Page 91 of Bound to a Warrior
“Get him, Trey, he got a basket of food from Etty,” Reeve shouted.
Mercy was now running to keep up with Duncan, though she didn’t know how long she would be able to keep pace with him since she was laughing harder.
It didn’t matter though, because within the next second a horn sounded so suddenly and so sharply, that she stopped dead and so did Duncan.
He grabbed her arm and shoved the basket into her hand. “The king’s soldiers approach. Go to the keep and stay there until I come for you.”
She nodded and hurried off as his brothers joined him and they disappeared in the opposite direction.
“Rand! Rand!”
Mercy heard Cora and Alida calling for the young lad as she was passing their cottage. The look of terror on their faces made her stop.
“What’s wrong?”
“We can’t find Rand,” Cora said, clearly upset. “He was here a moment ago and now he’s gone.”
“I should have watched him more carefully,” Alida said through tears.
Her mother took her in her arms. “Nonsense. Rand has a mind of his own. There is no stopping him. He knows to go to the keep when the horn sounds. He’s probably there already.”
“Let’s go see,” Mercy suggested, knowing the women should be seeking shelter there.
Once inside they searched frantically for Rand but couldn’t find him.
Mara approached them. “What’s wrong?’
“Rand is nowhere to be found,” Mercy explained.
“I’m sure he’s fine. He’s a smart one. We’ll find him after this is done.”
Cora looked ready to protest and Mara slipped an arm around her. “You know the men are needed. Rand will do fine. He always does. We will find him later. This will be done soon enough.”
Cora nodded, though clearly she didn’t agree.
“We can’t just leave the lad out there on his own,” Mercy protested.
“We can and we will,” Mara said. “There are no men to spare to search for him now.”
“Then I’ll go,” Mercy said.
“I believe Duncan ordered you to remain in the keep as all women do,” Mara challenged.
“If he had known Rand was in need of help—”
“You don’t know if Rand is in need of help and even if Duncan knew he would still have ordered you to remain in the safety of the keep.”
“I cannot remain here when a small, helpless child is out there alone,” Mercy argued.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to,” Mara said sternly.
Mercy tossed her chin up. “No, I won’t. You hold no authority over me. I do as I please.” She turned to Cora and Alida. “I’ll go find Rand and bring him here. Is there a particular place he might go?”
“You will not leave here,” Mara ordered.
“You cannot stop me.”
“There’s a small grove not far from the cottage where he likes to play. A worn path leads the way there,” Alida said. “I’ll go with you.”
