.... He still needed this man's help. He forced his hand to
loose its grip on the pistol, and his voice to remain calm.
"What is your plan?" he said, as evenly as he could.
"To walk right past them---myself on horseback, you tied to a length
of rope behind. I'll say I've caught another prisoner, and am taking
him to my father for interrogation."
Again Michael forced back his emotions. "And what if one of those men
knows of the rift between you, or Ballard is there himself?"
"Those `men'," said Stephen with disdain, "are the King's soldiers.
They know nothing of the inner machinations. The ones who do my
father's dirty work---those either cruel enough to like it, or weak
enough to be bullied into submission---are stationed with him in the
Castle. And if Ballard should be there, I will have him arrested and
put in chains. You forget that in the King's army I am still a
Captain." Stephen paused. "And if you have a better plan, Highlander,
I should very much like to hear it."
Again Michael felt the sense of helpless inevitability that had
assailed him as the women were taken from him.
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