“This is the highest floor in the keep. Are ye certain the chute empties close enough to the ground so I dinna risk breaking my neck?” Her concern was valid. Some garderobe chutes were short runs that opened out at the same height of whatever floor they were on and the waste ran down the side of the castle.
“'Tis safe,” Sawny reassured with a quick bob of his head. “Me and Tom tried it to be sure.” He shuffled in place and gave a weak shrug of one shoulder. “We were looking for a quick way to get out and hide in case your brother…” his voice trailed off as he swallowed hard and shrugged again. “The servants he takes a liking to dinna always come back, so we wanted to make certain we had a way to escape.”
So Calum had become just as vile as the monster who had created him. She’d known he was cruel and manipulative but, without a doubt, he’d reached levels she’d never imagined—nor did she wish to imagine such evil. Catriona pulled Sawny into a hug. “The both of ye, you and Tom, need to come with me. 'Tis wicked dangerous here and will be so until I rid the place of Calum.”
Sawny smiled and his cheeks flamed red again but this time not from anger. “We have to get yourself safe first, m’lady.” He held the lantern over the chute and held out his hand. “Keep your feet and your hands on the walls to slow your way down through the tunnel or ye’ll end up rolling out arse over teakettle.”
Catriona peered down the hole again and tried not to think about all the things that had touched those walls over the years. I wanted a plan. I got a plan. Time to move. She grabbed up her skirts and clambered into the hole, sitting on the edge of the great stone refuse tunnel. She swallowed hard and focused on Sawny as she wedged her hands against the opposite sides of the opening then did the same with her feet inside the tunnel on the walls. With her arms locked, she held herself secure and in place until time to begin her descent.
“'Twill be fine, Mistress,” Sawny encouraged. “I’d never do anything to harm ye.”
“I ken ye well to be loyal and true, dear lad, and for that ye have my gratitude.” She looked down between her feet, said a silent prayer, then began her descent, inching herself from side to side with slow, calculated concentration. She glanced back up at Sawny peering down at her over the lip of the chute. “I’ll see ye at the end of the tunnel, aye?”
“Aye,” Sawny promised. “I’ll be waiting there for ye to lead ye to the caves.”
Then he replaced the board atop the hole and disappeared.
“I can do this,” she repeated under her breath as she descended deeper into the darkness.
Chapter 13
“Your lady seems to have disappeared.”
“Say again.” Alexander halted mid-step of his pacing in front of the small fire burning at the back of the cave. Nerves raw as though he’d been skinned alive, he’d waited at the plateau until Magnus had returned and then the infuriating man had vexed him even more by refusing to divulge any information until they’d reached the cavern and the other men.
“Gone.” Magnus stressed the word with a flamboyant opening of one hand toward the mouth of the grotto as though releasing a bird to freedom. “The keep was in such a stir to find her, I’d thought for certain that ye’d disregarded my advice and somehow swept the lass right out from under their noses.” Magnus folded his arms across his chest and gave Alexander a scolding look. “Fair pissed at ye, I was for no' including me in your wee adventure.”
“Gone,” Alexander repeated, ignoring Magnus’s uncharacteristic jovialness. What the devil was wrong with the man? Catriona’s well-being was at stake here. “How the hell is she gone from there?” 'Twas all he could do to keep from throttling Magnus for giving him such disturbing information in such a callous way. “Spit out the details, man, afore I kill ye and if ye value your arse, ye’ll adjust your attitude and lose the levity.”
Magnus's rare, light-hearted humor evaporated like the morning mist seared away by the rising sun. “Forgive me, but I felt the news that the lass had so quick escaped them deserved a small bit of celebration.”
“Celebration? We’ll no' celebrate 'til Catriona is at my side, ye ken?” Alexander stabbed the air with a pointing finger aimed at Magnus. “Details. Now.”
“The old housekeeper discovered her missing when she took her a bowl of parritch to break her fast.” Magnus accepted a dried oatcake from Sutherland, bit off a hunk, and chewed a damn sight too long to suit Alexander.
