A sailor they’d passed earlier hurried inside. “Captain, the knights who were here yesterday are demanding another search.”
Logan cursed. “I will be along in a moment. Ensure they do nae come onboard until I arrive. As before, inform them I will escort them through the ship personally.”
“Aye, Captain.” The sailor hurried out.
“Another search?”
Logan quirked his brow. “Indeed.”
Colyne’s temper spiked. “How can you be calm when they are sure to find me? Or do you think they will nae want to be checking every inch of your ship?” With nae way to escape, within the next few minutes he could be imprisoned.
Or dead.
The captain walked to a chest in the corner of his cabin, shoved it aside. A trapdoor lay beneath. He opened the hatch. “I will have one of my men hide you in a crate on the docks until the knights have departed.”
Relief swept through him. “My thanks.”
“Go on with you now, while I deal with the Sassenach.”
Colyne smiled at his friend’s less than flattering term for the English. “Aye, I will.” He slipped through the opening and landed in the cargo hold. He disliked that his presence aboard the Kincaid added to the dangers his friend faced by daring to sail into Glasgow harbor. But Logan entered port prepared for trouble. Unlike Alesia, a noblewoman stranded in a foreign country.
However much she believed otherwise, her strong will and determination wouldna defend her against those who, for whatever their reason, sought her.
Climbing out through a hatch, Colyne worked his way down a rope ladder to the dock. The English duke’s men would have been informed of his past association with Logan, no doubt a fact that had led them to again search the Kincaid.
Logan came into view at the top of the gangway and started speaking with one of the knights as a sailor who’d helped him above quickly pulled up the woven rope
Noting his friend’s easy stance, Colyne relaxed. They’d nae seen him leave. If they had, the English knights would have seized the ship. Thankful, he tugged up his hood and followed one of Logan’s men toward a large stack of crates.
By the time one of Logan’s men helped Colyne from the crate and told him it was safe to board, waves, spawned by a brisk wind, raked the bay. Above the water, the sun appeared as if a circle of fire. Blood-red rays seeped through the jagged clouds that dared slide across their path. The bastards had taken their time in their search of the Kincaid.
Nerves tingled up his neck and he searched the street behind him.Naught. Unable to dispel the feelings of unease, he tugged his hood close against his face and followed the sailor through the bustling crowd.
Halfway down the pier, two of the English duke’s men stepped into view.
Colyne tensed. As he moved past, he caught part of their conversation. From one of the men’s description of a charming wench he’d bedded last eve, their interest at this moment far from involved searching for him.
On the Kincaid, he noted Logan giving orders to a sailor.
The captain spotted him, made a subtle gesture for him to hurry aboard, then resumed his task.
“Over here!” a knight shouted from behind him.
They’d seen him! Colyne reached for his sword, hidden beneath his cape. When the pounding of steps grew distant, he turned.
The knights ran toward the alley.
Relieved, he picked up his stride, heading for the plank. The diversion would allow him to board without event.
A woman’s scream ripped through the shouts.
Alesia? His heart pounding, he whirled, stared past the sailors now halted in their tasks and straining to see who the knights had captured.
It couldna be her.
He’d left her safe in the cathedral hours before.
“Hurry up,” Logan called to him.
