He shook his head.
“Idiots,” he muttered. “Thank God we were able to come in through the postern gate, but no wonder we were able to come that way. No one is watching it.”
Addax shook his head in disapproval. “If the Scots want to breach this place, they’ll find any opening or any area that is not well protected,” he said. Then, he reached out and took Cole’s horse. “Go – find Lord Alastor and tell him his postern gate is poorly guarded.”
Cole handed over Drago, who still had big pieces of green grass sticking out of his bridle. “Find me when you are finished,” he said. “If the Scots are here, that can only mean that we are going to find ourselves in a battle when the sun rises and that is not far off.”
Addax took the horses quickly as Cole continued towards the gatehouse where there seemed to be an inordinate amount of activity. He was just passing the keep, albeit at a distance, when he heard someone call his name. Coming to a halt, he could see Corisande and Anteaus standing at the bottom of the forebuilding that led into the keep.
Cole headed in their direction.
“I came to warn you that the Scots were traveling down Kielder Pass,” he said as he came near. “It looks as if I am too late.”
Anteaus was in full battle protection. “They arrived less than an hour ago,” he said. “They want to speak with my father.”
“Where is your father?”
“At the gatehouse.”
Cole turned in the direction of the gatehouse, seeing the dozens of torches and men milling about. There was a sense of urgency in the air and a current of uncertainty, but no one seemed to be panicking. At least, not yet.
He returned his attention to Anteaus.
“This cannot be good,” he said. “An army of Scots does not simply travel into England to socialize.”
Anteaus’ gaze was also fixed on the gatehouse. “My father thought they may have come looking for Canmore,” he said. “But there is no way anyone would know Canmore is here. It is more than likely they are here to discover if my father is going to side with them or not.”
Cole couldn’t disagree. “More than likely,” he said. Then he returned his attention to Anteaus. “Addax and I came in through the postern gate. It is without a guard, so I would strongly suggest moving men to protect it. If the Scots figure it out, you will have an onslaught trying to come in through the rear.”
Anteaus stepped away from the forebuilding, looking at the wall walk, which was lit with men and torches as well.
He grunted unhappily.
“There were men there,” he said. “I placed them myself, but it looks as if they have all moved forward to watch what is happening at the gatehouse.”
“My thoughts as well.”
Anteaus turned to him. “Cole, would it be too much to ask for you to secure the keep?” he said. “It looks as if I am needed elsewhere.”
Cole nodded before he even finished speaking. “I would be honored,” he said. “Do what you must. I will make sure the keep is secure.”
Anteaus raced off. Cole watched him for a moment before finally turning to Corisande.
It was the first time he’d really looked at her since the conversation with Anteaus had started and that first glimpse of her in the early morning darkness did not disappoint. Dressed in a heavy robe, her blonde hair braided over one shoulder, she looked like an angel.
“Inside, lady,” he said, a smile on his lips. “We must get you and the other ladies to safety.”
Corisande smiled and all of the stress and concern Cole had experienced on his harried ride back to Castle Keld seemed to melt away.
“I am glad to see that you are safe,” she said as he took her elbow and turned her for the steps. “Have you been traveling all night?”
He nodded as he escorted her up the stairs. “All night,” he said. “We were in Otterburn when were told that a Scots army was moving south through the Kielder Pass. I knew we had to warn you but, evidently, we were too late.”
Corisande was watching her feet as they headed up the stairs, careful not to trip on her robe. “But you came,” she said softly. “That is all that matters. And I’m glad you’re back, Cole.”
He watched her lowered head. “May I tell you a secret?”
“Of course.”
“I came to warn your father and brothers, of course, but my main concern was you.”
Her head popped up, looking at him with surprise. “It was?”
His eyes glimmered warmly. “It was,” he said. “It is. That is why I am going to make sure you and your sister and the women are locked up safely in this keep before I return to see what your father would have of me. If I did not know you were tucked away safely, I do not think I could go about my business properly.”
They paused at the top of the stairs, facing one another. “That is a very sweet thing to say,” Corisande said, clearly touched. But the warmth in her eyes faded. “Cole… if there is a battle, I am my father’s surgeon, so I cannot remain locked up in the keep. I will need to move to the great hall so that I may tend the wounded.”
He had a feeling she might say that and his first reaction was to insist that she retreat into the keep and remain there, but he knew he couldn’t. He had no right. In fact, he had no right at all to make any demands of her, but it was difficult to restrain himself.
Difficult, indeed.
Cole was a man who did everything wholeheartedly. He never did anything only haphazardly, whether it was his profession or personal relationships. He just didn’t have it in him not to give all of himself to something he was passionate about, which was difficult when navigating his fledgling feelings for Corisande. He didn’t want to overstep his bounds.
But he wanted to make sure she was completely safe.
“I understand,” he said, reaching out to discreetly take her hand in an electrifying gesture. “If you will retreat into the keep for now, I will come for you if there are wounded and escort you to the hall personally. There really isn’t any reason for you to be out here at the moment, so it would be better if…”
Shouts caught his attention. He couldn’t see what was happening because he was in an enclosed forebuilding, but he could hear men shouting.
Something was happening.
Still holding Corisande’s hand, he began pulling her back down the steps.
“Bolt these doors when I am gone,” he told her swiftly but calmly. “Then you will retreat into the keep and bolt every exterior door, every shutter. Do you understand?”
Corisande was trying very hard not to trip on her robe as she struggled to keep up with him. “Aye,” she said. “But if there are wounded…”
“If there are wounded, I will come for you,” Cole said. They had reached the forebuilding entry and he helped her shut the enormous oak and iron doors. “Bolt these!”
The doors slammed in his face and he could hear Corisande throwing the heavy bolts. Whirling around, he caught sight of men dashing to and fro. Now he was seeing the panic he hadn’t seen earlier. He could see Alastor running in his direction.
“My lord?” he shouted. “What is amiss?”
Alastor was breathless. “Damned Scots,” he said. “They wanted to seek shelter here for the night, but I turned them away. They’ve gone after the village.”