“Nay,” Broch said as he worked discreetly to untie Callum’s hands, though the courtyard was empty and night was rapidly descending. “There are others. We broke apart and went in different directions to find her with haste. I went to the Campbell hold,” he said, freeing Callum’s right hand.
Callum’s instinct was to immediately bring his arm forward, but he refrained. “How do ye two intend we escape?”
“Broch and I will feign we are Gordon guards with orders to take ye to the cage to give ye a closer look at Marsaili to torment ye.”
“What of the other tower guards?”
“Dead,” Broch answered, releasing Callum’s other hand.
Callum stood still as Broch kneeled to untie the binds around his ankles next. “How did ye find yer way here from Innis Chonnell?”
“I was leaving the castle for Inverurie, after some hard persuasion of the laird’s wife presented me with word that Marsaili was searching for the Summer Walkers,” Broch said, standing once Callum was released. “Och!” Broch grunted and looked to Maria. “Why the devil did ye push me with yer elbow?”
“Because, ye big, burly, handsome Scot,” she said in an exasperated voice, “we dunnae have time to waste chatting. Marsaili can tell him all he needs to ken. Aye?”
“Aye,” Broch agreed. “Pleasing to look at, did ye say?”
“Aye,” she replied, and Callum did not miss the flirtatious look she gave Broch.
They moved to either side of Callum and each took an arm. Broch drew his dagger and held it to Callum’s throat. “I want ye to remember the feel of my dagger at yer throat,” Broch growled, his light demeanor from a mere moment ago completely changed.
“And why is that?” Callum demanded as they started across the courtyard to Marsaili.
“Because,” Broch answered, “if ye do anything that will cause Marsaili harm or sorrow, I’ll kill ye.”
“I want to protect her, nae harm her, and I dunnae intend to cause her sorrow.”
“Just like ye did nae intend it the first time? What did ye think would happen when ye took her innocence and then—”
“Broch,” Maria snapped. “Ye speak too freely, ye big clot-heid.”
Broch chuckled. “For some reason, lass, I dunnae mind so much when ye offend me.”
They both fell silent as a guard came out of the shadows that led to the stairs where Marsaili was being kept.
“What’s this?” the man demanded.
Callum yanked his arm free and jabbed the man in the windpipe. He fell in a wheezing fit at their feet.
“That was nae the plan,” Broch growled, turning the man over and giving him a hard thump on the head so that he went completely still. “Nor verra smart,” the MacLeod warrior added. “Now we have to hide him. Control yer temper, aye?”
“Aye,” Callum agreed, helping Broch tug the guard under the stairs. “It was foolish, but that man dared to touch what is mine.”
“Yer sword?” Broch asked as they climbed the stairs.
“Nay,” Callum answered, sureness swelling inside his chest. “Marsaili. She belongs with me, and I’ll nae abide another man touching her.”
“Finally ye staked yer claim,” Maria murmured, and as the words left her mouth, two figures came around the corner at the top of the stairs, one of whom happened to be Robert Gordon.
