"Ewan said he came down to breakfast."
Crocker drew his chin back. "I have nay made the bannocks yet, nor the porridge. So, I have nay inkling how he would be breaking his fast."
"Did he already leave? On his horse? Or on foot?"
Crocker took a bowl from the cupboard. "You could check the stables."
After ascending the stairs once again—goodness, her fitness level should increase—she jogged across the great hall and tried to open the entry door.
Barred and locked.
Gavin couldn't have gone out this way to the stables. Unless Ewan had locked it back after he left. She remembered seeing an exit in the kitchen. She hurried back down there, bypassing Crocker, who worked at the table.
She found the kitchen exit door locked tight. "Can you open this door?"
"Why?"
"You said I should check the stables for Gavin, but all the doors are locked."
"Oh, aye! 'Twas his lairdship's orders… to keep the witch out, you ken?"
She sighed a long breath. "Well then, how am I supposed to check the stables? And why doesn't he care about his own safety? She could kill him out there!"
Crocker shrugged, paying more attention to the dough than her. "Mayhap Ewan went with him. Or Hewie could have."
"Hewie is too young and scrawny to protect Gavin."
"'Tis nay my decision. Besides, the chief is training him to guard."
Fine, but she doubted Ewan or Hewie went with him. They hadn't yesterday.
Dammit, she wanted out of this castle. Retracing her steps to the great hall, she tried to remember if she'd seen another exit door. She peered through the narrow window that looked out onto the bailey and found it empty.
Strangeness surrounded her. Where had everyone disappeared to? Lunn and Father John probably still slept at this early hour, though she hadn't checked.
Regardless, she intended to find out where Gavin disappeared to each day. Had he been telling the truth about patrolling the grounds and borders on foot? And why had he and Ewan been shouting at dawn? These darned men never revealed anything, so she would have to get sneaky to discover the truth.
She hid in the warm alcove near the enormous hearth where a low fire burned. Within minutes, footsteps thumped down the stairs, and a loud yawn filled the room. She peered around the corner to see Hewie, his hair and clothes bedraggled. Gavin hadn't taken him along to guard.
Hearing a noise outside, she peered out the alcove's narrow window again. Ewan sauntered across the bailey, alone. Her gaze trailed over the cobblestoned area, seeing no one else—certainly not Gavin. How had Ewan gotten outside? He hadn't gone out the main exit.
Grinding her teeth, she strode across the great hall. "Hewie, how do I get outside to the stables?"
He jerked around. "Och! M'lady." He bowed. "You arise early."
"I couldn't sleep." She pointed at the entry. "I can't unlock that door. Can you?"
"I have nay keys. You will have to ask Ewan."
"I saw Ewan outside! How did he get out there if he didn't go through that door?"
"Eh." Hewie frowned, his gaze darting about as if searching for a plausible lie. "I have nay inkling."
"Don't lie to me, mister." Déjà vu. This reminded her of lecturing one of her wayward students.
His eyes widened. "Pray pardon, m'lady, but his lairdship would nay wish you to go outside. 'Tis perilous. The owl scratched you, remember?"
"I remember, but the owl will not be out during the morning."
