Knowing what fears must have risen up inside of Gay, Ilsa was not surprised when her friend shuddered. She tightened her clasp upon Gay's hand a little, silently offering her the courage to continue. Fraser tightened her arm around Gay's shoulders slightly as well, giving the girl a small hug.
Gay took several deep breaths before she could continue. "Lucy had been standing verra close to Alice and she had the poor wee lass gagged and bound verra quickly. The mon who gagged and bound me then set me down here and looked at me. He was masked, but I kenned who it was. I recognized his voice, his size, the wee scar by his mouth, and his hands. Geordie has big, strong hands with large knuckles and thick tufts of hair on the backs of his fingers. Aye, twas Geordie."
Either Gay had a naturally keen eye or she had been carefully studying everyone at Clachthrom. "Did they, did they hurt the children, Gay?"
"Nay. Geordie said ye must come to a wee cottage," she pulled a piece of paper from inside her bodice, "and he has left ye a map. He wants ye there within an hour after the sun starts to set. If ye dinnae appear ere the sun finishes setting, the bairns and wee Alice will be killed. He says they will be killed if anyone follows ye, too."
After looking at the map, Ilsa cursed. "I ken where this cottage is. I was there today." She nodded at the shock on the faces of the three women. "I saw Geordie in the garden, saw him from my bedchamber window. He walked toward the wall then, weel, disappeared."
"Tis just what he did this time. I kept twisting about to watch him and Lucy.
They went to the old apple tree then they were gone. I couldnae see how or to where."
"There is a wee door set in the wall. I followed Geordie. He has a sturdy wee pony stabled nay far from here. He rode to this cottage to meet with a woman.
Since he kissed her and then disappeared into the cottage for about an hour, I decided it was naught but a tryst. Now I ken different. I was so close. I could have done something to prevent all of this."
"What? Charged the cottage bellowing fierce war cries and slashed the mon with your eating knife?" said Glenda.
Ilsa blinked in surprise over the sharp tone of Glenda's voice then sighed as she recognized the truth behind her words. Even if she had guessed that the man and his lover were plotting against her, she could not have done anything at that time. She had been alone and unarmed. By the time she had returned to Clachthrom, her children had been taken from her. She could have returned faster, but, since she had had no idea that a threat to her children loomed, there had been no reason to exhaust herself by trying to beat Geordie back to Clachthrom.
"Who was this woman he was meeting?" asked Fraser.
"I ne'er saw her," replied Ilsa. "She greeted him at the door, but she was weel concealed by a cloak, the hood pulled up o'er her head and shadowing her features. Twas the same when Geordie left."
"Which would seem to imply that she doesnae wish to risk being seen by anyone, that she kens she will be easily recognized by everyone at Clachthrom."
"I will ken who the bitch is verra soon," said Ilsa as she stood and helped Gay to her feet.
"Ye are nay thinking of going there alone, are ye?" asked Fraser as she and Glenda also stood.
"That is what has been demanded," replied Ilsa. "If I do anything else, I will risk the lives of my children. I cannae do that."
"Ilsa, they want ye dead."
"I ken it, but what choice do I have? The twins are so wee they cannae do anything more than cry until they make a person's head ache, and Alice is but a tiny lass of three. They cannae help themselves. They would be as easy to slaughter as a day-old lamb. I have to go."
"I am sure the men would ken how to follow ye so that no one would see them."
"Probably, but I have seen the cottage, Fraser. Tis set in a verra open area.
Aye, they could get close, but those last yards hold nary a rock for them to hide behind. They would be seen as they made the last rush to the place. Mayhap they could stop the killing of one or two of the bairns, but I am sure our enemies would have time to cut the wee throat of at least one, if nay all of them." She nodded when the women cursed.
"This will give them a verra large victory," said Glenda.
"Nay as big as they think," said Ilsa. "Despite his attempt to hide his face, Geordie was recognized. The traitor has been found. E'en better, he doesnae ken that he has been uncovered. Through him, Diarmot can find his enemy."
"Before or after he buries ye?" snapped Fraser.
"I am nay a day-old lamb, Fraser," Ilsa said as she started toward the keep, needing to gather a few things before she went to the cottage. "I willnae be so verra easy to kill. The woman isnae a great threat, I am thinking," she continued as the three women hurried to follow her. "She has done none of this herself. She hires men. Tis Geordie I must worry about."
"I ken what ye are thinking, that ye have no choice, but shouldnae ye at least take a wee moment or two to try and think of one?" asked Glenda.