Elayne sat beside him and sipped a cup of cool ale to quench her thirst. “Did ye bring an important message to the laird from Cailean? Did ye come from the Gordon clan? Will he return home soon?”
“Aye, I brought a message to the laird, but I canna discuss it with ye or anyone, lass.”
“But ye are one of Cailean’s friends. At the winter solstice, I saw ye with him. Are ye returning to Cailean after ye rest to carry letters to him?”
Before he answered Elayne’s questions, one of the laird’s sons came to take him back for more discussion. Bessie prepared a tray of meats, cheeses, bread, and fruit and took it to the laird in his study. She instructed Elayne to help her by carrying a tray of six cups of ale and waiting in the hallway for Bessie to take it from her and carry it into the laird’s study.
“Thank ye, Bessie. Ye always ken when a man needs sustenance,” the laird said.
Back in the kitchen, they whispered to avoid being overheard. “I don’t want to alarm ye, but I think bandits or a rival clan captured Cailean and his men. An open map open lay atop the desk and the messenger pointed to special features around a castle. I couldn’t tell which castle it was. When I return to freshen their drinks, I hope to sort out what’s happening.”
With her heart filled with dread, Elayne continued dipping candles. Judging by her discreet peeks into the laird’s study as she had held the tray of ales for Bessie, something significant had occurred and it had the men worried. Elayne had studied their concerned features, indignation, furrowed brows, masks of grim determination. Their rigid stances looked as if they were fighting an unseen foe. Impotent fury marred their faces.
If Bessie couldn’t determine what exactly had occurred, Elayne would ask Thomas to find out from others in the stables and at the farrier’s. Men considered women notorious gossips, but news traveled as fast in the stables. If that route wasn’t successful, she intended to use her charms elsewhere. Perhaps flattery would loosen their tongues enough to tell her what she needed to know. Worried for Cailean, Elayne’s heart and mind were in turmoil. But until she had more information, she needed to wait to take action.
When they finished making the candles, Elayne returned to the forge and spoke to Thomas in private to ask him to relay any information he heard and let her ken as soon as possible. Thomas idolized Calean and was visibly distressed to earn of his capture with his guards. After dinner, Elayne returned to the castle’s kitchens to speak with Bessie to see if she’d learned anything new or significant. Bessie took her into an empty storeroom to speak privately.
“It seems the Cameron clan captured Cailean and imprisoned his guards in Tor Castle.”
“Nae. How did it happen?”
“It is true, but I don’t have any details. I talked to several people. They have been studying the maps and making strategies but are waiting for the ransom note. It would be folly on their part to threaten Laird MacPherson and our allies. Especially taking the laird’s son unprovoked. Nae ransom note has appeared yet. Hopefully they will make their demands known by tomorrow.”
“What will they do if they do nae receive a ransom note?”
“I dinna ken. They are still discussing their plans. I imagine, if no ransom is demanded, they will send a contingency of warriors to demand his return or face the consequences of the laird’s wrath.”
“If ye learn anything, please send me a note. Thank ye, Bessie.”
Elayne returned to the forge before Thomas left. In private, Thomas whispered, “I found out the Cameron clan captured Cailean and his guards, who were outnumbered. I believe a group of warriors may leave tomorrow to travel to Tor Castle and demand his release.”
“Thank ye, Thomas. Ye did well. Let me ken if ye find out anything else.” Elayne studied the map of the MacPherson and Cameron lands from a book Cailean had given her, which contained clan maps. She packed a sack with extra shirts, and a chemise, and made oatcakes, letting them cool before depositing them in an oilskin bag to keep them fresh. Elayne added dried meat in another oilskin bag with a few apples, a few essential items, and stuffed a small lantern into her sack.
With her paper, quill, and ink, she wrote a brief but heartfelt note to her father, leaving it on her pillow. Elayne pulled the curtain around her bed in the kitchen, so he would not miss her until morning. She pinned her braided hair tightly like a coronet on her head, over which she placed an old, worn hat. Dress-ed in boy’s trews and a shirt, she rolled a heavy cloak around her sack with her clothes. She wore her sturdy boots, donned her belt, and placed her dirk and her hammer on her belt. Elayne strode to the stables, where she encountered Thomas, who helped her saddle and mount River.