Sensing Alexander’s displeasure, Magnus hurried to wash it down with a swig from a skin of water. Nose wrinkled and lips drawn at what must have been the stale taste, he drew a small flask of whisky out from an inner pocket of his jacket and took a quick nip. His displeased look disappeared. “Two serving lads have gone missing as well. One of them had a sister working in the kitchens. I spoke with her. She thinks the boys helped Catriona escape. Said that her brother Sawny had sworn revenge on the entire clan for no' protecting old Murtagh and kent well enough that Catriona would help him see justice served.”
Sawny. Alexander pondered a long moment, sorting through his memories at Tor Ruadh. The image of the red-haired lad always in the middle of some kerfuffle came to mind. Aye. Sawny. The memory triggered a sad smile. He remembered the lad and Catriona’s exasperated fondness for the boy. He blinked away the thought and turned to study Magnus. “Where would they take her? She has to be close. They’ve no' had time to do anything but hide her.”
“That I couldna discover,” Magnus said as he paced alongside Alexander. “Ye said ye watched the keep the whole time, aye? Ye saw no one come or go?”
Alexander thought back, racing through all he’d seen during his watch. A heavy sigh escaped him along with a slow shake of his head. Catriona had to be close to the keep, maybe even still within it. Hidden rooms and passages honeycombed most keeps. He felt certain Clan Neal’s stronghold was the same. But where? While Magnus’s report was frustrating, it spawned hope and a small amount of solace because Catriona was no’ alone in her trials at present. She’d found a pair of daring allies. Then a disturbing thought occurred to him.
“Ye best go back and fetch Sawny’s sister,” he said to Magnus. “There’s no telling what Calum might do to get information from her and that could verra well flush Sawny and the other lad out of hiding.”
Magnus huffed out a low laugh as he took another drink from his flask. “The admirable lads already thought of that. Young Mistress Jenny had her possessions packed and was slipping out of the keep when I intercepted her.” Magnus chuckled again. “Poor lass. I gave her quite the scare.”
“Ye have that effect on women,” Graham interjected as he sauntered forward out of the shadows and joined the men in front of the fire.
“Aye,” Duncan chimed in from his post at the cave’s entrance. With a teasing grin, he made a casual motion toward Magnus. “That pale skin and those eyes of yours. Women think ye’re the grim reaper come to take them away.”
Magnus ignored the men, directing his conversation to Alexander. “I made sure she was well beyond the curtain walls afore I left her. She’s headed to kin near Fort William.”
Alexander felt better with that knowledge but it still didna change the fact he was no closer to finding Catriona. He paced his way to the mouth of the cave, stepped out into the clearing, and studied the horizon. 'Twas already the eerie half-lit time between night and day. The in-between time that toyed with the senses, making shadows sinister and rocks and trees look like predators about to attack. The full light of the rising sun would be upon them soon.
Magnus and the other men joined him. “Well?” Graham asked. “Act now or rest during the day and wait 'til nightfall?”
“I’m going down there.” No way in hell could he wait an entire day and the suggestion of resting was absurd. He turned to his men.
“Alasdair and Ian.” He waited until those two stepped to the front of the group. No matter what happened, he’d keep his cousins together. Ian’s stability was still a troubling uncertainty and Alasdair was the only one who
stood a chance at helping his brother bear his grief over the loss of his wife and not go spiraling off the cliff into the abyss of insanity. “The two of ye hie yourselves toward Fort William. If a regiment's headed this way, they’ll most likely come from that direction. Find them. Assess them. Then return here, aye?”
The brothers nodded and without a word, went to their horses, mounted and left.
“Duncan and Sutherland,” Alexander said, adrenaline thrumming his voice into the low deepness of a drum call to arms. Warmongering excitement heated his blood as his plan set into motion. “Catriona’s betrothed could be headed this way as we speak. Find Jameson Campbell. One of ye stay with him and one of ye report back here with your information, ye ken?”
“We could kill him,” Duncan offered.
“Aye,” Sutherland agreed as they turned to go to their horses. “He is a Campbell, ye ken?”
Alexander shook his head. As much as he agreed with his brother’s reasoning, they didna need to kill the man—no' just yet. “No killing. Yet. Understand?”
