Chapter 23
The laird of the McDonald estate held on by his fingertips.
The side of the castle had been scalable, just as Kate had predicted.
But it was just the lower portion of the walls that were relatively easy to scale, as it had been frequented by the servants, it made the hand and footholds easier for him to grab and lock into.
But once he was higher than the fence line, he was basically climbing a sheer rock face.
Reuben knew that he was safe for the time being, with Hudson and Kate down below, the guards would be distracted by them for the time, while he continued his climb. Even if they looked up at the tower, they would not see him, as he made his climb from the outside of the castle.
Reuben let out a breath and looked up, staring right at the window. There was a chance that Lily was in there, and if she was, their plan would be halfway done already. He just had to get to her.
He got to the window and peered in, looking across the room to see if he would spot any guards at first. Once he was sure there were none, he pulled himself up and into the room, landing on the balls of his feet.
He looked around and realized that it was a room, and there was a chance that Lily had been in there. But then he checked the floor behind the door, rubbing a finger against it and realizing that there was dust on it, telling him that no one had been there in a while.
Reuben reached for the door and tried opening it from the inside, but saw that it was locked. Not wasting any time, he drove his foot through the door and jumped out the other side.
A guard patrolling the corridors turned around at the sound of the commotion, unsure of what had happened, or how the laird had even gotten into the room.
Before he could react, Reuben drove a right hook across his face, knocking the man out cold.
He took the guard and dragged him into the room, and then blindfolded and tied him up with some of the clothes which were left in the room, making sure that he would not be an issue after he was gone.
He hurried towards the stairs and quickly rushed down. Most of the guards were outside of the castle, with Max not needing them around much. He had not expected anyone to attack, and so once they were in, there was no fear of many guards lurking around.
For a moment, Reuben wondered why the large doors had been put there, as though it had been built to lock people in. Reuben sighed; Max was a lot more sadistic than he had thought. The laird began heading for the dungeons; he moved through an adjoining corridor that passed the great halls.
He slowed and peered through a crack in the door, seeing Hudson on the other side of the wall, and on a chair at the far end of the hall, was Max Sweeney, watching Hudson with discontent.
“…which is why I have come here today. As a great warrior, I have come to offer my services, and I will help ye kill the Laird who has kept ye from having what ye desire.”
Max sat up in his seat, “Bingwen, the tales of yer bravery and skills have nae passed by my ears. I ken everything, and I want yer service, as I believe ye will be able to do the job…”
Reuben felt a hand on his shoulder, and his heart stopped.
He had not expected anyone to see him there, and his hands were against the wall, and so he could not reach his sword.
If the man who had touched him was a guard, and a skilled one, he would have drawn his blade and taken Reuben down before the laird would react.
But he had to take the chance, and Reuben reached for his blade.
Kate ran into the castle, and for the first time in a while, everything came rushing back to her. The time she had spent there as a child, all of the punishments that she and her sisters had endured at the hands of Max. It had all happened there, and she had come back to it willingly.
For a moment, she wondered if it was the right move, if she should have come at all. But she smacked the thought out of her head.
A while ago, Willow had disrespected Max, and he had thrown her in the dungeons as punishment. Kate had to sneak down dinner for her, and this was the only way she could do it.
Taking her chance, she rushed across the foyer and got deeper into the castle, making her way down the stairs.
She heard a loud thud above her, and froze, wondering what it was.
If she was right, Reuben would be somewhere above her, checking to see that Lily was in the room above.
But on the chance that she was not, Kate had to check the dungeons.
The dungeons were guarded by the same people who patrolled the foyer upstairs, and they would occasionally come down to check on whoever was locked in. She had no way of knowing when they would pop in however.
She walked to a small alcove on the side of the wall, staying flat against it, just as the guards walked by. If they were heading in the opposite direction, they would spot her with ease. But it was a game which she had played enough times, to know what the right moves were.
Kate dashed across the corridor, and slowly opened the other gate of the dungeons, moving it slowly so it would not squeak loudly. Once she was through, she made her way in and looked in through the bars.
In the back of the cell, Lily’s eyes lit up as she saw her sister, and she rushed forwards and reached for her sister, with tears streaming down her cheeks. Her face was covered in grime, and her dress already filthy from the mud and dirt of her cell.
“Lily, are ye okay?” Kate asked, reaching up to wipe her cheeks through the bars.
“Aye, I am. What are ye doing? If Max catches ye here, it is over!” Lily replied, trying to slow her sobs as they spoke in gentle whispers.