“Do nae say anything to my papa or Mrs. Logan regarding my leaving. Act as surprised as they. I left my papa a note and explained why I had to leave to negotiate a release for the laird’s son. He and his men must be freed from the dungeons as soon as possible. We cannot tarry, for soon the roads will be too treacherous to travel or even impassable because of winter weather. Do nae say a word to anyone. If all goes well as I expect, I will return in a few months. Be good, Thomas, and help Papa as best ye can.” Elayne hugged Thomas and rode the horse away into the night, gaining a head start before the guards left tomorrow.
Judging by the maps she had committed to memory, it would take five days’ travel to reach the castle. A full moon tonightwould help light her way. The terrain in the MacPherson clan appeared easier to traverse than in the Cameron clan’s territory. The horse hugged the rivers and lochs, encountering fewer mountains, which would have otherwise slowed her down.
Elayne patted River’s head and spoke to her. “I appreciate yer surefootedness. Let me ken when ye need a drink and to eat. I ken we will make steady progress toward our goal. We must free the laird’s son. His clan needs him. Cailean cannot negotiate alliances if he is in a dungeon.” Elayne felt more secure with her sword strapped to her back in its sheath. She kent how to use it well, thanks to Cailean.
Elayne owed him so much. Cailean had generously taught her so many things, and she would not leave him to rot in a prison. She held a righteous anger in her heart. Cailean was her friend. If she were in a dungeon or trapped, he would work tirelessly to free her.
By the time the sun rose over the horizon with golden fingers of light, Elayne had made good progress, so stopped to drink from the river, allowing her horse to graze while she nibbled on her oatcake. When River seemed satisfied, she found a secluded spot and securely tied the animal to a heavy branch, then settled down for a brief nap. Elayne awakened refreshed and gave her horse a handful of oats.
“What say ye? Are ye ready to travel longer today before we find a spot to camp this afternoon?” Her horse whinnied in response, indicating its level of energy. She took off riding a trail close to the river. They stopped to camp before it got dark, and Elayne found a secure location to bed down by her horse for the night. She made a cup of tea with her tin cup, using her flint to light a fire. Dangling a line and hook in the river, she caught a couple of nice-sized trout for her dinner.
Elayne and her horse bedded down for the night, and the noises of the forest settled around her. She had never been alone at night in a forest. Owls hooted in the trees above her, and she heard rustling branches nearby, causing her heart to stutter in trepidation. Indignant at herself for her fears, Elayne redoubled her determination to save Cailean and the captured men. She refused to let her fears undermine her efforts to free Cailean. Failure wasn’t an option; she had to succeed. Too much was at stake. Elayne couldn’t bear to think about what could happen to Cailean in the dungeons as a prisoner.
How would the men deal with being imprisoned, confined with no escape? The feeling of being smothered without the sun and sky overcame her. Although she had never seen one, she ken dungeons were dark and dank.I must free Cailean and his men.
Elayne arose at dawn as the sky held its first rosy blush that pierced the indigo sky. She waited for her horse to eat her fill of grass and drink water from the burn before they were off again, following the river. The oatcakes and apples she ate in the saddle saved time. Elayne had never traveled so far from home. She enjoyed the feeling of independence and freedom. Her main fear was being discovered as a lass. Aware of the dangers as she traveled, she remained alert but enjoyed the scenery as she rode and camped in late afternoon to rest. The next day, she followed a similar course. Every night, Elayne reaffirmed she would set Cailean free. Compelled by her feelings for him, Elayne claim-ed,I will be successful.
On what Elayne hoped was the last day of her trip to free Cailean, she thought about what she would say to the Cameron laird to negotiate his release and decided on the best course of action to achieve her goal.
On the crest of a hill, in the early afternoon, Tor Castle stood starkly against the sun in the distance. As she approached through the forest, Elayne remained cautious, on the lookout for scouts or others hiding. Still dressed as a lad, she approached the guard at the gate and demanded to speak to the laird. A guard admitted her but directed another guard to accompany the lad to the laird—if the laird would even grant an audience. The grooms took the lad’s horse to the stables, and guards escorted him to see the laird of the Cameron clan in his study. The laird looked imposing and powerful seated behind his desk.
Elayne bowed to the laird as she stood before him and, by sheer force of will, did not allow her voice to tremble. She stood tall and proud, and spoke in as low a voice as she could, creating the impression of a young lad whose voice had nae deepened, having not yet reached puberty. “I come to negotiate for the release of yer prisoner and his guards. I speak of Cailean of the MacPherson clan and his men.”
