by Ashe Barker
Robbie waited until they had turned the corner at the far end of the street, then he grabbed Jane by the shoulders. “Ye must take wee Cecily and get out tae the wagon with our supplies. Lady Falconer, too. Tell her tae get our horses hitched tae her wagon, or as many of them as she can manage, an’ ye must all leave the town at once. The road tae Shrewsbury is tae the northeast. Ye must take that road, an’ get as far as ye can, the pair o’ ye.”
“But, what about you?”
“I shall muster the rest of our men an’ go after the others. We shall find where they have been taken an’—”
“The garrison is close to the northern gate.” Lady Falconer bustled back into the room and bolted the door behind her. “Five minutes from here on foot, at most.”
“How d’ye ken that?” Robbie demanded.
“The innkeeper’s lass has been keeping company with one of the guardsmen, apparently. She has been in the habit of strolling along that way most evenings...”
Robbie just shook his head, amazed.
“And, whilst I was downstairs I took the liberty of asking your men to await you outside,” she went on, “since I assume you will be leaving momentarily.”
“Right.” He paused, then, “Right. Janie knows what ye both have tae do. We shall catch up wi’ ye on the road tae Shrewsbury. Dinnae delay, mind. ‘Tis only a matter of time now before our presence here is discovered.”
Lady Falconer gathered up the baby while Jane started to toss their few possessions into a rough sack. Robbie was halfway out of the door but found a moment to pause.
“Be quick, now, the pair o’ ye. An’... take care.”
His hand was already on his sword hilt when he set off down the stairs at a dead run.
* * *
“There, that is the last of our provisions.” Panting with the exertion, Jane heaved a bag of apples onto Lady Falconer’s cart.
The lady herself had helped to load the goods and had personally supervised the tethering of four horses to the back of her wagon. She was now being assisted onto her dainty palfrey by a stable lad. Her maidservant, Peggy, huddled in the cart with Cecily. The only other servant Lady Falconer had brought with her was the elderly man whose task it was to drive the cart and see to the horse. He was already seated on the narrow bench at the front, reins in hand.
Jane rushed over to grab the bridle of Lady Falconer’s mare. “My lady, you must take the road leading northeast, to Shrewsbury. Robbie said he would catch up with us there.”
“Of course.” Lady Falconer settled herself and tightened her reins ready to leave. “Jane, you must hop onto the cart now with Peggy and my granddaughter and we shall be off.”
Jane dropped the leather strap and backed away. “I shall not be coming with you. I will catch up, though.”
“What on earth are you saying, girl? Of course you must come...”
Jane shook her head. “I mean to run after Robbie. I may be able to help...”
“How can you assist him in this? He has his men with him, all no doubt armed to the teeth. His instructions were that you and I, and Cecily, should make our escape separately and he will come after us once his friend is safe. We must hurry...”
“The Shrewsbury road. Remember. And... take care of Cecily.” Jane turned and, leaving an astonished Lady Falconer to make her own way out of Stratford-upon-Avon, she bolted out of the inn yard and into the teeming street.
She grasped her skirts in both hands and raised them above her ankles in order to be able to run faster. Jane had seen the direction the soldiers took and supposed Robbie would have gone the same way. Less than five minutes, Lady Falconer had said. The north gate must be just around the corner...
It was not. She paused at the end of the next street, trying to get her bearings. Which way was north?
She was about to inquire of a woman leading a somewhat uncooperative goat but was spared the bother when a pair of men wearing the now-familiar Warwick livery rounded the corner behind her. They passed where she stood and sauntered on, chatting between themselves.
Jane fell in several paces behind them, taking care to keep the men in sight whilst not making herself too conspicuous. She had to hope they were heading toward the garrison but did not heave a sigh of relief until she saw them approach a low, squat building set against one of the town’s thick stone walls. This was clearly a military site, as evidenced by the four guards stationed at the entrance. They saluted the two newcomers who greeted them in like manner before ducking inside.
There was no sign of Robbie or the other Scots so Jane stepped into the shadow of a nearby smithy’s forge to consider what to do next.
“What the fuck d’ye think ye’re doin’, lass?”
The low growl in her ear brought Jane whirling around, only to find herself seized around the waist by one very angry-looking russet-haired male. Robbie pulled her around a corner, out of sight of the men guarding the garrison.
“Was there something not entirely clear in my instructions? What part of ‘leave by the northeast road with Lady Falconer’ did ye fail tae grasp?” he demanded. His tone was low and decidedly ominous.
“I wanted to help. You might need me to—”
“I needed ye tae be safe an’ out o’ the way,” he muttered. “I have enough tae consider without needin’ tae worry about ye as well.”
Jane ignored his grumbling, though she had no doubt they would be returning to the subject before long. “Is Archie in there?” she whispered.
“Aye, we think so. We got here just in time tae see the other three herded in,” he replied.
“How many guards are there? Do you think you could overpower them?”
Robbie shrugged. “We know there were at least eight men wi’ the prisoners, an’ there will have been more already in there, as well as the guards ye can see outside.”
“And just five of us,” she mused.
“Five?” Robbie raised a disbelieving eyebrow. It was clear he did not think that she counted.
