“Shut her up.” The order was framed as the most reasonable course of action.
“I cannae dae this anymore.” Laird Lochenbrew was defeated.
“You poisoned him, admit it,” said Juliana.
“Shut her up, brother. Dae it for me.”
It was as if Laird Lochenbrew was possessed. He walked over to Juliana as she was accusing his sister, and he slapped her across the face with the back of his hand. Juliana could not believe that it had happened, and, from the rage that appeared on his face, neither could Andrew.
He left his father’s side and ran at the Laird, who finally found his strength. The sword was raised and pointed at Andrew once again, causing him to stop in his tracks.
Juliana stood up straighter, her face stinging from the blow. She reached her hand up to her cheek and touched the raw skin. She looked at Laird Lochenbrew before her.
“You knew,” she said.
“What?” was all that he could muster.
“Brother, shut yer mouth.” The order came once again from Lady Drechten. She moved to take a step away from her husband and toward her brother, but changed her mind and stayed where she was.
“Ye’re a coward.” Andrew finally found his wits and launched the accusation toward Laird Lochenbrew. “Ye should have killed me when ye had the chance, both as an infant and a grown man.”
“What are ye goin’ tae dae?” asked Laird Lochenbrew. He still held the sword in his hand, but he was shaking again. Andrew was standing in front of him, unarmed, and the Castle guards were around them.
“I’m goin’ tae make ye pay for hittin’ the lass,” Andrew answered.
Hope and pride swelled in Juliana’s chest. It was a moment that proved to her that her dreams of the future were not clouded in stupidity.
“If you are not poisoning your husband, then let him rest alone, and we will see if he recovers.” Juliana could see it in both of their faces that she had discovered a second truth.
“I’m not leavin’ me husband tae die alone,” said Lady Drechten.
“Just a couple of days. Who knows, maybe his condition will improve?”
“Ye think that I would poison me own husband?” asked Lady Drechten.
It was Laird Drechten who answered. “I think some time alone is for the best.” There was more fire in his eyes, but this was not the fire of a dying man who was working through his last heroic act, this was a warrior who was fighting now to live.
The anger came back to Lady Drechten. She was a warrior too, but a more devious one, and she was making her last play. “Are ye goin’ tae stand for that, Colban? Yon lad has told ye that ye are goin’ tae pay for what ye have done tae his girl, the lassie that he stole from ye. Are ye goin’ tae take that from a commoner bastard?”
“What am I tae dae?” The question was directed back at Lady Drechten.
It was obvious to Juliana, and probably the others that this was how the sibling’s relationship had been for a while. Lady Drechten was the older of the two, and she had an obvious power over her younger brother.
Lady Drechten rolled her eyes as if he was being stupid. “He’s challengin’ ye tae a duel.”
Juliana could see that it was her last play, and it was a clever one. She was right, Andrew had made a challenge, and it was up to Laird Lochenbrew to accept that challenge or turn it down. He could not kill him in cold blood now, not after what had come out, and Lady Drechten had made sure that he could not turn down the fight, or he would look cowardly.
This was her last chance. If her brother took up the fight and killed Andrew, then her son would still have claim as Laird, when Laird Drechten finally passed away.
Please let that be many years from now. The Laird deserves some happiness before he dies.
But, Juliana had seen Andrew fight and, without knowing how capable Laird Lochenbrew was, she was sure that Andrew would be victorious. He was a warrior.
“Come on, Colban, this is yer chance tae redeem yerself and the family name. Ye’ve been a coward in the past, dinnae be a coward now.” The words from his sister were only there to anger and bait him.
Laird Lochenbrew was a rat caught in a trap. “I accept, of course.”
Butterflies rose in Juliana’s stomach. She wanted this to happen, but she thought back to his last fight. He had taken on three bandits, but he had been injured in the process. The injury had healed, but not fully, and that put him at a disadvantage. Yet, the way Laird Lochenbrew was holding himself, he was at a disadvantage too, he was afraid.
“Let’s get this over with.” Laird Lochenbrew pointed his sword at Andrew, who, still, was unarmed.
“Not here,” demanded Laird Drechten, standing up on his own for the first time. “We’ll dae this in the great hall. Ye’ll both fight, and then I’ll pass me judgment.”
“A fight tae the death,” said Lady Drechten.
Andrew and Laird Lochenbrew looked at each other, but neither said a word. It was a scene straight out of one of Juliana’s books. She would have relished it if she were told a month ago that this would happen, two men fighting because of, and possibly over, her, but she did not want it anymore.
I cannot bear to watch them. My love, you must win this fight, for my heart will surely stop beating if you are to die today.
Laird Lochenbrew lowered his sword. He shot a glance at his sister, and she met it with defiance. She knew exactly what she was doing, and everything in her power was being directed toward what she wanted. Only one thing stood in her way again, and that was Andrew.