“I couldnae leave ye here with him,” Kate replied, looking down at the locked cell door. She reached for it and tugged as hard as she could, kicking it but it would not budge. “Wait for me, Reuben is out there. I’ll call him to come help, and we will get ye out of here.”
Lily nodded and Kate turned around and rushed out of the dungeons.
If Reuben had made it to the top of the castle, he would be headed down by now, and there was only one route he would take that would bring him in her direction, so Kate walked quickly, picking up a pot of water which she found lying around, and carrying it up to cover her face as a guard walked by, believing her to be one of the servants.
She took the pot and walked by the armory where she found a bow and a quiver full of arrows. Kate hung them across her back and continued her journey, looking for Reuben. Just as she turned, she took a look down the hall and saw a guard reaching out to Reuben.
The guard had a hand on his sword already, and was looking to strike.
Reuben would not see it coming. Kate dropped the pot, drawing the attention of the guard for a split second.
It was just enough time for Reuben to shove the guard backwards.
Just as he did, Kate quickly knocked an arrow into her bow and fired.
The arrow struck the guard on the right side of his chest, and just before he could cry out, Reuben slammed the hilt of his sword into the side of the man’s head, knocking him out.
“Ye just saved my life,” said Reuben. “Again.”
“Well, ye can pay me back later. I found Lily, come on!”
They rushed down to the dungeon, making their way to the cell. Reuben swung his sword and struck the lock of the cell with all of his might, and on the second blow, it bounced back, creaking open. Kate flung the door free and hugged her sister, holding her tightly.
“I’m so sorry, Lily, are ye okay?” Kate cried, looking at her body.
“There will be time for that later, but for now, we need to leave,” said Reuben, looking back in the way they had come. “Can ye walk?”
“Aye,” said Lily.
“Then ye can run.”
They turned and left the dungeons, heading back up the stairs.
Escaping was going to be the tricky bit, but they had their plan all set out beforehand.
Reuben had to cause a distraction, long enough for Kate and Lily to get to the tree and climb over it.
Once they were gone, he and Reuben would find their way out.
“What now?” Lily asked, looking to Kate.
“We make a dash across the courtyard, and head straight for the tree. Remember the one we used before?” Kate asked.
“Aye,” Lily replied.
“We do that again, but quicker, and then we get on the horses and ride off.”
Lily nodded, waiting for the right time to go. Kate knew it was now or never, and she turned back to Reuben who was watching their rear. This was the part of the plan she dreaded the most. She would be leaving both Hudson and Reuben behind, and they would have to find their own way to escape.
She pulled Reuben in for a kiss, holding his head passionately. She pulled away and rubbed his cheek gently, “Make sure ye get out, Reuben, make sure ye do. I will be waiting for ye, and Hudson too.”
Reuben nodded, kissing her back. “Ye need to leave without us. At least get as far away as ye can. Get back to the castle. If we daenae get out, then at least we would have finished the job.”
Kate began to protest, but the laird put a finger to her lips, stopping her.
“We will make it out, how else will I ask ye to marry me?” Reuben asked with a smug grin on his face. “I love ye Kate.”
“Oi, I ken ye both love each other, but we shouldnae stand here talking all day, aye?” Lily asked, cutting them off.
Kate nodded, not sure of what to reply. Reuben squeezed her palm, and then ran out to the open, drawing his sword as he tackled the nearest guard to the ground. Once the man hit the floor, Reuben kicked the side of his head as hard as he could, knocking the man out.
The other guards saw this and quickly made their move, rushing towards Reuben.
He had his sword out, and was ready to take them on.
The closest man swung his blade, going low, to take out Reuben’s legs, but the Laird was a seasoned fighter, and he grabbed the man by the beard and drove him chin into his knee, sending the man toppling backwards, as he fell over the body of his unconscious comrade.
“This is it!” Kate called to Lily. She pulled her hand and they raced across the yard, taking the route furthest from the action, and heading straight for the tree.
Once they got to it, Kate stayed down, allowing Lily to climb over first. The tree creaked as Lily moved quickly, and once she was high enough, she moved to the fence and slid down the other side.
Kate began climbing as well, turning back to see Reuben as he struggled to face off against three men all at once.
She whispered a prayer for him, and continued her climb. Once she got to the branch that would get her up and over, the branch gave out underneath her. The sound of the snapping reached her ears, and in a moment, she was on the ground, right next to the tree.
Trapped in the McGowan estate.