“They’re leaving,” Will whispered from his prone position in the tall, brown grass a few yards from the inn that Rose and Lysle had been staying in.
Beside him Thom grunted as he watched the queen’s guards readying their mounts. There were six of them, just as Rabbie had said.
Six guards, Lysle and the carriage driver.
And Rose.
Except he had no idea what condition Rose was in. Would she be able to help when the time came?
Two of the guards rode out ahead. The carriage driver took his position up top and grabbed the reins. So far they had not seen Lysle nor Rose and Will was tense, waiting to get a glimpse of her.
It had taken all his self-control to bunk down last night but much to his relief they’d resumed their trek to the inn at that point when late night turned to very early morning. They had found the inn easily by following Rabbie and Paden.
Will, Thom, John and Ewan had fanned out to reconnoiter and then had met back up to discuss what they had learned. There were no other safeguards around the inn, which told them that Lysle wasn’t concerned about being followed.
The guards had patrolled the small area around the inn two at a time and rotated out every two hours. Weak defense, but Will could understand that they were not worried about an attack. More than likely their orders were to make sure that Lysle and his bride-to-be arrived at his estate unharmed. An easy mission.
Thom had not discussed with Will any plans on how they were to get Rose back. Will had a few ideas of his own but realized that when he brought Thom, John and Ewan into this he had relinquished any authority over the situation.
Rose was their kin. He was an outsider.
It rubbed but he also understood.
And then Lysle stepped out of the inn, pulling on gloves, walking in long, hurried strides. He did not look up. He did not acknowledge his surroundings. A potentially deadly mistake on his part. His arrogance was amusing to Will.
Beside him Thom shifted. “That him?” he whispered.
“Aye.”
Another grunt that could mean anything. “Not a fighting man,” Thom said.
“Nay,” Will concurred.
He took his eyes off Lysle to search for Rose. She had not exited the inn and Will found himself holding his breath, waiting for her, every muscle tense just to get a glimpse of her, to reassure himself that she was unharmed.
And then there she was, and Will had to swallow a curse. Her father did not bother to swallow his.
Her hair was flowing down her back, the sun bouncing off the gold and red hues. Her gown appeared to be ripped and wrinkled but worse, she was limping.
“Bastard,” Will whispered.
She struggled to pull herself into the carriage while Lysle stood by and watched, not even attempting to lend her a hand.
“She’s hurt,” Will said.
“Aye,” Thom said. “But she’s alive and she can move. A little pain won’t hold her back.”
Will prayed to God that was so.
Lysle easily hopped up into the carriage behind her and reached out to slam the door closed. Almost immediately the carriage jolted forward. Two guards went with it while the remaining two stayed in the yard for about fifteen minutes before following.
Will released the tension in his shoulders and lowered his head to the ground to gather his thoughts and calm his anger.
Eventually John and Ewan and then Rabbie and Paden appeared.
“Easy enough to pick off the trailing guards,” John said. “Stupid move on their part to separate like that.” He shook his head at the guards’ foolishness.
“I don’t think they’re expecting trouble,” Will said.
“Rabbie and I will take care of the guards at the back,” John said.
“Ewan, you take Paden and ride hard to catch up to the front guards. That leaves the carriage and the guards with the carriage to me and Will. We’ll wait until you’ve come back to us and then we’ll attack the carriage.”
Will winced at the word “attack.” He did not want to put Rose in any more danger but knew this was the only way.
“We don’t know about the driver,” Will said. “He could be a guard as well.”
“Nay,” said Thom. “He’s just the driver. Trust me.”
Will decided to do just that instead of adding another worry to his plate.
They were planning on killing the queen’s guards and probably Lysle as well. These were treasonous acts, and the weight of what he was about to do was heavy on his shoulders. But he saw no other way.
John and Rabbie left and a few moments later Will saw them riding down the same road that the guards and the carriage had traveled. Ewan and Paden left a few moments later, staying well behind John and Rabbie.
Thom got to his feet slowly and studied the inn for a bit before heading toward it. Surprised, Will followed.
The proprietor saw them coming almost right away and was standing in the yard where the carriage had just left.
“Help ye?” he asked, keeping his eye on Thom and flicking a glance at Will.
“That carriage that just left. What can you tell me about it?” Thom asked.
The proprietor’s lips thinned, and his stance became defensive. “Paying customers. Nothing more. It’s probably best ye moved on.”
“It’s probably best that you answer my question.” Thom’s tone was conversational but the intent was clear. There would be trouble if the man did not comply.
Even still the proprietor seemed to think about it, and Will guessed that Lysle had paid him well for his silence.
A shot rang out and the proprietor’s eyes widened in fear.
“The woman,” Will said. “Tell me about her.”
His attention shifted to Will. “I don’t know her name or nothing. Her husband said she was with child and wasn’t feeling well. Asked for a room.”
Will’s stomach turned and he prayed that they weren’t too late, that Lysle had not wed Rose before arriving here.
“Did she appear sickly?” Will asked.
“She didn’t look good. Had a bruise on her face.” The proprietor’s gaze slid away and he looked at the ground in front of his feet.
“Any other marks on her?” Will asked.
“None that I could see…”
Will waited for more. “But? You think there were more?”
Thin shoulders came up in a big sigh. “She screamed something fierce when they went to their room. I thought somethin’ had happened to the baby. Like she was losing it or somethin’. But the screaming stopped and the gentleman came out not looking worried. I figured I was wrong. None of my business what they did in that room. She didn’t look happy when she went up the steps so maybe they were arguing.”
Will had to close his eyes for a moment to keep from shaking the man.
“Sarah, she’s my daughter,” the proprietor said. “When she took their breakfast up to them the room was freezing and the window was open. The woman was standing by the bed. Sarah said she didn’t look good but she ate her food. Or at least it looked like she did. All the plates came back empty.” He sounded defensive, as if he had to prove to Will that Rose was fine.
Another shot rang out and the proprietor flinched. “What in the hell is happening?” he whispered.
“None of your concern,” Thom said and walked away.
Will stood there for a long moment, wrestling with his inclination to hurt the proprietor for turning a blind eye to a woman in need and walking away like Thom had done.
There was no point in killing the man. He’d admitted to having a daughter so that meant there was probably a wife and other children around somewhere. Life was hard out here in the middle of nowhere and no doubt he had to scrape to put food on the table. In a way who could blame him when a large amount of coin was offered for his silence?
Lord knew that Will had offered poor, innocent people money for either their silence or for the information they knew. Desperate people did desperate things and while it didn’t make it right, Will understood.
He turned on his heel and followed Thom.
They met John and Rabbie as the two were coming back.
“Done,” John said.