Juliana was sure that if she were allowed to stay by her husband’s side, she would continue to poison him, and then find a way to deal with Andrew. She was not about to let that happen. If Andrew was killed in this fight, she would get what she wanted, and her son would be Laird.
Will the Lady be cast out?
She had tried to read the emotions on Laird Drechten’s face as everything had developed, but it was hard. Flickers came here and there, but he was sick, and his face was worn. He had been angry at his wife, that much was true, and he broke down in tears when he was reunited with the son that he thought was lost, but was that enough?
There had been some time with him by his bed, and Juliana had heard the kindness in his voice. He was a just and fair man, just like Andrew. Juliana truly did not know what he would do with his wife, in either outcome of the fight.
Laird Drechten was helped by Andrew. Now that the truth had come out, there was no separating them. A few words were spoken into a guard’s ear, and the others fell in line, some helping the Laird, but most watching Laird Lochenbrew and his sister. Arthur led the way, taking everyone through the crowds that had gathered, and in the direction of the great hall.
People had heard snippets of the truth, but the courtyard was a busy place, and men and women, alike, chose to produce their own theories and interpretations. As they passed by stalls, Juliana could hear the questions and chatter ringing around her. Most were wondering what was going on. She wanted to jump onto a hay cart and shout out for everyone to hear.
“Ye can sit beside me, me dear,” said Laird Drechten when they arrived at the great hall. “It would seem that ye are the only wise one among us.”
Juliana only nodded, a nervousness rising in her. She sat down next to the Laird and noticed that Lady Drechten kept her distance.
There were some tables at one end of the hall, with remnants of a meal having taken place there, but the other half was empty, save for the seats on the raised dais. The Laird took the most lavish of the seats, and Juliana took the one to his right. The guards stood close to the Laird.
Juliana had not yet visited this room and wished that she could have under different circumstances. There were paintings adorning three of the walls, all save for the wall with the large entrance doors. Each painting was a portrait, but Juliana was not close enough to see any writing on the frames. She presumed that they were previous Lairds and Ladies, or important nobility.
I wonder
if Laird Drechten is up on the walls. I cannot find him.
Above the paintings, the walls ascended high, and there were eight-foot windows between the paintings and the vaulted ceiling. There was almost more window than there was wall. The light streamed in and illuminated the wonderful wooden floor, and they were so high, that no one could see in, giving them the ultimate privacy.
The vaulted ceiling floated above, darker than the rest of the room, crafted from a maple, or other rich wood. The wood had not been carved, but the ways in which the planks stretched from wall to ceiling, and everywhere between, gave it an aesthetic that drew the eye.
In the midst of everything was Laird Lochenbrew and Andrew. Neither of them was wearing armor or carrying shields; they had been brought into the great hall as they were. The only addition had been another sword. Andrew had been handed one by one of the guards and had accepted it immediately. He had the confidence of a man who did not need the best weapon.
The clash of metal came before Juliana was expecting it, and she reached out to grab Laird Drechten’s arm.
Laird Lochenbrew had attacked first and slashed at Andrew, but he had been equal to it, and batted the sword away with his own, creating the clang of metal. Both men backed off and circled each other.
“Ye should be thankin’ me,” demanded the Laird.
“Thankin’ ye!” Andrew could not believe what he was hearing. He circled around, waiting for the other man to attack him again.
“I could have killed ye when ye were a baby. I chose not tae. I saved yer life, so ye should be thankin’ me.”
Andrew could only look at the Laird with eyes wide open. Juliana could not believe it either, she wanted to scream at the Laird, the only thing that stopped her from doing it was Lady Drechten’s smile. She found the entire thing amusing.
“Aye, ye left me tae die,” said Andrew.
“I left ye, and ye lived. That’s all that matters.” The Laird feinted to strike before drawing back. Andrew did not move. “Then, I took ye in when yer father died.”
“Aye, but ye treated me like a dog.” Andrew chose the moment to strike, moving quickly and thrusting his sword. The Laird blocked it this time, and the great hall rang out again. “Now, I understand why ye treated me that way. Keep yer enemies close and all that.”
“She wanted tae kill ye.” Lady Drechten rolled her eyes as her brother spoke. “I was the one that kept ye alive. That must count for somethin’.”
“Sounds like ye’re scared.” Andrew advanced again, slashing right, then left. The Laird blocked both, but he was knocked back and fell to the floor. He was on his feet in an instant, before Andrew could fall on him.
The Laird found new strength, and moved to attack. The words had stung him, just like his sister’s had. He had more ferocity this time, and Andrew was on the back foot. Juliana watched it all with her heart in her mouth. Andrew was a fierce warrior, but Laird Lochenbrew was showing that he was too. Juliana had hoped differently, but they were more evenly matched than she would have liked.
