Chapter 5
T he daring escape was underway. Nessa clutched the cloth between her fists and pressed her feet firmly against the castle walls. The wind whipped her hair. She gazed behind her, looking towards the window below. She had to descend at an angle. Caroline’s heart was in her throat, fearing that something terrible was going to happen. If Nessa should drop, then there was nothing that would have prevented her from death. It was all out of Caroline’s hands.
By the time Nessa got about halfway towards the window, Caroline nudged Tara in the back.
“It’s ye turn,” she said.
“Are ye sure ye dinnae want tae gae first?”
Caroline shook her head. “If I leave ye here, then ye are never gaeing tae follow. Gae on, it’s time. The sooner ye get out there, the sooner it’ll be over. Just follow what Nessa is daeing. She hae already moved it at the right angle, sae ye dinnae need tae stare at anything other than the walls. Keep yer feet firmly against them, and keep yer fists clutched. Ye will be safe, I promise. Nessa is nae tae far ahead, and I am nae tae far behind.”
Tara glanced anxiously towards the window again. “I cannae,” she whispered.
“Aye, ye can. Tara, would I ask ye tae dae anything that I thought would be harmful? Ye trust me, aye?”
“Aye,” Tara nodded.
“Then I’m asking ye tae dae this. I know it’s a lot tae ask, and I wish we could keep ourselves the right way up, but this is just something we hae tae dae. Focus on what it’ll feel like tae climb through the window. These are just moments ye hae tae live through in order tae get there. It’ll pass quickly. Now hurry, the longer ye wait here, the worse it’ll seem in yer mind,” Caroline nudged her again, practically shoving her towards the window.
Tara gnawed on her lower lip and whimpered, but she tentatively climbed up onto the window ledge and then turned herself around. She grabbed hold of the tether and breathed deeply a few times. She looked at Caroline and nodded, and then followed Nessa’s path. She was far slower than Nessa, shuffling her feet along the walls rather than walking, never taking them away from the firm surface. She also stopped frequently, wailing as the wind whipped around her. Caroline knew she was going to be fine as long as she kept her grip tight.
Beyond Tara, Nessa had reached the window. She peered inside and then gave Caroline a wave, indicating that it was safe. She was swallowed by the castle and held the rope taut. Caroline then left the room herself. Fear touched her mind, but the day had been so harrowing already that she was numb to the feeling. She took the cloth in her hands and followed her sisters, keeping her eyes trained on the window she had just left.
While she wasn’t so much afraid of falling, although the wind was fiercer than she had imagined, she was more afraid that someone was going to come into the room and discover their escape. She had a vision in her mind of Laird Knox coming to check on her and torment her yet again. He would yell at them and take their escape as an insult, drawing a knife and cutting through the cord, watching them fall to the ground helplessly. She shuddered at the thought and had to take a moment to compose herself. There was no sense in being afraid of things that had not happened yet. There was already so much to be afraid of in the world.
She glanced over her shoulder. Tara was two thirds of the way down. Because she was moving so slowly, Caroline had almost caught up to her.
“Tara, ye need tae keep moving. Ye are almost there.”
“I cannae,” Tara yelled, her voice rising over the cackling wind. “I’m cold and I’m afraid.”
“What dae ye think is gaeing tae happen if ye dinnae move? Are ye gaeing tae stay there for the rest of yer life?” Nessa shouted up from the lower window, not making any effort to hide the impatience from her voice.
Caroline tried to be more gentle. “Tara, I’m going tae reach ye soon and when I dae I cannae get past ye. Ye are gaeing tae hae tae move. It will nae be long until we’re in a room again. Then we’ll escape the castle, and we’ll try to find a village with more hospitality than what we hae been used tae. Ye hae done sae well sae far, ye just need tae keep going for a wee bit longer. Can ye dae that for me?”
It took a few moments, but a strangled “Aye” was the reply given. Caroline breathed with relief. The last thing she needed was a sister who would not move an inch. She glanced down as Tara eventually made it to the window and jumped inside, hugging onto Nessa, but she was too eager to return to safety and when she embraced Nessa, Nessa let go of the rope. Caroline’s feet scraped against the castle walls and the world became a blur as she swung away.
The shock was so intense that for a moment, she loosened her grip and slid down an inch, but she clamped her hands back around the cloth almost immediately, and also entwined it between her legs. She now dangled helplessly, the momentum carrying her away from the window.
Nessa and Tara cried out to her. They stretched their arms out and waited for Caroline to return. Caroline grit her teeth and glanced down. The world spun from this dizzying height, and she wondered if she would feel the pain of all her bones breaking, or if death would come so abruptly that she would not be aware of it at all. She swung back towards the window.
“Now!” Nessa cried, and stretched out.
