“What are ye about, lad?” Sawny whispered.
Addison silently removed the cloth, exposing a variety of food. Nothing to equal a full platter at a feast, but more than he had seen since entering this gaol.
“Kelso has called his men to join him upstairs. They are discussing a man who has arrived.”
“Nay the Campbell Earl?”
Addison shook his pale head. “Nay. A younger man, lean. A messenger or the like, but no’ from Breadalbane. He carries a letter.”
Sawny stiffened, his chest dropping to his stomach.
A letter? Nay! It canna be!
Then he blinked and regained himself.
Nay, he was leaping to a conclusion. The letter could be any message, even one from Breadalbane about his impending visit. It was far too much to presume Kelso held the mysterious letter everyone had been searching for.
“Do ye know what the letter reads?”
Addison shook his head.
“Nay, but I can try to find out. And ‘twill give ye time to eat before I return. Everyone is abuzz with this messenger so the keep is left relatively unguarded.”
Sawny shot straight up where he sat.
Unguarded?
“What are ye saying?”
Addison turned his milky face to Sawny, his deep eyes burning. “Eat. I will feel out those in the keep and the air of urgency. And see if I can hear about what this letter is or contains. If everyone is as distracted as I think they are, I will bring a horse to the rear of the tower.” Addison pointed. “I’ll unlock the door and let ye know if ‘tis the mystery letter ye seek. And let ye escape. If ye exit the stair and turn immediately right, ‘tis a door that leads out a narrow hallway. The horse will be there, ready for ye. Then ye can ride to your people and bring them here, and retrieve said letter.”
Sawny had more questions and opened his mouth to ask, but Addison glanced over his shoulder at the door.
“I must go. I’ll find out what I can and return. Eat. Ye’ll need the energy for your ride.”
Then Addison was on his feet and at the door.
Without a look back at the shocked Sawny, he fingered the door open and sealed the door behind him.
Sawny did not hesitate. He reached for the platter and began eating all he could.
In truth, part of Sawny’s mind doubted the lad would return.
It seemed impossible that the opportunity to escape fell in his lap at this moment when his life hung in the balance.
Yet, no matter how hard that petulant thought pricked at his mind, he would not let it get a foothold.
The only hope he had to hold onto was that Addison would return and set Sawny free.
For a moment, he wondered why he had not pushed past the lad and ran out when he was here earlier. The answer rolled into his mind a second later.
Because he did not know if a guard had stood outside that closed door.
And the surprise of Addison’s information shook Sawny to his core, freezing him where he sat.
At least his belly was full.
If he were to die soon, it would be with food filling him.