“I want to help,” she repeated.
“An’ d’ye have a wee army with ye?” he inquired. “Or even a cannon, perhaps?”
“Do not be ridiculous. We want to rescue our men, not blow the place to smithereens.”
He let out an impatient snort. “Cease your chatterin’, lass. I need tae think.”
“I have an idea,” Jane began. “I could—”
“Be silent.” Robbie turned to the three men hovering behind him. “We need a diversion. Fergus, ye’re tae—”
“Exactly.” Jane beamed at the men. “That is just what I was about to suggest. A diversion, something to distract those guards, and maybe even draw out some of the men inside...”
Robbie cast an irritated glare her way. “Yes, quite. So, Fergus, I need ye tae—”
“I shall do it,” Jane announced, her tone bright. “I know just the thing.”
She ducked under Robbie’s arm and sprinted back around the side of the smithy into full view of the men guarding the garrison. She heard Robbie’s curse behind her and winced at the string of obscenities he let loose.
Yes, there would be a reckoning later, she had no doubt of that. But there was also a pressing matter to take care of, and she was ideally placed to contribute.
“Hey. Hey, you there...” She plastered a sensual smile on her face and waved to attract the attention of the guards. “Yes, you. It cannot be right that such handsome men as yourselves be left to stand guard here in this sun, and you are to get not a scrap of appreciation for your trouble.” She strolled back and forth in front of them taking care to swing her hips as seductively as she might contrive. It was not the sort of performance she was accustomed to giving so she could not be entirely certain of the correct way of it, though she was greatly encouraged by the expressions of interest on each of the men’s faces.
“I am quite sure you must have a coin or two that you can spare, in return for a little entertainment. I might even be convinced to offer more...”
&nbs
p; “What d’ye have in mind, wench?” yelled the man closest. “I do not part with my money for just any harlot who happens to have a pretty smile.”
“You are a wise man, sir,” she replied, turning in a slow circle before him. “I could see that at once and I cannot blame you for wanting to see what you might be getting afore throwing your money away. And what about you?” She wiggled her hips at the man next to him. “Would you pay to see a little more, eh?”
The guard in question produced a small copper coin and tossed it at Jane’s feet.
“Why, thank you, sir. I can see we will do fine business together.” Jane peered at him under her lashes, then slowly, deliberately, she started to unfasten the lacings on her bodice.
“Fuck, the wench means to show us all she’s got,” yelled one of the men. “Bloody hell...”
Jane fancied that sentiment might have been echoed from behind the smithy but could not be entirely certain as the calls and whoops of her audience tended to drown out other sounds. She tipped up her chin and worked the laces loose, then parted the front of her bodice to reveal the shift beneath. “Do you want to see more of my wares, my fine, brave friends?” she called.
She had her answer in the leers and shouts of the guards, along with more than a handful of townsfolk who had also stopped to watch the goings-on.
“What about you men inside?” Jane shouted. “Can I not tempt you out here for a moment or two on this fine day?”
She shrugged right out of her bodice and dropped it on the ground, then set to loosening the ties on her skirt. In moments, that, too, lay in the dirt.
“I shall only remove the rest if I see enough coin,” she taunted. “Come on. I am sure that between all of you, you can... satisfy me.”
By now the squat little building was disgorging men out into the street. Jane could not count them but would have guessed at least twenty now crowded alongside the four original guards to watch her performance. Several had thrown coins into the dirt at her feet and now yelled for her to make good on her promise.
Slowly, taking care to draw out the moment for maximum effect, Jane obliged them. The shift slipped from her body to pool on the ground and, naked but for her boots, she proceeded to prance and spin and whirl.
“Fuck, look at that,” bayed one of the guards.
“Fine pair o’ tits,” enthused another.
“Come over here, wench, an’ I’ll show you what a real man can do for ye,” offered a third.
Jane managed to remain out of reach of the pawing hands and merely smiled at the various offers and suggestions hurled her way. She caught the movement out of the corner of her eye and knew that Robbie and his men had slipped inside the building whilst its occupants were otherwise engaged outside. Now she had but to keep their attention for long enough to allow him to accomplish what must be done.
* * *
Robbie could barely believe the scene unfolding before him. Not only had the hare-brained wench slipped away and placed herself in full view of the guards, she was actually inviting their attention.
“What the fuck is she about? Of all the addle-headed idiots... I shall flay the skin from her arse when I get my hands on her.”
“Is she...? Sir, she looks tae be... undressin’.”
Robbie glowered at Fergus, though there was no arguing with the accuracy of his assessment. “She is fucking undressin’. Holy fuck, this is what she meant by a diversion...?”
“It looks tae be doin’ the trick, sir,” Fergus replied. “She certainly has their attention, an’ there are more o’ them comin’ out tae watch.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Eh, I never would ha’ thought the lass was... well, that way inclined...”
