“Yer payment only brings ye this far,” he snapped. “Now, be gone, unless ye want to freeze to death.” He snapped the reins and started moving, not even giving them a chance to change their minds.
Soon, the only thing left for them to do was to follow the road as he had described.
They walked the muddy path, which was thankfully visible in the light of the full moon, and after some time, a castle appeared ahead of them.
Emily almost broke into a run, but a rustling in the bushes surrounding the path drew her to a halt.
“Well, what have we here, lads?” a tall man drawled, emerging from the tree line around the castle. “A couple of stray lassies.”
“Daenae speak so rudely, Hayden,” another tall man scolded, stepping out into the light. “I apologize on his behalf. He is a brute. Me name is Fergus. What are yer names?”
Emily didn’t answer.
A few more men stepped out into the light, causing cold fear to rise in her chest as they surrounded them. She reached out a hand and pulled Elize behind her.
“Stay back,” she warned, feeling around in her satchel for a knitting pin. When she found one, she brandished it. “I am armed.”
If they intended to hurt them, she wouldn’t make it easy for them to do so. At least, she could provide enough distraction for Elize to escape if the need arose.
The men laughed, and she felt her anger rise, but wisdom begged caution. It would be foolish to annoy these men. They were larger than her, and judging from the large swords strapped to their belts, it would take minimal effort to get rid of her.
“Rest easy, lass,” Fergus said. “We willnae hurt ye.”
“How can I trust ye when I daenae even ken who ye are?” she asked, looking around.
There was a small gap behind them. If she and Elize were quick enough, they could escape without much difficulty.
“Ye’re in Laird MacDonnell’s lands,” Fergus answered. “He doesnae take kindly to people who hurt lasses. Even if they’re strangers.”
She nodded but didn’t lower the knitting pin.
Was this where Hilda had intended to send them?
“Come, lassies,” Fergus continued. “‘Tis cold out here, and there’s a warm castle just past these gates with food and beds. Why do ye hesitate?”
Emily almost relented at the thought of curling up near a warm fire.
“If it’s so comfortable in there, why are ye out here?” Elize asked.
The men laughed.
“Ye lasses are wise nae to trust so easily,” Fergus acknowledged with a smile. “We’re on patrol. If it makes ye comfortable, I will personally escort ye to the castle, and if I try to hurt ye, ye have me permission to pierce me with that pin.”
“Will ye leave yer sword behind?” Emily demanded.
In truth, her arms were getting tired from holding up the pin in front of her, and her toes had quickly grown numb since they had trudged up the muddy path in the cold. Her well-worn boots were no match for the rigors of travel.
“If I must,” Fergus conceded.
But she still could not trust him, not even after he unstrapped his sword and handed it to the closest man.
“Come now,” he urged. “I will lead ye the rest of the way.”
Emily nodded and felt Elize squeeze her hand.
“So what is yer business in the castle?” Fergus asked when they finally stepped through the gates.
The sisters exchanged a look. They hadn’t agreed on a story to tell just yet, but one quickly came to Emily’s mind.
