“Duncan?” Grabbing his arm, Iliana tried to turn him over but was unable to move his great bulk until her mother added her own efforts. Once he was on his back, Iliana felt terror well up within her as she saw the pallor of his complexion.

“He is alive, and we must get out of here.”

Her mother’s calm words broke through her panic, and Iliana glanced toward the flames licking their way toward them. Without discussing it, each of them got to their feet, took one of his large hands in their own and dragged him across the rushes, panic seeming to add strength to their efforts. At the door, Iliana reached out to press against the wooden surface. Frowning when it did not open, she released the hold she had on Duncan and pressed with both hands, but still the door stuck.

“What is it?” Her mother was at her side in an instant.

“It will not open.”

Lady Wildwood pushed against the door, paling when her daughter’s words proved true. “Someone has blocked it.” Pounding on the door, she yelled for her guard, but Iliana stopped her with a hand to her shoulder.

“If he were out there, the room would not be afire.”

“Well, surely he would not leave?”

“Nay,” Iliana agreed, and her mother’s eyes widened with understanding. The guard was either dead or unconscious.

Turning away from her stark expression, Iliana peered toward the fire devouring the room. Smoke was rolling across the ceiling above and she could see that her chests were already in flames. Soon the blaze would reach Duncan’s feet. The heat almost unbearable, Iliana glanced frantically around the small section of room that was not yet on fire.

Lady Wildwood began to pound at the door again, screaming for assistance, but impatience covered her face when she saw that her daughter had moved to the bedside. “What do you? We must get some attention here.”

“The castle is practically empty, Mama. The women are out fetching fresh rushes and the men are out practicing in the bailey. No one will hear us.”

Already pale with fear, Lady Wildwood blanched further. Whipping the linen off the bed, Iliana hurried to drop it in the water she had used earlier for her ablutions, then just as swiftly pulled the soaking material out and moved toward the fire to beat at the flames with it. Her main concern was to keep the flames away from Duncan; they were far too close to his inert body for her liking.

Lady Wildwood quickly moved to collect the bottom linens from the bed. After dampening them with what little water was left in the bowl, she moved to her daughter’s side, but Iliana shook her head and waved her away.

“Yell out the window,” she ordered, coughing. “We must get someone’s attention.”