Page 19 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
“Nay. I promise to stay. We’ll find a way out this eve.”
“Good,” Magni said. “Because the men will be here after the late meal on the morrow. They gave us something awful to eat earlier, and we pished outside one at a time, but they have not been back. We’ll have to leave before high noon on the morrow to be safely away.”
“We’ll get out. Don’t worry. I know it’s not dark yet, but you all look exhausted. Now close your eyes.” Meg hummed a song her mother used to sing until the four bairns calmed in her arms, finally closing their eyes. Being captive was indeed exhausting.
She closed her eyes, saying a quick prayer to the Lord to find a way to unlock the door when she awakened next.
***
When she woke up, it was dark, but she had no idea how long she’d slept. The lads were still asleep, but Lia and Tora were awake.
Lia said, “They’re coming at high sun. I heard them talking about it.”
“Then we must act now,” Meg said, though she wasn’t certain what exactly to do.
Tora gave Magni a kiss on his cheek. He woke instantly with a loud “Yuck,” then swiped his cheek and glared at Tora, who put her finger up to her mouth.
“Shush.” She pointed to the door. Rowan sat up, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
Meg had formulated a plan. Now she had to get four bairns to do as she said. She still had two axes in her bag, so that would help. “Here’s what we’re going to do. Lia, I want you to cry so they’ll come in to check on you. Rowan, you’ll be on one side of the door, and Magni, you on the other. When the two step inside, you put your foot out to trip them and push them to the floor. Then we all rush out over them, close the door, and lock it. That will give us enough time to run away. And we need to run deep into the forest, not on the main path. Stay together so no one gets lost. Understand?”
“How do you know the key will be in the lock?” Magni asked.
“Because when they brought the food in last eve, that’s what they did. They left the key in the door and retrieved it after they locked it again. I’m sure that’s the only way they can open it.”
Rowan said, “What if only one comes in?”
“Good question.” She had to think about it for a moment. “If both girls cry, then I think the other will enter. We’ll start with one crying and if we need to, we’ll have Tora cry too.”
“Now?” Lia asked.
Meg took one last look around the building before making the first move. The room comprised about half the building, butshe didn’t know what was in the other half. Various bags and containers lined the walls, but she had no idea what they held. The door was in the middle of the wall, easy enough for the two lads to trip them with one on each side. There were two windows, but both were too high to look out. They’d have to judge everything by sound.
She moved the two stools in front of the door with the hopes that their falls would be a bit harder. If she hid in the corner, once the men fell, she’d easily get to the door and be able to lock it from the other side. She held her bag close to her chest, ready to grab one of her axes if necessary.
She’d never used one on a person before, but if she had to, she would.
“Aye. Wait for the lads to get in position. We’ll have to walk. I had a horse, but it won’t hold five of us, so I’ll have to leave the mare behind. But we can hide better without her.”
She glanced from one dirty face to the next, their trust humbling her. She’d certainly lived a life different from any of them. “Lads, take your positions. I’ll hide next to Magni so they can’t see me.”
They took their spots by the door, then Meg nodded to Lia, who broke out in a wail until the door opened. One man stood there and said, “Shut your mouth.”
Then Tora screamed and the other man pushed in behind the first one. “I’ll shut them up.”
Both men tripped over Magni’s and Rowan’s feet—one fell on the other with the loudest bellows, and the other hit his head on one of the stools, cursing. All four bairns stepped on the fools while Meg grabbed the key and shouted, “Hurry!”
The four clamored out the door, waiting for her, and she slammed it, locking it just in time as Pirate Man grabbed the handle.
“Run!” she said.
Meg took off behind the children with her saddlebag over her shoulder, surprised when the lad from the stable tossed her a bag of something. Whatever it was, she’d check later.
They ran and ran down a path headed deep into the forest, away from the main path.
Though Meg had no idea where they were headed.
Chapter Twelve
