If My Heart Could See You (The MacLarens 1)

Forty

Sabina clawed at the stone beneath her face. Her vision blurred afore her eyes as she wondered how long she had been lying upon the steps beneath her. Her only thoughts had been to reach her family, even if she had to climb these retched stairs on her hands and knees. That assessment was not too far off what she had been attempting, for what seemed like hours. It could have been days for all she knew. With the darkness of the tunnel surrounding her, she could not even determine what progress she had made in reaching the upper floor housing her family.

She was not well. That much was clear, for the sickening smell of her own blood met her nose along with the mustiness of the cave itself. If she did not reach help soon, she would die here alone with no one to help her. She groaned at the thought of her soul lingering between heaven and hell. Surely God and his angels would not permit her to enter their garden in paradise without her sins being absolved by a priest.

Reaching out her hand, she attempted to pull her body up just one more step. ’Twas to no avail. She just did not have enough energy or strength to go any further. She closed her eyes even as she seemingly espied a faint light coming from the tunnel below her. Her lips slowly managed an offering petition for she knew her fate was now in the hands of God. She could only pray he would be merciful and not allow Satan to consume her soul.

Sabina cried out when she was gently lifted from the ground. Was she about to fall off the edge of one of the many drop-offs in the cave? Nay, she reasoned, since she felt herself warmed by a cloak being wrapped around her freezing body. She heard only somewhat the rumblings of displeasure against her ear and at last became aware she was cradled ever so gently in the arms of a man. She opened her eyes and gasped. Surely she must be in heaven to be held so lovingly by the one who clasped her to him as if she weighed nothing at all.

A sob escaped her. “I am dead!” She felt a tender kiss placed upon her forehead.

“Nothing is farther from the truth, my dear sister.” The deep baritone of his voice speared her heart with its comforting sound for she never thought to hear it again.

“Aiden?”

“Aye, ’tis me, Sabina, and not some ghostly apparition coming to take you from us.”

“But how . . . we thought you were dead!” She began to cough, and she could no longer manage further conversation.

“There will be time enough for explanations. We must needs get you above to your chamber and Kenna called to see to your injuries.”

Sabina attempted to warn him of what he would find above, but somehow he must have already known as he began to give instructions to those men who followed behind them. How many there were, she could not say for she could barely lift her head any longer.

The soft click of the opening doorway signaled they had reached their destination and, without further ado, they entered the torch lit passageway. She could hear the metal of Aiden’s loud clanking armor as he hastily made quick work at shortening the distance to her room. He came to a skidding halt when a childlike screech rent the air.

She barely recognized Patrick as he hurdled himself about their brother’s legs. He began babbling about the goings on below and the ill that had befallen Amiria.

“You must help them, Aiden,” Patrick sobbed. “They will be outnumbered and I fear for Amiria’s safety no matter how well she has learned to fight. She is, after all, just a girl.”

An amused chuckle erupted from Aiden. “Best not let her hear on your words, little brother, lest you wish to spend some time in the stables mucking out its stalls. But come,” Aiden declared, rushing into Sabina’s chamber, “you must look after your sister ’til I come back for you.”

Sabina was laid down upon her bed with a covering hastily thrown around her shivering frame. She watched as Aiden began to bank up the fire in the hearth, asking Patrick to see to its care, afore he leaned down over her body. He brushed her hair from her face and she grasped at his hand.

“Please be careful, Aiden,” she whispered reverently, “I could not bear loosing you a second time.

“I will be careful, sister.” He leaned down and quickly kissed her cheek, and Sabina watched him leave. Patrick quickly rose and slid the bolt in place, locking the world without.

Time passed once more, and again Sabina had no knowledge of just how long she had lain there. Patrick’s young head was bowed whilst he knelt at her bedside, offering what prayers his young heart could mutter. Time was slipping away from her and she knew she could no longer wait for help. Reaching out, she took her brother’s hand.

“I must beg your pardon, young Patrick, to ask this of you. You must needs hurry and find Kenna or Lynet for aid afore ’tis too late.” She began shaking uncontrollably and faintly heard her brother crying out her name.

Once again her vision blurred as she saw Patrick fly from her side and unbolt the door. Her last conscious thought was for God to have mercy on her soul.