The Harp and the Sea by Lou Sylvre

Author:Lou Sylvre [Barwell, Lou Sylvre, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBTQIA+, historical fiction, fantasy, fated love, Scottish Isles, Jacobite revolt, Highlanders, action-adventure, magic, magical items, witch, curse, music, war/battles
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2020-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Ian jerked awake with a start. Despite his intention to keep watch, he’d drifted off to sleep. The moon’s rays illuminated the cell, bathing his surroundings in a harsh light. Ian got to his feet immediately. Something had woken him. He glanced over at Robbie still asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily, the harp cradled in his arms like a baby. Before Ian had opened his eyes, he could have sworn someone was watching him, but it must have been a dream.

He eyed the harp suspiciously for a moment. The thing wasn’t alive. It couldn’t have been what was watching him.

A memory tugged at him. Angus used to watch Ian as he slept. “It’s so I’ll remember,” he’d told Ian as they lay together.

“Ach, why speak like that?” Ian said, running his fingers through Angus’s long hair. “We have our lives ahead of us. There’s no need to worry about making memories just yet.”

Angus shook his head sadly and then distracted Ian with other things.

In hindsight, Ian realised what Angus had meant. Even then, he’d known their being together wouldn’t last. Or he never intended it would. Why risk a life that could lead to execution when he could be free to love someone and not hide it?

“Damn you, Angus,” Ian muttered. The man owed him a debt all right. No wonder he’d thought too easily that Robbie wouldn’t stay. He shivered, shaking himself out of his musings.

Something had woken him from his dreams—dreams of Robbie, not Angus. Dreams of making love, of a future together with Robbie. One that would never happen if they didn’t escape from this place.

Ian strode over to the cell door. Taking care to be quiet, he pushed the door, and it opened silently. Angus had kept that promise at least.

“Robbie, lad, we need to go.” Ian shook Robbie awake. He wasn’t sure how long it had been since Angus had left the rope, or when the guard would pass by next.

Robbie stood quickly although he looked bleary-eyed. “Go Ian. I’ll follow your lead.”

Ian smiled at Robbie’s words, hoping the lad’s trust in him wasn’t misplaced. “No talking after we leave the cell unless ye have to, and then keep your voice down, aye?”

Robbie nodded and picked up the harp, slinging it onto his back by the leather strap. When he and Robbie had been led to their cell, Ian had noted the route carefully, knowing they’d need to retrace their steps.

According to Angus’s instructions, from this part of the castle, there were only two ways out—one leading to MacLeod, and the other to freedom.

Ian and Robbie crept down the hallway silently, Robbie keeping a couple of steps behind Ian. Before he’d slept, Ian memorised the details Angus had left, and carefully pictured their escape route in his mind. They’d need to get out of the castle, then use the rope to get over the wall.

He ducked down, pulling Robbie with him, as two of MacLeod’s men walked past them heading towards the cell.

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