Page 25 of Stay with Me

“What’s the plan?”

“Jump into the moat, and I shall swim us across.”

“I can swim for myself.”

“You can?” Not many men could swim, and he knew of no woman with such skills. But Sybil had already proven to be different than most.

“I’ll be fine. Don’t fret about me.”

Too late for that. He would worry about her every step of the way. He peeked out again and watched the guard turn a corner. “Now.” He pushed open the door. Still holding her hand, he tugged her out onto the battlement that bordered the castle gardens and orchard. No one appeared to be out, but he didn’t have time to scan the area thoroughly.

Instead, he released Sybil’s hand and climbed into the nearest crenel. The gap between the two merlons was wide enough for both of his feet. As he crouched to assist her up, a guard came around the tower from the opposite direction.

At the sight of the two of them, his face registered surprise, then he gave a shout of alarm and lunged for Sybil. Nicholas unsheathed his dagger from Potter’s sword belt. But before he could raise it and force the guard away, Sybil spun, aimed a punch into the man’s temple. The blow was hard and accurate, but rather than felling the guard, he stumbled backward against the tower door.

“Make haste!” Nicholas held out his hand, intending to hoist her up and jump while they had a brief respite. But Sybil went after the man again, hopping up high enough to land a kick into his neck. It was swift and severe, knocking the guard to the ground, this time unconscious.

Suddenly Nicholas understood how she’d disarmed Potter and the young guard who’d also been on duty. He would have stared at her in amazement if another nearby shout hadn’t sounded.

Someone else had spotted them. Erelong every guard on duty—and even those who weren’t—would congregate on the battlement and attempt to halt them.

“We need to go. Now.” He thrust his hand out to her again.

She wrapped her fingers around his wrist, creating a grip that allowed him to easily pull her up. Then without waiting for his signal, she jumped.

His pulse tapped a rapid protest, and he swung himself over and off directly after her. Even if she knew how to swim, she’d likely never done so amidst an onslaught of arrows. He would need to hover over her and provide a shield as best he could.

She landed with a splash seconds before he hit the water. As he went under, the pressure against his wounds sent fire racingalong his nerves. He bit back a cry of agony and forced himself to focus on finding Sybil. Though the water was murky, he glimpsed her but a hand’s length away, divesting herself of the tunic.

Before he could reach her, she propelled herself up to the surface.

He kicked his feet and followed. As he broke through next to her, he assessed the situation on the wall. Already the guard on duty had returned to the spot. He was shouting out and, at the same time, nocking an arrow into his bow.

“We’ll need to swim deep,” she said, easily treading water, “to stay out of range of the arrows.”

“Very well. If you are able.”

Again, without waiting for his permission, she pushed under the water and dove low.

He sucked in a deep breath and did the same.

She was quick, darting away ere he could reach her. With strong strokes, he chased after her, trying to keep a hand close to her boots as she kicked her feet in strong thrusts. Above, the evening light glowed against the surface of the water, revealing the arrows that were beginning to fall. They penetrated but slowed upon impact and didn’t go deep enough to reach them.

After long seconds, his lungs began to burn with the need for air, but she kept going. Just when he didn’t think he could make it another moment, she pushed up to the surface. He followed and popped up next to her.

They were close to shore, only a few strokes away.

A glance behind toward the castle showed at least half a dozen guards firing at the moat. Now that they’d been spotted, the guards’ shouts grew louder, and they shifted their aim. He grabbed Sybil’s hand and dragged her back under. They were far enough away that the guards would have a difficult time hitting them, but he didn’t want to take any chances.

This time he led, and his grip upon her was unwavering. When they reached the edge of the moat, he climbed up the rocky incline, holding her steady as she scrambled next to him.

Arrows landed just behind them, most pinging against boulders.

“This way.” He maneuvered her in front of him, towering over her, one eye on the arrows still aimed at them and one eye on the woodland ahead.

She didn’t hesitate and plunged into the shrubs, shoving aside branches and hopping over windfall as though she knew the area as well as he did.

When finally they came into a clearing beside a worn grassy road, she paused and studied both directions. “Where to next?”

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