Elara took the opportunity Gareth had given them. Under the guise of Alden returning her to safety, the two walked away from the stables, which Elara could see from a distance for the first time.

"It is collapsed," she said. "And could have been so much worse."

The stable hands. If the fire had spread. Already they had lost beautiful animals, ones who served their masters, the recruits, well. Most had come to Blackwood with their prized warhorses, valuable beyond measure and, to most knights, extensions of themselves.

"If it was set intentionally, there will be signs."

"Why?" she asked. "Why do such a thing and not simply expose us instead?"

"I do not know." Alden looked around them. "But we should not speak of it here."

"No," she agreed. "We should not."

They walked silently toward the keep, but Alden stopped when he arrived. "I would find the others, ensure their safety."

"Of course," she said, as men filed back into the keep around them.

She and Alden exchanged a look, both of them likely remembering their time together just before the fire.

"Lady Elara," he said, in parting.

There was naught else she could say, not with so many others around.

"Master Alden."

Just as he was about to step away, Alden closed the distance between them and whispered, "To answer your question, 'tis likely the woman you spied did indeed have his cock in her mouth. A man can also find release that way, just as you did."

He backed away and offered a quick bow. "Good eve, my lady."

As if he'd not just said that to her, Alden turned and left.

Despite everything...the fire, the chaos, her hands, which ached from passing along heavy buckets of water for so long...

She smiled.