Page 34 of Highland Treasure (Highland Brides 9)

“Aye,” Rory muttered, and ushered her after Robbie as the blacksmith led them in the direction of the castle.

They were all silent after that, but Elysande didn’t miss how often Rory glanced over his shoulder, and suspected the other men were doing the same thing. They were all tense, and obviously worried about someone coming up behind them. Elysande was a little less so, but only because she was looking forward and noted many of the people they passed were standing about doing nothing but watching the road behind them, and nodding reassuringly at her as if to say all was well. She had no doubt they were more of Mildrede’s army, keeping an eye out to see they made it safely away.

“The church.” It was all Robbie said as they walked along the wall next to a building that looked more like a cathedral to her. But she understood his meaning and pulled out the three strips of plaid she’d tucked up the sleeve of her gown and handed them to Rory, Conn and Inan.

Chapter 9

“How are we going to do this?” Conn asked, accepting his blindfold, and then warned, “I’m no’ holding Tom’s or Simon’s hand.”

Elysande bit her lip at the consternation on the man’s face as he said that, and then suggested, “I can lead you.”

Conn relaxed at that and nodded, but now Rory was scowling. “Nay. I was going to have ye lead me.”

“I have two hands, I can lead you both,” she said with exasperation. “But Tom will have to take the reins of my horse. You will both have to hold on to the reins of your own mounts though.”

“And I’m left to hold Simon’s hand,” Inan said with disgust.

“Well, ’twill be no picnic for me either,” Simon snapped with irritation.

“I can lead him.”

Elysande glanced around with surprise as the draper’s wife rushed up, a little out of breath as she made that offer.

“Elizabeth,” she said, smiling at the woman and reaching out to clasp her hand and squeeze it gently. “Thank you so much for warning Mildrede about the English soldiers. You have saved us all.”

“My pleasure, m’lady. We all must do our part to help ye save the king,” she assured her, squeezing her hand back. “I was just coming to let you know the other men made it out through the front gates just fine. The English paid them no attention at all.”

“Oh, good. Thank you for letting us know,” Elysande said.

“I thought ’twould ease your minds,” she said, grinning, and then glanced to Inan and added, “But now I’m here, I’d be pleased to walk this young fellow to the gate if ’twill help.”

“Aye. I believe it just might. Thank you, again,” Elysande said with amusement as Inan nodded fervently and moved to the older woman’s side.

“I thank ye too,” Inan assured her. “’Tis always a pleasure to walk with an attractive woman, and definitely preferable to holding hands with that ugly sod.”

“Ugly sod?” her soldier protested, and then rolled his eyes. “I’ll remember you said that the next time you need my help sneaking out of an English city.”

Inan smirked at the words. “Since we’ll be in Scotland shortly, that will no’ be an issue.”

A sharp whistle from Robbie silenced the two men and drew their attention to the blacksmith.

“Blindfolds,” he growled, glancing anxiously around. “They cannot keep the soldiers busy forever.”

“Of course,” Elysande murmured, and handed her mare’s reins to Tom before turning expectantly to Rory, Conn and Inan.

“Will wearing blindfolds no’ draw attention to us?” Inan grumbled even as he tied his on.

“’Tis fine,” Elizabeth assured him. “Most people know what’s going on, and the rest think Scots are strange anyway. ’Twill be fine.”

Elysande had to bite back a laugh at Rory’s, Conn’s and Inan’s disgruntled expressions at the suggestion they were thought strange. Although she suspected Rory’s countenance had more to do with the increasing number of people who knew about them and what was happening than with the insult. It did seem to trouble him a great deal.

Shrugging that worry away, she took the reins to both Conn’s and Rory’s mounts to free their hands even as Elizabeth took Inan’s reins. They both waited patiently as the men quickly donned their blindfolds, and then returned their reins. Elysande then grasped Conn and Rory each by an arm, and urged them to follow Elizabeth and Inan and his horse when they moved toward Robbie. She did check to be sure Tom and Simon were following with their horses and her mare first, but after that, Elysande kept her gaze forward, and concentrated on steering Conn and Rory in the right direction, which was surprisingly difficult to do. Neither man seemed capable of walking in a straight line, but kept veering away or, alternately, toward her, so that she was always having to tug them back, or steer them away to keep them going.

“I do no’ like this,” Conn muttered suddenly.

“Aye,” Rory agreed grimly. “I feel helpless as a babe without me sight. How much farther is it?”

“Not far.” Elizabeth answered the question with a quick glance over her shoulder at them, and Elysande was grateful for the response. Partly because she hadn’t known the answer to the question, but also because she wasn’t caring for this herself. The muscles in her back and arms, already painful before this, were now screaming from the strain that directing the men was putting on her muscles. She would be glad to reach the gate.

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