The Buchannan guard looked quite tired and put out. He simply nodded his head and quit the room. Kate carefully closed the door.
Robert started to speak, but Lady Judith held a fingertip to her lips and her palm up to stop him. Her eyes were glued to Kate who stood at the door with her ear against it. After several long moments, Kate felt certain no one but their own guards remained on the other side and ran to join Judith and Robert.
“Who are ye, lad?” Judith asked with a curious expression across her face.
Robert leaned in closer to speak with her as well as warm his hands in front of the fire. He wasn’t cold as much as he was terrified. Terrified that he’d slip up and make a mistake. Mistakes could get people hurt, and that was the last thing he wanted.
He lowered his voice and whispered. “I dunna have much time, Lady Kinleigh, but me name is Robert. I’m the son of Maggy Boyle.” He held his hands to his mouth and blew on them before holding them in front of the fire again. “Ye might ken her as Lady Margaret,” he looked up at the woman before him.
“Yer one of the boys she adopted, are ye?”
Robert asked how Lady Judith knew Maggy had adopted him.
“Lady Judith is above reproach, Robert,” Kate whispered. “Lady Judith will take me secrets to her grave, just as I will take hers.”
It was too late now to worry over Maggy’s secret. If word had not yet spread that she was alive, it would be only a matter of time now. “Aye m’lady, I be the oldest. We met yer men on the road. Forbes says to tell ye yer carriage will be fixed soon, but he asks fer yer patience.”
“Were those his exact words, young man?” Judith knew better. Forbes would have had a far more colorful message for her.
Robert glanced at Kate who stood beside Lady Judith with one hand on her shoulder. He wasn’t sure how to answer the question.
“Ye can tell me his exact words, lad,” Judith’s smile encouraged him.
Robert cleared his throat before speaking. “He says fer ye to hold yer horses and for the sake of Christ do no’ kill anyone just yet!”
Robert looked away and stared nervously at the fire. Certainly a lady as refined as the one before him would be insulted by the use of such harsh language. He finally got up the nerve to cast a glance at her and was quite surprised to find her smiling up at her maid.
“That would be Forbes, fer ye!” she chuckled. “What else does he say?”
“He canna come fer ye right away, m’lady. Ye see, we’re also here to rescue me mum. We’re no’ certain, but we think Maggy be somewhere in this castle. Me brother is here as well. Malcolm Buchannan holds them both hostage.” He looked at down at the fire, his jaw clenching as he thought about everything that his mum and brother must be going through. They couldn’t even be sure they were both still alive.
“Well, ye can go back and tell Forbes he can come straight away,” Judith told the boy. Slowly she leaned closer and placed a warm hand on his. “Yer mother and brother are well, lad. We know exactly where each of them is.”
Robert could not conceal his joy at the news. His face lit up with a wide, relieved smile. “Nay! Yer certain, m’lady?”
“Aye,” Kate said. “I’ve seen them both this night. Yer brother is on this floor not far from us, just down the hall and around the corner.” She could not help smiling back at the lad, for he looked like the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.
“And me mum?”
Kate’s smile faded. “She is alive, but they’ve got her in chains, lad. She’s in a room below us, at the very end of the corridor.”
Robert shot to his feet and began to shake with anger. Lady Judith stood and put both hands on his shoulders. “Lad, ye need to keep yer head about ye,” she whispered soothingly to him. “Ye’ve come this far. Yer mum and brother are alive.” She gave his shoulders a gentle squeeze. “We’ve far to go this night before ’tis all said and done. Now, are there any other messages?”
Robert stared into Lady Judith’s eyes and found comfort in them. For some odd reason, he felt a strength emanating from her, much like the strength he would sometimes feel when his mum would put her own hand on his shoulder.
“He says there will be a surprise waitin’ fer ye in the carriage when we return with it. The carriage has been repaired. Now that we know where me mum and brother are, it should no’ be long before we return fer ye,” Robert told her.
