Helice was right. If she had learned of this before she had gotten to know him, she would have run. She would have thought him a monster or the savage everyone claimed him to be, but he was far from either. He was an honorable man who put his clan and family before himself and did what was necessary to keep them safe.
She swept at the tear that fell from her eye, annoyed she was crying again today. She had not cried so since her mum died and her father had warned her to stop with a hard slap to her face. He had told her she was weak, but now she wondered if it was simply because he had hated her.
Slain did not mind her tears. He held her every time she cried and comforted her. He never chided her for being weak and was generous in sharing his strength if he thought she needed it.
Find a husband who will be good to you.
Hannah smiled recalling her mum’s words and looked up to the heavens. “I found a good husband, Mum.”
“You are bleeding,” Roark said when Slain turned and walked to the desk.
“Hannah will see to it,” Slain said.
“She did not look like she wanted anything to do with you.”
“Mind your tongue, Roark,” Slain warned, all too aware of how his wife had looked at him and his heart ached having seen the hurt in her eyes and having felt how she did not want to be near him. He wanted nothing more than to go find her and make it right. No matter what it took. First, he had to see what brought Roark here without notice. “Tell me what is so important that you come here unannounced.”
Roark wasted no time in explaining. “You are aware we travel with two black shrouds in case something happens we have another to wear.”
“And put the fear of God in people upon first sight just as Warrick intended,” Slain said.
Roark nodded. “That it does, and it seems that one of my warriors lost one of his shrouds and did not think it important to tell me.”
“Or was too fearful to.”
“He is fearful now for his punishment will be severe.”
“Does he know where he lost it?” Slain asked.
“He believed he did but when he went to collect it, he was told it was not there.”
“And where is there?”
“Here with a woman in your village,” Roark said.
“Who?” Slain demanded.
“Your healer, Neata.”
Hannah left the barn to return to the keep. She would go wait for Slain in their bedchamber so they could talk. It was foolish of her to hurry off in anger when the only way things could be settled was for them to talk. One thing was certain, though, the torture devices had to be removed from the keep, better still was for them to be destroyed.
“Hannah.”
She turned to see Wilona approaching.
“Neata has sent me on an errand and thought you might want to help. I am to collect,” —she waved a plant in the air— “whatever this is for her. She needs it to brew for not only my husband but the other two injured as well.”
Hannah did not recognize the plant but then she was familiar with only a few of the plants a healer used. What concerned her more was going into the woods when Slain had strictly forbidden her from going there alone and though she would be with Wilona, she wondered if it would be wise to do.
Wilona seemed to sense her reluctance or perhaps it was her own concern that had her saying, “The plant grows near the edge of the woods, so we do not have to fear going too far.”
Hannah would have preferred to return to the keep and to her husband, but she also wanted to do her part in helping Neata with whatever she needed to get Conlan, Melvin, and Potsman well.
“We keep to the edge of the woods,” Hannah said.
Wilona shivered. “I have no wont to go any further with what has been happening.”
Slain went to his bedchamber to take Hannah with him to speak with Neata. He wanted to include her with what was happening. He wanted no more secrets between them. She was his wife and needed to be kept apprised of all that went on in the clan and see that he kept nothing from her. Though, more than anything, he wanted to make certain that her discovery of his secret had done no irreparable damage to them. That she still wanted to remain his wife. That she still loved him.
He shook his head and felt a jolt to his heart when he found their bedchamber empty. He did not think she had run off. It was that she had not gone to their bedchamber that spoke louder than words. It announced to him that she no longer wished to share it with him.
It hurt to realize it, but he had faced difficult battles before and though this probably would be one of the most if not the most difficult one he would face, it was one he intended to win.
He went to her bedchamber, intending on filling it with a bairn as soon as possible so that she did not have another room to retreat to, hoping she was there keeping watch over Melvin. He did not find her there, though he did find Neata.
“He still sleeps, though it was good he woke and spoke with Hannah,” Neata said when she turned as he entered the room. “Time will only tell if he survives.”
“Old warriors never stop fighting,” Slain said.
“Then he should survive, but you did not come here to see how Melvin does. There is something else on your mind.” She frowned. There is blood seeping into your shirt at your shoulder.”
He dismissed her worry with a wave of his hand. “It is not important.”
“It most certainly is,” Helice said entering the room.
He would learn nothing if he did not let the two, motherly women tend his wound. He quickly slipped his shirt off and sat on a chair. “Hurry and be done with it.”
They both went to work on him.
Slain did not waste another minute in asking, “Did one of Roark’s men come to you for healing, Neata?”
“This is about the black shroud.” Neata nodded, confirming it before Slain could. “I should have told you when the warrior came in search of it. That day got busier and it completely slipped from my mind. I will tell you what I told the warrior. I do not recall seeing it, but he could have very well left it in my cottage only to be picked up by someone else.” She shook her head. “I saw needier clansmen than usual that day he came to me.”
