Lady Katherine wrung her hands. The soldiers went off in all directions. Men and women came from their rooms tae stand in the courtyard watching the drama unfold. A few people leaned from windows on the upper floors watchin’ from above.
I was furious. I tried tae look calm, and dignified and important but I wanted tae kill Sir Colin, and I truly wanted the men tae look in the nursery. I had discerned which room it was, and I kept m’eye on the door.
A soldier reported tae Sir Colin that she wasna found. He explained tae me, “We haena found her, as I said before, she is a—”
“Ye should look in the nursery, since twas yer nursemaid who has been the thief.”
Lady Katherine looked distraught. “Nae, Sir Colin, ye canna send the soldiers intae the nursery, there is a new bairn—”
He said, “Then call the women outside, we need a full accounting.”
“In the snow?”
“Aye, in the snow.”
We all walked over tae the door of the nursery and Lady Katherine called in "All of ye, please come tae the door.”
A lone woman came tae the door. The woman, Lady Katherine, and Mary conferred. In their whispers I thought I heard the words, coigreach, and then bean. They meant stranger and wife.
I said tae Sir Colin, “She inna bringin’ them all.”
The women continued tae confer and I refused tae wait. I pushed m’way past them as they exclaimed and yelled for me tae stop.
Once inside m’eyes took a moment tae adjust. Cradles and beds. Twas cold and reeked of excrement. If the bairn became sick, twould nae be my fault in it.
Barely able tae see in the dark shadowy room I scanned along the room tae find someone in a pile up against the back wall. Kaitlyn. I rushed tae her, pulling her shoulder tae look down on her face. She looked wild, and frightened, and smelled horrible. I pulled her up and she cried out, "Ow, ow it hurts, please don’t...”
Twas like she was out of her mind not recognizing me.
I lifted her from the floor and she felt light and weak. I carried her from the room. As the light of the outdoors hit us, she recoiled. The shock must hae awoken her. “Magnus?”
“Aye, tuck in, mo reul-iuil, I need tae get ye from here.”
Sir Colin said, “Who is this, is this your wife?”
“Aye, I want the ring as well.” I held her up with one arm and held my hand out for the ring.
He followed along as I strode across the courtyard tae the gate. “Ye hae tae ken I had nae idea she was here.”
“She was under yer roof, in the nursery, she is injured and unwell. I daena believe she has been given enough tae eat and her wedding ring was stolen, tis a Christian household?”
I had tae raise her a little tae get her weight higher on my shoulder. She whimpered, holding tight around my neck.
"In recompense for the damage done tae what is properly mine, I will want yer promise that I will hae safe passage out of yer lands."
He flustered.
“Or else with the king's blessin’ ye will be met by m’army on the morrow.“
“The Queen.”
I stopped still. “Aye... the queen. We are friends, ye ken.”
“Aye, ye can stay in the north woods, across the bridge, ye winna be bothered.”
The stable boy brought my horses.
I raised Kaitlyn up tae the back of the lead. I led them farther along tae the gate. And then I climbed behind Kaitlyn because she was weak and foldin’ over as if she could nae find the strength tae hold on.
“I hae ye, Kaitlyn, ye are safe,” I said as I rode from the fort. I was headed north, but once out of sight, once I was clear, I would turn south because I was sure tae be followed.
Thirty-seven - Magnus
Kaitlyn spoke, “So thirsty.”
I pulled a bottle from my side pack. “Wheesht, we are followed.” She drank the whole bottle thirstily, then quieted. For a time she fell asleep.
I rode and rode, picking a trail that took us north and then followin’ a path that Sean and I would often use with Uncle Baldie. I took a shortcut around a cliff’s edge and down tae a riverbank and along it. I found a shallow place for crossing, and then climbed intae the hills on the south side. All the while I watched behind us until I felt sure that I had lost whoever had