Sutherland acknowledged the order with a lifted hand and a shrug. “Aye, brother. We willna kill him—yet.”
Alexander watched his youngest brothers ride away then turned back to Graham and Magnus. “I intend to approach the keep from the farthest side where the curtain wall connects to the cave housing the stable. 'Tis the direct opposite from where ye entered, Magnus, and 'twas well out of my view as I stood watch. They couldha taken her there without us knowing.”
Magnus nodded. “I would assume that where ye speak of should have the same weakness as this side. We should be able to breach it as easy.”
“And us?” Graham asked.
“I ask that ye come with me,” Alexander replied. “If ye will?”
“If we will?” Graham repeated with a narrow-eyed look. “Dinna be an arse, brother.”
“Then to our horses, men,” Alexander said. Every crunching step through the melting ice and snow layered across the clearing heightened his readiness for this battle. Bloodlust and thirst for vengeance pumped harder and a healthy dose of rage fueled the dangerous combination. Predatory anticipation pounded with every beat of his heart, tightening every fiber. He mounted his horse and took the lead down the winding narrow path.
I thank ye for this fine horse, Murtagh. May ye rest in peace. The beast needed little direction where to go. 'Twas as if he could feel what Alexander needed and complied without hesitation. Down the mountainside they went. With the greatest care, they picked their way around jutting crags of sharp-toothed boulders pushing up through the moss-covered soil like ancient fingers reaching for the sky. Alexander hoped to reach the level of the keep before dawn broke full upon them. They needed the safety of the shadows.
Alexander kept a close watch on the fortress, scanning the tops of the walls and peering at the arrow slits in the towers. Windows lined the turrets, looking like great dark eyes staring down at them. He saw no movement nor any lit torches. This side of the keep appeared to be unguarded.
They count on the safety of the mountain too much, me thinks. Alexander reined in his horse, pausing just before they reached the base of the keep where it connected to Ben Nevis. The terrain on this side of the stronghold was more harsh, covered with great chunks of granite and sharp spikes of stone. Slippery patches of mud trailed through the rocky landscape. Water from the melting snow puddled everywhere. The only color against the backdrop of dreary beiges, browns and grays painting the ridge and the wall of the fortress was the deep healthy greens of the holly bushes speckled with the vibrant reds of the plant’s poisonous berries.
“This side of the keep appears unprotected,” Graham observed as he sidled his horse to Alexander’s left.
“Good,” Magnus said as he brought his horse up on Alexander’s right.
He pulled in a deep breath, then leaned forward, shifting in the saddle and studying the area. As he inhaled, he caught the slightest unexpected scent. He frowned and twisted to the left. Smoke. He lifted his nose and sniffed again, holding in the cold air and gleaning every clue it held. “There’s a fire nearby. Smoke taints the air, and it’s no' coming from the keep.”
Magnus and Graham peered at him for a long moment then lifted their own noses and tested the air.
“Aye,” Graham said as he turned to the left and nodded toward the place where the curtain wall snugged up against the mountain. “'Tis coming from that direction for certain.”
Alexander dismounted but kept the reins of his mount wound around his left hand. With his right, he pulled his pistol from his belt and held it ready. “We’ll ease that way then, aye?”
Graham and Magnus slid to the ground with soundless movements and quieted their horses. Graham held out his hand. “Give me your reins. I’ll take the horses out of range and secure them.” He gave Alexander a threatening look as he turned to go. “Hide here and wait for me, aye? Dinna ye start without me.”
“Aye,” Alexander grudgingly agreed. As much as he’d rather rush ahead, they needed to wait for Graham. Who knew what they might be up against and more guns and blades could verra well make the difference. He and Magnus took cover behind a monstrous outcropping of stones.
Magnus leaned back against the largest of the dark gray spires then squinted up at the sky. “He needs to make haste. 'Twill be full dawn in moments.”
Alexander propped his boot on a small boulder and rested back against the shorter pile of rocks. “Aye. With Catriona missing they’re sure to search everywhere. This side of the keep willna be unprotected long. If she’s near, we need to find her first.”
