*
Elspet hugged herselfagainst the constant onslaught of the whipping wind, taking care not to clutch her throbbing ribs too tightly. A deep breath was impossible. The pain nearly made her swoon. She squinted the eye not swollen shut in a vain attempt at focusing. Tears brought on by the stinging breeze blurred her vision. At least it was midsummer and warm. For now. Nightfall, rain, and the rough iron bars of her cramped prison would bring chilly hours until the sun returned. The chains securing the cages to the tower creaked and groaned above her. Their rancid, greasy coating occasionally dripped, hitting her with a dull splat. Directly below, the waters of the moat rippled, silently promising to drown her should the chains of her cage break.
“Feckin’ bastards.”
“Beitris…” Elspet clenched her teeth against the pain and shifted to face her, wishing their cages hung closer together so they might touch each other’s hands.
Beitris’s face was covered in reddish-purple bruising, her lip split and bleeding. But her fire remained. Her glaring scowl turned even more fierce. “Mama, they beat us. Stripped us down to our shifts. Trapped us in these feckin’ cages dangling from the tower, and rain’s coming. I dinna think the propriety of my language is a valid concern.”
“True.” Elspet repositioned herself again, impossibly hoping for a more comfortable spot. The height of the iron box prevented standing. Even sitting, the top of the cage forced her to hunch forward. “They are feckin’ bastards, and I hope each of them burns in Hell.”
“Valan and William will save us.” Beitris peered down, spit, then flinched and touched her split lip. “Damn. I missed him.”
“Ye have to account for the wind.” Elspet swept her hair back from her face and spit.
“Ye missed, too.”
“Aye. Not enough weight in spittle from this height.”
“Ye didna agree with me about Valan and William saving us.”
The suddenly solemn ring to Beitris’s tone tugged at Elspet’s heart. “They will save us if they can find a way.” She couldn’t bear to look at her daughter after that answer, remembering how Euban’s men had swarmed in on everyGallóglaighin the courtyard. “For the life of me, I dinna ken where Euban found so many to follow him.”
“Englishmen, I’d wager. Feckin’ traitor.” Beitris swayed from side to side, making her cage swing until it banged against the wall.
“If ye make it fall, ye will drop straight into the moat and drown.” Elspet shifted again and bunched up her shift under her rump. The iron slats, roughened until the edges were covered with nicks and burrs, dug into her bruised flesh.
“Do ye love him?”
“Who?”
“Ye knowwho.” Beitris stopped swinging and shifted positions.
“I think I could. Verra much.” Elspet leaned against the hard, cold bars and hugged her knees. “I hope he is not suffering because of us.” The chains above her creaked as the cage slowly turned in the wind. “Do ye think ye might love William?”
“I think he is verra nice,” Beitris said, sounding thoughtful. “They will save us if they can, aye?”
“Aye, dear daughter. They will save us if they can.”
*
Valan paced backand forth across the filthy straw clinging to the stone floor. Captured. Disgust and shame made him snort. He hated the stench of failure. His invincibleGallóglaighcaptured and jailed. Frustration lodged in his throat, threatening to choke him. Under his watch, his mighty men had fallen. What would his brothers say? They would say,Move on. Dinna wallow in a failure. Make it right.
He squinted up at the narrow opening that allowed the barest slit of daylight into the cell where they all awaited their fate. The thought of Elspet beaten, then trapped in a cage hanging from the tower drove him mad. At least it was summer. Hopefully, that guaranteed her survival until he could save her and Beitris.
“Sixteen of us.” William kept his voice low while watching the door on the other side of the long, narrow room. “And not a single knave among us. At least they made it to the woods.” The sixteen filled what had to be the only prison cell within Caerlaverock Castle. Located inside the gatehouse on the floor between the guards’ barracks and the laird’s private level, there wasn’t room enough for another cell this size within the gaol.
“So, fourGallóglaighand all the knaves remain free.” Only twenty warriors and their knaves had come to Caerlaverock, not believing the protection of a castle this size to be that great a challenge. Valan ground his teeth until his jaws ached. Their pride had enabled Euman’s men to take them down.
“At least there is hope, then.” William leaned against the wall, glaring at the door as he crossed his arms over his chest. “’Tis a pity the king’s messenger wasna intercepted and Roland set in his place.”
“If Euban spoke the truth about his visit to Kinghorn Castle, he never wouldha believed our message.” Valan continued pacing, scowling down at the floor as he walked. “I pray Elspet and Beitris survive until we save them.” That troubled him most. Pride and reputation meant nothing if his precious Elspet died.
A deep belly laugh outside the door interrupted his tortured musing. He rushed to the wall beside it and prepared to attack whoever dared open it. William joined him. But the door remained shut. Valan turned his head to better hear the guards’ conversation. They talked of feasting. Celebrating. One speaker caught his attention. He frowned at William and whispered, “Englishman?”
William slowly nodded, his eyes lighting with recognition. “During the attack, I knew I heard more than one bastard that didna sound like a Scot.”
Valan brought a finger to his lips and pressed an ear to the door. More men arrived. Bottles clinked. Shouts and laughter rang out. Toasts ofSlàinte mhath! andTo your health, mate!filled the outer corridor. He motioned for his men to remain silent. With any luck, whatever spirits flowed so freely on the other side of that door would not only loose the tongues of Euban’s men but also relax their guard.
