by Nicole Locke
Bram’s eyebrows lowered and his eyes flickered towards Caird. Bram knew Doonhill was near Dumfries. Gaira could see he didn’t want to make the connection.
Caird swiftly leaned in and whispered into Bram’s ear. The skin around his eyes and mouth tightened.
Bram had been especially close to Irvette. She had no idea what gave him the strength to still stand, let alone not show the grief he must be feeling.
Maisie squirmed in her lap. Gaira didn’t have an oatcake or drink to keep her still.
Bram faced Robert again. ‘You will die, English.’
‘I have some concessions to ask first,’ Robert answered.
‘You are in nae position to ask for favours.’
‘Your brothers live. Do you think I willingly allowed them to bring me here?’
Caird snarled.
Bram raised his arm and slowly lowered it. ‘Even if that is so and I am not willing to agree, what makes you think I’ll spare your life?’
‘I am not asking you to spare my life.’
Bram pointed to Hugh. ‘Your man’s life is worth less than yours.’
‘That is also not the boon I ask.’
Bram’s eyebrows rose.
Gaira could not wait any longer. Maisie was awake and listening. As was Alec, and Flora and Creighton. They had seen and heard too much.
‘Stop!’ she called. ‘Both of you. Robert, I doona know what game you are playing.’
She pointed at Bram. ‘As for you, I know you have nae intention of granting any reprieve.’
Bram’s colouring deepened. ‘I am glad to find you are alive, Gaira. But you have disobeyed your laird and should hold your tongue.’
‘Or what? Are you going to banish me?’ She swung her leg over her horse. She was careful to keep Maisie and Alec atop until she got her balance. Carefully, she pulled Maisie into her arms and walked to Bram.
‘If you banish me, who is to take care of Irvette’s daughter or the other children?’ She set Maisie on the ground and the child sat atop her feet. ‘You may not value Robert’s protection of me, but he did protect your niece. For that, I ask you to listen.’
Bram’s nostrils flared. ‘Ask your favour, Englishman, but know that I will probably not grant it. I am looking forward to killing you.’
‘I willingly will not raise my arm against your clan,’ Robert said, ‘if you take in and care for Gaira and the four children she has brought.’
Gaira’s heart lurched, sank and rose in her throat.
Bram laughed. ‘You waste your boon, Englishman. I had nae intention of doing otherwise.’
‘Is that the word of a laird or of a brother?’
‘That is the only insult you’ll pay me,’ Bram said between his teeth. ‘Take them to the cellars.’
The men behind Bram went to stand by Robert. Caird and Malcolm flanked Hugh.
Gaira tried not looking at Robert. ‘Bram, we need to talk,’ she said.
Hatred filled his eyes. ‘What makes you think I would even acknowledge you are my blood? You have sided with a murderer.’
Chapter Twenty-Five
Gaira strode into Bram’s private solar and slammed the door behind her.
‘You need to hear me.’ She wasn’t wasting one moment. She knew Robert’s life depended on her. Her brother was stubborn and, when it came to her, he was an idiot. But in matters that involved the clan, she knew he could be fair.
He did not acknowledge her. ‘You must not kill him,’ she urged. ‘Robert is not the man you think he is. If you’ll just let me—’ She stopped. He wasn’t listening. Instead he stared out the window. He was not looking at the courtyard below, but beyond the keep to the Clyde.
‘How was she?’ Bram asked.
She didn’t recognise her brother’s voice. Grief. She wasn’t ready to talk about Irvette.
‘Dead,’ she whispered.
‘I wish...’ He bowed his head.
‘I wish you could have been there, too,’ she said. ‘I wish all of us could have been but a few hours earlier.’
‘Did she suffer?’
Her sister had been face down in the dirt. Her arms had been splayed, blood pooled around her torso. There was no doubt she had suffered. But she didn’t want to give that answer, nor could she avoid the truth.
‘She had two stab wounds to her stomach,’ she said.
He grabbed the shutters and leaned his full weight on their handles. The shutters held, but she heard the deep creak of the wood giving at the hinges. ‘And Aengus?’
She had not known Irvette’s husband well, but Irvette had loved him beyond distraction. Had she watched him die? ‘Burned,’ she said. ‘His head was severed.’
He shoved the shutters open and leaned out towards the courtyard. His body was prostrate over the courtyard a full storey below. If the hinges broke, he would have no balance to catch himself. She looked away.
‘I found Maisie under a chest,’ she said. ‘She was unmarked. Until I found her, I had seen nae survivors. I had given up any hope.’
A sound broke from Bram. ‘Leave.’
‘I will not leave the—’
‘This room, Gaira, you ken? Leave me to suffer for Irvette. Leave me to plan exactly how many pieces I’ll hack your precious Robert of Dent into.’
She hesitated.
‘Now!’
He did not move his body, but he turned his head. It was the pain in his eyes, not his request, that moved her. She closed the door gently behind her.
* * *
The cellar was dimly lit and smelled of drying meat and herbs. It was also large enough for Robert to pace from one end to the other. He saw no need to save his energy.
‘How did you find me?’ he asked.
