He was gallant to try to save ye. Hannah’s words repeated in her head, and she surged forward. Bloody hell! She should have mentioned the comments to Cain, but she hadn’t yet trusted him. Did she now? Dammit. There was so much she should tell Cain. He is still the enemy. But after last night… Was he? Guilt nearly made Ella double over. Guilt for enjoying the night more than anything she’d ever experienced. Guilt for not telling Cain what Hannah had said about Hew. Guilt over Kenneth’s order. Wed him and kill him. How could she?

Ella ran into the great hall and stopped. Cain stood before his brother, Joshua, both of them grim.

“This was neatly tied in loops inside her horse’s stall,” Joshua said. “It is one of Hannah’s. I gave it to her last Christmastide.”

Cain snatched the blue ribbon, balling it into his tight fist. “He took her.”

Joshua met his gaze. “Or she went willingly.”

“She thought him gallant,” Ella said, her face heating as both men pivoted around to stare at her. “I warned her that he has no honor, but she did not seem concerned. She has always felt protected here.”

Cain shook his head, letting the ribbon drop down, the end pinched between his fingertips. “Hannah would not tie her ribbon. It is a message from Mackay that he took her.” Cain grabbed a red scrap from his belt. He tied a knot in it and strode toward the door into the bailey without a word. Ella hurried after Joshua as he followed.

Stepping out into the sunlight, Cain yanked on a thick glove. His whistle pierced the air around them where groups of his men waited to hear his orders. The large falcon that followed his master in every battle swooped upward from its high perch inside the bailey walls to land on Cain’s arm. He handed the red scrap and the blue ribbon to the bird and thrust him upward to fly.

“What is he doing?” Ella asked Joshua.

“The bird will circle until he finds our brother, Bàs, riding toward Varrich Castle. The red means that the Mackays are our enemies, and the knot tells Bàs not to act unless absolutely necessary to save his men’s lives. Cain will not be made to act rashly. He will strategize first. The ribbon will tell Bàs that Hannah is involved.”

Cain strode over to her. “Tell me of Varrich. Where would he keep her?”

“I can tell you on the way,” she said, striding toward the gate to find Gilla, who was still saddled.

He caught her arm, pulling her around as if she’d suddenly been tethered to an iron chain. “Nay. Ye will stay at Girnigoe,” he said, his face unmoving as granite.