Caroline felt Nessa’s fingers brush against her legs, but she could not get a firm grip, and Caroline swung away again. Nessa’s curse traveled along the wind. Caroline swung away again, unable to do anything to help herself. She looked up along the length of the tether, hoping that the bed was strong enough to hold.
“I’ll get ye this time!” Nessa shouted.
Caroline looked alarmed as she saw Nessa halfway out of the window, Tara’s arms around Nessa’s waist. This time Caroline swung past and Nessa grunted as she tackled Caroline, hauling her inside. The girls crumpled into a mess on the floor. They gasped and heaved with breath, and then laughed in triumph. They slowly extricated themselves from the tangle and got to their feet.
“Is everyone in one piece?” Caroline asked, patting herself down just to make sure.
“I think sae,” Tara said, putting her hand against her forehead. She looked paler than usual.
“Oh aye. I could dae that again,” Nessa grinned.
“Please nae.”
Nessa turned tae Tara. “And next time dinnae jump on me like that. Dinnae ye think that it was nae the best idea?”
Caroline wasn’t in the mood for them to start bickering again. “We made it out in one piece, but we’re still in this keep. Let’s nae be hasty. Tara, look around tae see if there’s anything we can use tae keep ourselves warm. Nessa, let us try the door.”
Tara rummaged around while Caroline and Nessa approached the entrance to the room. The door was the same type as the one in the other room. Caroline and Nessa looked at each other. If this door was locked, then they had just been through that harrowing escape for nothing. And, from a cursory glance, it didn’t seem as though there was enough material in this room to make another rope from which to escape and try again. Caroline took a breath before trying the door. It didn’t budge. Her heart sank.
“Oh nae…”
“Perhaps it’s stuck. Let us try taegether,” Nessa placed her hands around the ring handle. On a count of three, they heaved with all their strength. They felt a slight movement as wood scraped against stone, but the door was still closed. Caroline’s arms ached.
“I found these,” Tara announced, handing them each a rough shawl. The fabric was scratchy and might as well have been made of hedgehog bristles, but it was thick, and dark, which would help them melt into the shadows. Once they wrapped these over their shoulders, Caroline asked Tara to help.
Together, the three sisters tugged at the door with all their might, straining and straining until eventually, it budged. Once it started moving, it became easier, like an old man’s stiff joints. They pulled it open a crack and then peered out, finding an empty corridor waiting for them.
They sneaked out of the room, their footsteps light. They pressed against the walls of the castle and allowed themselves to be swallowed by shadows. They made their way to a staircase and followed it down, stopping only when they heard noises nearby. At this time of night, the castle was a barren place, populated only by tired guards and a few weary servants.
They were able to make it to the lower floor without any trouble. The only beings who noticed them were rats, and these just scuttled away to a dark hiding hole. They found a servant’s exit at the side of the castle, and a wave of relief passed through Caroline as they met open air. The embrace was cold, but most welcome. However, this was just the first part of the escape.
They still needed to find a village.
As they left the castle grounds and headed towards the forest, Caroline allowed herself to look over her shoulder towards the brooding, dark windows. In one of those rooms was Laird Knox, lying in bed, thinking about making her his wife. The offer of protection would only be given once. He had made that clear. Could she even trust his word? But if he was earnest, then she might have just given up the chance to be safe.
She had traded the risk of liberation with the safety of captivity. As she looked towards her sisters, she prayed that she had made the right choice. If not, they would all suffer because of her.
They reached the foreboding forest. There was a snaking, narrow road that disappeared between the trees, which all looked a little too close together.
“We should gae that way and make camp,” Nessa said, eager to take charge.
“Nae, this way,” Caroline nodded. “That road leads somewhere, presumably tae a village. We need tae put as much distance between us as possible. We cannae risk our uncle’s men finding us. I know ye want tae rest,” she turned towards Tara, “but we should nae become complacent.”
“We can make camp somewhere hidden. It’ll only be a small fire. I doubt any of the Gilmour guards are gaeing tae venture this far intae Knox territory. Dae ye really think Uncle is that desperate tae get us back?”
“I am nae willing tae take any chances. We need tae find shelter, and there is safety among other people.”
Nessa rounded on Caroline. They stopped moving. The silhouette of the castle was still visible behind them. “I was the one who came up with the idea tae escape. I hae good instincts when it comes tae the land. Ye should trust me.”
“I know, and ye did well, but I am still the eldest and I say that we keep moving. It’s tae much of a risk tae stay in one place, especially at this time of night. We need warmth, and we need safety,” Caroline said.
Nessa pouted, clearly unhappy, but she was not willing to split away from her sisters. Tara hung her head.
“All we dae is walking through forests,” she lamented.