Judith gave his shoulders another squeeze before releasing them. “Ye’ve done verra well this night, lad. Yer mum will be verra proud of ye,” she smiled down at him. “Now be off with ye! Ye must tell Forbes we’re well and I promise, I wilna kill anyone unless I have to.”
Robert looked back and forth between the two women before his eyes settled on Lady Kinleigh again. There was something in the woman’s hazel eyes that told him she spoke the truth.
Twenty-Five
Robert rode as hard and as fast as he could. The news that his mum and brother were still alive left him feeling giddy with excitement and joy. It brought a new surge of energy to him as he raced into the group of waiting men. He was proud of himself for many reasons, the biggest being he hadn’t gotten lost on the way to or from the Buchannan keep.
He didn’t wait for his horse to come to a complete stop before he slid down from it to give the good news to Findley and the rest of the men. Findley looked down at the boy with such a tremendous amount of pride in his eyes that Robert was on the verge of tears.
“Ye did well lad, verra well!” Findley told him as he slapped him on the back.
Robert returned Findley’s smile, anxiously ready to press on with the next step of their plan. At Angus’ signal the men mounted and within minutes they were headed for the Buchannan keep.
Thankfully the lightning had let up but the rain and clouds had not. This allowed the Highlanders to approach the keep under the cloak of darkness. Every lantern available was lit and hung on the outside of the carriages. This was meant to draw attention to the carriages and away from the two hundred men waiting to lay siege to the keep.
~~~
Almer had been made aware that Lady Kinleigh’s carriages would soon be returning, the broken wheel having been repaired. Almer thought nothing of opening the gates and allowing the expensive carriages entry into the courtyard. He mumbled curses under his breath, angry that his chief refused to hold the lady and her entourage hostage. They would have been worth a small fortune in ransom.
Two months ago Malcolm would have done just that very thing. Now, however, the man had refused. Malcolm had it in his mind that once he married the wench Maggy Boyle, they’d no longer be living as rogues and ne’er-do-wells. They were going to be gentlemen, living on Maggy’s vast estate near Dundee. Malcolm explained that there was no better time than the present to begin behaving as such. Almer could only shake his head and do Malcolm’s bidding.
Most of the keep was fast asleep, save for the men on watch, Almer and that strange man who had brought Maggy to the keep days ago. Traig appeared to be crazier than Malcolm. The man paced the grounds day and night, muttering unintelligible words to no one in particular.
Almer was ready to gut the tetched man and be done with him. He worried however, that if he killed the stranger, then whatever demons were possessing him would take up residence in Almer’s body. ’Twas a risk he wasn’t willing to take. Even if the man were a nuisance, Almer had no desire to tempt the devil.
Almer also wanted to be rid of Malcolm and the wench who was chained to the wall. And he looked forward to being rid of the brat that had somehow convinced Malcolm that all he needed to do to win Maggy’s heart was to bathe and clean the keep. It was utter nonsense as far as Almer was concerned. He wanted to go back to the way things had been before Malcolm had lost his mind. Back to the days of taking what they wanted instead of asking for it.
He’d sent a man in to let Lady Judith know that her carriages approached. As the gates were lifted, the lady, her maid and two guards descended the stairs o
f the great room, and walked through the large doors and down the steps that led to the courtyard.
The carriages pulled up in front of the steps that led up to the keep. One of the drivers stepped down from the carriage, bowed to his lady and took her hand. The sight of all the genteelness and sickened Almer.
He waited for the lady and her maid to be assisted into the carriage before turning his back on them. He was thankful they were leaving and only wished that they’d be taking the wench and the brat with them.
Just as the carriage door closed on the lady and her pretty maid, a war cry pierced through the quiet night air. The sound of it made Almer’s blood run cold as he turned around to see what the bloody hell was happening.
His last thought before the arrow pierced his heart was that he had been right all along; no good could come of taking the boy or the wench. In the manner of one heartbeat, perhaps two, the Buchannan keep was besieged.
