Page 31 of Highland Storm

Quickly and quietly, she made her way to the table at the other side of the room. Thankfully, she saw that the servants had washed her clothes and returned them. They were folded and put into a neat pile. It was night and she only had the light from the nighttime candle to see, but it was all she needed.

Hurriedly, she dressed in her own clan’s clothes, taking a cloak she found hanging on a hook to cover up the bright red plaid. It was a large, long cloak and she was sure it was Hawke’s. Then she slipped the strap of her traveling bag over her shoulder. She was halfway to the door when she remembered Orrick’s book. She’d promised to return it, but she still needed it. She needed the pictures of the herbs, and to learn everything he’d written inside.

Turning around, she spied the book on the bed, sticking out from under Hawke.

“Och, nay,” she whispered, heading back to the bed. He was facing her, lying on his side. Slowly, she reached out for the book, laying her hands upon it. It was partially beneath his body and she’d have to pull it to get it out from under him. It didn’t work. He was too heavy. She had to think of another way.

Picking up her long braid, she used the end of it to tickle his nose.

Immediately, his hand shot up to his face and she had to jump back so he wouldn’t hit her. Then he dropped his hand back to the bed and she did it again. This time, he wrinkled his nose, made a face, and thankfully turned onto his other side.

Phoebe let out a breath of relief and grabbed the book. After slipping it into her pouch, she picked up the long ends of the cloak and hurried to the door. Opening it a crack, she saw a guard sitting on a chair with his eyes closed. Thankfully, he’d been drinking. She could see he had a bottle in his hand and the cork was on the floor.

After checking both ways, she sneaked out into the corridor, softly closing the door behind her. She was about to leave when she had an idea. Hadn’t the writing in the Highland Chronicles said something about the MacKeefe’s Mountain Magic knocking a man out for days? Mayhap she could use this to her advantage.

Reaching over the guard, she slipped the bottle out of his hand and picked up the cork from the floor. She took a quick sniff of the contents and knew immediately it was Mountain Magic. Smiling, Phoebe tucked the bottle into her pouch and headed down the hall. It looked as if she were going to be able to escape after all. She’d be free as soon as she got outside the castle gates. So why, she wondered, did she feel as if she’d let Hawke down?

Chapter 11

Hawke awoke the next morning to the sound of shouting from the courtyard. Having the reflexes of a warrior, he sprang from bed, but fell flat on his face on the ground. His feet were still up on the bed and tied together, not to mention they were tied to the bedpost, too.

“Phoebe!” he yelled, getting the attention of the guard in the hallway. The door opened and the guard stood there with wide eyes.

“What’s the matter, my laird?” he asked.

“Where is she?” he ground out, trying to reach the ropes. But being on the ground with his feet still on the bed, it was difficult to free himself.

“Who?” asked the guard.

“The prisoner, ye fool.”

“I – I dinna ken,” he said. “I never saw her leave.” The man stifled a yawn and cocked his head. “Why are ye tied up, my laird?”

“Get me out of this before I have yer head for fallin’ asleep and lettin’ her slip away.”

“Aye, my laird.” The guard used his dagger and started cutting the ropes just as Logan, Caleb, and Ethan ran in. They seemed as if they had just woken up and had wrinkled clothes and tousled hair.

“Hawke, did ye hear what’s happenin’?” asked Caleb, stopping and eyeing him curiously. “What are ye doin’?”

“I tied Phoebe to me before I went to sleep so she wouldna escape,” Hawke told them. “I also put a guard at the door and still she got away.”

“A wench did that to ye?” asked Ethan, and the three of them started laughing.

“Haud yer wheesht and help me find her,” growled Hawke. “I need to bring her back before my da finds out she escaped again.”

“It’s too late,” said Logan, crossing the room and throwing open the shutter. The sun was just starting to rise. Shouts were heard from below and also the sound of running feet.

“What’s all the commotion?” asked Hawke, getting free of the ropes and running over to the window. Everyone was in chaos. The courtyard was filled with people rushing to and fro, and he could see smoke on the horizon.

“King Richard is leadin’ his English soldiers up the coast,” said Ethan. “The Scots have already started burnin’ their possessions and crops so the bluidy Sassenachs canna use them to their advantage.”

“God’s eyes, nay! Let’s go,” said Hawke, strapping on his weapons. When he went for his cloak, he realized it was gone. And there on the floor in a pile were the MacKeefe clothes that Phoebe had worn.

“Hawke, ye’re no’ goin’ with us,” said Storm, entering the room.

Hawke turned to face his father. “Why no’? We’ll need to fight the English. Ye ken I am one of yer best warriors.”

“I need ye to take the girl to the Highlands where she’ll be safe. We canna risk anythin’ happenin’ to her before the return of yer grandfaither. With the English movin’ in, Hermitage Castle bein’ on the border is no’ the safest place to be.”