Free Rebel's Cage (Book 4) by Kate Jacoby Page B

there. And … and my mother can help. She can probably lift us both out of here on her own, so don’t go looking down and thinking about what might happen, because it won’t. You know that, don’t you? Don’t you?’
    Helen frowned a little, blinked a few times, then nodded slowly. ‘What are you doing here? Did you fall as well?’
    ‘No, I climbed down to help you.’
    ‘Oh.’
    A faint noise from above made him look up. Something slithered over the edge of the cliff, heading towards them. It looked like a rope. Slowly it descended, but he waited until it was level with his face before letting go his hold on the rock to grab it. More came down, to give him some slack, and when he looked up again, Finnlay was once more peering over the cliff, his face lined with worry.
    ‘Can you tie it around her?’
    ‘I’ll try.’ The walls of the crevice rose vertically around Helen. Andrew was perched on his ledge just outside the crevice, able to lean in, but that was about all. And of course, he had no idea what condition Helen’s other leg was in because he couldn’t see it.
    He looped the leather strap around his wrist and repositioned his feet. Taking a good hold of the rock with his left hand, he leaned forward and slipped his arm around Helen’s waist. He grazed his knuckles, but managed to wedge the strap between her and the rock. Then he withdrew and went in from the other side.
    ‘Ow,’ Helen grunted as he pulled the strap clear.
    ‘Bruised or broken?’ Andrew whispered.
    ‘Bruised, I hope.’
    ‘I need your hand to help tie this.’
    Helen nodded and brought her free arm down. Awkwardly, their hands worked together, tying a knot firmly around Helen’s waist, then doubling it. Done, Andrew refreshed his grip on the rock then gave the strap a good, solid tug. The knot held and he threw Helen an encouraging grin.
    ‘You might be a bit more bruised by the end of this – but at least you’ll be in one piece.’
    ‘Or two, if that knot’s too tight.’
    ‘Then you’ll be twice the trouble,’ Andrew quipped back. He steadied himself on the ledge again and looked up for Finnlay. ‘Try it now.’
    The leather strap drew taut as those above began to pull. Helen started to pant as the pressure on her bruises began to increase. Andrew hovered, ready to give a hand if necessary, but for long seconds, it seemed like nothing was happening. Then, abruptly, Helen began to move, her hands scrambling for purchase on the rock before her. Andrew’s hand shot out to steady her as she kept moving, up, until she was beyond his reach.
    He didn’t take his eyes from her until she disappeared, dragged to safety by welcoming hands.
    Closing his eyes in relief, Andrew leaned back against the rock and took in a couple of deep breaths. As his heartbeatbegan to slow, he heard the rope slide towards him again – and something else.
    He froze. Holding his breath now, he turned carefully, straining to hear what was going on below.
    Horses. He could hear horses. And men. Voices. Tired and fed up.
    Something flicked on his face and he nearly leaped off the ledge – but it was just the rope. He grabbed hold of it and stole a glance up. All he could see was the faint outline of Finnlay’s face peering down at him. Everybody else must have moved back.
    Shaking now, Andrew wound the rope around both hands. As it drew taut he let it take his weight, using his feet to climb up, one step at a time. He’d barely begun his climb when a warning note made him freeze once more.
    ‘Wait!’
    Heart hammering in his chest, Andrew carefully looked up. Both Arlie and Finnlay were there holding the rope and, with just enough light to see by, he saw Arlie mouth the rest of the warning.
    ‘Soldiers. Directly below.’

4
    In a flash of panic, Andrew turned his head, eyes seeking in the gloom beneath him for …
    Five, six … no, more than that. Mounted and armed and … and he was fast losing feeling in his hands as the rope began to cut