The Scot's Pursuit - Keira Montclair Page 0,48

in her throat, but boots suddenly came thundering down the staircase, and the light footsteps hurried away.

One of the guards came along and opened the door, tossing another plaid at her and giving her a fresh pitcher of water with a hunk of cheese. He said nothing, so she didn’t speak either. He closed the door, locked it, then left, mumbling what she thought was, “Daft lass. Do what you’re told.”

She sprung into action as soon as he walked away, tucking the cheese into her pocket and wrapping the plaid around her body to calm her shivering. And then she tiptoed to the door and peeked out her window to see if the light steps returned.

There was enough noise abovestairs it would likely muffle the sound of the steps. There were many more people abovestairs than usual. She guessed them to be men, because they had heavy bootsteps. There was no yelling, so she doubted an attack was underway, and the lack of music indicated it was neither a festival nor a celebration. So why would there be more men in the great hall?

The person with the light tread probably had not come from the great hall. Would they return? Her best plan was to pray it was Fia or someone else who could help her.

She held her body back from the window, attempting to see without being seen, and waited.

It felt like she stood that way forever, but then a face she recognized appeared in the window.

Dyna.

She was so grateful to see a friendly face she almost tripped in her haste to get to the window. “The key,” she said, pointing. But fear slipped over her as she looked at the empty nail where she’d seen the guards hang it. No key.

Dyna grinned and held it up to the window. “You mean this one? I thought you might be the daft lass he was cursing about.” She unlocked the door and pulled it open, closing it after Branwen exited the cell.

“We’re going out the back,” Dyna whispered.

“Many thanks.” She took the others lass’s hand and squeezed it.

“Thank me later. We have to get out of here and you’ll have to be really quiet. There’s a gathering abovestairs, though I don’t know why.”

Branwen just nodded, and Dyna led the way to the back entrance out of the keep. They saw no one, and no one stopped them—the majority of the people probably gathered in the hall—but then Dyna stopped her. “I left my horse behind the back curtain wall. Can you climb?”

“Aye, with a wee boost.” She’d get over that wall if she had to climb ten trees.

Fortunately, it only took one. Dyna led her to the tree she’d used, gave her a quick boost, and within minutes they both landed on top of the wall. “I’ll drop down first,” Dyna said. “You have a gown on. I’ll catch you.”

Once they were both on the ground, Dyna said, “Hold still. You’ll not be able to run if you have that gown hanging about your legs.” She reached for the skirt between Branwen’s legs, then pulled it up and tied the folds of fabric around her waist. Then she helped her mount and climbed up behind her.

They left and Branwen had to fight the urge to cry because she was so happy to leave Thane Castle. To be with a friend. She said a quick prayer for them to get away safely. They rode carefully for about a half an hour, until they were far away from the keep that they’d not be seen by the guards, then set the horse to a gallop.

A few minutes later, she noticed a horse that looked distinctly like Shadow with a man standing not far away from it. Dyna headed straight for him, and Branwen’s heart pounded in her chest—did she dare hope?

When they were nearly upon him, she could finally detect the outline of Alick’s handsome profile. Dyna stopped her horse and let Branwen down, saying, “Look who I found in the dungeon, Alick.”

The only thing she could do was run to him.

Branwen raced toward him, tears blinding her vision as she threw herself into his waiting arms. She sobbed for a few minutes before remembering she couldn’t relax yet. They still had to find Lora and get away.

Alick cupped the back of her head and whispered in her ear, “You are hale, lassie mine?”

She pulled back and nodded. “Many thanks to you. It was horrible. Please, we must get far away. My