169

"Good evening, your Lordship," Thorburn said, extending his hand. "Thank you for coming. Why don't you step in. The table's been set and the servants are ready to begin serving. Have you met my fiancé, Teárlag Mackintosh?"

"Yes," he answered, "she was a guest of yours during Frang's marriage, was she not?"

"Exactly. As you can see, Frang and Isobel are visiting us from Lady Luck Farm. And of course, I'm sure you remember Stuart and his wife, Ailene."

"Delighted to see you all again, I'm sure," he said. He paused. "There was mention of some sort of remuneration for my time?" he hinted.

"Of course," Thorburn said, smoothly handing him a purse containing ten crowns. "The dining room is this way. We use a smaller room when the guest list is much shorter. Would you like a whiskey or shall I pour you some good French wine instead?"

"Whiskey for me, please," the magistrate said, taking a seat at the table.

"Right away, your Lordship," Thorburn said, snapping his fingers, and a full glass was set before him.

"Since this is a social occasion and less formal, why don't you call me Lancaster, instead of 'your Lordship.'"

"Of course," Thorburn said. "No sense in standing on formality, Lancaster. I'll have them serve if you're ready. We've got pheasant, venison, or beef. Partake of what you will."

The servers began by offering Lancaster his food, then moving around the table to the others. Lancaster took generous portions of each, enjoying each which had been cooked to perfection.

For awhile, he did nothing but eat or drink, casually engaged in small talk, observing the social graces, but eventually he asked, "After you were in town the other day, I heard a rumor Lady's Ailene and Isobel have been engaged in learning martial skills, the rapier, I believe."

"No rumor, Lancaster. Tis true. They've both been learning for several months now," Thorburn replied.

"Your men were bragging the women had beaten quite a few of them."

"They are progressing quite well," Frang said. "They've worked hard to become better."

"You let your women engage in fighting?" Lancaster asked. "Isn't it unconventional?"

"Perhaps, Lancaster, but you have to agree these are dangerous times," Ailene said. "Look what happened to our maid, Màiri, how brutally she was murdered and the authorities unable to do nothing because the alleged perpetrator of the crime is wealthy and influential, and it was only a woman who heard her death bed declaration," she said, digging in a little after his inaction when they brought it to his attention. "We dare not go out beyond these walls without many men to guard us, yet you can understand why we would wish to learn how to defend ourselves considering the nature of her injuries. Her breasts and nose cut off, her feminine parts mutilated beyond recognition. I would think you understand how the very nature of the crimes would leave us compelled to defend ourselves against such depravity?"

Lancaster was silent momentarily, shut up by the honesty of her words. The others remained silent, letting him stew in her words.

"It just seems unfeminine," he said weakly, "and Lady Isobel is with child."

She responded as well. "I am with child," Isobel said, "but given how terribly this innocent maid was harmed, do you think it likely the monster who did it would care if the woman was carrying a child? I think he would care for children no more than he cared for women, don't you?"

"It would appear having children would be all the more reason to learn to protect ourselves," Ailene said, "so we may protect our offspring as well."

Lancaster was clearly embarrassed at the tenor of the conversation and attempted to change the subject. "Thorburn, you said you had matters important to the throne to discuss."

"I do, sir, but I believe it would be a conversation for tomorrow. The hour is late and our manners have frayed a bit. If you would, we can have our discussion in the morning. Teárlag will see you to your room."

"Very well. It does seem wise to delay. Thank you for the wonderful meal. I look forward to speaking in the morning."

Lancaster followed Teárlag up the stairs. She led him to his room. He paused for a moment. "You haven't engaged in any fighting, have you, Lady Mackintosh?"

"Not as of yet, but depending on the course of the next few days, I may find it wise to seek the means to protect myself as well. Plus, it seems to have done wonders for the ladies health and stamina. They look quite amazing, do they not?"

Her reply confounded him; not at all what he expected to hear. "Yes, they are quite lovely," he answered.

"Remember that if you ever have cause to see them in any other condition."

"Whatever do you mean?" Lancaster asked, more bewildered than ever.

"Only that life is fleeting and no matter what we wish for our lives, it is often taken out of our hands. Goodnight, your Lordship. I hope to see you later." She left.

Lancaster entered his room, flustered by the tone of the conversation over the last hour. I hope all is made clear tomorrow, he thought.

******

Bjarkë arrived at 10:30 and informed Thorburn the tunnel remained the same. He'd detected no changes in the number or behavior of the sentinels defending it. Thorburn gathered the rest and they went back to the strapping room while Bjarkë watched to stairs.

"The magistrate is here, the tunnel remains accessible and we've done all we can to make Teárlag's intelligence reports invaluable. All that remains is to spring the trap. We three brothers will gather up the magistrate around 2:30 and leave through the front gates with a large force. We'll clear the woods again and then we'll ride for Blackthorne's while the men return. We'll leave the horses hobbled about three miles from Achnadrish and walk in from there. The magistrate better be cooperative or he'll end up with a wicked headache. I think I can promise enough to make his greed work for us. We'll get into the tunnel before dawn and wait. Bjarkë will send out another large group to sweep the woods again right after dawn, paying particular attention to the eastern side of the Keep where the meadow is. I want everyone dead within two miles of the glade.

