by Elisa Menz
Absolute terror seized her body when he laughed—a terrifying and fascinating sensation.
She learned from the maid lord Callum gave orders to lock him in the dungeon. Maeve frowned through the windowpane, her gaze lost in the absolute darkness of the night. She bit a nail while her mind boiled.
“What the hell am I thinking?”
CHAPTER VIII
HELPING HAND
Maeve
In her eyes, the Callums exaggerated the possibility of an attack, although Maeve considered they deserved the punishment. She went to bed, knowing sleep would never come. An idea kept stalking her mind.
If they were to be attacked by half-breeds in the next few days, she would not survive. No matter how prepared lord Callum planned to be, defending the castle from such menacing force promised to be impossible.
Her thoughts came back over and over to the imprisoned half-breed. His wound looked serious, and they threw him into the dungeon with no food, with the trap still piercing his leg.
“What the hell am I thinking?” she repeated. It was unlikely anyone would keep guard since their primary concern was to protect the castle walls. She would only need a lamp and a knife to disassemble the trap mechanism. She had done something like this before, with smaller traps. Her father’s overseer taught her to open locks with one of her hairpins.
Maeve waited until the dead of night, so she wouldn’t have to worry about finding someone in the halls. The plan included disarming the trap, bandaging his wound, and convincing him to stay one more night in the dungeon. He needed time to heal before she helped him escape.
Maeve writhed under the covers. She couldn’t believe her thoughts! The half-breed would tear her to pieces as soon as he had her within reach. Would he understand she tried to help? Would he understand her language at all?
Why did she even think about helping him? The wiser thing to do was to stay put and obey lord Callum’s instructions. Pray with lady Callum, begging no evil should fall on her home.
“Home...” Maeve chewed the word. This was not her home. She didn’t have a home anymore. There she only lived with selfish and ignorant people. She would become the wife of an arrogant idiot who murdered innocent creatures for sport.
This might be the reason that drove her to help the half-breed and made her feel rebellious.
Still second-guessing herself, she put on her boots and covered her delicate nightgown with a thick, long coat. The doubts hounded her while she took some bandages, fruit, and a knife she hid in the pockets of her coat.
Maeve glided through the halls, her mind plagued with awful outcomes. As expected, most of the castle guards were watching the walls and surrounding grounds. No one bothered her while she descended to the dungeons.
A shiver crawled down her spine as she climbed down the cold stairs, sensing the acrid smell of dampness and rot. She didn’t know the location of the cells, but the underground floor was narrow. After a brief inspection, she discovered the cells wrapped in gloom.
The torches in the hallway quivered, casting disturbing shadows over the silhouette of the iron bars. Maeve carried with her a small oil lamp, which she lit when she encountered no guards in the vicinity. When the heat of the fire warmed her face, the echo of heavy chains moving in the darkness paralyzed her with dread. Her breathing quickened.
Maeve gripped the lamp to prevent it from shaking. She could still leave. Walk away and forget about him. Be safe back in her bed.
“What the hell am I thinking?” she said for the last time before taking a step into the shadows.
The dim light shaped the man who sat motionless on the other side of the bars. His eyes held a spectral glow that froze her blood, but she discovered a note of curiosity in the half-breed’s gaze.
Hakken
Lying on the filthy bunk, he stared at the little girl approaching with caution, despite her apparent fear. He analyzed her, looking for some sign of danger. Nothing in her appearance made him think the girl came to hurt him. Are all human children this reckless? What was she doing down there?
The lamp light flashed in her frightened eyes. She was alone. Unprotected. She had to know her life was hanging by a thread, approaching him so foolishly. To his surprise, she didn’t turn away, and instead, she searched her pockets until she found a piece of metal.
She placed the lamp on the floor before kneeling in front of the cell door. Her deep, measured breaths revealed her discomfort.
Hakken couldn’t understand what she hoped to accomplish. Locked in that cubicle, chained against the wall and with his leg still trapped by the ridiculous trap, he posed no threat as long as no one had the stupid idea of coming close. Odd one, this kid. He thought.
His interest only intensified as he observed her delicate face grimacing with concentration. Her frown, her tight lips. She manipulated the piece of metal, digging into the door lock.
Did she want to open the cell?
No doubt, the child was stupid or crazy.
After a moment of working the lock, he heard a loud CLAC in the cell that startled the girl. Her concentrated face relaxed for a few seconds with a brief smile, and Hakken couldn’t hide his grin. What a cute little thing.
Despite having her head covered with that ugly hood and being so pale and skinny, there was no denying she would grow up to become a beauty. The mysterious girl intrigued him, so he decided not to kill her at the moment and see what other surprises she had in store for him. It had been years since he had fun.
Maeve
It had been years since the last time she forced a lock, and this one was rusty and covered in grime. She took longer than expected, but she had no time to dwell on the implications. The half-breed’s intense gaze made her already wavering confidence diminished. She ignored him, but focusing on the task at hand was easier said than done.
