Jane stiffened and then started down the courtyard steps as the blue-and-silver copter began its descent. MacDuff came to stand beside her as the whirring propellers created a tornado of wind. “What’s the word?” MacDuff asked. “Rodland just came and told me that Palik had asked permission for a pilot to land here. Why?”

“I don’t know. We just heard that a copter had left Kilgoray fifteen minutes ago. Rodland hasn’t found out anything else since then. I’m hoping it’s only because they got Caleb and Campbell safely out of Kilgoray.” She swallowed hard. “But it may mean medical attention is needed, and they wanted to land somewhere they could give them fast emergency treatment.”

“Don’t borrow trouble,” MacDuff frowned. “We’ll know soon enough. Caleb could have told me what he had on his plate last night. Did you know then?”

She shook her head. “He didn’t see fit to confide in me, either. Rodland was the only one who knew.” She was barely paying attention. Her eyes were straining to see into the cockpit, which was almost overhead now. The only figure she could make out was the pilot at the controls. It wasn’t Caleb or Palik, and that frightened her. What had happened in Kilgoray?

But then the helicopter was on the ground, and she was running toward it.

“No.” MacDuff was right behind her. “Wait until—” He was cursing as he saw her reach the passenger door. “The damn propellers. Stay out of the way…”

But the door was opening, and she saw Caleb getting out. She stopped short as the waves of relief and terror almost overcame her. Blood. His shirt was ripped, and blood was soaking the front of it. There was another bloody patch on his left shoulder. His face was sweat-stained and his eyes looked red and swollen. She took another step forward. “You’re hurt. How bad? Let me help—” Then she was in his arms, but she was fighting to get him to release her. “No, don’t do that. I have to look at that shoulder and your chest. That second wound looks worse than—”

“It’s Bohdan’s goons’ blood,” he said bitterly. “And the shoulder wound is nothing. I’m okay, Jane. Aren’t I always okay?” He looked over her head at MacDuff. “Look, I’m a mess in a couple ways. I’m going to have to go take care of it. But she’s going to need someone, so you’ll have to do it. Where the hell is Rodland?”

“I sent him to alert my marine forces camped on the hill to be on guard when he told me that the helicopter was coming.”