Aimnéise Place of Pendants 2

Chapter Eighteen

Scotland 1366

We made our way back to the castle as covertly as we could keeping to the shadows. Considering I had escaped from the dungeon I half expected there to be guards everywhere searching. There was no one around. None of this felt right, uncertainty crept up my spine.

This was not right, everything was to quiet, no guards, no sound. I didn’t like it. My skin tingled expecting a trap somewhere.

Dougall huffed. “Fer Christ’s sake ye escaped, guards should be searching tha grounds tha noo.”

“Aye, I ken but we need to get my pendants back.”

We waited behind some trees near the well hoping that the young lass would visit it soon. To our relief she came with a bucket. I moved back behind several more trees while Dougall whistled lowly to her. She looked around, spotted Dougall, dropped her bucket and ran to him.

That was Dougall, he could impress any young thing. I could barely hear their conversation. When I chanced a look at them from behind a tree, Dougall had the lass in a very seductive hold kissing her. Come on Dougall, let the damn lass go.

When he returned to where I was standing behind the tree I had my arms crossed over my chest giving him my usual glare.

“What?”

“I thought ye had a mind to bed tha lass right there in tha grass.” I snorted.

“Ye are just jealous bràthair, I always get tha lass.”

“Nay ye don’t Duggie, ye get young lassies and everyone’s leftovers.”

“Awww, now tha just hurts, Connie. At least I don’t go sticking me cock into me bràthairs back while trying tae sleep.” Dougall huffed stepping back in case I had a mind to slap him. I thought about it.

“So, what did yon lass say?”

“I’ve to meet her at tha side door after dark, she will let me in.”

I raised my brow and gave him an incredulous look. “What did ye promise her?”

“Don worry she will let me in an take me tae her room. I’ll make sure to drop a wee bit of laudanum in her drink. It’ll be fine, she’ll sleep, an be none the wiser. Then I’ll slip back down and open the door.”

I was worried if he gave her too much laudanum it could have devastating effects. Too little and she could wake and call the guards. Dougall must have seen the worried look on my face.

“All’s well I ken what I’m doing. Have ye no trust in me?”

“Aye, I trust ye as far as I can throw ye. If anything happens to the lass I’ll be throwing ye off tha mountain.”

“Considering how starving I am, at this rate I’ll waste away before we leave this place. We need to find something to eat.” Dougall ignored my comments looking around as if a table was going to appear. I groaned, but agreed I was hungry myself. If truth be told I could eat a horse.

We skirted the trees away from the castle to some huts not far away. How Dougall found a hut that just happened to have a pie cooling near the window got me. I’m sure his nose could sniff out a pie a mile away. He snatched the thing without anyone seeing taking off into the trees with it. It reminded me of doing this as a kid.

It turned out to be an apple pie. I was just unfortunate we didn’t have a tankard or two of mead.

It didn’t half satisfy me after spending time in the dungeon without any food. It was better than nothing at all. I split the pie to Dougall complaining my bit was a might bigger than his. We moved further into the trees to wait out the day.

As the sun was setting there was still no sign of soldiers. Surely someone would have noticed me missing from the dungeon by now and sent out an alert. I didn’t like this.

“Do ye no find it strange tha no soldiers are looking fer ye?” Dougall muttered reading my mind.

“Aye, it’s mighty bizarre. Keep your eyes open, I no want us walking into another trap.”

“Ye walked into a trap.” Dougall sniped.

I gave him a disbelieving stare. He grinned then took off through the trees heading back to the castle before I had a chance to slap him. It must be said thought that if I had to be with anyone in this situation, I was happy it was Dougall, he might be a pain in the ass at times, but he was resourceful.

As arranged Dougall met the lass by the side door and let him in. Creeping close to the wall I waited in the shadows.

It seemed I had been waiting hours for Dougall to come and open the door. The last thing I wanted to think about was what he was doing.

Finally, I heard the lock click and the door opened. Staying in the shadows just in case this was another trap. For all I ken Dougall could have walked straight into a ruse and be headed for the dungeons.

“Connie where are ye?”

I sidled to the door and slipped inside.

“How’s tha lass?” I asked still unsure of whether Dougall had overdosed her.

“She’s fine, have a wee bit of trust bràthair.” Dougall shook his head.

“Do ye have any idea where my pendants are or are we just going to search one room at a time?”

Dougall stopped and gave me a frown. “Bràthair ye have absolutely no faith in me, do ye? Moira said that they should be in Garrison’s room. He’s tha one giving commands fer yer capture. He’s in charge while part of this castle is being rebuilt an tis why there aren’t many guards. His rooms on tha second level. Follow me.” Dougall flashed a grin at me. Cocky bastard.

“If ye spoke to tha lass about my pendants, why did ye need to give her any laudanum in tha first place?”

Dougall stopped once again, turning to give me an incredulous look. “The lass would have followed us of course.” He turned back but muttered. “Not hard to see who tha brains of this here operation is.”

Twice on our way to the second floor we had to duck into an alcove as a guard past. There didn’t seem to be anyone but guards and maids at the castle. The wee lass had mentioned that the castle was being rebuilt but other than some half-finished walls at the back it looked fairly completed to me.

When we got to the room, Dougall knocked. No answer. He knocked again for safe measures, still no answer. Opening the door as quietly as he could he slipped in. I was right behind him. The room was in darkness but a door at the other end was open wide into a hallway. A dim light shone beyond. We made our way to the other side and peered around the corner. The hallway was short with just one torch at the end next to a closed door. Creeping along the wall to the door something still didn’t feel right, and my spine tingled. It only did that when danger was about.

Dougall pressed his ear to the closed door listening to see if there was anyone in there.

“I cannae hear anyone.” He whispered before turning the handle, it wasn’t locked and opened with enough noise to wake the entire castle.

We slipped into the room to discover we were surrounded by guards lining the walls. The man obviously Garrison stood behind a desk a wide grin on his face. Shite I’d walked into another god damned trap.

I shook my head this is twice now I had been caught. This has never happened to me before, I felt like banging my head against the wall, just so I could knock some sense into myself. The guards stood with swords at the ready.

“Welcome gentlemen.” Garrison looked to be enjoying himself. “Are these what you are looking for?” My pendants swung by their chains from his hand. “Come in, come in, we’ve been waiting for you. Tell me Conall Sutherland how you managed to knock my guards out and escape from the dungeon?”

I stood straight not letting this asshole intimidate me. “Your guards are weak, useless as newborn lambs.” A few sneers and groans came from the guards lining the walls. “See this is what I’m talking about just a bunch of amateurs with toy swords.”

Garrison snorted, looking around the room. “You do realize that you are surrounded by my men without a sword in your hand?”

I turned to look at each one of the soldiers, some showing signs of feeling intimidated by my unblinking stare. Then I caught the grin on Dougall’s face.

I gave him a disbelieving look. “Really bràthair, what do ye have to grin about?” We were surrounded by guards and us with no weapons and here was Dougall grinning like a prized peacock winking at me.