Page 15 of Fearless Heart
Lillia shook her head at the ruffian’s defiance of his cohort’s command not to sleep. After a good ten minute wait, she snuck into the clearing. She approached the lad and bid him to remain silent by setting a finger over her lips. Her fingers hurt trying to untie the tight ropes. There was nothing within sight to use to cut the ropes, for she’d realized he was bound at the feet as well.
“In my boot,” the lad whispered.
She patted his boot and felt an object within. It was strange putting her hand down someone’s boot, but it couldn’t be helped. She retrieved a dagger and quickly set about cutting his bindings. The lad stretched his legs and rubbed his ankles.
The man on the bedroll rolled over and his snoring ceased. Lillia held her breath for she was certain they’d be caught. But he, thankfully, rolled back and resumed his snore.
She motioned to the lad and led him away. When they reached the large crag, she retrieved her satchel. “Come, we need to get as far away from here before they notice you’re gone. I meant to take a horse, but there’s no time to retrieve one.”
“M’lady, thank you.”
“Let us quiet for now. Are you well enough to walk? We’ll not rest for some time.”
He nodded.
Lillia knew her father’s lands well. Instead of heading north toward Fraser land as she’d intended, she headed south. With the lad in tow, she wouldn’t take Laird Fraser up on his offer of sanctuary, and she wasn’t about to leave him behind.
When they made enough progress, a new day dawned. She was tired and hungry, but kept on. They needed to put more distance between them and the two men that would hurt them. They stopped a small stream. It was so trifling they could step over it, but at least it afforded a drink and they washed themselves.
“Let us take a short rest here. I should tend to your wounds. They’ve cut your face and you’re bleeding. Oh, you poor lad. It must pain you.”
“It hurts not, m’lady. I’m grateful for your rescue, but truly I don’t need you to tend to me.”
“We’re not out of the woods yet. You’re a mite young to be traipsing about the lands by yourself. How many years are you?”
“I am unsure, but my comrades deem I’m more than ten.”
Lillia supposed he was older than ten for he appeared to be at least twelve as tall and lanky as he was. Yet there was a youthfulness to his face which reminded her of her brothers. She pulled the wimple from her hair and tore a piece of fabric. After dunking it into the water, she gently pressed the lad’s cuts. “I fear those men will come after us. You see … they followed me earlier and were intent to capture me. A friend killed their cohort.”
“Why are they after you?” The lad flinched when she touched his face.
She smiled and gently patted the damned cloth against his cuts. “I shouldn’t speak of my concerns. Where do you hail from? We should get you home.”
“Are you in danger, m’lady? Of course ye are if those men are out to abduct you. I ken a place where you would be safe.”
“I will only bring more peril to you. Once I get you home, I shall find a place to hide.” Eventually, she’d make it to Laird Fraser’s lands. There, she’d be safe enough until she could reason how to proceed.
“My lords will protect you. They’re the king’s guard.” He flinched again when she wiped the gash that seeped.
Lillia didn’t mean to gasp or show her surprise, but he’d shocked her. “Do you refer to the king’s guard renowned for aiding those who need it? The men who are legendary in their pursuit of honor? That guard?”
He smiled widely. “Aye, m’lady, that guard. When we reach home, you must tell them why those men are after you. But be assured, they will protect you.”
“I shall consider it. My name is Lillia.” She wiped the rest of his face tenderly so not to cause any discomfort.
“My name’s Gilroy, m’lady. We have a long trek if we’re to walk all the way to Dumfries.”
Lillia sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that.” It would take days to make their way to Dumfries. And the most daunting of her thoughts: What would she find there when they arrived?