Page 41 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
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THE TAVERN KEEPER FURNISHEDRhuad & Raeb with more than information essential to the success of their attack.He and his servants provided food, small beer, and blankets for those men who had none.The camp would have no fires tonight.Nothing would happen to alert the guards of the abbey that an attack was imminent.
“Could ye spare one o’ your men to escort Mistress Auchmuty back to Castle MacFearann?”Clyne asked.
“Certainly,” said Rhuad.“I was not aware she was still here.I’ll have a man meet her in the morning, and they can leave from your tavern.”
“She was waiting for messages from Lady Seona and has worried herself sick at that lady’s silence.She’ll be relieved to know ye’ve come to take the lady from the abbess’s clutches.I bin trying to keep her calm by talking about Baile Iasg.Bain’t just fisher folk what live here ’bouts.We got a good share of shepherds.Their flocks produce some of the finest wool in Scotland.”
“Oh, I dinna think so,” Hearing Clyne’s claim, one of the MacKai men spoke up.“My family is from the inland part of MacKai holdings.We’ve sold wool to every king of Scotland since Cináed mac Ailpín, and we’ve got letters with the king’s seal to prove it.”
“King’s bain’t allus the best judge of good wool,” replied the tavern owner.
“We’ll have a waulking competition at the next gathering of the clans,” said Rhuad.“A group of ladies selected by a holy man can judge the results and award the prize.”
“Aye, a priest would avoid bias in selecting the judges.”
“I’ll shake on that promise.”Clyne spit into his palm then offered his hand to Rhuad and Raeb in succession.
Following the man’s example Rhuad shook the man’s hand and watched as Raeb did too.
When his helpers were done feeding the men and seeing to their comfort, Mr.Clyne bid them farewell.“We’ll be back afore sunup with oatcakes and cider for breaking your fasts.”
Telling the men to eat and rest, Rhuad and Raeb found Dougal.Then the three made their way to a private spot and settled to their meal.
“Let’s finalize our plans while we eat.”
An hour later they walked through the entire camp making sure each man knew his position and task for the fight.They also made sure the men were settled for the night.Dawn would come early, and they must wake and ready themselves before the sun rose.Their force would be in position to wreak havoc on the abbey guard the moment the sun provided enough light to see the enemy.
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SEONA’S ATTACKERS HADbeen delayed.She had no idea why.Nonetheless, she was certain that one or both of them would eventually come for her.She’d spent her day preparing.
She ate the slop that was delivered that morning and drank brackish water from the metal tankard.She prayed she would not become ill from the wormy food or the distasteful water.
She paced to stay limber and passed the hours sharpening the edges of the plate and the tankard against the stone floor.
Her fingers were raw and bleeding from repeated strokes across the stones.When she thought the metal sharp enough, she tested it on the lower hem of her bliaut.The resulting tear was rather jagged.A dirk or other blade might have formed a cleaner, straighter cut.However, her handmade weapons were good enough to cut a man’s throat or wound him sufficiently to make wielding a sword or other weapon close to impossible.All she had to do was slice her opponent where he would rapidly lose the most blood.
She hid the sharpened plate at her back, wedged between her belt and her bliaut.The tankard she placed in one of her pockets, keeping her hand on it for quick access.
Sometime past Vespers, she heard the key turn in the lock of the metal door.
Hefty entered first with Thin Man close behind.She waited for Hefty to become occupied with getting past her bodice.He stank, and she wanted to run.However, she needed him close and held in thrall with lust.Behind him Thin Man was laughing and urging Hefty on.
“Get her breasts bared, man.I want to see them.”
Hefty ignored him and attacked the strings closing the front of her bliaut.
Seona had knotted them especially tight to keep him occupied.With Thin Man engrossed watching his friend at his back, it was time to attack.
She drew the sharpened tankard from her pocket, and as Hefty bent to nuzzle her breast, she jabbed the honed edge of the tankard into his throat.A groan gurgled from the man, and he slumped against her.
She would have liked to decapitate the oaf, but she would be satisfied with disabling him.
She continued to grip the tankard embedded in his neck then screamed.“Help.What’s wrong with him?Get him off me.”
Thin man took hold of the now injured and hopefully dying Hefty.Shifting his friend in his arms, Thin Man’s jaw dropped open.“Wha....”
