Chapter 7

Chapter 7

One Day Later…

The wide open spaces around the McFerguson castle's Great Hall always made Blair feel so small. It was so very different than when she had first come there, hoping for a miracle. While she had gotten that in her husband James, her sisters were still far away, and in constant danger. Blair often felt guilty for any and all freedoms she had. While her sisters thought they had bought themselves some freedom, they still had less rights than most of the servants at the castle. She missed her father's lands, but they were only a memory in her head now. The space held by her uncle and cousin was nothing like what her father had worked so hard to build.

"He looks like ye, but has me coordination," James whispered to Blair, watching their newest addition already waddling across the floor toward the maid.

"Poor thing," Blair joked, bringing her attention back.

"Would ye rather they look like me?" James said with a laugh.

"Now that ye mention it…nay," she replied with a loud laugh.

James shook his head, reaching over and pinching Blair's side. "Cannae believe that we've done all of this. It feels like just yesterday we were pretendin' ye were captured so we could go visit the old wise-woman in the forest. Back when ye argued with me all the time."

Blair gasped dramatically. "Me argue with ye? If me memory serves me right, ye were the one with the big secrets, sir."

"I dinnae think me secrets were all that bad," he replied with a smirk. "It brought us here with those two gorgeous babes."

"True," Blair replied, reaching out and taking James' hand.

Blair loved her children, even more than she ever thought she could. Though they brought a lightness to her soul, the happiness only lingered for a moment before her thoughts drifted to her sisters, back with the family clan under her uncle's care. She worried for them constantly, and even more so in the last days.

"James," Blair said, taking a deep breath. "I ken I shouldnae expect anything tae have changed, but every day that passes I cannae help but feel like me sisters' safety becomes even weaker than before. I just dinnae how long they can be there before something very bad happens."

James stood from his seat and knelt in front of Blair. "I ken yer scared, and I ken that willnae be remedied until we get them back, but ye have tae think about the freedom they've had since yer sister negotiated with yer uncle. He wouldnae back down on that promise."

Blair shook her head. "Nay, he wouldnae, but he's nae who I fear. Our cousin Bram doesnae care about truces or agreements. He thinks me sisters are gonna kill him one day, and he fears that. He will do anything tae rid them of this earth."

Taking a deep breath, James prepared to offer comfort to his wife, knowing that the time to save them was growing smaller. "Aye, and that's why I've sent fer someone, someone who can help us."

"Help us? But how?" Blair asked.

From the back of the Great Hall, a man dressed in all black, his boots knee high, his dark hair pulled to the nape of his neck, stepped seemingly from the shadows. With a nod, he walked toward them, his feet making no sound on the stone floors below. He moved like he belonged in the shadows, as if he were one himself. He was James' age, with a strong chin, stormy eyes, and caution in his movements. Blair had met this man before, but only briefly.

Blair tilted her head to the side, slightly confused. The realization of who James meant slowly hit her, but before she could react, the doors to the main hall flew open and one of their guardsmen stumbled in, breathing heavily. Immediately, the maid for the babies scooped the boys up and looked to Blair for direction. She nodded to the maid, signifying it was time for them to be taken to their rooms. With one hand on her stomach, trying to keep the fear and anxiety at bay, she stepped forward with James, knowing without a doubt that it was about her sisters. She could just feel it all around her.

The guardsman walked forward and gripped James' forearm, greeting him with a strong nod. He looked at Blair and nodded. "Me Lady, Laird. Please forgive me intrusion like this. I rode through the night tae get back tae ye. Me Lady, yer Uncle, he's passed."

Blair's chin strengthened and her teeth ground down. She swallowed hard and shook her head at James as he reached for her arm. "Guardsman, what is yer name?"

"Aye, Gillum O'Rourke," he replied. "Guardsman given duty tae keep an eye on yer family, me Lady. Tae assist the maid in exchangin' messages when needed."

Trying to keep herself as calm as possible, Blair filled her lungs and clasped her hands tightly in front of her. "And tell me how ye came upon this information."

Gillum nodded, glancing only momentarily at James before returning to his proper upright and stiff posture. "I was there, meself. The night had been quieter than most, with little tae nae information bein' moved through the ramblin' mouths of the drunken clansman. It was nearin' dawn when the bells began tae ring. They chimed slowly, and fires of black smoke were lit across the grounds. There were elders at the keep, and they broke the news of the Laird's death tae the clan. They didnae say what killed him though."

"And what of me sisters?" Blair asked, not really wanting to know the truth, terrified it would be what she had most feared.

Gillum's eyes shifted to Blairs. "The first thing I did was try tae get their maid, but it was far too dangerous with the keep bein' watched so heavily. The stablehand was nearby but he couldnae break away tae come speak tae me. Yer father was the last tae die of the leadership, so naturally people began tae question, worry fer the girls. The girls themselves were nowhere tae be seen. They didnae walk with the procession and there was nae lit lamplight in their chamber windows."

Blair shook her head. "They disappeared?"

