To Love : A Medieval Romance by Cecelia Mecca

To Love : A Medieval Romance by Cecelia Mecca

Author:Cecelia Mecca [Mecca, Cecelia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Altiora Press
Published: 2024-08-08T00:00:00+00:00


Chapter

Sixteen

At 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.



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