Highland Warlord - Amy Jarecki Page 0,67

dead.

After Her Ladyship climbed a mounting block and was sitting on a horse, he looked to the skies and prayed for no harm to come to Her Ladyship—now flanked two-deep by soldiers.

Though an attack on a small retinue would be far easier than escaping this fortress, once they rode out of the city gates, there were no guarantees. There would be bloodshed, of that he was absolutely certain.

***

“I would prefer a modicum of privacy, if you please,” said Ailish, marching into the brush. “I do not need an audience of rank guards supervising as I attend my personal needs.”

“Form a perimeter,” said one.

Ailish groaned under her breath. The Lord Warden’s soldiers were insufferable but there was no chance she’d let one of them watch. She stopped behind an enormous clump of yellow gorse and turned full circle to ensure she was out of sight.

Thank the good Lord for small mercies.

After she’d taken care of her needs, she stood and brushed out her skirts when a bannock-sized rock caught her eye. Etched in charcoal was, “Black D +.” Her heart hammered as she quickly dipped down, rubbed off the writing, and turned the stone over. “James?” she whispered.

The whistle of a warbler came from the brush.

Smart of him. It was too dangerous to talk with so many armed men standing guard.

“My Lady,” bellowed one of the guards. “You’ve had quite long enough.”

“Not to worry.” Good heavens, her voice sounded far too chirpy. She cleared her throat and she continued, “I am coming out now.”

Ailish pursed her lips, affecting an expression of annoyance as she stepped into the clearing. A guard grabbed her manacles and tugged her toward a fallen log. “Sit here. I’ll fetch you a bit of bread.”

Saying nothing, she did as told while her gaze flicked across the faces of each soldier. Where was James? Was he following? Would he attack? When?

For the love of everything holy, she would do anything to flee from the Lord Warden.

The guard returned with a large serving of bread—more than she’d eaten in any one day since being locked in the postern tower. “I suggest you eat your fill. With the longer days, it will most likely be quite a while before the next meal.”

“Thank you,” she said, accepting the food and taking an enormous bite. Her mouth watered as if she’d just filled it with nectar. Good heavens, the bread wasn’t even stale.

As she ate, she continued to search until she spotted James by the horses. He was larger than anyone else, broader in the shoulders as well. She recognized his two-handed sword at his waist, his dirk and armor. He wore a cloak, but he’d pushed the hood back, revealing a shadow of black hair upon his head. Had he decided to grow it back?

“Jimmy,” hollered the man-at-arms, who was standing beside the Lord Warden.

James responded to the call and joined the men. Ailish smiled to herself. Her knight had not been following. He’d been in their midst since they’d set out. But why hadn’t she noticed him before?

And why had he not shown himself to me straightaway?

No matter how much she wanted to be angry with him for his ruse, her insides bubbled. Quickly, she glanced across the faces again. Hmm, none of his other men were in the retinue, not even Davy.

She accepted a cup of water and watched James from behind it. What was he planning? If only she could have talked to him when she was in the gorse.

By the time the horses had been rested and she’d been given a leg-up to remount, James still had not even glanced her way. Had he any idea how infuriating it was to have him so close yet suffer his disregard?

Ailish let out a long breath. He is here, is he not? The Black Douglas had not forsaken her. The king’s champion. A hardened warrior who left nothing to chance. Indeed, he hadn’t immediately ridden after Harris, but sent out a scout to gather information so they would be successful on their quest.

Yet things had not exactly proceeded swimmingly.

Things had gone rather badly.

Had he found Harris? Is that why the others were not here?

After they’d been riding for a time, she pretended to admire the scenery. Northern England was much the same as the south of Scotland with sheep and cattle dotting her rolling hills. Ever so subtly, she glanced over her shoulder and examined the five guards at the rear, her gaze halting when it connected with James’