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Teárlag went to Ailene's door at six and knocked softly in case she was still asleep. Ailene answered immediately and invited her in.

"Were you able to sleep much?" Teárlag asked.

"Not much," Ailene answered. "I don't know if I'm more worried for Stuart or worried for me."

"I'm worried for you," Teárlag answered. "He'll only kill Stuart."

Ailene nodded. Somehow, her own possible death didn't leave her as afraid as a lifetime without Stuart would. "How about you?"

"I didn't sleep much either. I was okay as long as Thorburn remained in bed, but as soon as he left, I've been on edge."

There was another knock on the door and Ailene asked whoever to enter. Isobel walked through the door.

She saw the expressions on both their faces and said, "I'm nervous, too."

"If we lost all three of them, what would we do?" Ailene asked sadly.

"Carry on," Isobel said. "I have to carry on for my child."

Ailene and Teárlag looked at one another. Ailene shook her head, no.

"Why not?" Teárlag said. "They're not here to stop us. We're doing this now and there's naught to prevent it."

"I don't want to think about it. I can't think about it."

Isobel looked at both of them questioningly. Something was going on of which she knew nothing.

"What's going on?" Isobel asked. "What are you not saying?"

Ailene warned Teárlag again. "Don't."

Teárlag persisted. "We're both walking into the lion's den. Neither of us may return. I should not be the only one to know this because if I die too, there's no one to tell, and it should be told if anyone's left to be told."

Ailene considered briefly, then said, "Fair enough. Isobel should know as she's remaining here. If Stuart makes it and we don't, he should know." She hugged Isobel and said, "I'm with child and so is Teárlag."

Isobel drew back. "You can't go then."

"I have to go," Ailene said. "Our men are waiting for me to be taken to Blackthorne's lair. How long would they wait for me to show up. Would they be discovered? Killed? I must go. I want to go. I don't want to raise a child in this fearful situation."

"When you volunteered for this mission, you said you weren't pregnant. You lied. Why shouldn't it be me if we're both with child."

"I didn't say I wasn't pregnant. I said you were too far along with child. That's true; you are. I'm the better fighter right now and still able to keep my baby secret from him. Believe me, it has a side benefit. I may be raped, but they can't leave a bastard inside of me."

Isobel put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, God, Ailene. Are you sure?"

Ailene put her arms around the shoulders of her friends, saying, "Both of you have had much harder lives than me. I've had it easy. In love and married to a wonderful man. Treated kindly and with respect by family and friends. Isobel, you've endured a marriage to McTavish. You've already gone through what I merely face and which I may escape. Teárlag; you've been whipped and beaten by this man, given to others in the worst kind of sexual brutality. You've endured it, been made better and stronger by it. I'm proud to call you both my friends and my sisters. Why should I put you through more of the same when you've already had your share. Why should I always be the lucky one. If you could come through it, I can too. Not that I want to, but if necessary, it's my turn, not yours. We've got a good plan. Play it out and see where it takes us."

"Are you sure you're not doing this because you're guilty about Màiri and worried about other women falling into his hands?"

"Of course I feel guilty. I don't want anyone falling into his hands. Who or what is going to stop him if we don't? With any luck at all, I'm taken there and before he's said a word to me, our men come out of hiding and I'm safe. He's not going to get what he wants by torturing me. The only way he does is if I come back in one piece. So maybe, the worst that happens is we're all impoverished gentry without a home. Ending up like Màiri is at the lowest range of possibility. If I'm killed or tortured, Thorburn and Stuart will raise an army and burn Blackthorne to the ground. I still get what I want; the end of him. If I've given the world that, I'll find my place in heaven. Come on, now. Let's eat and go out to face our day. Sister?" She hugged Teárlag. "Sister?" She hugged Isobel.

"Sister," both said.