~~~
Findley, along with Wee William, Richard, and Angus led the assault wave that poured in through the open gates. He and his men were dressed in chain mail, hauberks and helmets. Broadswords hung at their sides or were strapped to their backs. Daggers were hidden in boots and sleeves and there wasn’t a man there not fully prepared to bring down Malcolm Buchannan and his men.
Nial and his men attacked from the rear of the keep while Caelen’s men climbed the walls on the east and west. Lady Judith’s men rode with Findley so they could surround her carriage and whisk her away and out of danger.
They had meant for the carriage carrying Lady Judith, her maid and the lads, to be safely on the other side of the gates before the attack began. However, one of the Buchannan men had somehow spotted something or someone and let out a war cry. There had been no time to spare and the order was given to attack.
Once the breach was made, several of Findley’s men took to the walls to keep the gates open, Atop their mounts, swords drawn and targes at the ready, Findley and his men poured through the gates and began attacking any Buchannan who stood in the way of their reaching the steps of the keep.
Lady Judith’s men headed straight for her carriage. Three Buchannan men were trying to gain control of it. One had run his sword through one of her drivers, whilst the other two tried to open the doors.
Lady Judith would have none of it! With a sgian dubh in each hand, she and her maid began thrusting through the open windows, much to Robert’s and Andrew’s surprise. They didn’t think another woman like their mum existed! One who would fight tooth and nail for survival!
More men began swarming the carriage while the lady and Kate thrust and twisted their small daggers into the bellies and chests of the Buchannan men. Robert finally found the courage to draw his sword and he too began thrusting through the open windows at anything that moved.
The sound of metal thrashing against metal, bones crushing, skin being torn open was enough to make Andrew’s stomach want to wretch. He could not move, could not offer any assistance. He was frozen with fear.
Two more of the lady’s men fell to the ground as they tried to keep her out of harm’s way. Over the din of the battle, Forbes’ voice could be heard shouting orders. “Get that damned carriage out of here!”
Without any forethought, Robert flung open the carriage door, shimmied up the side and jumped into the driver’s seat. Grabbing the reins, he yelled and snapped the reins hard to get them moving. His only thought was to get the lady, her maid, and his brother out of there!
Snapping the reins again, shouting and whistling at the horses, Robert crashed through the increasing number of Buchannan men! He dared not stop as he drove the carriage like Roman chariot, yelling and screaming at the horses to go faster.
The remainder of the lady’s soldiers followed Robert out of the courtyard and into the night. Once they were clear of the gates and heading for safety, Robert yelled for the lanterns to be doused. Seeing they were free of the keep, Andrew finally managed to find his courage.
Though he shook like a leaf in the wind, he held on for dear life as he leaned through the open windows to extinguish the flames. They were riding at breakneck speed over rutted and gnarly roads. The lanterns were swinging to and fro, making it nearly impossible to get a grip. Having had enough of trying to fumble with the flames, he began tearing the lanterns off and throwing them to the ground.
Robert did not let up on the horses until he saw Forbes riding beside him and heard him call out.
“Slow down lad!” he yelled. “Ye’ll do us no favors if ye tip the carriage over!”
Robert’s heart was pumping quickly and his hands and feet trembled. He pulled up on the reins and slowed the horses just enough so that one of the lady’s soldiers could climb onto the carriage. Robert gladly handed the reins over to the man.
As they dashed along the open road, the soldier sitting next to Robert cast a smile his way. “Was that excitin’ enough fer ye lad?” he asked.
Robert was taking deep breaths of air into his lungs as he tried to steady his shaking hands. He shook his head and gripped the edge of the seat. “Aye, ’twas,” he answered.
He had not felt any fear when he had jumped out of the carriage and into the driver’s seat. ’Twas instinct that had kicked in, or madness, he wasn’t sure which. But as they rode along, the realization of what he’d done began to settle into his bones. He was no longer certain he wanted to live the life of a warrior when he grew up.
~~~
While Robert was driving the carriage to safety, Findley and the rest of his men were in a full out attack in the courtyard. The resounding ring of metal clashing against metal and the coppery scent of blood that spilled from those slain, assaulted the senses.