Gillum's eyes lowered. "It seems that way. There were rumors that they were mournin' their uncle with their cousin, Bram."

Blair scoffed and Gillum nodded. "Aye. We ken that's nae the case. Some said they had died tryin' tae escape as soon as the uncle was killed. Others say yer cousin has them locked in the dungeons."

With little to no restraint left, Blair's lip quivered as a tear streaked down her face. "So, ye dinnae ken where they are. Ye dinnae ken if they're even alive right now. Ye dinnae ken much at all."

James stepped up and put his hand on Blair's arm. "He did what he could. If he hadnae left then, it may have been weeks before we got the news."

Blair wiped the tear from her cheeks. "Ye're right. Me apologies. I just cannae even begin tae think about where they might be. We need tae find them, even if they're in the very pit of the keep. They may have a large guard, and that guard may have been loyal enough tae me uncle, but there are those among them that could never be loyal tae Bram. Those that loved me father, and us girls as family. So, we take what and who we can and we get them out."

James walked up to Blair and grabbed her by both arms, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "We cannae go and make rash decisions, Blair. I ken ye know that. And while we will do everything tae get the girls tae safety, we also have an entire clan tae protect as well. We just need a little more time tae figure out what's happened. The messenger sent tae retrieve a reply from Jocelynn should be returning in the next few days. We'll ken more then."

Blair shook her head wildly. "Nay. That's too long. They could be runnin' right now. They could be sleepin' their last night in the damp dungeons. We cannae wait fer a message that may never come. It willnae change anything. Something needs tae happen and it needs tae happen right now. James, I made them a promise, and we have made concessions for far too long. I willnae make them with Bram. I'll put him in the ground before I barter away anymore of me sweet sisters."

James sighed and turned back to the guard. She knew that he agreed with her. He must have known that every moment counted. He had brought Lachlan there to help get them to safety, but not like that. But how could he ask his long-time friend, a brother to him, to risk that kind of safety? His eyes shifted up to the guard. "When will the service fer the Laird be?"

"They were sayin' just a few days," the guard replied. "But his son took the Lairdship almost immediately. He'll be wakin' in the mornin' tae take the clan vow and officially take the title."

James nodded. "If I were tae ask too much of ye, and have ye fed, get ye a bed fer the night, would ye be able tae make the trek back?"

The guard nodded, not even a twinge of hesitation found. "Of course, Laird. Whatever it is ye need."

"It would just be the two of us as tae nae cause any suspicion, just travelers," James said.

The guard furrowed his brow. "Laird, ye couldnae risk yer own life, nae now. The clan is in desperate need of ye."

Blair shook her head. "Nay, James. Nae ye. I love ye fer it, but yer clan has suffered enough. And ye have the boys…ye cannae be the one. Nae this time."

Blair turned toward Lachlan, his dark-cloaked vessel nearly blending in with the fluttering shadows dancing from the windows. There was something about him, though intimidating and mysterious, that felt warm and caring. He stood watching and listening to everyone, taking in the details.

"Lachlan, I've heard many tales of ye. I've heard that ye move like the small breeze on a hot day. People within the McFerguson lands speak of ye as the most capable of trackers, the most silent of spies. Please, I beg of ye. Me sisters are but girls and if they did escape, they will be lost. They dinnae ken how tae hide, or even survive in the wilderness. All they've ever kenned is our father's lands."

In desperation, Blair turned to James, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Please, James. I would go meself if it weren't fer the boys. I ken they're still alive, I can feel it."

James looked at his strong wife, brought to desperation and fear fer the girls. He too wanted to get them to safety, as he loved them as his family. Lachlan was a great warrior, a spy with unbelievable skills. James and Lachlan grew up together, and though he seemed dismal and dark, he did have a true heart. Still, he wasn't going to be thrilled about taking on the task of finding the girls. As much as James wanted to not ask it of his friend, as his Laird, he knew he would do anything he was asked to do. He was more loyal than anyone he had ever met.

"Lachlan, can I ask this of ye? Find Blair's sisters, now me sisters by marriage, and if they're out there, bring them home."

Lachlan pulled the hood up over his head and nodded, taking James' forearm. "Of course. It would be my honor."

James smiled. "I'm counting on ye."

With that, Lachlan released James' arm and nodded to Blair before turning and heading back through the shadows. As Lachlan passed through the castle and toward the guardsman's grounds where he sometimes stayed, his eyes shifted all around, making sure no one had followed the guardsman back there. Lachlan wasn't thrilled in the least to be chasing after three young girls, but he liked Blair, and James was a brother to him.

Lachlan headed to the stables to retrieve his horse, a pure black horse named Stormcloud, who knew Lachlan better than most humans. If the girls had somehow managed to sneak through the castle, passing every guard on the way, get horses, and race off before being seen, they may have found themselves in the forests. That was a big if, though. Lachlan knew the guards at Blair's family's keep and they were plentiful and very well trained.

Whatever happened, Lachlan just hoped he wouldn't have to be the one to break bad news to James or Blair, especially about three girls who meant so much to both of them.