"Around eight, Ailene and Teárlag will go down to the meadow and start collecting medicinal plants. They should be wearing dresses as we want this as normal as possible, though Ailene will be armed with her rapier as she normally is now. I would expect Blackthorne's men will show up in sufficient force around nine when they've been told it's safe. Teárlag, you'll cooperate and act like you expected them and tell Ailene to surrender. Ailene, you need to fight like hell and accuse Teárlag of being a traitor, tell her you'll kill her. Be very angry. When you're sure you're captured, blow your horn. Bjarkë will ride like the wind to the meadow with the largest force we can muster on horseback and chase them all back to the Manor. He has to avoid catching them as we need Ailene in the dungeon. As soon as we hear Blackthorne with Ailene in his torture chamber, we'll go in with the magistrate. Teárlag, try to go with her to the dungeon. Carry her rapier if you can. If all goes as planned, Ailene will be rescued no later than noon and we'll never have to worry about Blackthorne again. I warn you, things rarely ever go exactly as planned, which is why we've tried to plan contingencies."

He nodded to Teárlag. "You need to leave now. Give your maid any excuse you believe she'll accept for why you left the meeting early. She has to get this message out tonight, threaten her with Blackthorne's wrath if you have to. Frang, watch the steps while I give Bjarkë his instructions."

Teárlag went upstairs and rang for her maid. "Yes, Mistress," Bonnie said sleepily.

"Lock the door," Teárlag hissed, motioning with her hands as well. "Come rub my temples," Teárlag said. "I've just complained of a headache to get out of their meeting now. It's absolutely imperative we get this message out tonight. I don't care if you have to run to Blackthorne Manor, or crawl on your hands and knees. We have a chance to end this tonight. Do you understand. If you fail to do so, Blackthorne will be incredibly angry and you would not want to be on the wrong side of his anger. If you have to carry the message yourself, you'll do so or the consequences will be on your head."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Lady Ailene is going to get plants for her medicines tomorrow morning. Thorburn is going to clear the woods tomorrow at daybreak, killing everyone they find. After it's done, Ailene will go down to the meadow with the pond in it about a mile east of the Keep. I'll be with her because I can't stay here once I betray her. Tell Blackthorne to keep any of his men from the glade until well after eight at least, to avoid being caught in the sweep of the woods. When he comes, he needs to bring thirty or forty men at least. Ailene will not go willingly. She knows what happens to women Blackthorne gets his hands on. She'll fight like a cornered bear. We'll have no more than one or two guards and may be alone since she'll feel safe after the woods are clear and all the soldiers will be drilling. Please stress this gives him an opportunity to trade her life for the Cameron's estates so she shouldn't be harmed, but captured whole at all costs. If she's killed, Blackthorne won't have a bargaining chip and the Camerons will be more determined than ever to kill him. Do you understand this message?"

"Yes, Mistress."

"Repeat it back to me."

Bonnie repeated the message. She might be illiterate, but she had a good memory for instructions. It saved her from a lot of unnecessary punishment.

"Now get dressed or do whatever you have to do to pass this message out. I swear if Blackthorne doesn't get this message, I'll kill you myself."

"Right away, Mistress."

Bonnie put on a robe and went looking for a particular guard who was to be on duty tonight. She found him, standing watch with another man she didn't recognize. She gave a particular signal to the guard and he waved her over. She whispered her message to him and he nodded.

"You'll have to distract the other guard for a few minutes. Will you fuck him?"

"If I have to."

"Hey, Mungo, this tart's looking for a bit of a toss. Say's her mistress is fucking the Laird and lit a bit of a fire in her listening to them go at it. She's willing to spread her legs if you're interested."

"It's a punishable offense to leave your post," Mungo replied.

"Don't leave your post. Fuck her right here. I'll just step away a bit, give you a bit of privacy. If I see any trouble, I'll give you a call and you can tuck it away and assist me. I promise her cunt's so tight it'll strangle your meat. She sucks cock like a whore too, if you prefer that."

Mungo looked around and seeing no one else nearby, asked Bonnie to lift her night dress. "That right, you want a cock up your cunt?"

"Aye, sir." She paused then whispered to him. "I've tried the other fellow before and he wasn't no good. I was hoping for more this time. Don't tell him I said he was no good. He'd probably beat me for making fun. I'd like to try the Laird. My mistress said he's like a horse, but I'm certainly willing to give you a try."

Mungo looked around again and seeing the coast remained clear, bent her over the parapet and plunged his cock into her cunt. His partner stepped away and gave them a bit of privacy.

"Oh, Lord, you're a big lad aintcha. You fill me up real nice like. Ooh, a bit harder now, laddie. Make me squeal."

"Not too loud. It's worth a pounding by the Laird I'm caught doing this."

"I promise I'll make it worth your while if we're caught. I'll suck your root if the Laird whips you."

"Just be quiet," he hissed. "No one will bother us if you're quiet."

A few minutes later, his partner returned. "Aren't you done yet? I'd think this slut would have drained you by now."

"A bit longer," Mungo grunted. "I'm almost there."

He slammed a few more times into her tight cunt and gasped as he sent a flood of his seed into her. Grunting a few more times, he squeezed the last of his release onto her naked buttocks.

Bonnie turned around and gave him a quick kiss. "Thanks, Mungo. It was very nice. You're a terrific lover."

"If you ever want a return bout, I'll be happy to oblige again, but let's do it while I'm off duty so we can take a little time."

"I'll look for you."

She glanced at her contact and he nodded his head. The message was gone.

"Thanks for giving us a little privacy," Bonnie said, thankful Blackthorne would get his message. "I'd best check on Lady Teárlag now, see if she needs me anymore tonight."

She rubbed her night clothes over her legs and sex, soaking up the cum leaking from her cunt and left. She could change once she told Lady Mackintosh the message was sent.