He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Ye be a sight for sore eyes, lass,” he told her. “But we’ve no’ much time.” <br />He handed her up to Marcum, who placed her on his lap and wrapped his arms around her. <br />“Nay!” she pleaded, her mind dizzy with fear, relief, terror. “I want Albert!” <br />Marcum started to pat her hands comfortingly when he realized her wrists were bound. He removed his dirk and began to carefully cut away the leather straps. <br />“Where do ye hurt, lass?” he asked. <br />Laurin gave a rapid shake of her head. “Everywhere, but I do no’ think anythin’ is broken,” she told him through chattering teeth. <br />Making certain she’d not fall, he removed his cloak and draped it around her shoulders. <br />“Where is Albert?” she implored as she searched for him. “I want Albert!”<br />“Och, lass, Albert be a wee bit busy at the moment,” he explained. “He has a few men to kill.