A bell began to clang in the bailey, calling all available hands to assist. I could hear the guards outside the door arguing with each other, and then their voices faded as they rushed to help put out the fire before the destruction could spread too far.
I leaned my head back. It didn’t matter whether they stood guard or not. I couldn’t escape. I was stuck for now. Maybe forever.
“Oh, Gunnar,” I whispered. “I’m sorry.”
We’d tried to break free of the constraints ensnaring us. But somehow, we hadn’t been strong enough. Maybe I’d been too idealistic and too naïve to think I could start to bring about changes. Maybe we were all stuck in our way of life and simply needed to accept the lot we’d been given.
At the approach of rapid footsteps down the passageway, I sat forward. Someone else was coming my way. Two sets of steps, one heavier and one lighter. Was it Pontus, the Sagacite, with the priest? Were the guards returning?
As the newcomers paused on the other side of the door, I held my breath. Please, let it be Gunnar.
A key rattled in the lock.
I quickly stood. Did I dare attempt to run away?
As the lock clicked and the door swung open, I tensed, ready to spring out.
“Mikaela?” Nanna’s worried face peered through.
Relief poured over me, making me sag. “Nanna, what are you doing here?”
She pushed the door wider, revealing the castle steward holding a ring of keys. He lifted a questioning brow at Nanna. “Do you need anything else?”
She shook her head. “Mikaela can do the rest from here.”
The steward glanced both ways before continuing down the hallway.
Nanna had my bag and cloak. She thrust them into my arms, then pulled me into the hallway. “Go now while the guards are distracted by the fire. It’s not a big one and won’t last overlong.”
Had Nanna purposefully set a fire? Or asked one of the staff to do so in order to free me? Even if she hadn’t, she’d clearly involved the steward in this escape plan. After years of faithful servitude and quiet influence on her charges, why was she putting herself and others at risk with overt rebellion?
“After watching you and Gunnar take a stand for what’s right no matter the cost,” she whispered, seeing the question in my eyes, “how could I do any less?”
If Bernhard learned of her role in my escape, she would pay dearly for it. I dreaded to think what he would do. How could I let her suffer on my account?
“I’ve needed to do more.” She pressed a hand to my cheek. “Let me do this. Please.”
I leaned into her touch. She’d saved me that day long ago when she’d brought me to work in the nursery. And she was doing it again. I owed her everything. Once I was free, I’d find Gunnar and we’d figure out a way to keep her safe and repay her. “Thank you, Nanna.”
Tears pooled in her eyes. “I love you, Mikaela-girl. You go, now, and do all the great things God has planned for you to do.”
I fought back tears of my own. “I love you too, Nanna.”
She pushed me forward. “Find your way out of the castle. Then slip through the side wall door and make your way to your hidden hot spring along the cliff.”
How had she known about my hot spring?
“Wait there,” she said.
I hesitated. The echo of more footsteps, a loud clomping, came from an adjacent passageway.
“Do it, Mikaela.” Her whisper was an urgent plea. “And don’t look back.”
Clutching my bag and cloak, I ran. And I did as she asked. I didn’t look back.
Chapter
31
Gunnar
I was outnumbered. But I fought like a madman, my need to protect Mikaela driving me with desperation. I couldn’t let the two guards get their hands on her. They’d drag her outside to the post at the center of the bailey, would bare her back, and begin to whip her.
Bernhard was right. I’d have no choice but to submit to him then. I’d never be able to stand by and watch Mikaela suffer.
I ducked and dodged a blow at the same time as I parried another. I regretted we were having this battle in the chapel, but I prayed God would understand that I was fighting for the truth and would show me favor today for my efforts to do what was honorable.
The clanking of weapons rent the air along with grunts and labored breathing. I’d eliminated at least six men and was surrounded by four men, each thrusting at me. I was glad I still wore my chain mail, that I hadn’t shed it when I’d returned. But I feared I would only last a short while longer, especially since Bernhard had shouted down the hallway for reinforcements.
“You may as well give up, brother,” Bernhard called. “You are too weak and will not win this battle now or in the future.”
His words taunted me, reminded me of my faults. It was almost as if in putting me down he made himself look better.
If only he could have loved and encouraged me the way I’d always longed for.
From the corner of my gaze, I glimpsed the sneer, the cold eyes . . . and the trickle of blood dripping from his nose.
I ducked to avoid another swipe directed toward my head. As I rose, one of the guards moved out of the fray and another stopped to stare at Bernhard. I battled the remaining two.
The sound of coughing filled the air, deep coughing that echoed off the walls. It was coming from Bernhard. As he stumbled backward and fell against a bench, the two soldiers I was fighting cast him glances, only to freeze, their eyes rounding with what seemed to be horror.
With labored breathing, I paused in the sword-fighting, determined to use the break to retrieve my knife. But as I moved, my gaze landed upon the splatters of bright crimson at Bernhard’s feet.
More blood drizzled from his nose, over his lips, and down his chin. He coughed again, and blood sprayed from his mouth.
My mind thundered with a dozen thoughts, and one boomed louder than the others. Was Bernhard suffering from the bleeding curse?
I shook my head. How could that be? According to everything Sven and Mikaela had told me, the jotunn had passed the bleeding curse to Sven’s firstborn.
Whatever the case, I had to use the moment of distraction to break free and get to Mikaela. By now, the soldiers would have arrived at Pontus’s room. Did I still have time to intercept them before they dragged her outside?
I dashed past Bernhard’s men, and they made no move to prevent me from going. Either they were too consumed by what was happening to Bernhard, or without his direction, they didn’t care what became of me.
I raced along the passageway, trying to remember how to get to the area of the castle where servants like the Sagacite had their rooms. All the while I ran, I prayed I wouldn’t be too late.
As I started up one of the stairwells, I bumped into an older servant coming down. Upon steadying the thin frame, I found myself looking into familiar eyes. “Nanna?” Her cheeks were wet with tears that she rapidly brushed away.
“Where’s Mikaela?” Was I too late? Was that why Nanna was crying?
“I set her free,” she whispered.
“Free?”
“Not more than thirty minutes ago.”
My muscles tightened with the need to go after her. “Where to?”
“I told her to wait in your secret hot spring along the cliff. If she made it, that’s where she’ll be.”