A PERILOUS RIDE
Chrissie and Alina stared at each other. Alina frowned.
“Dunkeld is under attack? But...by whom? When?” She turned to Chrissie, who frowned back. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she felt terrified. Alina's hand was on hers and she clutched her hand with the other, feeling how Alina's pulse also beat faster with fright.
“They came out of nowhere, milady. Swarming at the back gate. So many of them...Master said he'd not seen nothing like it. Not since...” he trailed off. The sacking of Dunkeld had happened over ten years ago and was in everyone's mind.
“Quite,” Alina finished. “But whom, Alec?”
He shrugged. “I dunno, milady. His lordship just said to fetch you. Lord Broderick is at the gate now, manning the defense there.”
“Oh!” Alina covered her cheeks with her hands in a sign of horror. Chrissie understood why. Together, wordlessly, they stood and ran to the door, their feet making loud footsteps in the high space.
If Broderick was manning the defenses on the rear gate, then Amabel...they ran breathlessly down the hallway towards the main rooms.
“Alina!”
“Amabel!” Alina cried breathlessly as her sister appeared around the corner, velvety skirt in hand, running up the hallway.
“Oh, I was so worried!” Amabel said breathlessly, her hand on her heart. “Thank Heaven I found you. Let's go downstairs.”
“Broderick is...” Alina began.
“He's at the rear gate,” Amabel said with a grim face. “The fighting is thickest there.”
“Oh, sister,” Alina said, putting a hand on her sister's arm. “He is an experienced fighter. He will return safely. I know it.”
“I hope so,” Amabel said quietly, then looked into her sister's level gaze. “Well, yes. I know so.”
“Yes,” Alina said firmly. “Now, to the great hall. We will shelter there until we know more of what is happening. The maids and the men who are too ill to fight should join us.”
“They're already gathering, sister,” Amabel agreed, and they nodded as a group of maidservants rushed past them down the spiraling stairs, heading for the courtyard and the great hall.
“Duncan,” Alina said steadily. It was a statement, not a question, but Amabel took it as one.
“He is in the front, manning the defenses on the great gate. He says he suspects it is a false alarm and they intend to attack there. He will keep the place defended until he is sure the threat has passed.”
“Wise man,” Alina noted. Together they headed down the stairs to the great hall.
In the hall, Chrissie felt the first shivers of true fear. Everyone seemed eerily composed, the maids walking about in silence, the men-at-arms too ill to fight leaning on the benches, their voices subdued whispering.
“Alina..?” Chrissie whispered. Alina was already crossing the floor, going to their aunt. Somehow, she had appeared in the great hall seemingly without being called there. Chrissie shrugged. She did not pretend to understand the way of a seer.
Amabel was in the middle of the hall, talking to a man-at-arms who appeared to be organizing the gathering of the servants here in the hall. Amabel was talking quickly, hands flashing gestures as she did so. Chrissie listened in.
“So the men are concentrating on the front gate. We can get supplies for them? Torches, pitch, weapons, yes? And if there is a siege situation...” she trailed off, making a gesture towards the kitchens. “Will we withhold?”
“For a month there is perhaps enough, my lady. For those within the castle. For the guests...” he lifted his shoulders. “We have enough for perhaps a hundred folk for a month, milady. If we're extra careful-like. No more.”
Amabel seemed to shrink. Her usually open gestures became more subdued. “Oh. And you think a siege likely?”
“I know not, milady.” The man, whom Chrissie thought might be the armorer, or perhaps the head of their guardsmen, spread his hands, looking at the stiff knuckles as if answers lay there.
“Well, then,” Amabel said quickly. “I should consult my husband. Olrich?” she summoned a guard, who blinked and stood straighter, seeming more afraid of his mistress than the foe.
“Yes, milady?” he bowed deeply, touching his forehead in a gesture of respect.
“Go you outside to find Broderick. Tell him I need to know how likely it is they're would-be besiegers.”
“Very good, milady.”
The man bowed and raced off outside. Chrissie bit her lip, praying he would be safe in the courtyard, for it sounded as if there was chaos out there. She turned back to Amabel.
Amabel had crossed the hall to stand with Bronna and the children. Joanna was stroking her green skirt, looking up at her, and seeming unconcerned by everything. Brodgar was in swaddling in the nurse's arms, looking about with bewildered, wide eyes.
Amabel looked calmer, and Chrissie went to stand with her. Together they watched as orderly maids and men-at-arms laid cloth pallets down for wounded.
“Cousin?”
“Mm?”
“You think the men will besiege us here?”
“We'll know soon enough,” Amabel said, resolved.
“If there is a siege, should we leave?”
Amabel blinked. She reached out a hand and put it on Chrissie's arm, looking into her eyes with her intense green ones. “My dear, I would send you away only for your own safety. The supplies will be thin here, and I do not want you trapped with us.”
