‘Twas the faint wobble in her voice which worried him. This was his Leanna, and he needed her to be strong. So he cleared his throat and tightened his hold on her briefly.
“Aye, and what an adventure, eh?”
“What?” she asked softly.
“In all yer years exploring these secret passages, have ye ever found anything half this interesting? ‘Tis a mystery, do ye no’ think?”
Slowly, he felt her straighten, as if she was thinking about what he said.
“Nay,” she breathed, and sounded amazed. “This is… There’s been naught like this, in all the years I’ve been in and out of the passages. This is amazing!” Aye, there’s my lass. Suddenly, both of her hands latched onto one of his wrists. “Do ye think ‘tis McIlvain, Kenneth? Yer friend?”
If ‘twas McIlvain, ‘twould be damning evidence against the Oliphants, and proof that the missing Hunter’s warning had turned out to be true.
Beware the Oliphants.
“It cannae be,” he said for her benefit, then repeated it for his. “It cannae be him.”
“Then who is he?” She shuddered again.
He longed to pull her into his arms. For comfort, aye? Not because of that incredible kiss—nay, ‘twas more than a kiss they’d been sharing, just before the wall had opened. But he was afraid if he did, his body would betray him and he’d attempt to rekindle that passion.
Which was, of course, entirely inappropriate and not the sort of thing which needed rekindling at that moment.
“I dinnae ken, but we’ll no’ glean any answers sitting here in the dark on top of him.”
She whispered, “I dropped the candle,” in what might’ve been shame.
“Shh, lass, ‘tis aright. We found the candle once before, it willnae be too difficult to find them again.” And his flint, which might be more difficult. “Ye sit still and I’ll look.”
The silence stretched as he began to pat the ground with his palm, and when his hand came down on a bone—more than once—he kept from shuddering by listening to her breathing, which was so steady, he knew she must be concentrating on it as well.
When he found what he thought was a candle, he took a moment to feel along the entire length to ensure its identity. Good, ‘twas smooth all the way along.
“I found one,” he said quietly. “Ye hold it while I look for the flint.”
“Are ye certain ‘tis a candle? Ye checked for the knobby things on the end?”
His lips twitched. It was amazing how, in the utter darkness, with a skeleton keeping them company, his Leanna could still make him smile.
“Aye, lass. I checked for the knobby things at the end. I mean, there’s nae knobby things at the end. ‘Tis a candle.”
“Well, aright then,” she huffed, and he could feel the air move as she waved her hands in front of her, looking for it.
He held tight to the candle, which was good, because her hand knocked against his. Once he was certain she had a tight grip on it, he returned to his search for the flint.
He should’ve known she couldn’t stay silent for long. As he patted about, he heard her shifting in place.
“Kenneth? Are ye certain this isnae McIlvain I’m sitting upon?”
“I’m certain. And as soon as I find the flint, I’ll help ye off him.”
She was quiet for a few heartbeats, then asked, “How do ye ken ‘tisnae McIlvain?”
Was that the flint?
Kenneth’s questing fingers determined, nay; in fact, ‘twas a tiny hand bone. Trying not to shudder, he carefully replaced it and hoped he wasn’t angering any ghosts.
Better to focus on her question.