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captain, both men turned to look at her.
    She straightened her spine,
preparing for battle. It was dark and quiet on Pilgrim Street. She’d seen no
sign of anyone other than the guard that had let her into Newcastle, yet her
nerves tingled as if something bad was coming—or more like someone was coming
to get her. Surely it was her imagination, but the feeling was there all the
same, stirring the sense of urgency she felt to stormy proportions.
    “Gentlemen,” she said in a sweet voice.
    Neil raised his red eyebrows as a
scowl turned down his lips.
    The captain was less subtle. “What
do ye want?” he demanded, in a tone that told her what he thought of a woman
interrupting.
    She looked the captain straight in
his dark, narrowed eyes. “I will pay you more to depart tonight.”
    A greedy grin lit the captain’s
face. “How much?”
    Marion opened the bag of coins
Angus had left for her and withdrew eight of them. She dropped them one by one
into the captain’s outstretched hand. Each time a coin clinked against another,
her gut clenched tighter. She was giving away the only money she had.
    The captain nodded. “We’ll leave
directly. Let’s go down to the birlinn. It won’t take long to—”
    Marion frowned as the captain’s
speech came to an abrupt halt. He looked past her, his eyes searching the
darkness. Her heart suddenly shuddered, as the ground beneath her feet vibrated
with the familiar sensation of horses approaching. Without thought, she
withdrew the dagger Angus had given her, even as she saw Neil unsheathe his
sword.
    She turned to face the direction
the captain was looking. At first, she saw nothing, only shadows dancing, but
then the flickering of torches appeared as dots in the distance.
    “Let’s go!” she demanded,
unreasonable fear racing through her veins. It could not be someone coming for
her. It was impossible. Her plan had been solid. And yet… She tugged on Neil’s
arm. “Please. Let’s go down to the birlinn.”
    Neil nodded as the sound of
galloping horses grew louder. She turned, nearly slamming into the captain, who
stood motionless. “Lead the way,” she ordered .
    His eyes narrowed on Neil and then
on her. “Why are you acting so fearful? As if you’ve done something wrong. Your
husband”—he motioned to Neil—“told me you wanted to leave tonight to get back
home to your dying father. But seems to me like you’re running from something.
I don’t want trouble. I have a wife and children to see to.”
    “Here.” She thrust the bag of coins
at him as the sound of men’s voices filled the night. Their laughter floated toward her. She peeked over her shoulder, her breath catching as she counted five men
approaching, their cloaks billowing behind them in the wind. If they had
surcoats on, she could not make them out. She swiveled around to the captain.
She didn’t have time to convince him with just words. “Take all my money. I vow
to you I’ve done nothing wrong.”
    He took the money, and as he did,
he grabbed her wrist and pulled her near. She whipped her dagger toward his
throat as he pointed one at hers, the coins he’d been holding clattering to the
ground. They stood, each with a weapon at the other’s throat. Marion’s blood
pounded in her ears. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Neil creeping
toward them.
    The captain tightened his grip on
her wrist, increasing the pressure tenfold, and she winced in pain. He didn’t
take his eyes from her as he spoke to Neil. “I would not try it, if I were you.
You might wound me before I can wound your wife. You might not. All I want to
do is verify that you are telling the truth. If you are, then we will be on our
way.”
    Directly behind her, Marion heard
the neighing of horses as the hoofbeats slowed. The voices of the men died, and
she caught another glimpse of Neil, whose gaze moved from her to the captain to
the men.
    “What have we here?” a cruel voice
demanded.
    Marion’s knees went weak. She