Aggie led the way down the servants' stair in the back. Catriona had to make certain they did not run into MacPeter at all costs.
In the overheated kitchen, the servants rushed around in a tizzy. The smoke and stifling scent of burnt bread almost made her cough. While no one paid them any heed, Catriona grabbed Aggie's hand and dragged her out the exit door into the kitchen garden. Her old slippers patted over the damp stepping-stones. Brushing by the wet herb leaves released their minty aromas.
The guard at the gate took one look at Aggie and used his key to unlock the gate. Catriona kept her face covered. She appeared twice as broad as usual with the two bread loaves, clothing, and other items stuffed around her waist and hips.
Outside the walls, they strolled along the well-worn trail that horses and wagons usually took. Catriona dodged the mud puddles, trying to walk mainly on the rocks or low clumps of grass in the center.
They proceeded at a natural pace to avoid alerting the lookouts on the ramparts.
Once they passed through the village without drawing attention, they quickened their pace.
An hour or two later, gloaming settled over the land, and the moon rose in the sky.
A gust of wind hit them hard, and Aggie glanced back. "Och, nay!"
"What is it?" Catriona turned to see what was amiss.
Dark clouds approached from the west, over the sea as they usually did.
"'Tis a gale looming," Aggie said.
"We must find a byre or some sort of shelter."
"Aye."
"Can you run?" Catriona asked.
"Humph. Can I run?" Aggie snorted and took off at a sprint, leaving Catriona behind.
"Saints! Aggie! Wait for me." Pulling her skirts off her boots, Catriona dashed after her maid. She'd had no idea the older woman had such speed and endurance. But mayhap Aggie was younger than she'd thought, 'haps around forty or fifty summers. Only middle-aged.
Catriona finally caught up. "Where on earth did you learn to run like that?"
"I did nay need tolearnit anywhere. I've run since I was a wee lass."
"Why have I never seen you do it?"
"Nay need to run inside the castle. Come. Watch out for the dung." Aggie trotted across a moonlit field shorn low by sheep, Catriona following. The herd in the distance paused to watch the mad humans rush toward the byre. Nearby, the three stoic ginger cows, peering through their tousled locks, had much the same reaction.
Once Catriona and Aggie were inside the stone, thatched roof structure, trying to catch their breaths, a strong wind streamed through the door and blew the straw about.
"Mo chreach!" Catriona inhaled deeply. "I've nay run that much since I was a wee child."
"'Twill improve your fortitude," Aggie assured her, also breathing hard.
Within a few minutes, the rain lashed down in violent torrents.
"I'm glad we found this shelter," Catriona said.
"Aye."
Even though the structure had no door to close, the byre still seemed cozy. Then, Catriona thought of a benefit. "This storm will put the clan off looking for us."
"We can only hope."
"Since I mentioned to Ma that I wished to go to the shore and look for Brodie, she will tell the guards to search there first."
Aggie gasped. "Your ma may think you've drowned!"
