Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
The first thing Sofia did was attempt to free her hands from their bindings.
Unfortunately, the sailors who had bound her had done their job well, with all the skill a sailor might be expected to have.
The knots were beyond her ability to loosen, and the rope was secure enough that there was no chance of slipping free of it.
Nor were there any sharp objects nearby that could be used to cut the rope or fray it enough that her strength might snap it. In fact, the sailors had been dutiful about clearing away anything that she might have used to improve her situation.
Sofia swallowed against a feeling of despair.
If nay one kens what has happened, if I simply disappear… me sisters will search fer me, but even so… it might be days afore they guess me fate. Besides, who kens what me captor intends? What can I dae?
She was still trying to think of some way to escape, when a distant splash caught her attention. Curious, Sofia levered herself upright as far as she could, to peer over the ship’s rail.
There was another craft approaching, traveling on a course that would lead them within two boat-lengths of the shallow-bottomed ship she was held prisoner on. Hope surged through Sofia’s veins like a draught of whisky. If she could just attract the attention of someone on that boat.
She waited until the other boat came closer, then grabbed the rail with her hands and shouted. “Help! Help! I’m bein’ tak’n prisoner! I’m being abducted! Help me! Please! Someone help me! These men are tryin’ tae steal me from me family! Help!”
There was a flash of movement, and for a moment, she dared hope… and then one of the crewmen strode up and shook her, before cuffing her on the back of the head and snarling with a voice like a wolf’s growl “Shut yer mouth, ye mad harpy, or we’ll shut it fer ye!”
His voice carried easily across the water, and Sofia saw the men on the other boat stiffen. Then the oarsman who had looked up turned back to his oar and her hope died, drowned like a candle wick doused by a bucket of water.
They hadn’t heard her. Or perhaps, they hadn’t understood her. Sound carried strangely over water, or so she had been told. Or perhaps the men of the other craft had been unable or unwilling to challenge the sailors on the larger craft.
Sofia forced the thought away before it could sink in and bring her true despair.
There were many reasons they might not have turned aside, but that was only one craft. The path they traveled across Loch Lochy was a well-used waterway. There would be others. Sofia settled in to wait, swallowing to ease the ache in her throat that came from shouting.
Within half a candle-mark, she heard splashing again.
She peered between the rails of the craft.
The boat appeared to be further from her own than the previous encounter, but even so, Sofia raised her voice.
“Help me! These men are stealin’ me from me kinfolk!
Help! Please! They’ve murdered me friends! Please… someone! Anyone! Help me!”
There was no sign that anyone had even noticed her cries this time, and Sofia felt her stomach clenching, her heart almost leaden with despair.
Why was no one listening? Even if they could not hear her clearly, surely they could discern the sounds of someone in distress. Why did no one attempt to aid her?
Twice more, boats passed, and twice, Sofia did her best to draw attention, struggling against her bonds and making as much noise as possible. Both times, her efforts were met with silence and disappointment.
I will nae give up. I will struggle, and if God grants me opportunity, I will fight, and I will find a way tae escape.
After the last boat had passed, the captain came stalking over.
“Enough o’ yer racket, lass.” He bent and seized her chin in a cruel grip.
“These are neutral waters, girl, an’ there’s nary a man who will cause trouble with another, fer fear o’ upsettin’ the balance o’ power an’ bringin’ down trouble on his clan.
All yer antics dae is weary yer throat, damagin’ yer value. ”
He bent closer, his hot, stinking breath wafting across her face, underscoring the casual menace of his words.
“I willnae tolerate any more o’ havin’ me boat shakin’ with yer twistin’ about.
The next time ye misbehave, ‘twill go ill with ye. Ye’re at me mercy, lass, so think long an’ hard afore ye vex me further. ”
With that, he released her face, then bent to tighten her bonds, leaving Sofia with aching cheeks and a pounding heart. Fear filled her blood, making her head ache with terror at the thought of what the captain and his men might do to her, if she pressed them too far.
One of the sailors came over and produced a filthy rag, which he then twisted into a gag and forced between her lips.
Sofia clenched her teeth behind it and tossed her head to make it as difficult as possible for him, retching as the taste of tar and brackish water filled her mouth, the smell thick in her nostrils.
Sofia felt tears in her eyes and hurriedly ducked her head to wipe them away, using the opportunity to pull the gag loose by clenching it with her knees until she was sure she could spit it out and free herself at a moment’s notice.
The sailors might think she was still gagged, thus she would wait until the best moment to use her freedom to her advantage.
For a moment she wondered if perhaps it would be better tae wait she had been set on dry land, to then try to make her escape?
But a moment later, Sofia shook her head, anger replacing fear.
Whoever had hired the captain and bribed him to go off course, they had clearly planned this kidnapping well.
They would have men waiting to take custody of her, and those men would likely be as cautious as the captain, if not more so.
She could not sit back and hope to find an opportunity on land, in the hands of her actual abductors.
Even if it meant risking the wrath of captain and crew, perhaps being beaten, or even keelhauled, she would continue her actions and pray for some sort of aid.
Even as she shored up her resolve, another boat came into sight. This one was a shallow-bottomed craft like her own, but smaller. There, standing by the railing near the rudder, stood a tall man, dressed in simple clothing, cloak and hood wrapped close against the chill.
The craft was on a course almost identical to theirs, and Sofia felt her heart jump in her chest as she realized the boats would come within mere feet of each other - perhaps no more than an oar’s length apart. It was the closest any craft had come yet.
She readied herself, steadying her nerves.
As soon as she deemed the boat close enough, Sofia yanked the gag down to her throat, shoved herself upright as far as her bonds would allow, and screamed at the top of her lungs, so loudly her throat felt scraped raw by the force of her words.
“Help me! Please, help! These men have murdered me friends, an’ they’re stealin’ me away! Please! I’ve been kidnapped! Help me!”
Time seemed to stop as the man looked up, revealing gray eyes, surrounded by the rugged, scarred countenance of a warrior, and a stern, angular face framed by dark, wind tousled hair. Their eyes met.
Then a crew man grabbed her by the shoulder and wrenched her around, before delivering a stunning blow to her right cheek, hard enough to send Sofia crashing to the deck. “Enough o’ yer caterwaulin!”
Sofia cradled her throbbing jaw, tears and flickering lights dancing in her eyes as she breathed through the pain. The boat moved away, and Sofia heard a splash, as if the man - or perhaps one of the sailors behind her, had thrown something overboard. Anguish filled her.
He had noticed her. She was sure the man had seen her. And yet…
A shadow flickered at the far end of the boat. Sofia blinked, then froze, watching as a man slipped over the aft deck of the boat, slipped on boots and belt, and started stealthily toward her.
It was the man from the other boat, the man whose eyes she’d met.
Water was dripping from the ends of his dark hair and plastering his shirt to his well-muscled body.
His movements were quick and quiet, graceful as a cat’s as he slid across the deck like an errant shadow.
There was a long dirk in his hand, and his intense grey eyes were focused on her as he crept stealthily forward toward her.