“I have to come, Arran. This fight is about us. Blackwell will never back down if he cannae even see me. He needs to see me walk away.”
Arran gritted his teeth, but he knew his wife was right. Lilias Conner would have no reason to believe him.
“Douglas, prepare the horses and the men. If we leave now, we can get there before dark.”
Skye stood up. “I’ll go gather a few things.”
She left the small meeting room, and Helena followed. Arran set about organizing his men.
“Fionn, run to the stables and have Colum get Devil saddled and ready as well as the gray mare for Lady MacArthur.”
Fionn nodded and left immediately.
“Colin, ye will ride back with us to Castle MacKeith,” Arran continued.
“But what do ye plan to do when ye get there, Arran?” Magnus asked. “Blackwell isnae going to let ye walk in and talk to this Lilias. He’ll throw ye both back in a cell.”
Arran nodded in agreement. “I need to find a way for Skye to talk to her. She’s right. The woman will listen to her better. But if she doesnae, is there anything the council can do to stop the wedding from taking place, seeing that he’s still married?”
“Nay, Arran. We would have to take Helena to the council, and Grayson would need to be informed as well. He could try to make a claim to get her back. I daenae think the council would ever agree, but it’s nae a chance I’d take right now.”
“Then I will find a way,” Arran said with determination.
Skye returned with a satchel and bag, and looked at Arran, eager to leave. She hugged Helena. “Daenae worry, Maither. Arran will keep me safe, and I’ll do all I can to warn this woman. We need her to listen so that Arran can keep the lands. The clan needs it.”
Helena hugged her daughter and whispered, “Stay safe, Skye. Do what ye can but get out of there if ye think Blackwell’s up to anything.”
“I promise, Maither,” Skye answered, and then she stepped back to Arran’s side.
Ava rose from her seat and rounded the table. “I could ride with ye, Skye. I daenae like the idea of ye goin’ back, and a healer could be useful.”
“Ye are a good friend, Ava. But I’ll be fine with me husband. And I’ll be back in no time. I’ll feel better if ye stay here and keep me maither busy. She’ll worry while I’m gone.”
Ava hugged her friend. “All right then. But if ye need me, send word. I’ll be there.”
Skye hugged her back and then squeezed her hands.
Fionn rounded the corner and yelled, “The horses are ready, me Laird!”
Together, they walked to the stables.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Skye opened her eyes, squinting against the harsh light outside the cave. They had ridden steadily the past few days and had camped just outside the grounds of Castle Mackeith. After stretching out her sore limbs, she looked around camp and saw the horses were gone. A brief panic rose in her chest.
She stood and saw right away that Arran and Colin had taken their mounts to the creek’s edge to water them, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She walked to her satchel and pulled out her comb, a small cloth she’d packed for washing, and a bar of soap.
She walked to the water’s edge and greeted the men. “Good day, husband, Colin. Ye should have woken me up.”
“We are only a few minutes’ ride from the castle, so there was no need,” Arran explained, coming to kiss her on the head.
Skye appreciated his affection, as her nerves were high, considering the circumstances. Then she bent down, dipped the cloth in the ice-cold water, and wiped her face.
“I’ll wash quickly, and then we can be on our way. We have to be there before the wedding ceremony starts.”
“Aye, we do. But we have time. It’s still early.”
Skye waited until the men had left and then washed herself as best as she could. Then she took her comb and tried to tame her unruly curls. She combed and pulled but could not completely detangle the knots.
