Haunted by Annette Gisby Read Free Book Online Page B

well. When you're healed, I promise to kiss you again."
    Aedyn smiled through his pain. "There, that wasn't so hard, was
it?"
    "You'll be the death of me," Kestan muttered under his
breath, knowing it could well come true. "Are you ready to go?"
    Kestan stood and opened his bedroom door, glancing back at Aedyn as
he stepped out into the corridor.
    Aedyn nodded and followed Kestan out the door. Kestan'ss heart was
thudding so hard against his ribs that he thought it would give them
both away so that Grunhall or some of the household would come
running and demand to know where they were going. But it seemed all
the household was still abed and no one stopped their descent down
the stairs. Kestan led the way unerringly to the scullery, Aedyn a
few steps behind him.
    Kestan rummaged in the boot again to fetch the key; their freedom was
only a few moments away. He lifted out the large brass key and fit it
into the lock.
    "Kestan!" Aedyn shrieked in alarm behind him.
    They'd taken too long, or else they had been spied upon all along.
Kestan turned to see Aedyn pulled taut against Grunhall's bulk, both
of Grunhall's arms clamping tightly around Aedyn's chest. The young
man was struggling for breath, as well he might. Garom was standing
by the door leading into the kitchen, holding aloft an oil lamp like
a trophy.
    "Let him go!" protested Kestan, feeling his own breath
falter at Aedyn's ragged gasps.
    "Allow my nephew to fall into the hands of a sodomite? I don't
think so, Kestan! The town guard will be most interested in this,
don't you think? How my poor nephew, presumed dead for all this time,
lost his mind while being vilely assaulted for years by his
kidnapper, Master Kestan."
    Kestan couldn't believe this was happening; they had been so close to
escape!
    "You're one to talk about assault, Grunhall! With the boy
standing there with the bruises you inflicted on him! You whipped him
and left him for dead!"
    "Oh no, not me. You were the one who did this to him, weren't
you? Isn't that right, Mr. Garom? You saw the whole thing."
    "Indeed I did, Ser Grunhall. An animal, Kestan is. Attacking
your nephew and leaving you for dead."
    "What? What are you talking abo–"
    But Grunhall never got to finish his question as Garom smashed the
lamp against his head. Glass shattered everywhere as Grunhall made a
strangled grunt and fell to the floor with a loud thump. As soon as
Grunhall's arms released their grip, Aedyn was out of them and ran to
Kestan, wrapping his arms around Kestan's chest. Grunhall was
mumbling incoherently; the man must have the constitution of an
elephant to come round so quickly from such a blow.
    "Run!" Garom snarled at Kestan and Aedyn as Grunhall
groaned again. "Get as far away from here as you can! Run!"
    "Why are you helping us?" Kestan asked, even as he ran from
Aedyn and turned the key in the lock, his heart pounding in his ears.
    "I saw him. I saw what he did to that Syldas boy and I can't let
him do it again. Run, for all that's holy, man, run!"

Chapter Seven

    "Aedyn, we're here," said Kestan, caressing his head.
    Aedyn had been lying down with his head on Kestan's lap, but he
hadn't been fully asleep. His back was far too painful for sleeping
through it. He enjoyed the comfort of Kestan'ss hands carding through
his hair and he sighed, unwilling to give it up just yet. They'd
spent the night in The King's Head before catching the coach to
Anterra City earlier that day and then took a public carriage to a
four-storey villa in a grand square; Aedyn could see it out the
window as he lifted his head from Kestan'ss lap. Small flurries of
snow still fell sporadically, but it didn't feel as cold in the
centre of town as it normally was in the tower.
    Kestan opened the carriage door and helped Aedyn down onto the street
before paying the driver. The snow on the ground had turned to slush
from all the carriage and foot traffic and Aedyn stumbled on the
slippery surface. Kestan'ss arms were suddenly around him to