Page 67 of Highland Steel

The guards on the wall walk were patrolling, but looking down into the courtyard in the opposite direction of the tower. If he could sneak up there, he might be able to pull himself up to the tower window on the side of the moat. It wouldn’t be half as hard if he didn’t have to also save Ailsa and Bug now, too.

God’s eyes, where were his friends, Hawke, Caleb and Ethan? Hadn’t they said they wouldn’t desert him in his time of need? Of course, he was the one who deserted them by leaving the MacKeefe camp without telling anyone. Well, he’d just have to figure this out on his own.

There was a hustle and bustle in the courtyard since Drummond decided he wanted a wedding that no one – especially Logan – would ever forget. He heard the pounding of hammers, thinking they were building a wedding platform. But then he saw only one timber sticking up in the air instead of a wedding arch and realized they were building the gallows. For him, no doubt.

“Rhoswen, if we live through this, I swear I’m goin’ to strangle ye for no’ listenin’ to me in the first place,” Logan mumbled. The girl was trouble, there was no doubt about it. She had ideas in her head and no one was going to change them. Logan supposed her being headstrong was what attracted him to her since he was much the same way.

Managing to sneak up to the battlements unseen, he fastened the grappling hook onto the end of the rope and swung it in a circle, aiming for the tower window. The whizzing sound of air against the hook buzzed in his ears. It was a long way up, but he had a good arm. He tossed it, but came up short, hitting just under the window. He tried a second time and the grappling hook hit the ledge of the tower window with a loud clank. Then testing the rope and looking over his shoulder once more, he jumped off the battlements, and started to pull himself up.

* * *

Rhoswen heard a loud clink and looked over to see a grappling hook with a rope attached, trailing out the open window. She jumped up and ran to the window, leaning out and looking down.

“Logan!” she cried, so happy to see him.

“Hush, lass,” he said with a grunt, making it to the top and throwing one leg over the sill. “We dinna want anyone to hear us.”

“You are mad to climb up here,” she told him. “You could have fallen.”

“There’s a moat down there. So even if I fell, I would have been fine. I can swim.”

“Do ye really think someone could survive that fall?” She looked out the window.

“Aye, and that’s how we’re goin’ to escape, so I hope ye can swim.” He put both feet over the ledge and dropped down into the room.

“My sword,” she said, seeing it strapped to his waist. “Where did you find it?”

“Bug said ye left it in the wagon. He gave it to me when he helped me to break out of the dungeon.”

Rhoswen threw her arms around him in a hug, and then started kissing him over and over again.

“Mmmph,” he said, pushing her away, looking up to see Rona. He yanked the sword from his belt. “Ye’re Drummond’s whore.”

“It’s all right,” said Rhoswen. “Rona isn’t going to tell anyone you’re here. Are you, Rona?”

“Nay, of course no’,” said the woman, looking down and picking lint from the wedding gown.

“Rhoswen, I think ye should ken that I found yer sister in the dungeon while I was there.”

Greif spread through her. “Please, I don’t want to hear about her remains.”

“Nay, lass,” said Logan. “She is alive – although a little beaten and bruised.”

“She is?” asked Rhoswen and Rona at the same time.

“That’s wonderful,” said Rhoswen, relieved and excited to find out that her sister hadn’t died after all. “Where is she?”

“I had Bug hide her in the back of the wagon. We’re gettin’ out of here one way or another. But there are too many guards at the tower stairs so ye’re goin’ to have to jump out the window and into the moat.”

“What?” Rhoswen couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I’m not going to jump into the moat!”

“Ye have to. Now, come on.” He took her hand and pulled her over to the window. “After ye’re safe, I’ll find a way to save yer sister, I promise.”

“I think you’re forgetting something,” said Rhoswen as the baby started crying. “I’m not leaving here without Lockie. And I don’t think he’s going to be able to swim the moat. We’ll just have to find another way to escape.”

“Och, that’s right,” said Logan, looking at the child and then back to Rhoswen. “All right, I’ve got it. Ye jump to safety and I’ll tie the boy to me with my plaid and protect him when I jump so he doesna drown. Then I’ll use the secret entrance to get back into the castle and help yer sister and Bug out that way before I go back to get my sword and kill Drummond.”

“Ye’re goin’ to kill Ranulph?” asked Rona, looking concerned.