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killers, the innocent were surely rewarded.
    "Ye cannot live life for the dead, child. Madeline would not ask it."
    The sound of a door opening echoed down the stairs leading to the third floor. "The matter shall be finished this very day," her father said.
    Airin straightened from Cerdwin's grasp.
    "Aye, my lord," came Deryll's voice.
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    The Pendulum
    by Tarah Scott
    Airin locked gazes with her maid. The pad of the mens'
    boots said they were headed for the stairs. She seized her skirt and dabbed at her eyes, but instantly realized the futility of the effort and jumped to her feet, searching wildly about as if she had forgotten the castle's every nook and cranny.
    Cerdwin seized her hand, placed a finger to her lips, then pulled her down the hall. Before Airin could stop her, she opened the nearest door—the Scarlet Knight's bedchamber.
    Airin glanced back as the maid tugged her into the room, then clicked the door shut.
    "The secret passage," Airin whispered, and hurried around the bed to the small table against the wall.
    She glanced at the charred remains of the shredded curtains before dropping to her knees in search of the candle that had started the fire. At sight of melted wax mixed with burnt fabric, she cursed. Foolish. Of course, the candle had not survived the fire. She leapt to her feet and took three paces toward the secret door. What need had she of light?
    She knew these passageways well enough to traverse them blind.
    She ran a finger along the edge of a panel until she detected the spring. She prayed no one had locked the door from the inside, and pressed it. The door sprang open. Thank God the room her father had given Deryll was one of the three connected by the passageways. How much better to have chosen a hiding place other than the knight's bedchamber? Airin glanced back to see Cerdwin, ear pressed against the door.
    "Cerdwin," she called in a whisper.
    44

    The Pendulum
    by Tarah Scott
    The maid abruptly straightened and backed up against the wall. The door opened. Airin's eyes widened at sight of Deryll.
    He raised a brow. "What have we here?"
    Curse him. In her fervor, she had not realized 'twas possible he was using the bedchamber. The room still stank of smoke. What was he doing here?
    "Pray, tell me," he drawled, "have you come to bed me or murder me?" His eyes lit with wicked laughter. "Do not fear. I am prepared for either."
    Fury swept through her. "I am no murderess!"
    "Then bed me, it is."
    Her cheeks flushed hot as he strode toward her.
    She backed up a step. "W-what are you doing here?"
    He stopped before her.
    "Do you not have business elsewhere?" She winced at the squeak in her voice.
    "Aye," he replied distractedly.
    "What sort of business?"
    Deryll reached behind her and lifted her braid over her shoulder. "The kind that does not concern you."
    "What sort of business does not concern me? Sir Gewain is—"
    Deryll's head snapped up. "Nothing I cannot handle," he finished.
    The heat in her cheeks spread through her belly as, his gaze glued to hers, he lifted the end of her braid to his nose and breathed deeply. Airin's heart pounded against her chest.
    Hands, calloused and brown from years in the sun, held the 45

    The Pendulum
    by Tarah Scott
    braid as if it were a fragile flower. He breathed deeply again, as though to inhale her very essence.
    "Is there any battle you can not handle?" she asked.
    Deryll shifted his gaze to her face. "I am a man, Airin. No man is invincible."
    Her girlhood hero was invincible. The hero who always saved his lady from all harm, who knew when to bestow a kiss, and never pressed her into an uncomfortable situation.
    This man was anything but those things.
    Deryll's gaze dropped to her mouth. Would he kiss her?
    "You may come out now, Cerdwin," he said.
    Airin blinked, and he raised a brow.
    The maid stepped from behind the door. "Forgive me, my lord. I did not mean to eavesdrop." She edged toward the hallway.
    Airin shot her a glare, but the woman paid no