"I'll show you where the stairs and ladder are. I've never been up there, but I had the slate roof repaired once."
Cyrus frowned. "You'll have to go with me. 'Tis not safe for you to stay here alone. MacGirk will return."
Though she didn't relish it, she knew he was right. "Very well." Outside, she climbed the staircase to the third floor. At the top, she eyed the ladder warily, for it had been a long while since she had climbed one, and they were already high above the ground.
"Go in front. If you fall, I'll catch you." He slung the bow and quiver over his shoulder.
The thought crossed her mind that he could look up her skirts, but what did it matter? They had already shared the greatest intimacy. Besides, safety was far more important than modesty.
She grabbed hold of the ladder, determined to keep up with him so they could overcome Henry's forces. At the top, she stepped over onto the gently sloping roof.
Cyrus quickly joined her. "I'm glad you're proficient at climbing." He turned his attention to the surrounding landscape. "See if you can spot MacGirk."
The town sprawled below them, and farther out, the mostly flat, green fields divided by drystane dykes. Patches of woods and bushes dotted the landscape along the roads and streams, as well as between the meadows dotted with sheep and cattle.
"They disappeared!" The voice echoed up from street level.
"What the devil?" Cyrus moved toward the other side. Had MacGirk already brought his backup men?
"They're on the roof!" The shout came from the top of the building across the street. "Take aim!"
"Get down." Alarmed, Cyrus launched himself at Elspeth, trying to hold his weight off her as he tackled her to the roof. An arrow glanced off the slate beyond them. "Damnation! Are you hurt?"
"Nay." Elspeth breathed hard, her eyes wide. "Are you?"
He shook his head.
"That was Reeves," she hissed.
"Your former guard?"
"Aye, he's a skilled archer. We must be careful."
Hell, just what he needed. Peering over the side, Cyrus saw Reeves and MacGirk on the roof opposite. Reeves nocked another arrow and released it. Cyrus ducked, making sure Elspeth remained low to the roof behind the short wall.
Saving his own arrows for the right moment, when he could make them count, he retrieved the two arrows Reeves had shot. He didn't want the men to know he had a bow as of yet. They would think him more vulnerable.
"MacGuire, climb to the roof and get them!" MacGirk yelled to a third guard on the ground.
Aye, because MacGirk was too cowardly to do that job himself, Cyrus knew.
"MacGuire," Elspeth said through clenched teeth. "My other guard. The one who delivered the missive to me at Rebbinglen."
"And likely caused your carriage accident." Cyrus frowned. "I'm going to give him what he deserves for his disloyalty. Crawl to that corner. I'll make short work of him." He unsheathed the foot-long dirk and placed the hilt in her hand. "Use this against them if they should come near you." They wouldn't. He would make sure of it, but he wanted her to be able to defend herself in any event.
"Be most careful." Her eyes widened with concern.
"I'll have the upper hand."
Footsteps pounded on the lower stairs and then the wooden ladder rattled.
Sword in hand, Cyrus glanced down the ladder. MacGuire's sword was sheathed, for he couldn't climb with a sword or other weapon in hand.
Cyrus crouched low, remaining out of sight until the young guard neared the top. Cyrus popped up as MacGuire reached his right hand around to the scabbard on his left side.
Before Cyrus could get in one strike, MacGuire let go and fell to the landing, ten feet below. He cried out, then tried to drag himself toward the stairs and escape.
"Ridiculous," Cyrus scoffed.
