Page 62 of Promised to the Cursed Laird

"That mark." She crossed to the table without thinking, reaching out and stopping just short of touching the torn plaid, its pattern woven through with a thin band of deep blue she recognized instantly. "I've seen that before."

Every head in the room turned to her at once.

"Where," Marcas said, low, already coming around the table toward her.

"At MacRath's. It was worked intae the hangings in the great hall and in the room where i was held. It is the same blue, the same band pattern. I remember it clearly, because I spent enough hours staring at those walls waiting tae be let out that I'd counted every thread of them by the second day." She looked up at him, certain now. "This isnae simply a man who serves Cailleach, Marcas. This cloth came from his own household. I'd stake my life on it."

Baird, at the table's far end, leaned forward, his usual gruffness edged with something that looked, for the first time since she'd arrived at MacKinnon land, like genuine respect. "Ye're certain, my lady."

"I'm certain." She held his eyes without flinching. "I looked at little else for two days but that wall."

"Then tell us what else ye remember."

Neilina blinked.

"About MacRath?"

"Aye."

She glanced towards Marcas.

He was watching her, but he gave no answer for her. He simply nodded once. So she turned back to the table.

"The great hall had two doors. The one on the eastern side was usually guarded, but the western door was left open more often."

Old Ionmhainn straightened.

"How many men?"

"In the hall?"

"Around the keep. Men ye saw."

She thought back.

"Twenty at least during the day. More came and went around dusk. I couldnae say how many were within the walls at any one time."

"And the gates?" another councillor asked. "Did ye see them?"

"Only the inner gate."

"What did ye notice?"

"It sticks."

The men exchanged looks. Neilina continued before anyone could interrupt.

"Not badly. But when they opened it, the left side caught against the stone. Two men had tae push it when the rain had been heavy."

Baird's brows rose.

"Ye noticed that?"

"I had little else tae do," she said, then reconsidered. “And I was looking for a way out.”

A few of the men gave quiet, surprised huffs of laughter. It eased the tension in the room.

“The guards changed near dusk. Nae all at once, but close enough that there were fewer men in the courtyard for a time. And Cailleach's men used the western side of the keep more than the eastern. I could hear them below my window.”