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They must have returned to the castle. I only need to go there, and I am certain I will find them at home.Christian knew, but his heart rate accelerated still. He had already been feeling worried all day, and the worry was only constantly growing even though he knew it was entirely pointless. All he could understand was something out there was not right, but he simply could not pinpoint what it really was. He needed to know.
CHAPTER21
“How willI ever find papa in here?” Keira asked Josh worriedly as she looked at the moderately crowded inn in front of her. Keira could have never guessed that the place would be bustling with activity even during the day, even though she knew night was approaching quickly.
“We will find the person who runs the place and ask him about the laird,” Josh replied easily, as if the prospect was not worrying in the least, and Keira calmed down due to his confidence, “we will quite easily find the laird, me lady. Do nae worry.”
Keira nodded as they quickly made their way inside the inn, several people looking at them. She was certain it must have been Josh who attracted their attention since it was evident he was a soldier, and most people must know was the laird’s man at arms. He was no Christian, but Keira was certainly glad she had brought her with him because he made her feel immensely safe.
“Do ye see someone?” she asked Josh, who looked around, clearly searching for someone they could ask about her father.
“Nae yet,” Josh shook his head just as a young man approached them, his gaze locked on both.
“Are ye looking for someone?” he asked, and Keira immediately turned her attention towards him. At this point, she was quite ready to ask for help from anyone since she could not see anyone else in the inn who might be able to point her in the right direction.
“We were lookin’ for someone who might run the place?” she asked the stranger, who was smiling at her kindly, “is he here?”
“The inn manager is right outside,” the man nodded, “although, are ye lookin’ for a guest in particular. If yes, I might ken where they are or who they are.”
“The Laird O’Donnelly,” Keira nodded immediately. “I do nae ken if he has revealed his identity when booking a room, but he must have arrived today and is a healthy, slightly older man with white hair.”
“Nay,” the man shook his head, still smiling. Keira wondered if his face had been stuck in the expression or perhaps that was his attempt at appearing kind, “I have nae seen any such man arrive here today. Although I am sure, the inn manager will help ye better. Ye just need to go outside and move to yer right till ye reach a small alley which will take ye to the backside of the inn. The manager is right there, and he can answer yer questions better.”
“What is the manager doing in an alley?” Josh asked, and Keira could sense he appeared confused, “could ye perhaps ask him to come inside since a few people are here to see him.”
“He has been inside all day and went about the area for a walk and to attain some semblance of peace while he can have a much-needed break,” the stranger informed them, “he will nae come inside for at least an hour or so. If ye wish to wait, do so, but if ye do nae have much time, he is right outside.”
“Alright, thank ye for all yer help,” Keira smiled at the man, turning around to head back outside when Josh suddenly took hold of her arm and stopped her. Keira looked at him, “what’s the matter?”
“I do nae understand honestly, but something seems amiss,” he shook his head, his expression worried, “this man did nae seem right to me.”
“Why will he lie to us about where the inn manager is?” Keira asked, burying the uneasy feeling rising in her chest. She simply needed to find her father.
“He had nay reason to, but I still do nae trust the man entirely,” Josh shook his head, “we need to be more careful than just stepping inside an alley.”
“It’s right behind us, Josh, and I have ye with me if something wrong happens. I am nae worried at all, and I am certain nothing bad is happening,” she replied, stepping ahead.
“I truly hope ye are right,” Josh said, quietly following Keira outside.
The two of them stepped onto the busy street, turning right just as the man had asked them to until the inn ended at the end of an alley, and Keira stepped inside it. She noticed how the roaring street grew calmer in this part, and the two of them immediately walked ahead. Keira could sense Josh being on edge, and she, too, had some semblance of worry coursing through her, but she knew, for the most part, they were simply overanalyzing the entire situation. Nothing was amiss.
Before Keira knew what was happening, she just heard a faint sound from behind her and immediately turned around to find Josh, his eyes wide and face turning pale as his hands reached towards the back of his head, clutching at a spot. Josh turned around, Keira’s gaze falling on the man standing behind Josh, the very man who had just been inside the inn and had advised them to find the inn manager outside, holding a wooden rod in his hand.
Keira saw blood dripping down Josh’s head as he tried to move towards the man in front of him, who dodged him stealthily, and within seconds, Josh had fallen to the ground. Keira grew panicked as she realized what had just happened and the fact that she had indeed been caught up in a trap, just what her mind had been warning her about altogether.What is happening?she wondered.
“What do ye want?” she asked the man, who was now staring at her. Keira did not want to get hurt or hurt him; hence she needed to run away and somehow find help until Christian arrived.
“Ye,” the man responded, and Keira immediately turned around to run, but the sight she saw before her was enough to stun her as she stood silently. Only Eric stood in front of her in the entirely abandoned alley, a cruel smile on his face. Keira could have never imagined Eric returning.
The note she had received earlier immediately returned to her and she realized how quickly and carelessly had it been scribbled on a piece of paper which was very unlike her father. This meant it had been Eric’s plan altogether to lure her here. He was behind it all.
“What are ye doin here?” she asked him, trying her best to hide the trembling from her voice. She had never been more terrified. The time spent with Eric came back to her as she remembered every way he had tortured her, and she knew she could never return to feeling that way again. She had no desire to ever feel that way again.
“I am here to take ye back to yer rightful place, Gilmor Castle,” Eric replied, and Keira breathed in deeply. She could not believe she had been betrothed to this awful human being.
“We broke off our betrothal Eric, the Gilmor Castle is nay longer my rightful place,” she replied to him calmly, even though she knew the man in front of her would never see reason. He was angry and mentally disturbed and had various persisting issues with him. Keira knew she would need to play smartly, or else she might never be able to escape from him. The chances of her escape seemed narrow already.
“Yes, it is, and ye will come with me,” he smiled manically, and Keira felt goose bumps on her skin. She needed to run.
