“He should be here soon. Then we can reach our safehouse at the Devil’s Pulpit. No one in their right mind will think to look there. We can hold up for the time it takes to put the rest of our plan into action and this one,” he said, pointing his thumb at Agnes, “will finally prove her worth. The king will not refuse our demands now if he wishes to save her hide.”
Connor showed up then. “We are all set and should make haste. I’ve heard rumblings of a large search party.”
John lifted Agnes again, blanket and all, into a much larger cart that had many boxes and barrels. She assumed those were supplies. She had to leave a sign, but how? She had no parchment, no more clothes left to offer, and though her tattered gown would leave them in no doubt she’d been there, how could she signify where they were going?
Agnes gripped her quilt tighter. Despair washed over her. She might have some value now, but it was clear based on her treatment up until now, once they achieved their goal, she would have no more value and she would be killed. Of that, now she was completely certain. Her own uncle and William’s sister placed no value on her life and would use it to seek riches or whatever it was this band of rebels wanted and then they would discard her as though she were the vermin of the world. A small tear trickled down her cheek. Agnes turned her head to the wall so no one would see.
*
When William learnedof what had been found in a cottage northwest of Mugdock, his heart soared. Now holding Agnes’s slipper in his hands, he hoped against all hope she was unharmed. If they continued to travel this way, there were few options for them unless, again, they had unexpected supporters. On the trail just away from the cabin, William spied the second slipper. He dismounted and quickly retrieved it to compare it to the first. A perfect match. He looked at the road and could see thin grooves which could only come from a cart.
Mounting his horse, he tracked the grooves for miles until they led to a second cabin. In it the sight that met his eyes stopped him in his tracks. Scattered about the floor was the gown Agnes had been wearing when they’d taken her. By Christ, if there was one hair misplaced on her head, he’d throttle those responsible, sister or not.
William was ready to pound someone. Instead, he turned and slammed his hand hard against the cabin wall. When he did, a small piece of parchment fell from one of the beams above him. He opened it to find the words this band had continued to repeat to themselves and to each other. Seemingly unimportant, he shoved it in his pocket then paused and retrieved it to read again. The parchment was of good quality as was the ink, for there was no smudging. The writing was fine as though the person who wrote it had been properly taught.
Elspeth.
She’d been here before Agnes’s abduction. Understanding this and thoughts of the peculiar dowry arrangement got him thinking. Just how long before their marriage had Elspeth been a part of these rebels and their cause? Something niggled at him.Some connection he’d yet to discern that was the key to this whole business where his family was concerned.
For now, he would continue to focus on finding Agnes, and after that he would not rest until he unraveled the entirety of the plot.
William mapped out each community between there in a northwestern direction. If their end was Munroe lands, he’d have thought they would head northeast.
But what was northwest? Some small communities across various clan boundaries, but nothing came to mind to convince him they had sought refuge with an ally. If not that, then what? Another hiding place? With half the king’s guard tearing apart Scotland, William couldn’t figure out where they’d be.
After two days of searching with little rest, he determined he needed to return to Mugdock to recharge and regroup. They could not possibly be in any sort of typical lodging. And if they were squirreled away in some cave somewhere, they might never be found.
With low spirits he returned to Mugdock. Neville met him in the hall for an update to which he confessed he had none.
“Your mother has been asking for you constantly.”
“No doubt because the boys are testing her last nerve.”
“No, I believe it may be far more serious than that.”
William examined Neville for sincerity. The man looked as worn out as William felt. He’d dark circles under his eyes and his entire outward manner was unkempt which was grossly out of character.
“Do you know what it is about?”
“I do, but you cannot hear these words from me. This is for your mother to tell you and she alone.”
William was tired and hungry, but he would see to his mother first and then to himself. There was nothing more he could do for Agnes in his current state.
He knocked softly on her chamber door then entered. She opened it immediately and then ushered him to the hearth and passed him a trencher of food and some ale.
“Have you discovered her yet?”
Taking a bite of bread and then a drink of ale, William shook his head. He placed the trencher and goblet aside. “Mother, Neville tells me you have something I need to hear. Do tell me now for I am travel weary and in need of rest so I can resume the search on the morrow.”
He loved his mother dearly, but she’d changed since his father died. More often than not, she resorted to her own musings and could often be heard mumbling to herself.
“You are a good son. Loyal,” she said.
The word perked his attention. Why would she choose that one considering everything happening at the moment.
“Mother, what is it you wish to tell me?”
His mother wrung her hands as she took the seat opposite him. Tears welled in her eyes then spilled over onto her cheeks.
