Alyce knew from what Piper had taught about Septimus’s scouting tactics that while he led the troop, he would have men scouting a few miles ahead and also along the perimeters. They would know of the messenger’s approach long before he arrived, and they were probably also aware of the exact positions of the sentries Cavan had posted. One thing she had learned about the mercenary group was that they were no ordinary ragtag band of men, and she couldn’t help but wonder again over their origins.
Once she left the moors, and reached the woods she kept to the edge of the forest knowing Septimus’s men would spot her and take her to him and sure enough that was what happened. Two of his men she was familiar with, Dale and Hagen, approached.
She had to smile for they were night and day in appearance, Dale short and stout and Hagen simply large.
Hagen was grinning. Surprisingly, he possessed all his teeth and not a one was yellow or rotted. His diction marked him more an educated man than a mercenary.
“Septimus advised you would arrive before we reached Caithness. It is good to see you again,” Hagen said
Alyce grinned from ear to ear; she was happy to see them. “How is everyone at home?”
“Septimus warned us you would ask at once about Everagis, but he asked that we should get you to camp before we answered any questions or we might never make it there.”
She laughed. “He is wise.”
“He says it’s because he understands women,” Dale said, motioning her to follow him, Hagen taking up the trail behind her. “And strangely enough, I bloody well think he does.”
Alyce had a string of endless questions to ask, but she knew it was best that she waited and though the ride wasn’t long, it seemed like it took forever. Finally, they arrived at the camp and after greeting her, Septimus walked her to a more secluded location at the bank of a creek and sat with her a few feet from the water’s edge.
“My sentries are posted well. No one spies on us here,” he said.
“Why are you here?” she asked eagerly.
“Why, to rescue you, of course.”
“I’m going after her,” Lachlan said as soon as he received word that his brave wife rode off to help bring the farmers to safety. He turned to leave the solar and found Artair blocking the door.
Lachlan turned and pounded Cavan’s desk. “You knew she’d go to him, and you let her.” He shook his head. “If it were your intention all along, why didn’t you just let her go from the beginning?”
“I wished to see what she would do,” Cavan said calmly.
“You mean you wanted to know if she would obey your orders,” Lachlan said.
Cavan nodded. “She impressed me with her many skills, but her one fault is…”
“Obedience to authority,” Lachlan finished.
Cavan nodded. “She is too accustomed to leading and has no patience for anyone’s dictates but her own, though I have seen her acquiesce to you on occasion.”
“Not this time,” Lachlan admitted reluctantly.
“It was to be expected; she looks on Septimus as a friend,” Artair said, having left his post at the door to join his brothers.
“But I am her husband,” Lachlan emphasized.
“You’ll find that while that holds importance, it also gets in the way,” Artair said.
Lachlan shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“You’re thinking like a husband,” Cavan said, “while your wife thought like a warrior.”
“She was wise and courageous in bargaining with the mercenaries,” Artair said.
“She could have told me,” Lachlan said, still feeling the bite of mistrust.
“That would have meant a betrayal to the mercenaries and they would have retaliated, not only against Alyce and her village, but you as well,” Cavan said. “As Artair commented, she made a wise and also necessary choice.”
“She refused to tell you everything concerning the mercenaries when you asked,” Lachlan reminded.
“But she freely told us about Ronan,” Artair said. “And she was blunt that she gave her word so therefore was bound to it.” He snickered. “You’re just angry that she took off to meet a man handsomer than you.”
Fury engulfed Lachlan and he raised a threatening fist to Artair. “You’re damn right I am. And when I see him I’m going to beat the hell out of him.”
“Rescue me from what?” Alyce asked Septimus.
“From an unwanted marriage.”
“I appreciate the offer but it isn’t necessary,” she said, wondering who precisely had sent him. Her sisters had known all too clearly the situation and the repercussions of sending Septimus to Caithness.