Chrissie swallowed hard. The thought of a siege was terrifying. She knew how many supplies traveled up to their own castle from the villages and farms on a daily basis. It was true that they had their own grounds, their own plots, and some milk-goats and hens. However, those living in the castle did rely on the outside for fresh food every day. The well and the supplies within the vast stores and cellars, or the attics, would keep them going for a while, but with so many men-at-arms, servants, and family to feed, it would not last for long.
“Cannot you come with us?” she asked at once, thinking of the babes. How would they fare, here in the castle, while the food supplies lessened? “If it's safe for us to leave, then surely...” she trailed off.
“Broderick can't go. So I will stay.”
“Nor can Duncan,” Duncan said suddenly, appearing beside their small group. “But he thinks it might be best if our guests left now, before the fighting comes round here.” he indicated the front part of the castle where the vast keep overlooked the walls and the path to the gate.
“You have no fighting in the front?” Amabel asked at once. Alina had come to join them and she looked up at Duncan, a message in her dark eyes.
“As yet, no.” Duncan ran a hand through his brown hair, sighing. “But it will not stay clear for long. All who leave should go now. And we can send to Lochlann, maybe...” he trailed off. Chrissie grasped what he meant, and so it seemed did her cousins, instantly.
“Of course!” Alina said quickly. “We can call for aid from outside. They will not have us besieged here for long...” she trailed off. Duncan looked into her eyes and Chrissie guessed that she had probably thought of it at the same time he did. He nodded.
“We could do that,” he said, sighing.
“I would go,” a voice spoke behind him.
They all spun round. Blaine stood there, his helmet under his arm. He was wearing his mail shirt and already, it seemed, was ready to leave the castle. Duncan cleared his throat.
“Blaine, it's dangerous...” he trailed off. “Very well.”
“And I could accompany those leaving,” he said, looking meaningfully across to where Chrissie stood, trying to look past him at the wall where the maids were lighting candles and torches to keep the place bright as the night fell.
“Yes!” Duncan agreed, relieved. “Well, then. It's settled. Sweetheart, I want you to go with them,” he said to Alina.
“No.”
Alina stared at him, black eyes firm.
“Alina...”
“No,” Alina said firmly. “I will not leave you. Chrissie should go. Amabel and the babes should, but I know she won't. And I won't either. You cannot make me do so.”
Duncan chuckled. “I pick battles,” he said quietly, “and right now I find the one out there easier. Well, then. I will be honored to have you. But promise that if things get too bad, then...” he trailed off.
“I will do whatever is necessary. I assure you. I swear.” Alina gripped his hand and Chrissie looked at the floor, not wanting to witness the fierce kiss the two gave each other. At length, Duncan turned to Blaine. He was still there, not, Chrissie noticed angrily, doing Duncan the courtesy of stepping aside so he could say his parting-words to his wife.
“Well then,” Duncan said heavily. “Blaine, I leave the necessary to you. Take Chrissie and go safely. And quickly. Now, as soon as you can! Ride, though. The coach is too cumbersome. Take Chrissie on your charger. You can take mine, he's battle-trained.”
“Thank you,” Blaine was saying. Chrissie gaped at Duncan.
“No,” she began, protesting. She would not ride with Blaine. She knew it was an urgent situation, but the thought of riding with him, being held, pressed close to him...it filled her with revulsion. At least, she thought it was aversion. However, her heart was beating fast and she had to admit she had never felt so alive.
Alina was silent and Duncan was looking at her, mild inquiry on his face. Blaine was scowling, and opened his mouth to say something.
“But...”
“I'll do it,” a grave voice said. Chrissie felt her heart make a leap. She cast a dazzling smile. Heath. He had saved her, yet again.
“Thank you, Heath,” Amabel said quickly. “We're indebted.”
“Not at all,” Heath said lightly. “It is I who has the greatest debt.” He was looking gravely at Chrissie, who looked away, feeling her cheeks flush with color. As she walked away, following behind Heath, she could not help thinking that not a little of that blush was joy at having avoided leaving with Blaine.
“I'll still ride back,” she heard Blaine say and her heart sank. “Someone still needs to take your message to Lochlann. And it's safer if both of us go.”
“Very well,” Heath agreed gravely.
Chrissie bit her lip. She couldn't exactly disagree. However, the thought of Blaine riding alongside them with his hooded gaze and his angry manner did not exactly make her joyful.
Or, she thought as she crossed the floor, walking briskly to keep up with Heath, was the sudden pounding of her heart the moment Blaine said he was coming along, not at least somehow important?
She cast a glance over her shoulder to where Alina stood with Aili and Amabel. She wished she could ask Alina about the way her heart flipped over as she walked along quickly, but they were already through the door and she had to hurry. As she walked, Aili raised her hand in a gesture of farewell and benediction.
Chrissie swallowed hard. This was her first journey. She had absolutely no idea where it would lead.
Aili was right.