“Well, wife,” he said loudly. “That’s all my money gone. I hope ye’ve got everything ye came for.” His voice startled her. He sounded completely different. His voice was still deep and rumbling but the accent was something else entirely. Scottish, but with a burr that made him difficult to understand.
Not trusting herself to speak, she merely nodded. Guards were standing on either side of the gates, lazily watching the flow of people coming in and out, and as their gazes flicked over herself, Rory and Deryn, Maddy felt a wave of fear sweep over her. Any moment they would recognize her and shout at them to stop.
But there was no recognition in the guards’ eyes and their disinterested gazes moved on. Then herself, Rory, and Deryn were out of the gates and moving away from the castle, into the maze of stalls and booths that filled the space around the walls. A crowd of people closed around them, and a cacophony of noise filled the air: shouting, laughing, joking, mixed in with the clucking of chickens, the honking of geese, and a hundred different noises besides. She kept a tight grip on Rory’s hand as Deryn led them deeper into the throng, weaving his way through the market until Maddy was utterly lost.
Finally, they reached the outskirts of the market where there were fewer people, and it was slightly quieter. Here, Deryn pulled them into the shadows beneath two large striped tents. He released her hand and looked out, checking if they were being followed. Whilst he did so, Maddy crouched in front of Rory.
“All right, sweetie?”
“I’m tired,” he replied.
“I know but we have a little further to go yet.”
“Ready?” Deryn said. “We need to move quickly now.”
Before they could step out of their cover, a man suddenly rounded the corner. He was undoing his breeches as though about to relieve himself and he halted abruptly, looking as surprised as they were at this sudden meeting. He was wearing the same clothing as Rodric’s guards, and he frowned at the sight of her.
“My lady? What are ye doing here? It was my understanding that ye weren’t to leave the keep.”
“Ye understood wrong,” Deryn replied smoothly. “I’ve been asked to escort the lady and the lad whilst they look around the market.” He stared levelly at the guard, daring him to challenge him. Deryn was taller and broader across the shoulder, but the guard wasn’t cowed.
“Who are ye, soldier?” he demanded, narrowing his eyes. “I’m captain of the laird’s guard and know every man under my command. I dinna recognize ye. Take yer hood down.”
Deryn twitched but did not obey the captain’s command. The man bristled, stepping closer. He was armed with a dagger strapped to one hip and a sword to the other. His right hand strayed to the hilt of that sword.
“I said take down yer hood, soldier.”
Deryn moved like lightning. One second the two men were facing up to each other, the next, the captain was on the ground, out cold.
“Quickly!” Deryn hissed. “Before he comes around.”
He grabbed Maddy’s wrist, and she grabbed Rory’s, and the three of them hurried out of their hiding place and through the market to where the stalls gave way to a series of thatched barns and rickety storage sheds and then eventually to the thickly-wooded hills that surrounded the keep. Tall Scots pine whispered in the breeze and a thick coating of pine needles deadened their footfalls as they lumbered into the cover beneath the trees.
“Mama, I’m tired,” Rory moaned.
“I know, sweetie,” she murmured back. “It’s not far now.”
A little further on, the ground dipped into a bowl-shaped dell filled with early flowers and here they found a black and white sheepdog waiting patiently, tethered to a tree.
As the dog wagged her tail and whined with excitement, Deryn sank onto his haunches and fussed her. “Good girl,” he whispered. “Told ye I wouldnae be long, didnae I? And look, I’ve brought some friends.” He gestured to Rory. “Come lad, there’s someone who’d like to meet ye.”
Rory ducked behind Maddy’s legs and peered out nervously.
“It’s all right, sweetie,” she coaxed him. “The doggie wants to make friends.”
Rory glanced at her and then at the dog. Hesitantly, he edged out from behind her legs and crossed the clearing. Deryn waited patiently and when he reached him, took Rory’s hand and held it out to the dog.
“This is Mara, Rory. She’s my sheepdog. She helps me look after my animals. Hold yer hand out and let her say hello.”
Rory did as instructed. Mara sniffed his hand for a moment then, seeming to decide she liked him, whined excitedly and began laying doggy kisses all over Rory’s face. He laughed with delight and sat on the muddy ground to pet her, suddenly entranced.
Maddy let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. She felt shaky and weak as all the adrenaline that had kept her going through their escape leaked away. Without quite realizing how she’d gotten there, she was suddenly sitting on the damp ground, desperately trying to fight back the tears that were trying to escape. She could not show weakness in front of Rory. She needed to be strong for him, even if she felt like going to pieces.
She passed a shaking hand over her face, taking deep breaths through her nose. A heavy hand settled on her shoulder, and she jumped. Looking up, she saw Deryn squatting beside her. His hood had fallen down, revealing the white stripe through his dark red hair, which fell around his shoulders like a mane.
“Here,” he said holding out a leather flask. “This will help.”
Maddy took the flask and drank. She’d been expecting water but the fiery liquid that coursed down her throat was most definitely not water. Whisky? She coughed as it burned her throat raw but felt her tension ease. A little. She took another swig.
