I lumbered up into a sitting position and tried tae remain conscious. Unnnggghhhhhh. Unnnggghhhhhh. My jaw clenched against the spasms.

This forest was nae far from Talsworth where I would turn myself over tae Lady Mairead.

Did I want Lady Mairead to have my vessel?

Twas the only one I possessed and possibly the only one I would ever…

I would need tae hide it in a location where it could be found again.

A memory flashed — the stone wall, the tree, shewin’ Kaitlyn how they aligned with the tower. I forced myself tae my feet with a groan and took stock of my location.

I needed another hour tae rest before I would be well enough tae accomplish this, but I dinna have the time. I had tae move fast.

I staggered forward with the help of tree branches and leanin’ against rocks tae rest until I arrived at the tree I was looking for. The tower was aligned. Eight steps away stood the low wall. The corner was well stacked and looked as if it would stand for many long years.

I found a rock with a sharp edge, crawled over the wall, knelt in the corner, and began tae dig at the difficult ground until I gained a hole deep enough.

I dropped the vessel in and covered it with dirt. Then I brought more dirt from the surrounding area and created a berm up the corner. I covered the slope with rocks tae stabilize and hide it. I covered that with leaves and detritus from the nearby trees. When I stepped back tae check twas well hidden from view.

I dinna want tae take a chance of gettin’ captured this close tae it, so I stepped over the wall, walked south, and leaned against an oak. Facing the direction of the castle, I ate a protein bar in peanut-butter flavor, and then I ate another.

Twas afternoon. Now that I accomplished this without capture I regretted I dinna go tae Balloch first. I would have liked tae see Lizbeth and Sean before I left.

I dug a small hole, put the protein bar wrappers into it, and buried them under a small mound of dirt. I looked at my handiwork and brushed what dirt I could get from my hands. They were filthy. It only took about two hours tae look as if I belonged in the eighteenth century.

I straightened my shirt and kilt and strode tae the edge of the field. There, I leaned on a tree in full view of the castle and waited for the Talsworth guard tae come get me. What was left of the Talsworth guard, we Campbells crushed them quite brutally nae long ago. We had left just a few men standing, nae enough tae cause trouble with us anymore.

After that battle I had returned tae the woods victorious and that was when I found Kaitlyn gone.

I had promised tae take care of her, tae protect her, and she disappeared while I was fighting. I shook my head tryin’ tae clear the image of her backpack lyin’ open beside Rory’s body. And then the hours and days lookin’ for her, knowin’ any moment she might die. They were verra long hours.

I remembered my words when I found her—

“I have one purpose in life, tae keep ye safe, and I haena been able tae do it.”

The Talsworth guards rode from the gates headed my way.