“I can’t believe she is foolish enough to be here without guards.”
“There are probably a few at the drawbridge in the front, and they’re probably drunk and asleep.”
“We’ll row to Lochaline and find the man awaiting our message.”
Artan nodded and took Simone’s hand, leading her in the dark to the boat.
They rowed quietly, the half-moon-lit night peaceful and beautiful as any she’d seen. Simone paused once and reached for her husband. “Is it possible it could be so quiet when the entire area will be lit up with warriors on the morrow?” A distant owl hooted, echoing in the silence, the only other sound the quiet lapping of the waves against the rocks on the shoreline.
Artan said, “I am worried when I think on what she told us.”
“Why?”
“If the entrance is buried and the building is underground, how will we discover it in a forest? It reminds me of the door hidden under the chest in the cottage on Ulva. Nearly impossible to locate.”
“We’ll find her.”
They continued until Simone saw the messenger waiting by the water’s edge, his horse and two mounted Grant guards behind him. She moved over to the man and said, “Drimnin on Morvern. Meet Connor at Drimnin.”
The messenger nodded and mounted, the three animals galloping away from the shore.
Simone and Artan rowed back across to MacVey land, leaving the boat there for the morrow. As they climbed the hill to the main path, Simone said, “We’ll save her.”
“How?” Artan whispered. “Things built underground are impossible to detect.”
“Lia and Tora and one more, I think. If his father can handle it.”
“Who?”
“Grant.”
“The bairn?”
“Aye. Grant is tied to John somehow. He’ll help us. I would wager Grant knows exactly where John is.”
Artan whispered, “Poor Maitland.”
Simone squeezed Artan’s hand. “Poor Maeve.”
Chapter Forty
Alasdair
“John, wake up,” Alasdair said.
Lia patted his hand. “John, you need to wake up, lad.”
John opened his eyes and pulled on his bindings. “What the hell?”
Alasdair was glad it was a bit dark so his son wouldn’t see the expression on his father’s face after hearing him curse. His wee laddie was growing up. “John, don’t pull, or you’ll make the skin raw. We’ll get out soon enough.”
John wiggled around until he could set his eyes on his sire. “Da? You are here?”
“I am. You don’t remember?”
He stared at the ceiling for a moment. “Aye, the attack. Lia was behind me on a different horse. They hit me over the head as soon as we stopped. Were others taken or just us?”
“The three of us. I’m sure the others will be here for us sometime today, but I need to let you know that I have a plan I must follow.”