“Tell me who may have had a chance to take it without you noticing.”
Neata scrunched her brow, searching for memories of that day. “I remember the day was warmer than usual and I tended some minor wounds outside, so some never entered my cottage.”
“The warrior had been in your cottage?”
“His problem required privacy.”
“Who did you see in your cottage after him?” Slain asked.
Neata shook her head. “I cannot recall tending anyone in my cottage after that.”
“If that was so the shroud should still be there.” Slain never once thought Neata would betray him. She had been with the clan far too long and had been far too faithful to his parents.
“I remember now,” Neata said. “I needed something for someone I was tending and Wilona offered to get the dried plant from the cottage for me. She was the only one to enter there after the warrior left.”
Chapter 33
“Look,” Wilona said, pointing to a batch of plants a short distance into the woods. “More than enough.” She hurried toward the blossoming batch.”
Hannah followed, wanting to be done, not comfortable being in the woods with what had gone on here and especially since her husband had warned her against it. She stopped suddenly, her eyes on the plant Wilona rushed toward and her heart quickened. She recognized the plant now that she saw it blooming and realized it had no healing properties. It simply brightened the forest with its beauty.
Hannah did not hesitate, she turned to run, and she took no more than a few steps when she was shoved to the ground. She had no time to scramble to her feet, strong hands yanked her up and she was not surprised to see it was Nial. The only thing Hannah could think to do was scream, hoping someone would hear her.
Her scream ba
rely made it out of her mouth when Nial’s fist connected with her jaw, plunging her into darkness.
Slain barely let the two women finish dressing his wound when he slipped his torn shirt back on and rushed out of the room, Helice following him.
“You say you saw her leave the keep?” Slain asked as they entered the Great Hall.
“Aye, she was upset after discovering what was in the east wing, though she did say she would never stop loving you.”
Slain stopped and turned to Helice. “She still loves me?”
“One can see in her eyes how much she loves you. They shine with concern, desire, joy, and so much more whenever she looks at you. It is like you are a gift to her that she gets the pleasure of unwrapping each day. She would not be so foolish to cast such a loving gift aside.”
“I should have told her. If anything has happened to her,” —he shook his head— “I need to find her.” He hurried to the door, his heart pounding viciously against his chest in fear. He swung it open to find Imus running toward the keep. He rushed to meet him.
“Blair thought she saw Hannah going into the woods with Wilona and a scream was heard not too long after.”
Slain took little time to explain about Wilona, then ordered Imus to gather the men.
“I will join the hunt,” Helice said. “I should have stopped her, knowing she was upset.”
“The blame is mine and mine alone. You will remain here and see to Conlan and Melvin and be ready to tend my wife when I return with her.”
“I have not been kind to her, mostly for fear that she would bring you pain when she has brought you only love. Even with my harsh nature, she asked me to be grandmother to your children since they will have none. She claims I will be a good one.”
“You will be a good grandmother and I will see that you get that chance. I will bring my wife home safe.”
“No more secrets, Slain. It has done neither of us any good. I will wait for your return. Do not disappoint me.” Helice turned and entered the keep, her steps slower than usual.
It did not take long for the men to gather and orders to be given, and Slain took the lead as they entered the woods.
When Hannah finally had her wits about her, she saw that she was sitting on the ground her back braced against a thick tree trunk and her hands tied in front of her. Her bottom was damp from the chilled, wet ground, though she was glad for it, since it was probably what had helped her to wake. She tasted blood in her mouth and her jaw, that had yet to heal from her previous injury, ached terribly.
She watched Wilona talking with Nial and wondered about the pair. Why did the woman help him when she seemed to care for her husband? Or was that a ruse? Nial persuaded with lies like no one she had ever known. Had he persuaded Wilona?
Nial turned and seeing her awake, smiled and walked over to her. “Unlike your husband, I know how to make a woman obey.”
“Like you have done with poor Wilona here?” Hannah asked with a nod to the woman.
“We love each other. I am going to be his wife,” Wilona said, wrapping her arm around Nial’s.
Hannah shook her head, not knowing if it was sorrow or annoyance she felt for the foolish woman. “You are a peasant and beneath what he wants for himself. He will not wed you. Besides, you already have a husband.”
“Potsman would be gone by now if Conlan had not interfered,” Nial said.
“The lad was too fast for you and you never expected Potsman to hide, leaving you unable to finish him,” Hannah said, baiting him to show Wilona his true worth and hoping it might make her realize she was not safe with him. Then perhaps she would help Hannah and they both could escape Nial. It was all she could presently think of to do while praying Slain had discovered what happened and was on his way to her. Wherever it is she was.
“Do not forget Melvin. Your father always claimed Melvin was his strongest and bravest warrior, he never realized how his brave warrior had betrayed him.”
“Melvin betrayed no one, he did what was best for the clan,” Hannah argued.
