could barely stand as we walked forward under the lash of a shouted command. I had to help her to stand upright, and as we were herded down the steep, rough-hewn steps to the narrow castle entrance, she leaned on me so gratefully that I ended up almost carrying her.
I managed to twist my head around as we turned the last corner and caught sight of Mr. Haddo in the middle of a group of kitchen workers. They were staring at me in shocked surprise, shaking their heads in disapproval, and making no effort to rescue me, though Agnes lifted her hand in a daring wave. I turned my back on them, lifted my chin, and marched out of that dreadful place with as much dignity as I could, though my throat was tight when I thought that Tam could not leave with me. He would lie in Dunnottar Castle forever, and I hadn't even stood by the little mound that marked his grave one last time to say goodbye.
***
Was it by sheer chance that Neil Sharpus was one of the soldiers sent to escort the prisoners on their long, miserable march back to Edinburgh? Uncle Blair would have thanked the guiding hand of Providence. Granny would have congratulated herself on the success of one of her lucky charms. At any rate, it was a good thing for me that he was there.
The prisoners were so weak with lack of food and their long imprisonment that many of them could barely walk, and we went only a short distance that day. Once we had been herded into a barn commandeered from a grumbling farmer, our manacles and chains were removed, so that we could at least ease the cramps in our shoulders and move around amongst ourselves. At last, I was able to go to Uncle Blair.
"Maggie," he croaked, laying a trembling hand on my shoulder. "Dear child. I hoped you'd escaped from that dreadful place weeks ago."
"I found work, Uncle. In the kitchens. I was never far away, but I couldn't find a way to speak to you again."
He looked around vaguely.
"Where's your friend, the piper? He should have looked after you better. He should have gotten you away."
I frowned at the criticism in his voice.
"Tam's dead, Uncle. He—I didn't realize how sick he was. I shouldn't have made him come with me. He was good to me. Always."
"I'm glad to hear it. The man didn't seem up to much to me. A lightweight kind of a fellow."
I was stung.
He came to save you, I wanted to say. It was for you he died.
But I could see that Uncle Blair's mind had moved on.
"Is there news from home? Have you heard from Ladymuir?"
As I shook my head, there was a buzz of voices from the big barn doors. Someone even laughed.
"They've brought fresh water for us, Hugh!" a man called out. "Without charging for it. And there are oatcakes and even cheese, at a reasonable price."
"Praise the Lord!" said Uncle Blair, his face lighting up with childlike delight. "Today has brought such happiness! To smell fresh air again, and to see the green grass and the sky, and to see you again, my dear girl, so well and bonny. I've been tormented with fears for you! And on top of all this, a real supper!"
I swallowed my disappointment. The two halves of my life would never be brought together, I could see that clearly now. I felt in my pocket for my precious hoard of coins and threaded my way through the exhausted Covenanters toward the soldiers lounging by the door. Musketeer Sharpus caught hold of my arm and spun me around.
"So, piper's girl, you're a traitor after all. And to think I put myself out to help you. A fine fool you've made of me."
I shook my head earnestly.
"I didn't mean to make a fool of you, sir. It's true that Tam and I came to Dunnottar in search of my uncle, but I'm not a Covenanter, not really. I don't understand about all that. I don't know what I am. I wish I did. I just want to do what's right."
He loosened his grip.
"There's no making you out, girl. I keep tripping over you all the time."
He sounded more perplexed than angry. Encouraged, I smiled at him.
"Please, will you let me walk free tomorrow? I won't run away. I want to stay near my uncle, that's all." An inspiration came to me. I felt in my pocket