"You," she said in her most English voice as she marched toward them. "Robert demands your presence in camp. He has an urgent message for you."
"And who might you be?" the nearest man said, getting to his feet and sneering at her. "A harlot sent to help keep our watch warm?"
"I am Robert de Ros’s niece, and you will have more respect or I'll have your head on a spike by sunset. Pick up those swords and get to his camp this instant."
The leader frowned, becoming unsure. "We have orders to remain here and guard this passage from any Highland scum who might try to flee the siege."
Rose laughed loudly. "And what guards you are. I was able to approach close enough to fire arrows through your heart before you knew I was even there. You call yourselves guards?"
"We cannot move from here without replacements."
"You will go now. Your replacement comes this way, and will remain here until your return. Now be gone before I tell your lord you are the reason his siege failed."
"I see no replacement."
"Because he hides better than you."
She waved toward Lennox, and he lifted his head, waving his sword toward them. The men scurried off heading down the mountainside without a single glance behind them.
"They didn’t notice my plaid," Lennox said.
"Too busy being scared," she replied. "And no bloodshed required. Now shall we move on?"
He held out a hand, and she realized hers had begun shaking from what she'd just done. He took her fingers into his massive fists, holding them more gently than she expected. He stared into her eyes. "That was foolish. And the bravest thing I have ever seen. You are some woman."
"Thank you."
"Hold tight," he said, helping her back onto the horse. "It is steep in places."
They began to move slowly down the mountainside. Rose gripped the horse between her thighs, trying her best to remain upright. "What did your druid tell you?" she asked. "About getting me home?"
"I am to retrieve the staff of power and then take you to the stone circle."
"Staff of power? What’s that?"
"The staff contains forces far stronger than you or I."
"Whatever you say. So I just hold this staff and stand in the circle. What happens next?"
"The stone circle sends you home."
"I get to go home?" she asked. "What if it doesn't work?"
"Quinn is certain."
"That's not what I asked."
"I don't pretend to ken what secrets the druid is privy to."
"So you take me to the stone circle, hand me the staff, I go home. Simple enough. Where is the staff?"
"We must retrieve it like I said."
"From where."
"A castle held by Robert de Ros's army."
"Ah."
