Malcolm moved to the cell door. “Keith! How did you get down here? Do you have akey?”
“Aye, that I do. And I can be a sneaky bastard when I want tobe.”
“Good. Now let me out ofhere.”
Malcolm stood back as Keith unlocked the cell and slammed it shut again. He contemplated letting the others out but realized that would only take time he didn’t have. They would have to endure their imprisonment for a little whilelonger.
“You’re not going to let us out, areyou?”
“I amnot.”
“Are you already going back on your wordthen?”
“I amnot.”
“They why do you not let us go and save us further degradation in this blastedplace?”
“I cannot see you to safety and so therefore we must raise no suspicion that I am gone. If I release you all now, how can I possibly get you away from the men guarding the castle without revealing my own plot in the process? No, you must stay where you are and cause no ruckus. I will return as soon as I can. It will take me four days to get to Inverness and back. That’s how long you must keep the peace here. Do not cause any trouble. Do youunderstand?”
“I understand it MacLeod, but I do not likeit.”
“I will do my best to return with goodnews.”
Malcolm and Keith moved swiftly through the dungeon. With only one way in or out, there was no reason for guards to be posted directly inside. They would need to figure out how to get past them once they entered the mainchamber.
“This way.” Keith motioned for them to go left once they gotthere.
“But we will beseen.”
“It doesn’t matter. I did not want to say this in front of the MacLeods, but the castle is divided, Malcolm. Some are still loyal to the laird, but there are a good number very loyal to you instead. They did not like that your father put you downhere.”
This was unexpected, but good news. Finally. At least with the right numbers backing him, he stood a chance when he returned. Regardless of the outcome of his request to the Privy Council to intervene, he would need to challenge hisfather.
“I am glad to hear it. What aboutSheona?”
“I have spoken to Connor and Hamish. They will keep an eye on her as much as possible, but Malcolm, who can stop yourfather?”
Malcolm grappled with his decision. He had to make it to Inverness or they would all fall prey to his father. As much as he hated to admit it, he had no choice but to leave and move heaven and hell to return in four days as planned. He prayed something or someone else distracted his father away from hiswife.
Please love, stay out of hisway.
“We go as planned. I pray the men can keep her safe until Ireturn.”
They encountered no resistance as they left the dungeon. Outside, Keith led Malcolm to where he had two horses secured away from the castle. They mounted and headed off into thenight.
* * *
Two guards stayedinside her chamber with her for an hour. She desperately wanted them to leave so she could hide inside the passage. She sat staring out the window at the loch below. Not long ago she’d sat outside looking at the same view, gathering courage. Where had it allgone?
A knock sounded at the door and both guards left the chamber. This might be her only chance! She raced to the wall and fumbled for the hidden stone. Just as she reached for the trip for the hidden door, the main one to the chamber flew open. Sheona turned, cold tentacles of dread crept up herspine.
His face was flushed and he wore a smirk. Heaven help her—he’d said he would come by later. “Now that my son is out of the way, Lady MacDonald, I believe you and I should spend some timetogether.”
Sheona was frozen in place. She could neither speak nor move. No one could save her from any horror he chose to inflict uponher.
“Have you lost your voice, LadyMacDonald?”
Oh God what could she do? She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound would comeout.
