Kali bent down and kissed the top of Ariana’s head. “She’s exhausted.” Then she gazed at Heather. “Protect these girls with yer life. Nothing can happen to either one of them. Promise me.”
“Ye have me word.”
“And what about ye, Leah?”
The girl shrugged. “I will leave the same way I came in. Through the chamber door.”
“What about the men in the great hall?”
“Deep in their cups,” Heather said. “Even Kenneth.”
“Kenneth?” Kali had never heard that name before.
“A surly man, not fit for anyone,” Heather said, though Kali thought the maid was lying.
Leah made quick work of tying off the end of the rope to the foot of the bed. Heather and Kali both squatted and inspected the triple knots, even yanked on the rope to test its hold.
“Who taught ye how to tie knots?” Kali asked.
“Raini.”
That should not come as a surprise to Kali, for the elder woman seemed to know everything. Once the candle was lit and placed on the windowsill, Leah unraveled the length of rope and let it drop out the window. All three of them peered below into the darkness. If anyone was waiting below, they wouldn’t be able to tell. Kali would have to have faith in what she couldn’t see. Wasn’t that something she had been doing all her life?
She changed into a wool dress and boots, tied her shawl about her waist so it wouldn’t impede her movement down the rope, hugged Heather and Leah, then stepped up on a chair placed near the window. Looking back once more at her sister, she said a quiet prayer and then reached for the rope.
Chapter Nineteen
Desperation drove Adam to ride faster and harder as the new day threatened. Instead of heading to the keep, he had chosen to go to his property by the beach. There, he could finalize his plan with Sam and hope other soldiers would join him before challenging his father. With the added danger of Lord Nelson and his guards, it would take at least twenty MacKay men to suppress any uprising.
As they came within a few miles of the MacKay border, he was surprised to encounter a group of mounted warriors waiting. Adam halted and raised his hand so Sam and Gorren would do the same.
“Master Adam?” one of the waiting men asked, riding forward to better see Adam.
Adam sighed at being recognized but didn’t try to hide himself. “Aye. What are ye out this way for, Munro? Why would me father assign ye to stand watch here, of all places?”
“He didna,” the guard said. “James ordered us to wait for ye. Even sent three other patrols out to see if ye and Sam would arrive soon.”
The information both surprised and pleased Adam. “And why is James giving orders?”
Munro looked over his shoulder at the other four men waiting with him.
“Anything ye say here,” Adam assured him, “whether it’s in favor of me or me father, willna be used against ye.”
“Nay?” Munro asked.
“I give ye me solemn oath,” Adam said.
“There are many among us who were torn between loyalty to yer father and ye. The laird has not kept his word as late, but we were willing to overlook it because we knew he was an old man. But once the English came…”
Adam understood completely; his father had surely crossed a line allowing the Sassenachs to stay at the keep. “We doona have much time to spare, Munro. Are ye willing to ride with us?”
“Aye.”
The other men voiced their agreement.
Satisfied there was hope, Adam urged his horse forward.
…
