“Let me go in first to prepare her,” he whispered. She nodded, then he knocked on it in a complicated pattern of sounds, and Caitlyn heard three bolts being shot before the key turned in the lock.
She flattened herself against the wall beside the door, out of sight. She saw a woman’s hand coming out to draw Alastair in, then heard the low murmuring of his deep voice for a few moments, and Ava’s higher tone. They talked for about five minutes until she heard his footsteps before the door opened. He extended his arm to usher her in.
“Come in and meet my sister,” he said, smiling again. Caitlyn stepped into the bedroom and extended her hand to the tall, brown-eyed woman who was standing a few feet away from her. She looked just like a female, slightly younger version of Alastair.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Ava said, a smile crossing her face. She was lovely, Caitlyn thought, but there was an air of sadness about her.
“And yours too,” Caitlyn replied, curtseying.
They smiled at each other, and for the first time in a long while, Ava felt the weight of sadness lighten a little. A strange thing had happened. A bond of sisterhood was formed between them, and it was a bond that would never be broken.
6
Bandits
Three months earlier...
Brian McAllister prided himself that he was not any ordinary bandit. For one thing he could ride better than anyone else he knew, and could read and write.
He had once worked as a scribe for a laird in the lowlands before the English overran his castle, and when he had to flee to the Highlands it was either turn to starve or turn to crime, or so Brian told himself. Brian chose the latter, because it was easier than working, and his mean and vicious temperament was well suited to it.
He had gained a reputation in the dark world of crime for his ruthlessness and selfishness, and he gathered about him men of the same ilk who would pursue money and riches no matter what they had to do to get them.
His gang consisted of four members: Shuggie, Gordy, Jamesie, and himself. The others had homes and families whom they supported on the proceeds of their crimes, but Brian only had himself, and he was very happy about that. He could go drinking, whoring, and gambling all by himself with no one else to answer to.
The gang had made sure to steal only the best horseflesh, because it was often necessary to make a quick getaway.
They had found that the road that ran close to Mullach Castle was a convenient spot from which to launch an ambush, because it was lined with thick pine trees along most of its length, but that day Brian wanted to do something different.
“We’ve done weel in the last coupla months, lads,” he announced, rubbing his hands together. “Will we hae a wee bit o’ fun the day?”
“How d’ye mean?” Shuggie asked. “Whit kind o’ fun?”
“Weel, ye see,” Brian said gleefully, a cruel glint in his ice blue eyes. “I wid like a wee bit o’ comfort fae a lovely lady, an’ on a nice day like the day there’ll be plenty walkin’ or ridin’ aboot, jist waitin’ for us fine lads tae come an’ gie them a wee cuddle.”
There was an enthusiastic chorus of approval, so they saddled their horses and set out from Brian’s little cottage that was hidden in the trees at the edge of the Mallachburn road, then crossed it onto Alastair’s land. Once there, they stopped to look around for a while to decide where to go next. They knew that if they rode straight ahead without stopping they would fall off the edge of a very steep cliff, and they were about to turn around when Jamesie spotted the woman on the pinkish brown horse.
“Whit were ye sayin’ aboot a bit o’fun, Brian?” he asked, with a leer. “That looks like a bit o’ fun tae me!”
Ava had been looking out of her bedroom window at the persistent rain for the past three days and was heartily sick of staring at the same old scene. Therefore, when she woke up the next morning to a white hazy sky with not a drop of rain in sight, she knew she had to get out or go mad.
She went down to the stables to saddle Pinky, but as she was leading her out of her stall, Alastair appeared and stood in the middle of the entrance, blocking the way.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he demanded, scowling.
“Out for a ride,” she replied defiantly. “I have been cooped up for days, Alastair. I am going mad, and Pinky needs some exercise.”
“Fine”—his voice was firm—“but wait for me. Bandits have been busy in this area lately and I do not want you taking any chances till I have dealt with them.”
“Of course,” she nodded.
“I will be five minutes,” he called as he strode back into the castle.
The minute he was out of sight Ava mounted Pinky and urged her into a trot. One of the guards shouted after her and tried to catch her reins, but Ava sped Pinky up and they were over the drawbridge and out of the castle grounds before anyone could stop them.
Ava felt wonderful. She gave a great whoop and punched the air as the fresh wind from the sea stung her eyes and streamed through her hair. She could feel the strength and power of the horse beneath her as she stretched out her legs eagerly and they sped away from the castle.
When they were on the cliff path that ran along beside the sea they slowed down a little, since Ava knew that the slightest stumble could send them crashing onto the rocks far below. She was looking down at the waves rolling in from the sea, and their crashing filled her hearing so that she did not hear the approaching hoofbeats till it was too late.