“Me neither,” Robbie muttered. “Me fucking neither.” He took another cautious peek around the corner, just in time to see Jane waving her discarded skirt around her head. He let out another vicious oath, then made up his mind. He was sorely tempted to strangle the belligerent little wench but this was as good a chance as he was likely to get and he was not about to waste it. “Fergus, you take Will an’ make your way around from the left, makin’ sure tae keep out o’ sight. Alec, ye’re wi’ me. We all need tae get behind the guards an’ inside the garrison. Wi’ any luck there willnae be that many still within, but we need tae despatch any we find. We cannae risk havin’ anyone raise the alarm afore we’re well away wi’ the prisoners. At least the place is small enough so it shouldnae take long tae locate our men.”
Fergus gave a swift nod and crouched down ready to start his approach.
“And, dinnae stare, ye hear?” Robbie muttered. “We can do without all of ye gawpin’ as well.”
Fergus cleared his throat. Will and Alec were at pains not to meet their commander’s furious gaze. Robbie settled for yet another well-honed string of curses before he, too, crouched low in order to make his way unseen to the garrison entrance.
Luck was on his side, or perhaps lust. Certainly, Jane’s little show was holding the attention of the leering, baying men and no one noticed the four Scots creeping around the garrison and in through the low front entrance. They found themselves in a narrow corridor with four doors leading off it. Only one door, at the far end, was closed. Robbie signalled to Fergus that he was to investigate the closed door, while he, Will, and Alec checked the other three rooms.
The room to his left was empty, but Robbie surmised it had been recently and hurriedly vacated. Half-empty mugs of ale were abandoned on the table in the centre, and several chairs had been upturned. This was probably the room used by the guards to relax and maybe to sleep as well. He edged across the corridor to check the room to the right.
One man occupied the second room, which was furnished with a large desk upon which were scattered several documents and a large map. The man, an officer by the looks of his fine cloak bearing the Warwick colours, had his back to the door. He was leaning out of the single window and craning his neck in the hope of catching a view of the performance outside.
Robbie drew his dagger and slipped silently across the room. Moments later, the man lay dead on the flagged floor, his vacant, glassy stare oddly peaceful. Robbie sheathed his weapon and moved on.
Back in the corridor, he found Will and Alec clustering behind Fergus. All three were about to apply their boots to the locked door.
“Wait,” he hissed. They could do without the din of splintering wood.
He darted back into the room he had just left and conducted a hasty search of the officer’s body. The keys he sought were attached to the dead man’s belt. Robbie relieved the officer of his unnecessary burden and tossed the heavy bunch of keys to Will, who was waiting by the door. Then he removed his own cloak and replaced it with the Warwick colours.
By the time Robbie returned to his men, the door had been opened to reveal a narrow flight of stairs leading down into a gloomy cellar. Fergus and Will were already down there, and Robbie heard the voices of both Wee Richard and Colin. Moments later, both emerged, blinking.
“Where is Captain Montgomery?” Robbie demanded. “And Angus?”
“I’m here, Robbie.” Archie appeared, supported by Fergus. Robbie winced at the sight of his friend’s battered features but there was no time to waste on such details. Archie was closely followed by Will, who had Angus’s arm draped across his shoulders.
Satisfied that all his men were accounted for, Robbie turned to the little matter of their escape. “Is there a back entrance? ‘Tis too risky tae go back out the front.”
“No, sir,” Fergus responded.
“A window, then?” Robbie checked the one room he had not yet seen and saw exactly what was required. Closer to the rear of the building, the room was occupied by two dead soldiers, having met their end courtesy of Will and Alec. The small window was probably just big enough for them all to squeeze out and was happily well away from the crowds now thronging round the front of the garrison. By the raucous cheering and generous offers of money, it would appear that Jane had found her calling.
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Robbie ground his teeth together and returned to the matter in hand. “This way. Fergus, you climb out first, then we’ll pass Archie through.”
Fergus slithered through the narrow window, then turned to assist his commander. Once the pair were safely outside, Robbie ordered Wee Richard to follow, then Will. Next, he and Alec helped the injured Angus to join the rest. Alec and Colin clambered through, and Archie called out to Robbie to follow.
He shook his head. “The north gate is just there, an’ there seem tae be no guards. I expect they are otherwise occupied. Go, all of ye. I shall follow... with Jane.”
“But—”
Robbie cut off Fergus’s protest. “I said, go. Dinnae make me repeat myself again.”
“Do as he says,” Archie muttered. “The gate...”
Robbie waited just long enough to see his men safely through the town’s northern portal, then he strolled back along the corridor to the front entrance, pausing only long enough to retrieve his own cloak from the floor beside the body of the dead officer. He slung it over his arm and sauntered out into the bright daylight.
Chapter Eight
The shouts of the men surrounding her were now close to deafening. How had she managed to attract such a crowd? And so raucous?
Jane danced and spun, trying as best she might to elude the grasping hands and leering, slack-jawed faces. Crude calls and lewd suggestions were hurled at her from every direction. She was left in no doubt whatsoever of exactly what the baying soldiers and whooping townsfolk would like to do to her.
One man managed to wrap his beefy paw about her forearm, but she wriggled free. Another lunged forward, but Jane leaped back to escape him.
“What’s the matter, wench? Is my coin not good enough for ye?” A man in the livery of a guard curled his lip in a menacing snarl. “Enough of your games. Get over here, now.”