Andrew grabbed his shoulder as blood soaked his shirt. Juliana had not noticed it, the attack had been so fast, and Andrew had not either. He did not have time to do anything before the Laird attacked again, sensing weakness. The first swing was blocked, sending the Laird’s sword away, but the hilt of the sword was brought back sharply and into Andrew’s gut.
“Andrew!” Juliana winced as Andrew did. She knew that there would be blood before it stained his shirt. The wound had reopened. He was bleeding from two places now, and the Laird was untouched. He danced his way around Andrew as the confidence came flowing back. Lady Drechten held her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes widened. This was everything that she had hoped for.
Andrew looked over at Juliana as she shouted his name. They locked eyes, and she could see it. There were no words, but she knew in her heart what he was fighting for. This was for his father, only just found, for his future, and for her. Her own hands clasped in front of her chest as she leaned forward in her chair.
“Ye should thank me for lettin’ ye live,” said Andrew.
“What?” There was a look of confusion on the Laird’s face.
“Ye keep talkin’ about lettin’ me live when I was a baby, now I’m goin’ tae return the favor. When I beat ye in this fight, and I will, I’ll let ye live instead of killin’ ye.”
Laird Lochenbrew laughed. Juliana turned to see Lady Drechten, eyes fixed on her brother. She was smiling as Andrew spoke. There seemed to be a difference of opinion in the room.
You obviously do not know Andrew, or you would not be smiling right now.
The laughter and smiling stopped when Andrew attacked. He had blood soaking through the front of his shirt, and the red on his shoulder had moved down his arm, but it was a small inconvenience that he could overcome.
“I should’ve let ye die,” spat Laird Lochenbrew.
“Aye, maybe ye should.” Andrew pounced again, swinging his sword, not letting the Laird control the movement of the battle. It did not take long for the Laird to also have two wounds, one on the arm, and a second on the leg.
Juliana wanted to jump up and scream. She could barely breathe, her emotions welling up, ready to explode. A smile grew on her face as Lady Drechten slowly lost hers.
Another swing of the sword almost sent Laird Lochenbrew tumbling back, but he regained his balance, muscle memory from years of swordplay. The downswing came again, almost like Andrew was swinging an ax, but the Laird blocked again, though this time, he almost lost his footing.
A third swing was coming, or it looked like it was, but Andrew feinted at the last moment. Juliana was watching every second, but she was amazed at what happened, and she had no idea how it had happened.
The Laird had been holding his sword, and the next moment, after a flurry of metal, the sword was flying across the room to crash at the feet of Lady Drechten with a loud clang. She screamed out and jumped back as the metal hit the wooden floor.
Laird Lochenbrew was pinned up against the wall, the roles reversed. Andrew had his sword pressed into the chest of the man, and it was causing considerable pain. His hands were up in front of his face, and there was some mumbling, incoherent begging for his life.
“Ye can thank me later,” was all that Andrew said.
He twisted the sword and spun it. The point came away from the Laird, but the hilt collided with the side of his head. Laird Lochenbrew fell sideways and slid down the wall, falling to the ground in a heap.
Almost simultaneously, the two ladies ran to their men. Yet, the emotions could not have been more different. Juliana ran to the man that she loved, and embraced him, letting him hold her tight, the warmth of the battle evident in the embrace.
Lady Drechten slowed as she reached her brother. She looked down on him with disdain, prodding him with her foot. If he were to open his eyes, Juliana was sure that the insults would rain down on him.
Andrew dropped the sword and grabbed Juliana as she got to him, pulling her close and kissing her. If ever there was a perfect moment in Juliana’s life, this was it.
26
Castle Life Resumes
The fight had been won by Andrew, and that made many people happy. Laird Drechten had always fought his own battles, and it made him proud to see his son doing the same. The guards were excited to have something different and entertaining, the wars were on hold for now. And, Juliana had everything that she had dreamed of. Well, almost everything.
Lady Drechten did not share in that happiness. Her final chance at getting what she wanted had not played out as she had hoped it would, and now she would have to wait to find out what her husband planned for her. Her brother was neither happy nor sad, merely unconscious.
After the fight, Laird Drechten had needed to rest. It had taken all of his strength to leave his bed and come downstairs, and his eyes had been closing during the battle between the two warriors. He had kept them open long enough to see his son emerge victorious.
I hope they do not run from the Castle. They need to get everything that is coming to them.
Juliana sat in her room and worried. There had been no mention by the Laird about what would happen to Lady Drechten and her brother, and she worried that they would try to escape. She also worried about Andrew. He had gone off to the infirmary, and she had decided to come back to her room. He had changed, and she did not blame him for that, for there was a lot to take in, but she did not know what that meant for the two of them.
Consumed By The Lost Highlander (Steamy Scottish Historical Romance) Page 24
