The Shining One by Malcolm Archibald

Author:Malcolm Archibald [Archibald, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Creativia
Published: 2017-01-29T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

'That did not go exactly as planned,' Melcorka said. Wriggling closer to Bradan she turned her back so she could use her tied hands to wrestle the gag free from his mouth.

'Not quite,' Bradan agreed.

'How did they capture you?' Melcorka asked.

'With far too much ease,' Bradan sounded bitter. 'That Eileen creature began to scream that the Caterans had her so I ran to help her and right into an ambush. They threw my staff into the loch and brought me into the broch.'

'We were both victims of the same type of trap,' Melcorka said. 'Eileen was planted to lure us in right from the beginning.'

'Evil little bastard,' Bradan said. 'I always said I distrusted the People of Peace. No wonder she avoided my staff. It's made of rowan wood remember.'

'I remember,' Melcorka said. She did not say that it had done them precious little good. 'Try to untie these ropes.'

They wriggled together until they could reach each other's bonds. 'These are tied well,' Melcorka said as she struggled with the knots.

'Here,' Tuath's voice was welcome in the dark, 'Let me.' He joined them so all three were back-to-back in the centre of the dungeon. 'I was slaughtering them like sheep until they captured me. Like rotten sheep.'

'How are you?' Melcorka asked. 'You have an arrow in your backside.'

'I know that,' Tuath said. 'I noticed it was there.' He grunted. 'Maybe one of you could pluck it out for me.'

'We can't even get these ropes untied,' Braden said.

'Who said anything about untied? These Caterans are seamen; they know how to tie ropes with knots that last forever. They took my axe and dirk but did not search me. I have a skein-dhu, a black knife, under my armpit. If one of you could get it free we'll get rid of these ropes.'

Melcorka lifted herself over the top of Tuath and groped for the hilt of the knife. 'I have it,' she said and slumped back down. 'It's sharp,' she said as she felt the bite of steel in her fingers and the warm flow of blood.

'Yes,' Tuath agreed. 'Could you stop trying to saw my fingers off? I need them to hold my axe.'

'How did they capture you?' Melcorka asked.

'I was doing well,' Tuath said, 'I was slaughtering them like sheep…'

'You said that,' Melcorka said.

Tuath grunted. 'I must have killed ten, twenty of them and then somebody at the top of the stairs dropped a net on me, weighed at the edges so I could not throw it off. A man came close and fired into my arse, so I turned to kill him and about a dozen Caterans jumped on me.'

'Clever move,' Melcorka said, continuing to saw and hoping the knife was somewhere near the cords that held Tuath rather than on his hands.

Tuath gasped and jerked his hands free. 'That's me. Well done Melcorka; you left me with nearly all my fingers. Now give me the knife.'

Within a few moments they were all free and rubbing at wrists and ankles as they tried to look around in the stygian dark.

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