Hugh sat with his back to a wall. ‘You just disappeared. After every battle, your body wasn’t found. Did you think that would go unnoticed?’
He had purposefully distanced himself from everybody for years. It was easy to believe no one would think of him.
‘Was it the king?’ he finally asked.
‘Aye, he sent me to search for you. It wasn’t easy at first. Every description I’d give of you, someone would say they saw you travelling with a woman and four children. I couldn’t believe them.’
‘What convinced you?’
‘The town square.’
Robert nodded his head. ‘The fight with Busby.’
‘The villagers told me how you were attacked from the back and you fought a man almost twice your size with a claymore. I knew it was you. It was easy to follow you after that. You weren’t exactly travelling light.’
Robert softly smiled. No, not light at all. Even now he felt the precious burden of Gaira and the children. He feared their weight was somewhere near his heart.
‘How’d you not catch up with us?’ Robert asked.
‘Fell into a bit of trouble with three men calling themselves “The Buchanan”. Their sport left me a good distance from you.’
‘Your skills must have improved since I left.’
‘My skills were always fine. You just never saw them because I was protecting your back all this time.’
‘I thought it was me protecting you?’
‘We made a formidable pair.’ Hugh laughed. ‘We could make such a pair again. We’re not tied and the lock on that door is not a true deterrent.’
‘There are two guards pacing above our heads.’
‘You can see through solid earth?’
‘I can hear them.’
‘I’d risk it.’
‘It’d be your head out first and too easy a target.’
Hugh arched his eyebrow. ‘Don’t you want to get out of here?’
Robert stopped his pacing. ‘What I
need to do here has not been accomplished.’
‘You’re here on some mission.’ Hugh stood. ‘Is it for information? To assassinate someone? Did my showing up harm your plan?’
‘No—’
Hugh blew out in relief. ‘What needs to be done now? The king didn’t tell me anything. I can’t say I like the idea of being kept in the dark on something of import.’
‘I’m not here on any assignment.’
Hugh’s eyes narrowed. ‘Then why are you here?’
It was a valid question and one Robert didn’t have a prepared answer for. ‘I am just returning the woman and the children to the clan.’
‘You’re helping them? They’re Scots! We’re at war against them!’
‘The English are at war with the Scottish,’ Robert clarified.
Hugh blew out his nose. ‘Are you saying there is a difference?’
‘Maybe.’ It was still unclear to him on how it was different, but it felt different to him.
‘I don’t understand, Robert.’
Hugh wouldn’t understand until he gave him answers. And maybe, just maybe, under the circumstances he owed Hugh those answers.
‘I went to Doonhill to see if the claims of destruction were true.’
Hugh crossed his arms. ‘And there you found the Scottish woman and children?’
‘Aye,’ he answered.
‘And you felt sorry for them and helped them return to their Scottish clan,’ Hugh continued, his voice rising and tightening. ‘A clan most likely loyal to Balliol?’
He shrugged.
‘So when did you turn traitor?’
And that was a question too many. ‘Careful, Hugh. Your anger is justified, but it does not give you permission to question my honour.’
‘Anger! Anger is the least of what I feel. If I had not just witnessed it myself, I would have killed anyone for accusing you of disloyalty.’
‘If you continue to do the accusing, I’ll remind you that my patience is stretched.’
Hugh leaned back against the wall. ‘You dare threaten me? I have no worry for your threats. By staying here, we’re both going to be killed.’
Not if he could help it, but how could he make Hugh understand something he understood little himself?
‘Your actions would kill King Edward if he knew,’ Hugh said, derision lacing his voice. ‘Our liege deserves more than you stabbing him in the back!’
Robert raised his hand. ‘King Edward means more to me than a liege lord. But that complicates my being here.’
‘Aye, I’d say so.’ Hugh crossed his arms. ‘If you’ve not turned traitor, you’ve allowed yourself to be captured. And I’m to believe you’ve done it for a woman?’
Robert faced him fully. ‘Her name is Gaira. And regardless of what you believe, I am here for her and the children. But it is more than that.’
‘It better be a damn good more than that!’ Hugh pushed himself away from the wall. ‘And before you say I have no right to ask, remember I’m in this cellar, too. I have a right to know why and what you plan to do about it.’
The cellar door slammed above them. Robert squinted into the opening as Caird walked down the steps.
He pointed to Hugh. ‘The laird wants to see him.’
Robert stepped forward. ‘He knows nothing. I am the one who travelled with his sister.’
Caird stared, but didn’t repeat himself.
‘I’ll go.’ Hugh faced Robert. With the door open, the light flooded the cellar and allowed him to see the full extent of Hugh’s anger.
Fear pricked Robert’s spine. Hugh was too angry to be facing a Scottish laird. Caution and diplomacy were the only way out of the situation for him. He had only meant for himself to be captured, not Hugh as well. Hugh didn’t deserve to die because of Robert’s mistakes.
‘Hugh—’ Robert called.
Hugh walked up the steps. ‘I’ll go,’ he repeated. ‘Perhaps I’ll find more acceptable answers with the enemy.’
* * *
Gaira found Malcolm and Caird in the courtyard.
