“Perhaps.” Jamie nodded. “I’ll bed down in here. Bhaltair and Fearchar, ye take Rabbie’s chamber and bar the door. That window gives out onto the roof of the laundry, so ye can get out that way if ye must. But if ye must, dinna come for me. I’ll no’ be harmed. Rabbie and Niall, sleep in the stable, out of sight, then go as soon as the gate opens at first light to let in the workers from the village. Try no’ to be seen making yer way there.”
Rabbie nodded agreement, then said, “If we’re discovered taking these precautions, do ye still think ye’ll be able to go to the abbey? Perhaps we all should leave.”
“The Keith willnae refuse the abbot. I’ll take Aftyn with me in case we can leave from there.”
“Braden, the heir, is keen to try the new mounts that arrived today,” Rabbie added. “If he goes with ye…”
“Nay. We’d have to go with a Keith escort.”
Fearchar crossed his arms. “Is that good or bad?
“Both,” Bhaltair said. “It gets a few of them out of the keep and out of our way, but means there’s a guard to control Jamie’s movements.”
“I dinna think it will come to that,” Jamie said. “But if it does, ye all ken what ye are to do.”
* * *
Jamie rosebefore dawn to ensure Rabbie and Niall, dressed as Fearchar, were able to leave the Keith stronghold at first light. He had not been disturbed during the night. Nor, Bhaltair told him when they met in the great hall, had he and Fearchar.
Jamie and Bhaltair kept their distance and watched as Rabbie and Niall headed out as soon as the gate opened. Workers streamed into the keep around their mounts. When the guards made no move to delay or stop them, Jamie breathed a sigh of relief and traded a look with Bhaltair that acknowledged the risk of losing two men. But Jamie felt it wise to have his men carry home news of their whereabouts and Jamie’s concerns. If necessary, the threat of Lathan reprisals would keep the Keith laird from doing anything foolhardy. And remove the risk Niall’s mostly healed leg posed to Jamie.
He hoped he was right. But the prickling at the nape of his neck told him this was no time to let down their guard.
He and Bhaltair went back into the hall to break their fast. As they’d planned, Fearchar remained in their shared chamber, waiting for them to bring food back up to him. As long as they didn’t have to say who remained and who left, he hoped Niall would not be missed. He had a moment of regret that Niall had made his way down to the great hall more than once. It would be simpler now if he had remained above stairs. Still, their hosts could assume whatever they wished about him no longer venturing out of his chamber.
In the meantime, there was no sense all being together, making it easier for the Keith to do whatever he planned to do. And Jamie had no doubt he planned something.
Everything seemed normal. He didn’t notice any tension among the Keiths who passed through the great hall, nor among those who sat at nearby tables to start their day. They weren’t being surrounded. Nor was the path blocked to the keep’s door or the stairs to the level where Fearchar awaited them.
Jamie finished eating and sat back, keeping Bhaltair company while he ate, and keeping an eye on their surroundings. Neve had returned, he noted, as she crossed near them and gave them a friendly wave before disappearing into the hallway that led to the keep’s kitchen.
Finally, Bhaltair finished. He caught a serving lass’s attention and ordered food for Fearchar.
Jamie stood. “Ye take that up. I’m going to the stable.”
Even if he didn’t ride on a given day, he liked to stop by the stable to make sure the Lathan mounts were being well taken care of. But today, he needed to find out if the stable master had expressed any concerns about two missing Lathan mounts. Better he tell Jamie, who could reassure him, than go to the laird.
When he entered, he heard a voice, but not the stable master’s deep tones. Once his eyes adjusted to the interior gloom, he saw Braden and Aftyn standing outside a stall door, a new horse nosing at their shoulders. He’d heard Braden, then. Aftyn nodded at something he said to her, and reached up to stroke the horse’s muzzle.
“Am I interrupting ye? I can come back later.” He gestured toward the doorway, as though asking if he should leave. He thought they would probably like to give him a resoundingayeand see the back of him, but instead, Aftyn shook her head.
“Nay, Jamie. Join us. Braden was telling me about the new horses that just arrived from Crieff.”
“Indeed?” He’d bet his left arm they hadn’t been discussing those horses. He could read Aftyn, and she wasn’t telling the truth. Had they noticed two missing Lathan mounts? Or had they not been missed with new mounts replacing them this morning?
“Aye,” Braden agreed, then cleared his throat and gestured at the stalls on either side of the one where they were standing. “Look at these beauties. They will do much to improve our stock.”
“They should,” Jamie replied. He kept his expression noncommittal, curious to see how far they would take this tale.
“I understand Niall is one of yer best horsemen,” Braden added. “I’d enjoy seeing him ride.”
That took the conversation in an uncomfortable new direction. Niall was gone, but Braden couldn’t know that yet.
A serving lass stuck her head in the doorway. “Aftyn, I found ye! Can ye come? Janet sliced her thumb in the kitchen, and I went first up to yer herbal. Someone told me they’d seen ye coming out here.”
Aftyn headed toward the door. She paused and turned back to Braden for a moment. “I’ll be back soon. This willna take long.” Then she followed the lass.
Jamie might never get another chance to be alone with Braden. He wanted to do something for the lad before he left. He opened the stall door and entered, Braden on his heels. “These look to have Spanish lines.”
