163

Isobel was working with only Meghan today. Frang was working with all of the other new women as Meghan was progressing faster and the others were all at beginner levels, plus it gave Isobel time to quietly pass on the next bit of misinformation.

"Meghan, tonight you must tell him that you spent all afternoon rolling bandages, almost as though we plan on going to war and that the day after tomorrow, I will be going with Frang and thirty riders to inspect the progress on his new house."

"Aye, Lady Isobel."

"You're progressing very well, Meghan. I'm very proud of you. You're working so hard to become better and I see how quickly you're advancing. I was not present during the beginning of Ailene's training, but I'm told she improved very quickly. Do you know why she wanted to learn to fight?"

"Thank you for your kind words. I don't know about Lady Ailene. I just assumed it was due to Blackthorne."

"Nay. It's the reason she works hard now, but the impetus was an attack on her person by two thieves or highwayman as she gathered plants for her medicines. They found her alone and were about to rape her. They'd torn her bodice, pushed up her dress and pegged her down to the ground so they could have their way with her. Fortunately, Stuart and Frang found her before they completed their purpose. Stuart killed them both; shot them dead with arrows. It was shortly after, she saw Frang beat Thorburn with his rapier and learned she could learn to fight as well. She never wanted to be so helpless again. I started learned because of my first marriage to McTavish. I will never let another man beat and assault me as he did, nor pass me to other men. Not Frang, not anyone. I'll kill them first. Even if this thing with Blackthorne is resolved, we will continue to work and improve, because we don't want to be helpless anymore. I never want what happened to us to happen to any other woman. It's why I'm so happy to teach you, Meghan. Be strong. Stand up for yourself. Never be helpless." Isobel hugged her. "Now, are you ready to continue."

"Aye, Mistress. I plan to work through to lunch today."

"Good lass. En garde." They took positions and Isobel initiated a series of high and low attacks, all of which Meghan defended.

"You and Stuart come to my room around 9:30," Thorburn said. "We have to finalize our plans before I go to Dervaig tomorrow."

"We'll be there," Ailene said.

At the appointed time, Stuart and Ailene came to Thorburn's room. He was still dressed, though Teárlag was in her night clothes. Stuart locked the door behind him.

"Since it's only us four, we can whisper and none should be able to hear," Thorburn said quietly, "and we don't have Bjarke to stand watch on the doorway downstairs."

"What's next?" Stuart asked.

"I'll speak to the magistrate tomorrow and get him to promise to be here two days hence. We'll keep him here and bring him to the tunnel with us that evening. Ailene's to be taken the following day. I've thought about where it should occur and I think the glade where Ailene collects her medicinal herbs is the place for it to occur. You remember which one I'm speaking of, don't you Ailene?"

Ailene rubbed her ass. "Aye, my bottom still remembers full well." Stuart and Thorburn chuckled softly. Teárlag didn't understand the humor of her statement.

"She's been out there alone before and the whole Keep's aware she was. It's fairly close to the Keep, so she has some excuse to be there without her normal protection, especially if we do a full sweep of the woods beforehand, to make Blackthorne believe we think she's safe out there. Teárlag, you have to send your final written report tomorrow. You shall say Ailene's complained her medical supplies are running low and she needs to obtain more. You anticipate she'll be going out with a small party to collect herbs, and you'll send word as soon as you know exactly when. I want you to stress to him Ailene's been given responsibility for training my troops and Blackthorne needs to send at least thirty men to capture you, because I want Ailene to fight like hell to be taken and I don't want her to kill all he sends. They have to legitimately overpower her, or he might suspect a ruse. We need a bit of acting for this. When the men come, Ailene must scream at Teárlag to run to the Keep and get help while she holds them off. Teárlag, you'll do nothing. Smile, tell her to give herself up, do anything to make Ailene and Blackthorne's men believe you've betrayed her. Ailene, you'll have to curse and swear at Teárlag for betraying you; make the men believe it. Then fight like a demon, kill as many as you can because you know what Blackthorne's likely to do with you."

He handed Ailene a small horn. "When you know you're caught fair, blow this horn, alert the Keep you've been taken. It will make the men panic and run off with you instead of taking their time with you in the woods. Blackthorne may give them permission to soften you up by raping you, but they can't do so if they're running for their lives. Bjarkë will lead all the soldiers of the Keep to Blackthorne Manor and commence an attack like they've been forced to attack before we're ready to rescue you. Bjarkë will do all he can to occupy Blackthorne's troops and prevent them from joining him in his dungeon when we break in, including starting as many fires as he can. They'll need lots of men to fight the fires, though there's too much stone work to burn the place down. We'll be waiting in the tunnel with the magistrate when you're taken to the dungeon.

"Teárlag, you're to remind the men when she's taken Blackthorne will want her alive as a hostage and she's not to be harmed. I imagine they'll be pissed Ailene's killed a bunch of them; tell them to flee when she sounds the horn. Try to go with her to the dungeon when she's taken there, pretending to be proud of how you've accomplished Blackthorne's goals for him, and you can now be married. Try to carry her rapier with you when you go, give us another option to arm her.

"Stuart, you, I and Bjarkë will be making another scouting trip tomorrow night. He's going to meet us outside the walls after dark. We need to ensure the tunnel remains usable before we allow Ailene to be taken. Get lot's of sleep tomorrow. I'm going to sleep as much as possible in the carts on the trip to Dervaig tomorrow. Bjarkë will remain there all the next day to ensure no changes occur after our incursion. He'll report back to us before Teárlag sends her message through the maid, Ailene's going out to the Glade the next day. We're going to go out there before you speak to her so you can see where it is and describe it's location exactly to the maid, so Blackthorne's men know where she'll be. I don't want Blackthorne to be able to plan much if he hopes to take her. He'll have to send the men out immediately, in the dark. I'd like her to be captured early so we can rescue her early in the day. The shorter he's got her, the better for her. The previous night, Frang, Stuart and I will sneak into the tunnel with the magistrate before dawn. We don't want to be down there too long before dawn. I don't want us to be discovered by accident. Just before daybreak is when the guards will be most tired from their long watch and still dark enough."

"Do you think the magistrate will be quiet enough to slip past the guards?" Stuart asked.

"If he isn't, we'll gag him, tie him and carry him in," Thorburn replied. "Teárlag, here's the other things to put in your report. Frang's letting out he's inspecting his new house day after tomorrow. You're to report it's false news, he's coming here with the majority of his fighting men. You learned it in this meeting. Blackthorne won't be able to use this information because Frang will be taking a path here he's never taken before. Isobel will be coming with as we can't leave her undefended at Lady Luck. There's a chance Blackthorne could try taking her or burning the place down. Frang's already building a new place, so if we lose it, it's no severe loss. Those remaining won't fight unless forced to if Blackthorne's men come. They can retreat into the woods as I don't want them injured needlessly. I'll help dictate the report you send tomorrow when we're done here."

"Aye, Thorburn."

"Stuart, I know you're opposed to doing this. Is there anything you can think of to aide your wife?"

"Only prayers, brother. You've done all else you can, I think, though I'm no soldier."

Ailene put her hand over Stuart's and leaned in to lay her head upon his shoulder. "It's not just me in danger, Stuart. You're going to be sneaking back into the Manor twice, surrounded by enemies, more liable to be killed immediately if discovered than I am."

"You're my wife. It's my job to protect you."

"Oh, I love you, Stuart. You're such a wonderful husband and you'll be a terrific father. I appreciate you letting me do this. It's the right thing to do, for all of us. Come husband. Come to bed with me and show me how much you love me."