Findley and Richard made their way through the courtyard with relative ease. Their real fight however, began as they made their way up the stairs and into the keep. Buchannan men had begun to pour out from all directions like bugs escaping from under a rotted log.
As they stepped through the door of the keep, three men came at Findley from his right and two more were on Richard’s left. Richard thrust his sword upward into the gut of one man, while using his dagger to slice through the throat of the second.
Findley plunged his broadsword into the chest of one of his attackers as another swung his sword directly at Findley’s head. In one fluid motion, Findley ducked low and spun the dying man’s body that still hung on his sword and pushed hard against him with his shoulder. The man was thrust into one of his comrades, and the two tumbled down the stairs back into the keep.
As Findley rose, he swung his sword across the belly of his third attacker who fell forward against him. Findley shoved the man away, tossing him on the pile of men at the bottom of the stairs.
Together, he and Richard raced down the steps, swords swinging, and daggers thrusting, as they fought their way into the grand gathering room. Nial and a group of his men soon appeared to help fend off dozens of Buchannan men.
The MacDougall and McKee men fought their way through the throng of Buchannan men, slashing, plunging and hitting their way toward the stairs. Findley knew that Maggy was on the second floor and Ian on the third. The plan was to have himself and Richard make their way to Maggy while Nial and his men made their way up to get Ian.
As he fought with a frenzied hatred, Findley made his way up the stairs to the second floor. Just as he stepped onto the landing of the second floor, a Buchannan man jumped from the shadows. Findley had been thinking of Maggy and how close he was to reaching her now, and had been caught off guard.
The Buchannan man’s sword was coming straight for his head! Findley tried to duck but not before the tip of the man’s sword found its way through the gap in his hauberk and managed to inflict a good cut under his right arm. A sharp pain shot up Findley’s arm and for a moment the pain took his breath away.
The man raised his sword in both hands, preparing to smash Findley’s skull with the hilt of the sword. Findley feinted left, then right, before thrusting his da
gger up into the chin of the man before him. Blood splattered in all directions and speckled Findley’s face and torso.
More Buchannan men, most without armor, began pouring down the stairs from the third floor. Richard, Rowan, and Nial helped Findley to fend off their attacks, allowing Findley to make his way down the corridor in search of Maggy.
He found the last door on the left and bothered not with trying to unlock it. With two good kicks of his foot, he was inside the room in good time.
His heart did not beat, not so much as a flutter, when he saw Maggy chained to the wall and the look of sheer terror awash in her face and in her eyes.
A man with dirty blonde hair and even dirtier clothes stood beside her. In one of his large hands, he held Maggy by her hair, pulling her head up and against the wall.
In his other, he held a long dagger against her throat. The man paid no attention to Findley, or to Rowan, who now stood behind him in the doorway of the room. Findley was afraid to startle the man, for fear he would startle and cut Maggy’s throat.
Covered in sweat and blood, Findley stood almost motionless as he tried to keep his anger in check. His chest heaved as he tried to steady his breathing. He watched, waiting to make his move.
The man was shouting at Maggy, his words slurred as if he had suffered some form of apoplexy.
“Ye lied! Ye lied to me, Maggy!”
“Traig,” Maggy said, her voice trembling with fear. “I’m sorry! I had no other choice! I did it fer Ian’s sake!”
“Aye, ’tis what ye keep sayin’ and I want to ken why! Why did ye lie? Ye had to ken Ian was Gawter’s! Ye can tell by lookin’ at the lad that he isn’t mine! Yet, ye pretended no’ to ken that Gawter and Helena were sharin’ a bed when I told ye!”
“I didn’t ken, I swear it!” She hadn’t known. Aye, she’d known Gawter had bedded many women during their marriage, but she had no clue that Helena, the woman she loved as a sister, was one of them. She felt more than just betrayed by her friend; Maggy felt like a fool.
Findley's Lass, Book Two of The Clan MacDougall Series Page 30
