Jamie glanced at Braden, who nodded.
“I’ll see to it,” the lad said. “And if there’s anything else ye need, send for me. The guard is loyal to me. I’ll speak to him on the way out.”
“Thank ye,” Jamie told him, then made his farewells to his men. “Now, if ye ken, where is Aftyn? I will speak to her next.”
Braden led him from the passageway. True to his word, he instructed the guard to fetch him immediately if their guests asked for him.
Jamie had no reason to believe the guard would do as Braden asked, but he didn’t argue. He doubted the guard saw his men as guests, and would likely not risk the laird’s displeasure beyond allowing Aftyn to bring them food. They continued up to the herbal, and Braden left him in Aftyn’s company.
Once Braden left, she ran to his arms and held him. “Ach, Jamie, I’m so ashamed. None of this should be happening.”
“Thank ye for taking care of my men,” he told her. She looked frustrated. Ah, she’d been puzzling over her mother’s journal. Hoping to distract her, he added, “Braden told me what ye did, bringing them food and drink.”
“I couldna let them be harmed. ’Tis shameful to use them against ye that way.”
“Then will ye help me free them? And come with us when we do?”
“My da will hunt ye down and bring ye back. Or lay siege to yer keep to get ye back.”
Jamie laughed. “That’s been tried before. He canna do it.”
Looking up, she met his gaze. “What can I do?”
“I have some ideas,” Jamie told her, then brushed her lips with his. “But none will work without ye.”
* * *
They spentthe rest of the time before the evening meal planning how to release Bhaltair and Fearchar.
Aftyn argued against including Braden in their plans. He had to remain ignorant or his father might punish him, or worse, disinherit and banish him. Jamie agreed, but privately thought another insider’s help might make all the difference.
The next morning, Jamie made his way to the dungeon and told the guard he recognized as Braden’s man that he’d been sent to see to his men’s welfare. The guard argued. Jamie suspected he wasn’t as loyal to Braden as Braden thought. While the man was distracted by his incredulity that the heir would send Jamie alone to see to his imprisoned men, Jamie knocked him out. It was too easy. Jamie relieved him of his weapons and keys, then freed his men.
The most difficult part of the plan was to get to the stables without being seen or stopped. The entrance to the dungeon was a few feet down the bailey past the guard tower stairs that led up to the wall walk. Hooded cloaks and a foggy, cold morning made that trip somewhat simpler. There were few people about, and none paid attention to the stooped, cloaked figures making their way deeper into the bailey toward the stables.
When they reached their objective, Jamie expected to see two horses readied for Aftyn and Neve to go riding, as they’d planned. Jamie’s men would take them, and Jamie would quickly ready his own mount, which Aftyn would share with him.
The horses weren’t ready. Worse, Aftyn wasn’t there.
Frustration and fear filled Jamie. Where was she? Had she betrayed them? If so, guards would fill the stables in moments, and he’d join his men in the dungeon. He tensed, signaling for Bhaltair to watch the entrance while he checked the stalls. He found nothing but the horses that belonged there. Nothing happened.
Confused and concerned, Jamie debated going with his men or staying to find out what happened to Aftyn. If her father found out what they’d planned, she could be in danger. Jamie didn’t want to imagine what he could do to punish her.
“Saddle yer mounts, ride out and wait in the woods,” Jamie decided and told them. If I dinna join ye by moonrise tonight, ride to the Aerie and tell my father what has happened here. Rabbie and Niall should have made it home by now. Ye may meet Lathans on their way here. If ye dinna, find out whether those two made it.”
“Ye must come with us. Ye canna stay or ye’ll wind up in the dungeon.”
Jamie shook his head at Bhaltair. “The laird willna harm me. I have to find out why Aftyn didna do as we agreed. Something is wrong.”
“We’ll wait for ye,” Fearchar said. “Come on, Bhaltair. We havena much time.”
* * *
Jamie’s menwould have no problem riding out through the open gate and disappearing into the woods. There were blankets aplenty in the stable for them to take against the cold. He’d thought they’d have to do without the food and drink Aftyn had promised to have waiting with the horses, but he found the stable master’s stash of bread, cheese, and a jug of cider, and gave that to them while they readied their mounts, then left them to do as he’d instructed and went in search of Aftyn.
He headed up to the herbal first, but it was empty. Neve, he recalled, still spent most of her time at the abbey, being courted by Hamish, so Aftyn wouldn’t be closeted somewhere with her.
Aftyn’s chamber was also empty. She wasn’t in the great hall or the kitchen. If nothing else, he thought enough people had seen him in the keep by now to take no notice of two missing prisoners.
