an ambush. Both options were fraught with danger. Worse, as they rounded the bend, the miserable mob of cows blocked the road.
***
“What are we to do now?” asked Ailish?
“May as well use these beasts to our advantage.” With a wave of his hand, James rallied the men. “Walk your mounts through the mob and keep your heads down.”
“Are ye daft?” asked Torquil. “We ought to be riding up the ridge and setting an ambush.”
Ailish glanced upward. There was a ridge beside them, but there was no way to climb it unless they backtracked. Across was a forest of brambles, too thick for anyone to pass through.
James started into the herd. “Do as I say.”
Torquil shook his head. “You’re signing our death warrants.”
“Just meander through these beasts as if it were a holiday. And pray we reach the front of the herd afore the bastards catch up with us,” said the fearless knight.
Ailish glanced over her shoulder as she followed James. The hide of a beast brushed her leg, but they were walking slowly enough that the friction did nothing to annoy the animal.
“What are you doing?” yelled a drover from the side.
“Don’t mind us,” James hollered back. “We’ll be through in no time.”
As they slowly surged forward, James’ eyes never stopped scanning the road behind.
The reins slipped in Ailish’s hand as she forced herself not to dig in her heels and demand a gallop.
“Archers!” yelled Caelan.
“Turn the beasts around—make them stampede!” James bellowed, slapping his crop on the nose of a steer.
Ailish did the same, shouting at the top of her lungs. As the cattle spooked, so did her horse, rearing and making her feet slip out of the stirrups. She held on with her knees, leaning as far over the horse’s neck as she could. When his hooves hit the dirt, the gelding charged straight for the open road ahead.
“Whoa,” she commanded, tugging on the reins and forcing herself to ease the pressure of her knees. No matter how much she wanted to squeeze, the only way to calm a frightened horse was to relax her seat.
She curled forward, pulling and releasing, pulling and releasing. “Easy now,” she cooed. “Easy.”
By the time she had the gelding slowed to a fast trot, James was beside her. “Are you all right, m’lady?”
She tugged again. “I am now.”
He reached for the bridle and, together, they slowed to a walk.
“That was brilliant,” said Torquil, reining his mount beside them. “But why didn’t you tell us that was the plan afore we walked into the mob?”
“I wasn’t certain we’d reach the front of the herd by the time the soldiers arrived.” James glanced back. “Did you get a look at how many were following?”
“A half-dozen at most,” said Caelan. “Every last one trampled.”
Ailish cringed and crossed herself. “Merciful Father.”
“Better them than us,” said Torquil.
“Do you think more will follow?” she asked.
James leveled a hard stare her way, his black eyes intense. “There are always more—but none who can identify us, God willing.”
Ailish craned her neck, searching for a milepost. “We’d best find a less traveled route to Carlisle.”
James pointed as a detour came into view. “What say you men? We ride for Carlisle at a fast trot?”
“How much farther?” asked Caelan.
“Eight miles, give or take.”
It didn’t take long to ride the distance along the detour. The curtain walls of the city came into view as did the River Caldew skirting along the east side. In the foreground, an enormous cathedral dominated the sky, every bit as large as the cathedral at Scone Abbey. Walls at least as tall as three stories surrounded the city with a blanket of smoke hanging above. A tower presided over the gate’s archway, but though the entry was grand, the gatehouse was dwarfed by the towers beyond.
Ailish’s heart pounded. “To think, I might be embracing Harris afore the compline bell rings!”
“We must find him first,” replied James as he held up his hand. “Slow to a walk, men. We do not want to draw any more attention to ourselves than necessary.”
With market day on the morrow, laborers and craftsmen approached the gates, leading carts filled with wares. “I wish we still had the wagon of pelts.”
“There’s no replacing it now,” said James before he turned to the others. “I’ll do the talking.”
Ailish ran her fingers over the bow she wore across her shoulder, praying there would be no bloodshed this time. When the sentry stopped them at the gate, she peered beyond the line of pikemen guarding the city’s