Isla tied off the lint bandage and sat back on her heels.
“I have bound yer injury in such a way that ye will be able to march for many miles before it gives ye discomfort again, sir.”
Isla began packing the unguents and sewing equipment back into the chest.
“What’s this about a march, Fin?” Alex wanted to know more now that his injury no longer pained him. “Have ye been thinkin’ the same as what me an’ yer men have been thinkin’? That we should try an’ put as much space between us an’ that arrogant auld milksop steward as soon as we can?”
“Is that why ye came lookin’ for me, Alex? To see how we can get out o’ this mess before the steward’s men take care o’ us?”
“We’re comin’ with ye,” the blacksmith’s daughter said in a determined voice.
She did not even look over at her father to see if he agreed with her, but the blacksmith nodded his head all the same.
“Aye, Isla. That’s about the way of it. We must make hitch our cart to our true laird’s horses, as the sayin’ goes, all the better to get out o’ here in one piece.”
The three men discussed the best way to leave the castle without alerting the steward to what was happening.
“Are the men all rested, Alex?” Finlay wanted to know, “They’ll be of nay use to us on the road if they have nae eaten and slept enough.”
Alexander agreed. “I’ll go an’ tell them to eat their fill an’ sleep after we have decided what to do, Fin! If it comes to choosin’, I’d rather be on the road hungry an’ tired than forced to stay here against our will.”
“We must find a way to get onthisside o’ the castle’s walls so we can creep away in the dead o’ night,” Finlay said firmly. “Nay man is to be left behind.” Alex became frustrated because he could not think of a valid reason. “I say we stay in the barracks an’ slaughter our way out o’ the blasted castle, Fin!”
“Fifty against a small troop o’ tired and injured men?” Master McDonnell said. “I dinnae like those odds.”
“I have an idea if ye would be so kind as to listen,” Isla said, her pretty cheeks blushing so rosy. She dipped her head so that she did not have to look at him as she spoke. “What about if ye say ye’re movin’ to the outside barracks for a string o’ coincidental reasons? Tell the soldiers that ye spied a troop o’ raiders on yer way in here and want to stay in the outer barracks to ward off the attack. Act like ye want to show off how good ye are at repellin’ an attack. Brag a wee bit about how ye’re no’ scared to sleep outside the castle walls because ye’re nay a bunch of auld women like the steward’s soldiers. Because they prefer fightin’ behind the walls an’ using our tradesmen an’ merchants to do the heavy liftin’ for them.”
“That’s a good plan, lass,” Finlay said, grinning at the blacksmith’s daughter that made her smile in the most adorable way. “I’ll go back with Alex an’ organize it all. In what condition are these barracks ye mention?”
Master McDonnell rolled his eyes to the burned ceiling beams. “They are a hovel, lyin’ in ruins as I’m sure ye must have seen when ye entered the bailey, but be comforted that we will nae be stayin’ in them for long.”
“To be honest, Master,” Finlay replied, “there were so many things I noticed were wrong with the bailey that I gave up countin’ them halfway up the hill!”
This jest made Isla giggle, and everyone saw the humorous side of it. Finlay felt his body tighten with excitement as he realized freedom and justice would have to be fought for before he could rule as laird. He was, at heart, a warrior, ever questing for war and battle. His sword was never in its sheath for too long before his hand wanted to reach for it.
