Since it was the same taunt Iliana had cast and earned an arrow for, she knew instinctively that he would take it no better from her mother. Muttering under her breath, Iliana tugged her to the side just in time. A second arrow whizzed past them both.

“Mother, I am supposed to be taunting him.”

Lady Wildwood gave a breathless laugh and brushed the hair back from her face. “That was close, was it not? My, I must say it feels good to speak my mind to the beast.”

Rolling her eyes, Iliana turned back to the wall and chanced a quick peek down. Greenweld was gesturing at the man with the torch. Even as she watched, the soldier set the debris ablaze. Cursing, she straightened and turned back toward the bailey, shouting a warning to the other women. When they immediately began fleeing for cover, her gaze slid to the stables. It was engulfed in flames. “Did Elgin get the horses out?”

“Aye. He took them around behind the kitchen. They should be safe there.”

“Behind the kitchen? Not through my garden!” The words had barely left her mouth when she heard the catapult being released. Grabbing her mother, she jerked her back against the outer wall. A split second later another fireball passed overhead.

Iliana hurried to look down at the bailey the moment the danger had passed. Assured that no one had been harmed by the latest missile, she moved back to peer at the army outside. The arm of the catapult was back in place and already half-loaded in preparation for another shot, she saw with dismay.

“He will continue to pummel us with fire until Dunbar is a pile of ashes,” her mother predicted grimly, balancing herself on Iliana’s back with one hand as she leaned up to peer over her.

“Then we shall have to destroy the catapult,” Iliana decided, straightening now and moving out of harm’s way behind the wall.

“And how will we manage that?” Lady Wildwood asked dubiously.

“I ordered the women not to leave you alone. How is it you come to be up here without at least two of them trailing you?”

“They were busy. And you still have not said how you plan to destroy the catapult.”

Grimacing, Iliana glanced down at the bailey again. The stables were merely a pile of glowing embers now. They would never house horses again. She supposed the building had been rather old. That was the only reason she could think of for it to burn so quickly. It was not as if it had been doused with whiskey first, as the bedchamber had been ere it was set alight.

“Rabbie.” She straightened abruptly.

“Aye, me lady?”

“I need some uisgebeatha.”