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“Aye, I’ll be a lot less fearful with ye by me side, but folks’ll start wonderin’ about us if I jump in yer lap and start huggin’ ye because I’m scared,” she pointed out, making him chuckle.

“Just try tae think of seein’ yer braithers again. That’ll help keep ye goin’, eh?” he suggested.

“Aye, I will.” She smiled up at him from beneath her woolen cap, wishing she could kiss him.

“We should go now and book passage on a birlinn fer as early as possible tomorrow,” Arne said. “Then we can have some dinner and a good rest at the inn before we leave.”

“A good rest?” she said teasingly, feeling suddenly mischievous as she looked up into his eyes. “I dinnae seem tae have had much of that the past few days. Nae that I’m complainin,” she added with a laugh.

If ice could smolder, then Arne’s gaze would have seared her skin. “I hope nae. I may see me way tae letting ye have an hour or two of rest tonight,” he replied, waggling his eyebrows at her lasciviously. “We’ll have tae see how things go.”

“Aye, we’ll have tae see,” she said softly, running the tip of her tongue around her lips provocatively as she stared up at him.

Arne grinned and said, “I think we’d best go and book our passage before we get hauled away by the townsfolk fer committin’ public indecency. Come on.” He led the way along the quay to where a large, sturdy-looking birlinn was berthed a few hundred yards away.

When they got there and stood observing the vessel being tossed up and down and side to side by the choppy waters.

They went on board, met with the captain, and quickly settled the terms of their passage, paying him what he asked before leaving.

“Ugh, eight hours of hell tae look forward tae,” Raven said with a grimace, unhappy with the prospect of spending so much time on the water.

“Ach, we’ll be there before ye ken it. Think of yer braithers,” Arne reminded her as they made their way back to the inn, which was on the waterfront, only a stone’s throw away.

When they got to the entrance, Arnie said, “I’ll go and make the arrangements with the innkeeper fer the horses tae stay here while we’re away.”

“All right, ye could order our dinner as well, fer later on,” Raven replied. “I’ll go on up tae our room and wait fer ye there.”

“Aye, I’ll dae that on me way up,” he agreed, and they went their separate ways. But Raven had only been in the room for a few minutes when there was a knock on the door. Thinking it must be one of the maids, she opened the door. But when she looked into the hallway, she found a small, grubby-faced lad of about ten, dressed in ragged clothing, standing there looking up at her.

“Hello, what can I dae fer ye?” she asked him with smile.

“I have a message fer ye, from Arne,” the lad said in a reedy voice. “He says ’tis urgent.”

“Oh?” She was puzzled. They had only parted for less than ten minutes. What could be so urgent. “What’s the message?”

“He said he’s found a boat that’s leavin’ in a short while fer where ye’re goin’. He says if he’s nay there when ye get there, ye’re tae wait fer him on board. But ye’re tae hurry because ’tis leavin’ soon.”

“When did he tell ye that?” she asked, frowning.

“Just now.”

“And ye’re sure about it? Ye’ve nae got the message mixed up?” she asked, confused.

“Nay, he gave me this shillin’ tae come up here and tell ye. I’m tae show ye the way tae the boat as well.”

“Well, all right. Wait there. I need a few minutes tae fetch our things,” she replied, closing the door. She had no things to fetch, for all their belongings were in the saddle bags, which she had expected Arne to bring up with him when he had concluded the matter of the horses with the innkeeper. However, she wanted a few moments to think about it.

After turning it over in her mind, she could only suppose that Arne had found an opportunity to leave for Tarbert a lot sooner than planned and decided to take it. Since she was keen to see her brothers and time was of essence, it seemed like a good idea. So, she opened the door and stepped out to join the boy.

“All right. Ye can show me the way tae the boat.”

She followed him when he scampered off down the stairs and led her out on to the bustling water front. Raven saw several birlinns docked close by, rocking in the water, no more than a hundred yards away from where they were standing.

“Which one is it?” she asked.

“’Tis that one there, theMistress Anne,” he told her, pointing at the vessel. She was thankful that it was quite large and looked seaworthy. “He says ye’re tae go aboard and wait fer him. He’ll be there soon.”

“Alright. Thank ye.”