I followed him as he stalked over and placed the shovel near the tunnel door.
I said, “Perhaps ye ought tae accept that if I say something unfeeling I am covering for a deeper affection. Tis my way, tis how I hae always been. I am calculating, but what I ken is that I canna lose ye… I would prefer tae hae ye on my side, I hae grown used tae ye.”
“I know it, and I know this is your way, I also suggest that sometimes instead of ‘I hae grown used tae ye’ you might be softer toward your Wilfrey, especially when he has just saved your daughter from the gallows.”
“Tis true, ye did, I will remember it...” Then I took a deep breath. “I love ye, Wilfrey, I need tae get ye away before anyone changes their mind, I canna imagine a life without ye.”
He said, “I love ye too, Mairead.”
With the vessel in our possession, Wilfred and I made our way around the outer edge of the castle, checking back over our shoulder at the flames licking the sky.
I said, “We need tae be much farther away. We daena want the wind tae spread the flames.”
We walked a long distance, with only the flashlight tae guide our path.
And then finally I put out a hand. It had begun tae sprinkle.
I looked back over my shoulder. Twas too far away tae see the castle, but I felt relief. “I think tis about tae rain, Wilfrey. See,though I hae taken the vessel, the heavens are looking down on me favorably.”
“This is how God’s favor works?”
“In my mind, aye.”
We jumped back tae the kingdom.
CHAPTER 43
MAGNUS
THAT’S A BIG FIRE
The roof was on fire.
I made it to the corridor leading tae the nursery as the women and bairns were fleeing. Hayley had Jack and Isla, Archie was behind them, helping, and there were already other men carryin’ bairns and directing everyone else tae safety.
I told Hayley tae go down tae the courtyard, I would meet her there, and raced down the hall taeward the solar. I found John in the hall and grabbed him brusquely by the shirt and shoved him against the wall. “Where are ye goin’?”
“The roof is on fire!”
“Ye go get Sean and Wilfrey from the dungeons, let them go! We need Sean, we need men tae fight the fire!”
I shoved him down the corridor and found Kaitlyn unsteady on her feet. I picked her up around the waist, with Haggis at my heels. “Good boy, follow me, daena get lost!” I ushered everyone tae the stairs at the opposite end of the corridor. “Careful as ye descend!”
A guard behind me was yelling, “Grab the fire hooks, men!” Two men grabbed leather buckets from the wall and raced down the steps tae the river, setting up a brigade. Guards pushed pastthe women and children creating a jam at the stairwell, waiting tae descend.
I grew impatient, twas a trial tae get tae the courtyard, until finally the knot of people lessened and I was able tae navigate down. I raced through the door tae the courtyard, and across, placing Kaitlyn on the ground against a wall.
Her face was deservin’ of sympathy. There was blood spattered across her mouth and chin, her cheeks…and it had dripped ontae her gown.
I crouched in front of her. “Ye alright, mo reul-iuil, hae ye broken yer nose?”
“It hurts like hell.” She blinked, on the point of sobbin’.
I reached out and gingerly touched it.
She moaned.
I poked and prodded it carefully.