Once the lock gave in, echoing in the empty corridor, she couldn’t help to rejoice at the minor victory. Soon she realized the hardest part was yet to begin. Inch by inch, Maeve opened the gate, her muscles tense while she crept inside, not taking her eyes off him. The half-breed looked relaxed, amused even, and he didn’t move. She dared to advance until her entire body crossed the threshold. Failing miserably in controlling the violent tremors that shook her, she swallowed hard when she realized her mouth went dry. How did she expect to articulate a single word with her tongue stuck?
If she hoped to approach him and keep her life, she had to show him she meant to help—time to continue with the second part of her plan. After taking the bandages out of her pockets, Maeve pointed towards the injured leg. She had no response from the half-breed, so she cleared her throat. “I-I can take that thing... the trap, and heal you.”
Maeve held her breath, hoping he showed some kind of acknowledgment. The half-breed tilted his head, and a smirk appeared on his face. They stared into each other’s eyes for a few seconds, assessing. After a heartbeat, the half-breed pointed his leg and leaned back on the bunk. Maeve took the gesture as an invitation to approach.
“Breathe... be calm.” Her voice came out as a shaky whisper. She took the last steps towards the man and knelt, struggling to focus her attention on the trap and not on the deadly hand that rested on the injured leg. He could—without a doubt—crush her throat if he felt like it.
She placed the lamp nearby to illuminate the mechanism and pulled the knife from her pocket with a swift move.
But as she brought the blade into the light, the half-breed rose from his back and brought his face close to Maeve’s, looking at her with suspicion. He did not touch her, but she was so startled, she dropped the knife and covered her mouth with both hands to drown out a scream. Her body stiffened under his scrutiny, and for the first time, she understood her life was in terrible danger.
She couldn’t believe her stupidity! She had to get her bearings. Maeve removed her hands from her mouth, trembling, and raised her teary eyes to return his gaze.
“Please, trust me.”
Hakken<
br />
Why wouldn’t she run away? He didn’t understand her. A flash of light on her hand forced him to react out of instinct, and he straightened to face the girl. She trembled in fear, and tears gathered in her eyes.
Instead of screaming, begging for help, or running away, she remained still and asked him to trust her. Hakken couldn’t help his curiosity. He took the small knife and offered it to her. After taking one deep breath, she accepted it.
This close, he could not help noticing how small and delicate she was. As he waited for her to manipulate the trap, he drew near her to inhale her scent. A refreshing, pure perfume filled his nostrils.
In his youth, he watched human women from a distance, but he never imagined they would be so lovely up close. He didn’t want to scare the little girl again, so he pulled away so as not to bother her.
Maeve
Disassembling the trap mechanism was easier, but Maeve was so nervous that her shaky fingers took longer than expected. She focused on releasing the leg while trying to ignore the wild man who was attached to it. Being in the cell for too long was also something to be mindful of. If someone came down, she had nowhere to hide, and they would thwart the escape attempt.
When the gears gave way, she let out an exhausted sigh. Weary, she realized sweat drenched her gown, despite the icy atmosphere of the underground. Maeve put away her knife and rubbed her hands, preparing to separate the jaws of the trap. The sharp edges grotesquely embedded in his leg.
Would she have the strength? The wound needed swift treatment. Maeve rubbed her freezing hands once more, mentally preparing for what she had to do. The half-breed interrupted her, raising a hand.
She saw him hold the metal and tear it away with a single pull, growling and looking irritated. Maeve couldn’t imagine the pain he must have endured, but his nonchalant reaction left her stunned. She blinked away her daze since the wound began to bleed once released from the trap.
She prepared the bandages and lifted the leather pants, revealing the depth of the injury. Her stomach churned at the sight of the damage, but the half-breed didn’t seem to give it much thought.
It was said the creatures of the Forest healed with amazing speed. Because of his carefree attitude, it was easy to imagine at least that rumor was true. It would not be possible for him to escape that night, not even with his impressive healing capacity. While cleaning the wound and applying the bandages, Maeve pondered how she could make him understand he should spend another night in the cell. She lost nothing by trying.
“You can’t leave tonight,” she whispered, “all the soldiers are on the walls, and if you leave injured, they might catch you again.
“I can open the shackles, and if we cover the wound, we can support the trap, so it looks like it’s still working, in case someone comes to see you during the day. Tomorrow night, I will open the cell again, and you can escape. Everything will be quieter.”
Her speech turned out more rushed than she hoped for. She couldn’t tell for sure if he understood. Maeve finished tying the bandages and covered them with the pants before looking straight at him. The man lay back down on the bunk. “Do you understand?” she asked.
Hakken
Of course, he understood every word, but it was she the incomprehensible one. Why risk helping him? She hadn’t asked for anything, and although he felt more comfortable without the awful trap in his leg, he didn’t need her help to escape.
Earlier in the courtyard, the slaughter of the wolves clearly disgusted her. She insulted the brat who gave orders to the hunters, much to his pleasure. But wasn’t that her family? How fragile were the ties between humans?
It didn’t matter, anyway; he was more comfortable, and soon all men guilty of murdering the wolves would be dead. Their families could die by their side or leave these lands. It was the law of the Forest, and they had violated it. Did she hope to save her life if she helped him?
