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They resumed their trek up the road. As they trudged around a bend and the castle came into sight, the redhead said, “What’s yer name?”
“Grace.”
“I am Wynda.” She nodded in turn at the four other women. “Nairne, Coira, Sue, and Eilidh.” Introductions accomplished, they completed the walk to the castle.
Both guards stepped forward to meet them, stubbled cheeks stretched in huge grins. A great deal of giggling, pinching, and butt patting went on, then both guards looked questioningly at Grace. Evidently the other five were well known by the men-at-arms.
“Grace,” Wynda said in reply to their questions. “She’s a Sassenach hoor.”
The guard took the bag from Grace and opened it, thrusting his big hand within. He pawed through the articles of clothing and pulled out a book, looking at it in puzzlement. Grace was too tired and hungry to do anything but stand there. Wynda repeated Grace’s tale of her man leaving her behind. Perhaps it was the explanation, Grace’s lack of anxiety, or that the bag obviously held no weapons, but with a shrug the guard handed the bag back to her. He called out to the guards on the other side of the double gate, and the six women walked through.
She was in. Her heart began pounding with excitement, the rush of adrenaline dispelling her fatigue.
Wynda proudly led her horse to the stable, while the others made their way toward the barracks. Grace fell behind them, slowing her steps until they were well ahead of her. They were chatting, laughing, paying her no mind. Calmly she changed direction, looking around with interest.
The inner ward was neat and busy, people going about the daily business involved in running a castle. To the left were the stables and barracks, to the right a training ground where a number of men, stripped to the waist, practiced their swordplay. She could see a well-shaped head with long black hair, towering over all the others, and quickly she looked away as if he might feel her gaze.
Black Niall was there, so she wanted to go in a different direction. Now that she was inside she could see that in addition to the four tall towers which stood at each corner, there were two smaller inner towers, one on each end of the center great hall. The entire thing was huge; she couldn’t begin to guess how many rooms the castle contained.
She walked into the great hall, and a wave of dizziness swept over her. The hall was just as she had seen it in her dreams. She knew where Niall sat, and exactly where the kitchens were. The smell of roasting meat filled the air, and she wondered if her dizziness was caused by hunger.
Men and women alike were looking at her strangely, and she ducked her head, walking quickly toward the kitchens. Perhaps she could beg a piece of bread; if not, perhaps she could steal it. She had already stolen a horse, so why worry about bread? She doubted either was as serious a sin as the rash of head bashing in which she had recently indulged.
Her appearance in the kitchen went unnoticed for a few moments, largely because there were so many people bustling about, chopping and stirring and pounding. A young boy slowly cranked a spit on which turned what looked like an entire pig. Fat dripped sizzling into the fire, sending out a wonderful smell to mingle with the yeasty scent of baking bread.
Finally a buxom woman spotted her, and snapped out a question in Gaelic. “I’ve come a very long way,” Grace said. “I’ve had no food for over two days—”
“Sassenach!” the cook spat in disgust, and made a shooing motion with the cloth tied around her waist.
Evidently being thought an Englishwoman was more to her discredit than being dressed like a whore. Grace shook her head and said, “French.” Then she abruptly turned white as another wave of dizziness hit her, and she swayed, reaching out to the wall to support herself.
The dizziness was all too real. Gasping, Grace bent over from the waist, trying not to faint. The need for food was becoming more pressing by the minute.
Perhaps it was the reassurance that she wasn’t English, but supporting arms were suddenly around her, leading her to a bench. The buxom woman pressed a piece of bread into her shaking hand, and poured ale into a shallow bowl for her to drink. Slowly Grace chewed on the bread, which was of much better quality than that she’d had at the Hay keep. She didn’t dare take more than a few sips of the ale, not after being so long without food.
The work went on around her, though the buxom woman kept looking in her direction, perhaps assessing the return of color to her face. After a bit, when the bread stayed down, another piece was placed before her, along with some cheese and a few slivers of cold pork. Feeling stronger now, Grace ate as greedily as good manners allowed, and drank more ale.
The cook clucked her tongue approvingly and put even more meat and bread in front of her. “Ye’re scarce as thick as a strae, lass. Ha’ a bit more. Ye’ll need yer strength tonight.”
Grace tried, but she was full. After a few more bites she sigh
ed, replete, and smiled at the woman. “Thank you. I was very hungry.”
“Ye’re welcome. Go on wi’ ye, now.” Charity served, the woman made shooing motions with her cloth again, and Grace went.
Her first priority now was to find a secure hiding place, at least until she decided what to do. When everyone’s attention seemed to be elsewhere, she dodged into a curtained alcove and gingerly sat down on the floor, prepared to wait.
She leaned her head back against the cold stone wall. What had she gotten herself into? Coming back had seemed reasonable when she was still in her own time, but in the three days since her arrival she had accomplished exactly nothing toward her goal. What had seemed fairly simple—find the Treasure and return to her own time—had taken on gargantuan proportions.
Now that she had seen the size of the castle, she knew it would take days, weeks, to search it thoroughly. She certainly couldn’t stay hidden the entire time. Unless she enlisted Niall’s help, which didn’t seem a viable alternative, she needed an excuse to stay in the castle. To do that, she had to have Niall’s permission.
She had to face him again. She didn’t look forward to it, but she had done more difficult things than this during the past year. What was humiliation, after all, compared to seeing her husband and brother murdered, to being hunted like an animal?
She was very tired. Now that she had eaten, she was so sleepy she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She hauled the heavy burlap bag around behind her back and reclined in a more comfortable position, her head pillowed on books and clothing. She slept within minutes.
After declining enthusiastic offers of company from both Jean and Fenella, a lusty serving wench, Niall climbed the stairs that curved along the outside wall of the tower, leading to his private chamber. He was in a foul mood. He ached for a woman, but not one with Fenella’s overripe charms. Not even Jean tempted him, and over the months she had become his favorite, if not only, bedmate.
“Damn the witch!” He swore viciously as he slammed the door to his bedchamber. He strode to the table and lifted the bottle of wine that sat there, then thumped it down unpoured. He didn’t want wine; he’d had wine when he supped. What he wanted was what he had left to Huwe’s untender mercies.
