into his mouth. He thrashed, knocking the vessel out of her hands, it shattered on the stone floor. “You have the fever.”
Quickly, she doused a cloth and draped it over his searing skin.
“Argh!” he bellowed, shaking it off.
“You must!” she cried, rolling the linen and wiping his forehead, only to receive a smack between the eyes for her efforts.
But that did not dissuade her. She doused a cloth and then another. “Lie still,” she commanded while she rubbed down his entire body.
“C-cold.”
She didn’t stop. If only he knew how encouraging his one word was. “I ken.”
“M’lady,” came Davy’s voice with a rap on the door.
“Come,” she said, standing and straightening her skirts.
Davy’s gaze immediately snapped to James. “He’s fevered?”
“Aye. We need more willow bark tea.”
“I’ll see to it, but first you must come with me.”
“Have you news?”
“Aye. Torquil has arrived.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
After the night’s sleep, Ailish felt a bit better as she followed Davy into the courtyard. Ahead, Torquil stood at the well, guzzling a ladle of water.
“Please tell me you have something good to report,” she said, hastening toward him.
His back heaving with a deep breath, he replaced the ladle in the bucket and turned. But he didn’t appear anything like the cocksure Torquil she’d come to know. His face was filthy and purple bruises swelled beneath his eyes.
“What happened? You look as if you’ve been wallowing in a bog whilst being bludgeoned.”
“Mayhap that’s because I have been.”
She grasped his wrist and tugged him toward a bench. “Sit and tell me everything. Do not leave out a single detail.” She sat beside him, while Davy stood with his arms crossed. “Have you located Harris?”
“At least I ken where Lord Caerlaverock took him—Lochmaben.”
Ailish’s mouth fell open. “But that’s so nearby.”
“That tidbit of information nearly sent me to an early grave.”
“I’m surprised you weren’t waiting for us when we arrived,” said Davy. “What happened?”
“Firstly, the folk in Galloway are all afraid for their lives. They go about their affairs with their heads down, looking over their shoulders all the while.”
Her stomach twisted in a knot. “’Tis on account of Uncle Herbert’s cruelty.”
“His Lordship and the commander of Dumfries Castle—Sir Richard Girard.”
“Girard?” Ailish drummed her fingers on her chin. “I’m not familiar with that name.”
“Mayhap because you’ve been sheltered for the past six years, m’lady,” said Davy. “He’s one of Edward’s henchmen—a murderous tyrant.”
Torquil removed his helm and raked his fingers through his wiry hair. “Aye, and after news arrived of Caerlaverock’s death, the cur started rounding up every suspect, including all travelers who happened past. I barely escaped with my life.”
“Then how did you find out where they took Harris?” asked Ailish.
“When I first arrived, the townsfolk were just chilly, unapproachable, if you ken what I mean.”
Ailish nodded, though it twisted her heart to do so. Before the wars, the kin around Caerlaverock and Dumfries were kind and hospitable.
“For eight days, I minded my own affairs—sat in the alehouse and watched the comings and goings. Listened, as well.” Torquil glanced up to Davy. “A cleric came in every evening after vespers. Always sat alone, drank one pint and left.”
Gooseflesh rose across Ailish’s skin. “Alfred?”
“Do you know him?” asked Torquil.
“He was one of my father’s most trusted. Alfred was the one who helped us escape—had a skiff waiting at the Firth of Solway.”
“Then my news is most likely valid.”
“He’s the one who told you Uncle Herbert took Harris to Lochmaben?”
“Aye, and then I didn’t see him again after the Lord Warden rode into town and announced you had escaped.”
“Oh, dear.”
“’Tis dangerous beyond these walls. His Lordship has combined armies with Sir Richard and they are plundering all of Galloway, offering a reward to anyone who leads them to you and your accomplices.”
“Did you say anything to Alfred about Sir James or Lady Ailish?”
“Not exactly.” Torquil rapped his knuckles atop his helm. “But after we talked a bit, I needed to tell him something to earn his trust.”
“Of course you did,” said Ailish, dryly.
Davy picked up a smooth stone and rubbed it between his fingers. “What kind of something?”
“I told him that I understood on undeniable authority that the new King of Scotland had recognized Harris as the Earl of Caerlaverock.”
“Then he told you where the usurper took the lad?”
“That was basically the whole of it. I might have said I kent a man who would do anything to keep the lad from falling into Edward’s hands…but nothing too incriminating.”
Davy tossed the stone at the well. “How did you end up running for your