Despite his doubts, he presented his arms to the girl, who immediately took care of opening the shackles on his wrists. He removed them and rubbed his skin before putting the unlocked shackles back in place. He also dealt with the trap, resting its jaws on his leg, now protected by the layers of bandages and leather.
She smiled again, much to his delight, and rose to her feet, taking all the things she brought with her. She hesitated at the cell door, rummaging through one of her pockets, before walking back to him to offer him an apple. Too close, sweetie. I could kill you in a blink. Her sudden trust amused him. “I’ll be back tomorrow. I promise.”
Her lamp light dimmed until it left the underground in the gloom. That night’s visit had been so much fun. Interesting. He always considered humans to be cowards, and their women particularly useless. But there she was; brave, skillful, and gentle. He never imagined he would use those words to refer to a human.
Most likely, the child would ask for something in return. It was the only explanation. But despite his apprehensions, he sniffed the apple she gave him, smiling again.
“Stupid child, I only eat meat.” He saved the apple in his vest instead of throwing it away, not sure why. Hakken closed his eyes to plunge into a relaxed dream. The first good sleep in a long time.
CHAPTER IX
THE ESCAPE
Maeve
The next morning Maeve woke up full of energy, as if she hadn’t spent more than half the night facilitating an escape. She struggled not to look too cheerful since her attitude contrasted with everyone else’s in the castle.
Lady Callum prayed with renewed fervor in her room, along with her remaining ladies. Kieran paraded around the halls in a horrible mood, but at least he didn’t speak to her all day. His friends followed him around, pale and silent.
Maeve could not believe her luck since none of the Callums acknowledged her presence. Lord Callum continued to prepare crazy defense strategies with his men. Nonetheless, the concern for an imminent disaster diminished compared to the previous night.
After having spent a quiet night, those few who remained in the castle considered they were only unfounded rumors. No attack of wild men would fall on them. Most servants and peasants escaped, just in case.
Free of lady Callum’s attentive gaze, Maeve prepared the second part of her plan. Throughout the day, she toured the courtyard and the walls with a distracted air. She identified the most prudent route to help the half-breed escape.
Lucky for them, they had built the castle thinking of avoiding an invasion. It lacked measures to prevent escaping prisoners.
It was easy to find external access to the underground, thus eluding a walk through the castle during the night. A crumbling gate, which after some minor struggle, gave way and led to a section of the wall that promised to be easy to climb. Maeve hoped his wound recovered enough to make the effort.
That night the moon waned. This gave him a better chance of slipping through the bushes surrounding the castle, all the way into the Forest. The doubts harassing her the night before disappeared. Now she trusted she was doing the right thing. No one had the right to kill or imprison a Forest being. While accusing Kieran Callum’s crime in court remained troublesome, the plan for saving one of his victims was in motion.
No one would ever know she released him, and life in the castle would return to its depressing normalcy. But not even the bleak perspective spoiled her excellent mood. Maeve was having fun like never before, and all the secrecy made her feel she was living the last adventure of her life.
Once a little calmer, lord Callum and his family met for dinner in the dining hall with their guests. A certain nervousness still hung in the air, but at least nobody burst into tears or rubbed their hands in panic. The lord of the house huffed and muttered he would hunt down every treacherous servant in the morning.
Lady Callum made some feeble attempts to start a conversation. Most of her noble ladies fled to their families, and she looked a little lost. Maeve almost pitied her.
Kieran, on the other hand, scowled at everything and everyone, go
bbling one glass of wine after the other. Half through the dinner, he lost any hint of manners and focused his foul mood on Maeve.
“I’m waiting to receive some gratitude for my gift. Do you think it’s easy to hunt all those wolves? At least you should recognize my efforts!” Perhaps because of the wine, Kieran failed to remember the events of the previous evening.
She clenched her teeth, not meeting his eyes. “You are right, Kieran. Tomorrow I will thank the hunters for your ‘gift’.”
Perhaps it was wiser to agree with him, but her body rebelled against her better judgment. I will have to marry this idiot, but I will not let him treat me as he pleases. Her courage found its way back.
The good mood that accompanied her since dawn vanished in front of the sad reality. This would be her life from now on. Without hearing Kieran’s harsh reply, she got up from the table and excused herself, heading to her room with her head held high.
With no maid to help her bathe and comb her hair that night, Maeve enjoyed a little time alone, taking care of herself like she used to. She went to bed, pretending to sleep, attentive to the voices and other sounds coming through her door.
Several hours passed until Maeve deemed safe to leave her room. Like the night before, she put on her leather boots and covered herself with her coat. She made sure she had the hairpin for the cell lock and her knife.
She walked the same path. Surveillance relaxed, and her investigation during the day gave her more confidence in her route. Maeve reached the underground and lit the lamp, causing the half-breed to rise and smile at her. The fear from the previous night no longer slowed her down, and Maeve approached the cell door with two swift strides.
Hakken
From his bunk, Hakken smiled with pleasure at the sight of the girl. She came back. He still did not fully trust her good intentions, but at least she didn’t lie to him. Whatever she planned, he’ll deal with it.