“With help, Mistress Kali.”
“Thank ye from the bottom of me heart, Heather.”
“I will never fail ye,” Heather said. “And I think ye would be surprised how many other people feel the same way under this roof.”
“Me father?” Kali asked.
“Locked away in his tower,” Heather said.
“Tower?”
“Aye, the very one Laird MacKay sent ye to.”
“But…”
“There is no mutual respect between yer sire and Laird MacKay. In fact, the laird couldna stand the idea of yer father sleeping under the same roof. So he gave him a choice, the tower or the cells below the kitchens.”
Kali couldn’t keep from laughing at the irony of it. How she had been banished to that sad place, and now her father suffered the same fate. Justice came in all forms; that much she believed.
“There is little time to waste,” Leah said, pulling something from underneath her cloak.
“Wait…” Kali recognized the dress she was wearing. “Pull aside your cloak, Leah.”
The girl smiled and did as asked.
What Kali saw made her grin with pride. The dress she had made for Leah fit perfectly. “’Tis nice to see ye in something new.”
“I thank ye for the clothes, Mistress Kali. And the boots.” She lifted her skirt so Kali could see the sturdy leather shoes. “All the children are wearing the clothes now.”
“And Raini?”
“She loves her new shawl and commanded me to get ye out of here, for she requires a new gown.”
Tears threatened to fall, but Kali took a deep fortifying breath. There would be time for tears of joy later, after all that needed to be accomplished was done. “What is in yer hands, Leah?”
“Rope.”
“Rope?”
“Aye. Special rope from Raini. We are to tie this to one of the legs on Yvaine’s bed and throw the length out the window. The boys will be waiting for ye below to catch ye if ye fall.”
“But how did ye get inside here unnoticed?” Kali turned her attention to Heather.
“Oh, we didna go unnoticed. We had to promise to meet the two guards after their shift is over.”
“Surely ye doona intend to?”
“Well.” Heather smiled at Leah. “What they doona know willna hurt them. That is until Joseph gets his hands on them.”
“Ye are a wicked girl, Heather. But a verra useful one.” Kali reached for the maid’s hand. If everything worked out, Kali would reward Heather, the children, and Raini one day—the only true friends she’d ever had. “How will the lads know we are ready?”
“Light a candle and place it in the window,” Leah said. “That’s their signal.”
“What about me sister and Yvaine?”
“I will stay with them,” Heather assured her. “The most important thing is to get ye away from here.”
“Should we wake them?” Kali gazed upon her beloved sister. She looked so young while sleeping. But somehow Ariana had grown up. She looked more like their mother every day.
