Page 41 of Bound to a Warrior
“He’s on his way. Now shut up.”
Duncan realized he had little time to get them out of there and on a different trail that would take them far from the soldiers, though further from his home. He needed to distract the soldier so that he and Mercy could sneak past them and be on their way.
With his free hand he carefully felt the ground around him until he connected with a large stone. He gave Mercy a nudge, letting her know to be ready and she squeezed his hand in response.
He heaved the stone as far as he could opposite of where they lay.
“Hold, by order of the king!” Nate shouted and hurried in the direction of the sound.
Duncan and Mercy scrambled to their feet and ran for the woods and didn’t stop once in its safety. They both knew distance was needed, so they hurried their pace as best they could.
The thick darkness of night proved a hindrance, causing them to alter their pace considerably, but it didn’t stop them.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Duncan drew to a halt. “We need a brief rest.”
“Do you know where we are?” she asked breathless.
“I have a general idea.”
“The soldiers seem to know our every move,” she said.
“They assume we head to safe land,” Duncan explained. “Land they are not welcome on and will not tread upon without approval from the king. And with the way things are at the moment, I don’t believe the king wants to war with a ruling chieftain from the north.”
“What do we do?”
“What I should have done from the beginning,” he said. “Take the long way home.”
“How long?”
“A week or more,” he answered.
He thought perhaps she would protest, though he wasn’t surprised when she didn’t. Survival was their main concern. She understood that and had done what was necessary, so there was no reason she would brook objection now.
“We best get moving,” she said. “We can find a place to rest some time after dawn, hopefully after we find something to eat.”
“I agree wholeheartedly.”
They continued, though kept a slower pace, their limbs protesting from the long day’s hike. Neither spoke, they simply kept trudging along.
“Do you think the soldiers will find our trail?” she asked.
“They seemed convinced that we would cross that field, a logical expectation, so I assume they will remain there for a day or so.”
“Will other soldiers follow the trail we’re on?”
“It’s doubtful,” Duncan said.
“Why?”
“It leads to pagan territory. The king’s rules hold no importance there. It is where the Picts live.”
“I thought the Picts were no more.”
“While most Scots and Picts blended when Cinaed brought them together, there were a few who preferred to keep to their ways. Not many tread on their land, most out of fear, though more from ignorance.”
“You don’t fear them.”
“There’s nothing to fear,” he assured her.