Nessa rolled her eyes. Caroline held her tongue. She was too tired to intervene. They trudged forward as a weary trio. Caroline hoped that once they had a chance to calm down and feel safe, then their tempers would be soothed, and they might be able to plan the next part of their lives. She wasn’t sure when it was ever going to get easier, however. It wasn’t as though they had a great fortune to rely upon. They were going to have to work hard and hope to benefit from the kindness of strangers, although she feared that would be in short supply.
It wasn’t long before they heard rustling emerging from a nearby area. Tara gasped.
“Is it wolves?” she hissed.
No, it was something worse. It was bandits. They slithered out from their hiding place, each one looking meaner than the last.
“What dae we hae here? Am I dreaming?” he pinched himself and laughed, which became a chorus as the rest of the men joined in.
Nessa glared at Caroline, whose heart sank yet again. There were five men, although with bandits there was always the danger that more were lurking nearby.
“We dinnae want any trouble. We’re just passing through,” she said.
“Oh, we dinnae want any trouble either. We want quite the opposite, and sae it seems fated that ye should come our way. There are three of ye, and five of us. It seems we are blessed taenight.”
There was a malevolent flash in his eyes, and a grim smile stretched across his face. Caroline groaned. Was the world ever going to show them mercy?
“Run,” Caroline cried without a moment’s hesitation.
They turned on their heels and sprinted away, but the men were quick to react. The air was soon filled with the sound of their screams as heavy, rough arms grabbed them and dragged them down. Out of the corner of her eye, Caroline could see Nessa fighting back, scratching and clawing like a feral animal. Tara was dragged out of sight, her scream fading with a helpless look in her eyes. Caroline’s heart broke as she realized that she was incapable of keeping them safe. She had failed them.
Strong hands held her arms together. Pressure was placed on her knees. She was forced to the ground and tasted dirt. The bandit had his knee pressed into her back, and she was unable to move, no matter how much she struggled. He bent down. His breath was hot on the back of her neck. The evil intent of his words made her shudder.
“Ye should nae hae done that, lass. I was all ready tae treat ye well, but now I’m gaeing tae have tae teach ye a lesson.”
He drew a dagger and held it near her eyes, making a show of his weapon. It glinted in the faint light. The tip was sharp, offering nothing but pain. It came nearer her neck, pressing against her flesh in a chill touch.
Then, suddenly, there was a sharp blow and the bandit was knocked off her back and sent sprawling to the ground. Caroline gasped. Turning around, with her hands pressed against the hard ground, she looked up to see the towering figure of Laird Ryan Knox standing before her.
From this vantage point, he might well have been a giant. His fists were giant clubs, while a sword, as yet undrawn, hung from his side. He had a mean countenance and did not offer her a hand to rise. The strength of his blow had been enough to knock the bandit out cold.
“Did ye think ye could escape that easily? I admire the ingenuity, but I told ye that ye would be safer in the castle. Things would be a lot easier if ye just listened tae me,” he said, his expression inscrutable.
Caroline choked on her own breath as she pushed herself into a sitting position. She trembled all over, and she wasn’t sure whether to be relieved that Knox had saved her life, or if he was even worse than the bandits. But she didn’t have time to consider that matter for long.
Tara was out of sight and Nessa was now being held down by two men. They were both so fixated on Nessa that they didn’t notice Knox’s presence. Nessa was snarling and screaming, promising them both a violent end. One of the bandits had deep scratch marks on his cheek, but Caroline feared that Nessa’s vow was not going to be fulfilled.
“Help us. Ye hae tae help us,” she pleaded with desperate words, but Knox was like a statue.
His lips remained closed, his eyes remained cold. Caroline slowly pushed herself to her knees and then to her feet. Her vision traveled up his broad body, which was packed with coiled strength.
“My sisters…” she trailed away, realizing that he wasn’t going to show her mercy. Fraught emotion whirled inside her and carried her forward. She grabbed his collar in a frenzy and beat her small fist against his chest. She wasn’t sure if he even felt the impact of her hammered blows.
“Ye must help us! Ye must!” she repeated, for there was nothing else she could do.
The corner of his mouth rose in a smirk. “I will help ye,” he growled in a low voice, “if ye accept my proposition. I told ye what was required in order tae gae my protection. Sae what is it gaeing tae be, Caroline? Are ye gaeing tae be my wife and save yer sisters, or shall we watch?”
Caroline couldn’t believe a man could be so monstrous, so heartless. She let go of his collar. Her trembled hands rested against him. Tears filled her eyes as she looked over towards Nessa, who was gnashing her teeth like a captive dog, and goodness knows what was happening to Tara. She was in an impossible situation, and the tension in her body threatened to shatter her apart into a thousand tiny pieces.