Page 13 of A Laird and a Healer

Tara rummaged around while Caroline and Nessa approached the entrance to the room. The door was the same type as the one in the other room. Caroline and Nessa looked at each other. If this door was locked, then they had just been through that harrowing escape for nothing. And, from a cursory glance, it didn’t seem as though there was enough material in this room to make another rope from which to escape and try again. Caroline took a breath before trying the door. It didn’t budge. Her heart sank.

“Oh nae…”

“Perhaps it’s stuck. Let us try taegether,” Nessa placed her hands around the ring handle. On a count of three, they heaved with all their strength. They felt a slight movement as wood scraped against stone, but the door was still closed. Caroline’s arms ached.

“I found these,” Tara announced, handing them each a rough shawl. The fabric was scratchy and might as well have been made of hedgehog bristles, but it was thick, and dark, which would help them melt into the shadows. Once they wrapped these over their shoulders, Caroline asked Tara to help.

Together, the three sisters tugged at the door with all their might, straining and straining until eventually, it budged. Once it started moving, it became easier, like an old man’s stiff joints. They pulled it open a crack and then peered out, finding an empty corridor waiting for them.

They sneaked out of the room, their footsteps light. They pressed against the walls of the castle and allowed themselves to be swallowed by shadows. They made their way to a staircase and followed it down, stopping only when they heard noises nearby. At this time of night, the castle was a barren place, populated only by tired guards and a few weary servants.

They were able to make it to the lower floor without any trouble. The only beings who noticed them were rats, and these just scuttled away to a dark hiding hole. They found a servant’s exit at the side of the castle, and a wave of relief passed through Caroline as they met open air. The embrace was cold, but most welcome. However, this was just the first part of the escape.

They still needed to find a village.

As they left the castle grounds and headed towards the forest, Caroline allowed herself to look over her shoulder towards the brooding, dark windows. In one of those rooms was Laird Knox, lying in bed, thinking about making her his wife. The offer of protection would only be given once. He had made that clear. Could she even trust his word? But if he was earnest, then she might have just given up the chance to be safe.

She had traded the risk of liberation with the safety of captivity. As she looked towards her sisters, she prayed that she had made the right choice. If not, they would all suffer because of her.

They reached the foreboding forest. There was a snaking, narrow road that disappeared between the trees, which all looked a little too close together.

“We should gae that way and make camp,” Nessa said, eager to take charge.

“Nae, this way,” Caroline nodded. “That road leads somewhere, presumably tae a village. We need tae put as much distance between us as possible. We cannae risk our uncle’s men finding us. I know ye want tae rest,” she turned towards Tara, “but we should nae become complacent.”

“We can make camp somewhere hidden. It’ll only be a small fire. I doubt any of the Gilmour guards are gaeing tae venture this far intae Knox territory. Dae ye really think Uncle is that desperate tae get us back?”

“I am nae willing tae take any chances. We need tae find shelter, and there is safety among other people.”

Nessa rounded on Caroline. They stopped moving. The silhouette of the castle was still visible behind them. “I was the one who came up with the idea tae escape. I hae good instincts when it comes tae the land. Ye should trust me.”

“I know, and ye did well, but I am still the eldest and I say that we keep moving. It’s tae much of a risk tae stay in one place, especially at this time of night. We need warmth, and we need safety,” Caroline said.

Nessa pouted, clearly unhappy, but she was not willing to split away from her sisters. Tara hung her head.

“All we dae is walking through forests,” she lamented.

Nessa rolled her eyes. Caroline held her tongue. She was too tired to intervene. They trudged forward as a weary trio. Caroline hoped that once they had a chance to calm down and feel safe, then their tempers would be soothed, and they might be able to plan the next part of their lives. She wasn’t sure when it was ever going to get easier, however. It wasn’t as though they had a great fortune to rely upon. They were going to have to work hard and hope to benefit from the kindness of strangers, although she feared that would be in short supply.

It wasn’t long before they heard rustling emerging from a nearby area. Tara gasped.

“Is it wolves?” she hissed.

No, it was something worse. It was bandits. They slithered out from their hiding place, each one looking meaner than the last.

“What dae we hae here? Am I dreaming?” he pinched himself and laughed, which became a chorus as the rest of the men joined in.

Nessa glared at Caroline, whose heart sank yet again. There were five men, although with bandits there was always the danger that more were lurking nearby.

“We dinnae want any trouble. We’re just passing through,” she said.

“Oh, we dinnae want any trouble either. We want quite the opposite, and sae it seems fated that ye should come our way. There are three of ye, and five of us. It seems we are blessed taenight.”

There was a malevolent flash in his eyes, and a grim smile stretched across his face. Caroline groaned. Was the world ever going to show them mercy?

“Run,” Caroline cried without a moment’s hesitation.

They turned on their heels and sprinted away, but the men were quick to react. The air was soon filled with the sound of their screams as heavy, rough arms grabbed them and dragged them down. Out of the corner of her eye, Caroline could see Nessa fighting back, scratching and clawing like a feral animal. Tara was dragged out of sight, her scream fading with a helpless look in her eyes. Caroline’s heart broke as she realized that she was incapable of keeping them safe. She had failed them.