Noise at the entry caught his attention. Addis was hauling a boy into the hall.

Addis dragged the boy forward, thrust him at Marcus, and pulled a felt hat off the fair head. The hearth’s light revealed a feminine face about twenty years old.

“She was halfway through the camps before being caught,” Addis said. “A good thing it was our men who found her, and not Arundal’s. I don’t want to think what would have happened to such a pretty spy then.”

“I am no spy,” she said.

“Spies always say that,” Addis replied with a laugh.

“Why would anyone send a woman into a man’s camp for such a purpose? No doubt there are spies there, but I am not one of them.” She reached under the neck of her tunic. “He called you Marcus. If that is who you are, this is for you.” She handed over a tiny linen roll.

“Where did you get this?”

“From the lady. She came to our village.”

His hand tightened on the linen. “Where is your village?”

“A half-day’s ride from here. A longer walk.”

“I assume that you walked.”

She shrugged. “I ran mostly.”

“You had to pass by Carwyn’s camps too.”

She shrugged again. “We know how to avoid being seen.”

God knew that was true. He and Addis still had not made a good count of the men in those hills. Nesta’s message to Scotland had said four hundred, however.

He looked down to the little rolled fabric. His clutch was turning it into a damp wad.

A half-day’s ride from here, Nesta had made this and sent it to him. He exhaled deeply, as if he had been holding this breath since sending her off. She had gotten past Carwyn’s men, and was heading west as he had commanded.

Addis took the arm of the young woman. “I will bring her to the women who still use Nesta’s chamber. You will remain where I put you, girl, and not tell anyone that you brought this.” He began guiding her away. Glancing over his shoulder, he said, “Burn it as soon as you have read it.”

Marcus already knew that he would have to do that. Nesta’s escape had brought heavy suspicion on him. Only his status had prevented Hubert from making a blatant accusation, that and Hubert’s conviction that the Welsh within the manor could not be trusted, and could have found the means to aid their lady. Arundal also watched him carefully now, but was equally of the opinion that Nesta might have used witchcraft to escape.