Nial laughed. “You are a fool. His reason was far different than you ever imagined. An opportunity presented itself for him to finally get what he always wanted… revenge.”
“Revenge for what?” Hannah asked perplexed, not understanding at all.
“For me killing the only woman he ever loved… your mother.”
Hannah glared at him in disbelief.
“You truly are ignorant of what went on in your own home, but then your mother was good at keeping secrets.”
“What are you talking about?” Hannah demanded, her anger rising. Could it be true? Did Nial kill her mother?
“Your mother needed to be out of the way if my mum’s plan was to work.”
Hannah listened, feeling more the fool with each word he spewed.
“My mum realized your father was barren after coupling with him for a few months, long before your mum had you, and not getting with child. Your father was not the loyal husband that he claimed to be. My mum never let him know that she already had a son. She kept me hidden away so that she could later claim me as his child. The opportunity presented itself when your mum learned of his liaison with my mother. Fearful she would never bear him a child, your mum turned to Melvin who had loved her at first sight, and he believed she loved him. I believed she used him to get with child to give your father the heir he wanted, expected of his wife.”
“How do you know this?’ Hannah demanded, not believing him.
“The lass that tended your mum saw most of what was going on, your mum thinking her trustworthy or perhaps invisible, never believing she would say a word. Never knowing how persuasive I could be with a woman. Never knowing I would do whatever was necessary to see that secrets were kept.”
Hannah realized what he was saying. The servant lass who had tended her mum had not died of an accident. Nial had killed her. She looked to Wilona who did not seem at all to understand that Nial was admitting to using women to achieve his goals and disposing of them when they no longer served his needs.
Nial went on. “Your father was a fool, never thinking his wife would betray him with another man. He may have been disappointed his wife gave him a daughter, but to him you were his blood. When you were born and your mother claimed she and your father could couple no more, something that came more from anger than truth, according to your mum’s servant, your father returned to my mum. Her plan once again took shape.” He grinned proudly. “My mum planned to wed your father one day and when the time was right reveal me as his son. When I was old enough, my mum explained her plan to me and I was more than pleased with it. The time finally came when we had to do away with your mum. Poisoning her was easy, the cook always making something special for her. With me entertaining the lass that looked after your mum, it gave me the perfect opportunity. A concoction here and there applied to her food or drink worked well, making everyone think she was ill, beyond help so that when she finally died no one suspected anything.”
A pain ripped through Hannah’s heart so badly, she thought she would die. Never had she ever suspected that her mum had been poisoned. That it had happened in front of her own eyes and she never saw it, was never able to help her, never able to stop it from claiming her mum’s life.
“Unfortunately, my mum took ill and was not able to enjoy the fruits of her hard earned work. But she encouraged me to achieve our plan and I had no intention of disappointing her after all she had sacrificed for me,” he said. “Unfortunately, I had not counted on Melvin’s betrayal. I knew he did not trust me, and though he betrayed your father, I never thought he would betray his clan. I also never expected your father to defend him.” He shook his head. “Your father came upon me in the woods beating Melvin. He attacked me, defending his friend, not knowing who I was since I wore the black shroud of Warrick’s warriors and knowing intimately of their ways.”
Hannah listened, her heart breaking that one man could do so much to destroy her family, her clan, and th
at she, Melvin, and Conlan had been the only ones to have seen him for what he truly was, a lying, vile man.
“I tried to explain that Melvin had betrayed him and the clan and I was doing what was needed to protect him. He would not believe me. He claimed that Melvin was like a brother to him and would never betray him. Then I told him that Melvin and your mum had been lovers and that Melvin was your father. But all was not lost that I was his son. He had a true heir to the Clan MacFillan. He roared with fury, called me a liar, insisted Melvin would never betray him, and denied my claim as his son. Then he made the fatal mistake of telling me I would never lead the Clan MacFillan.” Nial grinned. “He was wrong. I beat him unmercifully, then slid my dagger into him and left him to die slowly alone in the woods, a fitting punishment for denying me. While I unleashed my anger on your father, Melvin managed to slip away. No doubt he is feast for the beasts in the woods by now. And now I will lay claim to the Clan MacFillan and all its lands and eventually all the lands around me.”
Hannah made no mention that Melvin had survived and her heart went out to the man who possibly was her father, the news still to startling to comprehend. “You are insane if you believe that. You will never defeat my husband. He will rule over the Clan MacFillan.”
Nial’s nostrils flared in anger. “I cannot wait to be rid of you.”
“The feeling is mutual, brother.”
“Time to leave,” he snapped and turned to go to his horse.
Hannah had to borrow time. She could not let him take her away from here. Away from her home, since she doubted they were that far from the keep. He would not bother dragging Wilona along, since she had served her purpose. He would want to be rid of her sooner rather than later.
“He is deceiving you, Wilona. He is going to kill you. You have done all you can for him. He needs you no more,” Hannah said, hoping to incite with words and delay their departure.
Embraced by a Highlander Page 28