‘Where are the children?’ she asked, pulling her shawl close about her. She hadn’t had time to change and was gathering stares.
‘With Oona,’ Malcolm said.
‘Oona’s older than the Colquhoun tree! She wouldn’t be able to chase after Alec.’
‘You care?’ Caird stated.
She couldn’t stop the dull flush creeping up her neck. Caird never spoke much, but when he did, his honesty was almost cruel. Still, he was wrong in this. ‘You have nae right deciding who and what I care for.’
‘You have nae say in what happens to Colquhoun clan,’ Malcolm interjected. ‘The laird married you to another clan.’
For Malcolm, there was always right or wrong. There’d be no changing his mind. Still, she couldn’t help defending herself. ‘I’m here now,’ she said.
‘Do you think Bram would keep you after he kills Black Robert?’ Malcolm asked, his tone soft. ‘Do you think he’d want anything to do with you after you sided with the English?’
Harsh words softly given, but she didn’t want to listen to her brother’s accusations. For now, she worried for the children. ‘Where’s Oona?’ she demanded.
‘At the cottage,’ Malcolm said. ‘Gaira—’
‘Doona,’ she interrupted. She didn’t want to hear any more. They hadn’t listened to her before sentencing her to Busby’s care.
Malcolm looked to protest, but Caird put his hand on his shoulder and he let her go.
* * *
The walk was long. Oona insisted on living apart from the keep and houses and she heard the children before she saw the cottage.
‘Oona, ’tis me!’ she called out.
‘Gaira! You’ve got to taste something for me, child.’
Gaira smiled. Another thing that did not change—Oona cooking some potion of hers. When she walked into the cottage, she saw Oona bent over a steaming cauldron. The smell coming from the pot was foul.
Alec pulled a wooden spoon out of Maisie’s hands. Maisie instantly screamed for all she was worth.
‘Where are Creighton and Flora?’
‘Out gathering rosemary.’ Oona turned around. No longer able to straighten, she stayed bent.
‘Did you tell them how much to get?’ Gaira grabbed another spoon and handed it to Alec. He quickly released Maisie’s, who stopped screaming.
‘Now that might have been something I forgot.’
Gaira laughed. ‘Oh, you haven’t changed!’
‘Haven’t changed. What a funny expression. You’ve been gone less than a full moon. It would take more than that blink of time to change ol’ Oona.’
So much had changed though. ‘Irvette’s gone,’ she said quietly.
Oona’s reed-thin hand patted Gaira’s hand. ‘Aye, I know.’
Gaira sat on a stool. ‘Ah, what I would give to have your sight.’
‘With these clouded eyes, ol’ Oona has to be open to other ways of seeing. So I know more things than any of you.’
Gaira clenched her hands. ‘I need her so.’
‘Nae, it seems to Oona you need someone else.’
‘The children need me, but Bram may not keep me here.’
‘Children always need someone. That is the joy of children, but you know I meant the outsider.’
‘Robert?’
‘Aye, it’s the man who needs you more than the children.’
‘What he needs is to return to England, with his head intact. I fear Bram won’t see reason.’
Oona turned back to her pot and scooped up some of the liquid. ‘That’s because reason has nae say in these times.’
Gaira clamped her lips tightly as Oona brought the spoon close to h
er mouth. There were chopped bits of green floating things she didn’t recognise.
‘Nae reason for reason, says Oona. Trust your instincts in this. When have I ever done you any harm?’
Gaira opened her mouth and Oona spooned in the mixture.
She gagged and forced herself to swallow the liquid.
Oona gave a short cackle. ‘Course there is always a first time, now isn’t there?’
‘What—?’ Gaira coughed. ‘What was that?’
‘Just something to make everything better.’
‘You should be giving that to Bram. He’s the one with the power to change everything.’
‘Gaira of Clan Colquhoun, when have you ever thought someone had more authority over your life than yourself?’
Never. But these were not normal times. Her feelings were so confused she didn’t know where to start.
‘These times are just like all times,’ Oona said. ‘Time like all time. You think time changes because of what we do?’
Gaira gave a startled laugh. ‘Oona. You frighten me sometimes.’
‘Good. Maybe you will all leave me to some peace in my old age.’
‘Then who would taste your potions?’ Gaira sat on the floor with Alec and Maisie.
‘The children. They are most willing to try ol’ Oona’s mixtures.’
‘Are they fine here for now? I doona think the keep is the right place to keep them just now. Bram is too angry. They may hear things I doona want them to hear.’
‘But Maisie is Irvette’s daughter. He will want her at the keep.’
‘I doona want to separate them. They have had too much change.’ She took Maisie’s spoon and pretended to hide it behind her back. The little girl squealed in protest and reached her arms out to take it.
‘You sound as though it would be a burden on Oona to have such young hearts around. It’ll be good for me. You’ll see. A day or two here and you wouldn’t know who is the child and who is Oona.’ Oona gave a raspy laugh at her own humour.
Gaira smiled. They would be safe here.
‘So you love them and the man,’ Oona said.
‘I dinna say I loved him.’
‘You dinna have to. You argue for him as you do the children. You love the children. You love the man. Now the question is what you’ll do about it.’
