Page 57 of Luthias

Callum shook his head. “Even now she issues orders to the lairds of two clans.”

Luthias glanced down and reached out to stop Callum from taking another step. “There, on the ground. Madder root powder.”

“Twas what your lady found under Athdara’s nails,” the other man muttered without bothering to look. “Do you see a water barrel?”

“No.” Long ago he’d heard a rumor about the Carack laird being so afraid of the dark that he kept his stronghold lit with torches throughout the night. Now he realized it wasn’t fear that was making him so tense. “You’ve night blindness.”

Callum swore under his breath before he said, “Aye. It afflicts only me, so scheming an attack on Dun Deigh after dark, ’twould be foolish.”

“I sink as a stone in water of any measure,” Luthias told him. As the other man gave him a surprised look, he added, “I’ve guessed your weakness. ’Tis but fair you ken my own.”

“Can I come in now?” Emery called, sounding impatient.

“Aye, my lady,” Callum said before Luthias could tell her no. “’Tis no one here.”

As soon as she joined them Luthias took hold of her hand. “You dinnae leave my side for a moment.”

“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.”