They had evidently hidden there before because the older children were already disappearing down the side of the hill. As Connor left the path to follow them, he glanced over his shoulder. He saw no one yet, but they would be coming.
The family hid in an eight-foot-wide depression in the side of the hill created when a large tree had been uprooted.
"Ye must keep the children quiet," Connor whispered to Malcom and his wife while he passed the two bairns he had carried down to them.
Connor lay flat in the grass next to their hiding place where he would be able to see anyone on the path above them. Sounds were still coming from the cottage, but he suspected the MacLeods would split into groups to search. At least, that is what he would order if he were in charge.
One of the children cried out and was quickly silenced.
"This way!" a voice called out. "I heard something!"
* * *
"Put that knife down before ye slice your thumb off," Cook said and took it from her. "Ye shouldn't be doing kitchen work at all, but you're a danger to yourself today."
"I'm sorry to get in your way," Ilysa said. "I'm just worried."
After pacing her room until she could stand it no more, she had come down to the kitchen hoping to distract herself.
"The chieftain has gone out with some of the men several nights now," Cook said as he chopped onions with blinding speed, "and nothing's gone wrong."
Ilysa had told herself that over and over. Yet she could not shake this feeling of impending disaster.
"The men will return soon," Cook said. "You'll see."
"Of course they will," Ilysa said and kissed his cheek. "I'll leave ye to your work."
As she was going up the circular stairs to her chamber, Ilysa suddenly felt cold pass through her as if someone were walking on her grave. She held her hand against the stone wall to steady herself while her sight grew blurry. Though she was aware of where she was, the stairwell disappeared, and she saw Connor bathed in moonlight. He was reaching his arm out to her, and his tunic was dripping with blood.
As soon as the vision passed, Ilysa raced up the stairs, knowing what she must do. She hurriedly collected the things she would need and put on her cloak.
Chapter 11
On the ridge above them, Connor saw the outline of five warriors, clearly visible in the moonlight. Barely breathing, he glanced at the row of children flattened against the side of the hill and prayed they would keep silent.
Through the tall grass, Connor watched the five warriors, willing them to leave. They were close enough that he could make out their voices in the quiet night.
"The MacDonald chieftain was supposed to be here," one of them said. "Our reward will be great if we're the ones who find him."
The MacLeods knew he would be here. As Connor had suspected, one of his own had given him up. But which one?
Connor held his breath as the men turned north and followed the path in the direction of Trotternish Castle. He waited several long minutes after they disappeared before rising to his hands and knees for a better look.
"Are they gone?" Malcom asked.
"Hush!" Connor ordered when he heard the low rumble of the warriors' voices above him. "They're returning."
A short time later, the MacLeod warriors were once again standing above them.
"We should look down this hill," one of them said.
Connor tensed. Malcom was not a trained warrior, which meant Connor would have to take all five MacLeods himself.
"Ach, no, let's go back to the boat," another of the men said. "I have a jug of whiskey and a warm lass waiting for me at home."
Connor prayed the others would listen to him.
"We'll leave after we look down here," the first man said.
Connor heard the familiar swish of their claymores swinging through the tall grass as the five men walked down the hill. After signaling to the family to stay low, he ran across the side of the hill in a low crouch. He had to move fast to circle behind the men before they stumbled upon the family's hiding spot.
When he reached the path, he scooped up a handful of stones and climbed a large tree. As soon as he was out of sight in the branches, he hurled the stones, sending them bouncing up the path. Then he climbed out onto a thick