Graham popped into view from a different direction than what he’d taken, giving them both an adrenaline surging start.
“Dammit, man!” Alexander scolded in a strained whisper. “Dinna creep up on us. Do ye fancy getting shot?”
“I saw one of the boys.” Graham grinned and jerked his thumb back over his shoulder. “Someone should tell the lad to cover his flaming red hair. 'Tis like a beacon amongst the dark colors of these stones.”
“He was alone?” Alexander asked.
“Aye,” Graham said as he turned and motioned for them to follow. “Out fetching wood, he was. Come. I saw where he slipped into the mountain.”
“Lead on,” Alexander said as he pushed away from his stony seat. They were so close. So close to finding Catriona. He wanted to roar and rush headlong to wherever Graham was leading. He forced himself to slow down and remain calm, gritting his teeth and clenching his jaws shut against making a sound.
Every step required the greatest care as they crossed the slippery path of mud and ice. With slow, steady movements, they climbed higher then angled to the right toward the direction of the keep. While winding through a smaller field of boulders, Alexander spotted their destination. Up ahead, in the side of the great imposing mountain, it looked as though the earth had taken in a huge deep breath and split its seams. An ominous dark crack gaped open just wide enough for a man to slip through.
Graham crouched behind a tangle of leafless bushes, their dried, knotted branches making an effective shield. He pointed to the opening in the mountain. “There.” He looked back at Alexander. “We’ve no way of knowing what lies inside. Could be a passage or could open out into a cave. If the lads have weapons…”
“We’ll disarm them without bringing them harm,” Alexander replied. They were just boys. Little more than bairns. And they cared about Catriona just as she cared about them. He clapped a hand to Graham’s shoulder and pulled past him. “I’ll be going first, aye?”
Neither Graham nor Magnus responded, just fell in step behind Alexander.
Alexander paused at the opening, his back pressed against the stony side of the ridge. He leaned in close to the gaping fissure and listened. All he heard was a steady drip plunking into standing water then echoing throughout. He eased into the dark space, taking care where he placed his feet. Cave floors often held cracks large enough to swallow a man. He paused and allowed his
eyes to adjust to the darkness. They wouldna be able to travel far without torches. The great hole boring into the side of the mountain was black as the Earl of Hell's waistcoat.
A pale light flickered off in the distance and the sound of shifting rocks echoed from up ahead.
“Are they coming this way?” Magnus whispered.
“Shh…” Alexander reached back and squeezed Magnus’s arm.
“Dinna let Mrs. Aberfeldy catch ye. That old cow as good as shot Murtagh herself. She willna pause when it comes to shooting yourself.” 'Twas one of the boys advising the other. Sounded like Sawny talking to the other lad.
The lights split into two flickering orbs, bobbing toward them in the darkness. Rocks tumbled and rattled, the loose shale shifting with each boy's steps. The second light halted then switched directions, retreating deeper into the inky blackness until it flickered out of sight. Alexander pressed tighter against the damp cave wall and motioned for Graham and Magnus to do the same.
“G-G-God’s beard! We’re f-found, Sawny!” The dark-haired boy turned tail to run but Alexander grabbed hold of the boy by the scruff of his shirt and yanked him back.
“Hush, boy!” One arm latched around the boy’s chest, Alexander held tight to the lad’s wrist to keep the wily scamp from hitting him in the face with the torch. “I’m Alexander MacCoinnich. Friend to Catriona.”
“Sawny, r-run!” the boy screeched before Alexander could cover his mouth.
Alexander yanked the torch out of the lad’s grasp, shoved the boy into Magnus’s arms, and launched forward. “Hold him whilst I try to stop Sawny.”
His speed hindered by the treacherous ground riddled with cracks, loose rocks and shelves of protruding shale into his path, Alexander forged ahead. The light up ahead grew stronger and so did the tang of smoke mixed with the unmistakable aroma of meat roasting over an open fire. “Sawny! 'Tis Alexander MacCoinnich! I mean ye no harm!” He prayed the boy would hear his shout through the panic his friend had stirred. “Catriona! Are ye there?”
The Chieftain: A Highlander's Heart and Soul Novel Page 13