Page 79 of The Forest Bride

“Sir William de Soulis said Menteith was at Loch Roskie while he recuperates.” He tapped the location.

“Why there? Dunbarton is a stout fortress,” Bran said.

“Roskie is more remote,” Constantine said. “He took that chance. But it is small and not as well guarded.”

“If he were at Dunbarton,” said Lennox, the former owner of that castle, “he would have quick access to the firth, the sea, and a river to move her quickly.”

“So that means he is not in a hurry,” Duncan said. “Let us hope it means the girl is safe for now. We can make a move.”

“With more men,” Constantine said. “A few came with us today, but not enough for this.”

“More men are coming,” Lennox said. “Bruce will send men here as soon as he can. We do not quite know when they will arrive, though. Even before word came of the attack on the escort, he intended to send more to Brechlinn, knowing they are needed.”

Duncan nodded. “So you said earlier. With luck, we can expect them soon.”

“He would come himself,” Lennox said, “but he is gathering forces in the south. But he will be anxious about his lass and awaiting word from us.”

“Just as well,” Duncan said. “If Bruce headed here, that would attract more attention from the English than we want. While we can, we should arrange to move the bishop westward to ensure his safety.”

“I can wait. Rescue the child first.”

“If you are certain, Reverend Father,” Duncan said. “We will wait a day or two more for others to join us. In the meantime, I will send patrols out toward Loch Roskie. Additional guards or unusual activity may tell us more.”

“We should be careful about hunting parties as well,” Lennox said.

“True. We cannot take the birds into the glen east of here,” Duncan agreed. “They could fly toward Roskie. Bran, we need to fly them west for a while.”

“Birds?” the bishop asked Duncan.

“We keep a mews here with a few special falcons, sir. If Menteith or his men see them, it will complicate matters. William de Soulis may have spotted them recently.”

“De Soulis!” Constantine said. “Is he up here? His lands are south.”

“He is here with Menteith, preparing for a sheriffdom, he said.”

Constantine groaned. “If he is granted a sheriffdom, may it be far from Stirling.”

“Thanks to Lady Margaret,” Duncan said, “we now know Menteith had something to do with taking Bruce’s daughter. We do not know quite why he would do such a thing. But he will be at Roskie for a while nursing that foot. So the girl is most likely there.”

“Then we need to get inside Roskie,” Lennox said. Duncan tapped a fist on the table. “We need to decide how. The patrols will help determine that.”

“Sir Duncan, may I go?” Andrew asked. “I want to help.”

“You can stay here, lad. Bran MacArther will fit you with a hauberk and helmet and put you on the wall walk. I trust you have a keen eye?”

“I do! I can do that, sir.”

Listening, Margaret caught Duncan’s eye and sent him a small smile of gratitude for including Andrew in the rescue effort.

Then Duncan leaned toward Bran and lowered his voice, but she heard him. She knew Andrew did not, seated by the window.

“At the first hint of conflict, take the lad off the wall and put him in a safe spot,” Duncan murmured.

“What are you expecting, sir?”

“A passel of trouble,” Duncan muttered, and turned away.

A day, movingon to two passed as Margaret found ways to help Effie, and sentries on the parapet watched for a birlinn with more men. She saw Andrew walking proudly up there too, carrying a weapon, blowing alerts on a ram’s horn, even helping to tend the braziers kept at night. The time went faster than she expected, though each moment she thought about Lilias, and was grateful for the determination in Duncan and those who rode out on patrol and otherwise spent time planning. When the bishop led prayers in the great hall, she joined the group and sent hers outward for Lilias, the missing men, and protection for Duncan and those at Brechlinn.