"I havenae got a moment or two," replied Ilsa.
The women all followed Ilsa into her bedchamber. She could hear them whispering amongst themselves as she collected up three daggers and hid them as carefully as she could on her person. She also slipped a packet of strong herbs into the little pouch at her waist. If the opportunity arose, they would serve well to temporarily blind her opponent.
"Ilsa, I cannae like this," said Fraser.
"I have nay choice," she repeated. "Ye ken that Ye must. Now, if Nanty returns, I cannae stop ye from telling him, but I would ask that ye use careful judgment. If he returns ere I have e'en gone o'er the rise, that would be too soon. He would hie out after me and then the game would be lost Instead of the chance of burying me, we will all be standing o'er the graves of my children."
"Do ye really think ye can fight these people?"
"I grew up surrounded by brothers and male cousins. I am nay some sweet, gentle maid. I may be small and slender, but I can be verra vicious, e'en dangerous. If luck is with me, aye, I have a chance of defeating these pigs. It will all depend upon how the children are held. If there is an actual knife held to the throat of one of them, that will cause me to hesitate to act."
"Mayhap just one mon," began Gay as she joined Fraser and Glenda in following Ilsa back to the garden.
"Once I am there, once I appear to have obeyed their commands, I think there is a chance someone could get near the cottage unseen. I can keep all eyes upon me. Dinnae tell me what ye are planning now that I have said that," she added quickly when Fraser opened her mouth to speak. "I dinnae want to ken. All the way to the cottage all I will be able to think of is that plan and how terribly wrong it could go. Once I am at the cottage, I will make sure the ones there have all their attention upon me. Tis all I can do." She paused at the little door which led out of the garden and kissed each of her three friends. "Remember to tell Nanty about the door here, and about Geordie."
"And Lucy," said Gay. "She is the other traitor."
"I dinnae think we will need to worry about Lucy."
Fraser frowned after Ilsa slipped out through the hidden door then started back to the keep with the other two women. "I dinnae like this. I understand there isnae much choice, but I still cannae like this."
"Nay," agreed Glenda. "There must be some trick the men have that would help Ilsa and the bairns. Yet, if we say anything about this, they willnae be heeding us about the dangers or risks. Once we tell anyone, the matter will be completely out of our control. I wouldnae be able to stop worrying that, instead of helping Ilsa and the bairns, we have helped to kill them."
Gay suddenly cursed. "I dinnae think it matters, Ilsa didnae return the map to the cottage."
"She did that apurpose," said Fraser, and sighed heavily as they entered the nursery. "We can tell anyone we please what has happened, but it willnae do any good if we cannae tell them where it is happening." She frowned as she studied the too quiet group of children near the fireplace. "Where is Odo?"
"He went to the garderobe," Ivy replied.
The way the girl could not look straight at Fraser told the woman she was lying. "Ivy, I ask ye again, where is Odo?"
"He went to see what was happening in the garden," she replied.
"I didnae see him."
"He was there. Then ye left, but he didnae. He was looking all about the garden. When ye came back, he hid. We didnae see him again until Ilsa left and then ye started to come back here. We saw him walk into the wall just like Ilsa did."
"That boy has followed her," said Glenda, shaking her head.
"I will get Jenny and we will go after him," said Gay.
"Nay, ye cannae. That wee boy can probably follow a flea from bed to bed in a monastery. He will be able to find his way back here. And if he is seen, I dinnae think Geordie or his allies will think much of it." Fraser shook her head. "He willnae be seen. Howbeit, several adults running about trying to find the lad will be seen, and heard. Geordie could think it a trick, a threat. Nay, let the boy go."
"Are ye sure, Fraser? He is but five."
"Near six. Letting him run about the land alone isnae safe; I ken it. Yet, he has a natural skill. Tis probably only a wee danger for him, but he could help us pull Ilsa and the bairns out of a far greater one. He saved her before, didnae he."
"Aye, he did. I but pray he is as good as ye believe he is, that he can help us save Ilsa and the bairns. Then all we shall have to worry about is how to explain to Ilsa that we allowed one of her precious bairns to run about alone."
Fraser grimaced. "And explain it in a way that eases her first inclination."
"Which would be?" asked Glenda.
"Rather bloodthirsty, I fear."
"Oh, dear."
CHAPTER NINETEEN