Highland Escape - Cathy MacRae Page 0,14

make me sicken.

She peered through the small barred window in the door as she placed the foul-smelling bowl of stew on the floor. A guard always stood outside, watching the cells. For what purpose, she knew not, as there were no other prisoners.

What I do know is I have not grown used to this cursed cold, damp air. She rubbed her arms vigorously. I wake cold, go to sleep cold. Resolutely, she turned from the door and began her exercises again.

At last warmed and tired, she turned her observations to the behavior of the men guarding the cells. None approached, nor attempted to speak to her. At night, a leering beast of a man kept watch. The way he stared at her left an unsettling feeling. He usually fell asleep around matins, his chair propped against the back wall.

On the second night of her captivity, the guard’s snoring jarred Anna from sleep. She tossed a few small pieces of stone into the hall. He didn’t stir. She tapped lightly on the heavy wooden door, then louder. The snoring continued. She smiled. He was a deep sleeper.

The midday meal was another bowl of the greasy stew. Anna poked at the chunks of meat floating in the broth, watching the fat congeal on the surface as it cooled. She touched the soft grease thoughtfully. Dipping her fingers in the slippery fat, she slathered it across the hinges of her cell door.

Night fell on the third day. Waiting until the guard fell asleep, Anna took her blanket and pushed it out the barred window of the door until it hung past the lock. Carefully, she withdrew the two steel throwing darts hidden in her bracers, and inserted them in the lock. She worked quickly, one eye on the guard, the wool of the blanket muffling the sounds.

Within minutes, she eased the door open. Creeping into the hall, she stared at the enormous guard, each snore a thunderous boom. Cat-like, she padded to the door leading into the next hallway. Not hesitating, she slowly raised the bar and peered down the hall. Meeting no sign of activity, she moved stealthily along the corridor leading to the great hall. Careful inspection of the large room showed no movement and no sound. The great hall, usually the center of activity, lay as quiet as the bottom of a loch.

At the door to the bailey, she pulled up short, scanning the yard. The gates are secured for the night. I cannot fetch Orion and leave until dawn and the gates are opened. She glanced about for a place to hide in the lingering darkness.

The moon loomed overhead, almost full, flooding the vacant bailey with light. Men walked the curtain wall, keeping watch, their attention turned outward rather than into the yard. Sticking to the shadows along the wall, she slipped into the stables without a sound.

Unable to find slumber yet again, Duncan strolled the curtain wall as he had on other sleepless nights. Only a pair of hours till dawn and he’d yet to get the lass out of his mind. ’Twas well beyond frustrating. Never had a woman affected him this swiftly, this absolutely. Each time he thought of her, lust, possessiveness and an overwhelming urge to protect her filled him. She had the body of a leannan sith and the heart of a warrior, a mystery constantly prodding his peace. He traveled the same mental paths over and over again, wondering who she was and replaying the arguments with his father, leaving no room for sleep.

A slight movement drew his attention in the yard. No, it cannot be. Could my thoughts have summoned her? He squatted in the shadow of a crenel and watched for the movement again. He closed his eyes and scrubbed his face before looking once more to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.

The shadow moved again. A cloaked figure made its way around the perimeter of the yard toward the stables. Duncan’s lips flexed into a smile as he remained motionless, watching. He wanted to see how much success this hooded padfoot would gain.

Certain of the identity of the brazen sneak, he couldn’t fathom how she’d broken out of her cell, past Alain, and then out of the hall without attracting attention. Glancing at the men on watch, he noticed they only scanned the grounds outside the keep. This would be an enlightening experience indeed. His smile curved further in anticipation.

She slipped into the stables as silently as she