Page 118 of Luthias

“I won’t.” She let out a breath as Callum slid his blade into the sheath on his back. “Okay. We really need more light in here, but we’ll work with what we’ve got. Did I hear you say you found some madder powder?”

After Luthias pointed out the line he had noticed, Emery bent down and studied it.

“Does madder root have any special purpose to either of the clans?” she asked as she carefully picked up a straw. “Do you use it for anything other than dyeing wool?”

“Red, ’tisnae a color the Carack favor,” Callum told her. “My weavers most use woad and nettle.”

“We’ve no other use for the dye,” Luthias told her. “Why do you ask?”

“In some cultures, the color red is considered lucky. Others consider it dangerous or evil. Sometimes it’s used symbolically in ritual craft.” She stood up and looked over at the door. “It looks like this may have leaked out of a bag of the dye powder.” She started following the line.

Luthias caught up with her. “I told you to stay at my side.”

“Aye, my lady, for you’re the only one keeping your man from my throat,” Callum said as he flanked her.

“’Tis a pile of it there, atop the straw bale.” Luthias put a hand on her arm to stop her from going forward. “We look together.”

The three of them walked forward onto a thicker layer of straw, and Luthias felt the change in the floor under his boots. He looked over Emery’s head at Callum, who grabbed her other arm.

“Oh, come on.” She stomped her foot. “Will you guys let go–”

The floor collapsed under them, wrenching the three of them apart as they landed in deep, ice-cold water. Luthias grabbed Emery, but as he felt his body growing heavy he knew he had to let her go. He shoved her toward the surface, and then sank into the dark depths.

When she surfaced Emery coughed out water and thrashed her arms, colliding with Callum, who grabbed her.

“I have her, MacRoss.” He dragged her up against him, clamping one arm around her waist. “Put your arms about my neck. Now, woman.”

“Luthias,” she said once she could speak. “He can’t–”

“He cannae drown. Nor can I. You shall.” He reached out with his free hand, groping the air around them. “Tell me what you see.”

“What, are you blind?” she demanded.

“Aye, in any darkness,” he snapped back. “Tell me.”

“We’re in a well or a pit of some kind.” Emery craned her head, trying to see where Luthias was, but the trap had been dug so deep the water looked like ink. This was where Athdara Martin had been drowned, she thought, but now was not the time to bring that up. “Ah, there are old stones in the walls. Really old and pitted. I think there’s an arch or something under the water.”

“’Tis an old wash dub for sheep. The water sheds from the loch.” Callum found one wall and dug his fingers into the stone. “I’ll boost you out. You find rope, tie it to a roof post, and toss the rest down to me.”

“I’m not tall enough to reach the edge, and we can’t leave him on the bottom like that.” A flare of light streaked over her head, and embers began to fall into the pit. “Oh, God. The barn’s on fire.”

“Never should I step foot on facking MacRoss land.” Callum took out a dagger and drove it into the space between two stones. “You must hold onto the hilt now, lass. Dinnae let go.”

“What are you doing?” As he took her hands from around his neck Emery panicked, and then she was holding onto the dagger and Callum was gone. “This is not the time to go for a swim.” She felt the blade slipping and went still. “All right, I’m holding on.”

A few moments later the Carack laird reappeared with a limp Luthias, and pulled his face out of the water. Emery held out her hand and grabbed Callum’s sleeve, and yanked at him just as the blade slipped looser.

“Luthias, stop not drowning,” she said, letting go of Callum and using one hand to help support her lover, who felt as if he had turned to cement. A moment later the laird heaved out a stream of water and took a breath. “Okay, he’s back. What now?”

“Emery.” Luthias pushed her hand away from him. “Dinnae. I’ll only drag you down with me.”

“The water’s getting lower now,” Emery said, completely confused.

“The dub, ’tis draining back into the loch. The barn, ’twas the trap. Listen to me, MacRoss. I cannae lift her high enough to reach the edge by myself. The barn, ’twill collapse soon, and we’ll all burn.” Callum batted away a burning piece of timber that fell into the pit. “Use your dagger to work your way down the wall to the bottom, and brace yourself. Lift a hand, and I’ll climb on your shoulders, and put her on mine.”

Luthias nodded. “Get her out of here, Carack.”

“We’re not leaving you behind,” Emery promised, and then choked back a sob as he drew his dagger and drove the tip into the wall, and then dropped underwater.