"She's our captive," Drunstan said."Not yers."
"And she'll be delivered safely," Cormac replied."Which is more than yer last arrangement managed.I'll guard her myself.Ye might as well let me earn the coin ye're going to pay me."
A long silence.Drunstan's eyes shifted to Una, assessing.
Una held Cormac's plaid a little tighter and did not step forward.
Drunstan raised a brow.Then the corner of his mouth twitched.
"All right," he said."Ye guard her.But we're all strangers here, and trust is a privilege not yet earned.I'll have two of my men keeping watch over ye both.Ye answer to me if she escapes."
He turned toward the trees."Camp's just beyond the ridge.Try to keep up."
Cormac fell into step, and Una moved with him.A few paces into the trees, low enough that only she could hear, he said, "Dinnae tell them who I am.It'll go easier on both of us."
Una glanced up at him.His jaw was set, eyes forward.
"Aye," she replied.
She thought, just briefly, that something in the set of his shoulders eased.
***
THE CAMP WAS LARGERthan Una had expected.Rough shelters arranged around a central fire, horses picketed at the edges, men moving with ease around the clearing.She noted distances and positions carefully as they walked, filing everything away against the possibility of escape.
Beside her, she was aware of Cormac doing exactly the same.
A bothy appeared at the far edge of the camp, its back wall set against the treeline with the sound of a stream just beyond.Low stone walls, a turf roof, a bucket of clean water outside, a neat stack of peat.
It had been prepared as her accommodation.
Drunstan stopped at the door."We're nae heathens," he said, addressing Una directly."Our patron was clear – ye're to come to no harm, and to have food, water, clothes, and shelter while we wait for the ransom to be arranged.The stream's directly behind the building."He pushed the door open."Ye'll want for nothing reasonable."
His eyes moved to Cormac."Yer man guards the inside.My men guard the outside.We understand one another?"
"Aye," Cormac replied.
Drunstan held his gaze for one beat longer, then walked away.
***
