Taming the Thorny Rose novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: Hunters in the Keep

"How many?" I said.

"Three, maybe four," said Astrid.

She pressed a sleeve to her forehead.

"They came over the north wall with grapples.

"I woke up and one had his hand over my mouth.

"I bit it."

"Good girl."

"He hit me with a lantern."

Aldric was already behind me, trousers on and sword in hand.

His eyes were grey and calm, and I felt something in my chest settle.

He looked at Astrid's cut, then at me.

"Where?" he said.

"The south stair.

"They're going down toward the cellars."

"For the bolts," I said.

"No," said Aldric.

"For the north wing.

"They're coming for the room where I chain myself."

I stared at him.

"They know?"

"Someone does."

He shoved the sword into my hand and drew a short knife for himself.

"You take the left corridor.

"I take the right.

"Astrid, bar this door and stay."

"Like hell," said Astrid.

She picked up a candlestick.

We ran.

The keep was dark and cold and quiet, which was worse than shouting.

I took the left corridor and stopped at the first corner.

A hunter stood there with his back to me.

I knew the coat.

It was the grey wool of the Guild, with the hawk pinned on the shoulder.

I knew the way he stood, with his weight on his right leg.

"Old friend," I said.

He spun around.

His face went white.

"Kes?"

He'd taught me to field-dress a wound.

He'd sat at my fifteenth birthday supper and told the worst joke I'd ever heard.

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