3
The smell of fire and rot hung in the air like death.
“It is a grievous thing for me to see Ironcross Castle like this, m’lord.” Allan’s voice was tight. “It looks sound enough from the outside, but in here...” The steward looked back at Gavin and shook his head.
Gavin said nothing, but motioned for Allan to continue up the circular stairwell. They had almost reached the second-floor landing, which was as far as they would be going. Gavin gazed upward through the twisted and charred timbers that had once been steps, into the steel gray sky.
“Aye,” Allan said, following his master’s gaze. “Nothing to keep the rain out here.”
The new laird grunted and climbed over a burnt beam. Reaching the landing, he pushed past the steward into the corridor.
“This part of the castle seems much new
