Page 112 of Bound to a Warrior
“Fool!” Mercy shouted. “You think my father would have you taking a chance with my life?”
Rumblings circled the soldiers once again.
“What will you have us do?” a soldier asked.
“As you have been directed,” she commanded. “Or suffer my father’s wrath.”
One of the soldiers gave Kate a shove and she stumbled forward into her husband’s arms.
“Be quick about it,” the soldier ordered. “We will be on your heels.”
Bailey hugged his wife and Mercy heard him whisper, “She helps us.”
Kate reached out and squeezed her hand gratefully.
Mercy returned the squeeze as she called out for the benefit of the soldiers, “Let’s go, I’m anxious to return to my father.”
It wasn’t long before Mercy watched as Bailey and his wife disappeared into the safety of the village, clinging to each other as if they would never let go. She turned then and joined the soldiers who treated her differently this time. She wasn’t chained and she was shown respect. Obviously her father had sent orders that she be brought to him unharmed. It told her that he considered her no threat, and while he was not foolish when it came to his enemy, he was when it came to her. He would think her frightened and incapable of taking care of herself, and so he would play on her weaknesses until he got what he wanted from her and then he would rid himself of her.
That he underestimated her was to her advantage, and it would help her in her plan to escape. She hurried along with the soldiers, knowing that their torches mingled with the other torches, creating confusion. No one knew what truly went on and that was all right with Mercy.
It gave Bailey time to talk with Duncan and gave her time to escape. She would need to do it soon, before the sun rose high and before they traveled too far away from Pict territory. She would need to time it just right if she was to succeed and she prayed all would go well and that Duncan would heed her message.
If so, then there was a chance, a good chance, that one day they could be together again.
Duncan grew restless watching the torch lights wander aimlessly about the forest when he knew there was a reason to their madness. It was perplexing. What were they up to? What did they want?
Mercy? Could they possibly want Mercy?
Duncan shook his head trying to make sense of the sudden thought. The king wasn’t a fool. He wouldn’t attack this far north without support from ruling chieftains, and a far vaster army than these troops.
“What’s wrong?” Bryce asked.
“Mercy,” Duncan said as if breathless. “They want Mercy.”
“Roaming with torches in the woods isn’t going to do that for them,” Reeve said.
“Where is Mercy?” Carmag asked his son.
But it was Mara who answered her husband’s query as she approached with a basket of food and drink. “Last I saw her was in the great hall.”
Duncan stepped forward. “I left her in our bedchamber.”
“She was looking for you,” Mara said.
“Did you tell her where I was?” Duncan asked, worry fast taking hold of him.
“I told her you were busy and would see her later.”
“Damn,” Duncan muttered and hurried past his mother, taking the stairs two at a time and running down the hall to his bedchamber. He flung open the door and saw that it was empty.
His brothers arrived as he pilfered the room.
“Her dagger is gone,” Duncan said and the four brothers hurried out and down the stairs to the great hall.
Mara and Carmag were already there.
“She’s left,” Duncan announced.
