The Kissing Stone

by Scott, Amanda

  Will’s mouth felt dry and his belly tight, making him doubt that he would be able to eat anything.

  Watching Aly’s Gil gaze about as if in search of her while Malcolm talked with de Raite, Will decided that she had been utterly mad to hope de Raite would allow such a marriage, even had he meant to make peace with Malcolm.

  Will marveled, too, at Malcolm’s serenity, as he watched him shake hands with de Raite. Was the man truly so trustful of de Raite’s words, or had Katy failed to understand and convey the urgency of Will’s warning?

  Had she warned them? What if she had not even been there? Might what he had thought were her fingers been merely a trick of the ever-changing forest light?

  Sir Fin caught his eye and gave a solemn nod in greeting.

  Will could take no comfort from that gesture, though, because Fin had visited Raitt a few times since Will’s return. Also, from all he knew of Fin, the man had honored the royal command to keep the peace even when de Raite had not.

  Malcolm’s expression remained mildly curious as he gazed around the hall before moving toward the dais, but, Malcolm, too, had visited the castle before de Raite had hanged the four Mackintoshes, albeit only once since Will’s return.

  In truth, such meetings often concerned complaints made or actions taken that Malcolm or Fin deemed objectionable, even illegal. Nevertheless, all three men had discussed those matters peacefully enough.

  The other Mackintosh men soon took places at the trestle tables, alternating with de Raite’s men. Gillies directed Malcolm and his leaders to alternate with de Raite’s at the high table. When they had all taken their places, de Raite joined them and invited his guests to sit down so they might begin with some entertainment.

  His captain of the guard stepped into the inner chamber and shut its door.

  “I am Bruce MacNab, erstwhile squire tae Sir Fin’s nephew, Sir Àdham MacFinlagh,” the man to Will’s left said, extending his right hand to shake Will’s. “Sir Àdham be in the Borders with his lady wife, visiting her family, so Sir Fin said I should come here in his stead.”

  Giving his name, Will welcomed MacNab, who seemed as comfortable at de Raite’s table as Will’s brothers did, and then introduced himself to the stockier man at his right and learned that he was Finlagh’s captain of the guard, Lochan.

  Will wondered, even more, why de Raite’s captain had appeared only to disappear into the inner chamber. Reassuring himself that he had seen Katy’s cairn and more than likely those two slim fingers, as well, and that Katy was brave …

  From the minstrels’ gallery at the far end of the hall, two fiddlers, a piper, a harpist, and a lad banging a tabor began to play music and sing while gillies poured claret or whisky, as desired, for those on the dais. In the lower hall, jugs providing ale or whisky passed swiftly from man to man. Those seated facing away from the entertainers soon turned around with their filled goblets to watch them.

  Shortly thereafter, a troop of acrobats ran into the area and began to perform, followed minutes later by a tall, skinny man who somehow produced handkerchiefs from his ears, whole eggs from his mouth, and juggled any number of odd things.

  Their audience apparently had thoughts only for the entertainment, expressing their approval by stomping feet, cheering, shouting encouragement, or clapping. There was so much laughter that Will wondered if his brothers would all recall why they were there. Liam, for one, was ogling one of the female acrobats.

  The fire in the huge fireplace burned and crackled cheerfully while torches flaming from sconces on the walls and flanking the fireplace hood cast flickering golden light across every wall.

  At last, de Raite dismissed the acrobats and juggler with a wave of one hand and, with the other, signed to his chaplain to say the grace-before-meat, bringing the company hastily to their feet.

  When they sat down again, the musicians in the gallery began a traditionally stately tune to announce the entrance of a cart bearing a great baron of beef with a ceremonial dirk plunged into its center. Surrounding the meat were spring flowers and foliage in which nestled rounds of haggis and baked oysters still steaming in their shells, with roasted, fresh-caught salmon framing the whole. Other carts followed with roasted venison, mutton, lamb, pork, chickens, and geese. Bread in baskets, pots of honey and mustard, and other sauce dishes graced every table.

  While the carvers carved, gillies carried in tureens containing a thick pottage of chicken, leeks, and barley in broth. Two gillies served the men at the high table, while others carried tureens to the lower tables for those men to serve themselves.

  De Raite signaled the entertainers to return, and the revelry continued, creating a lively din.

  In the tower bedchamber, Aly moved from her favorite window seat toward the open door to the stairs. “It has become much noisier below,” she said.

  “Art sure we will hear anyone who comes up those stairs?” Katy asked.

  “Aye, but nae one will now,” Aly replied just loudly enough for Katy to hear her. “There be wine, ale, and whisky in jugs on all the tables, so the men will all drink too much and pay more heed tae the jugglers and acrobats than tae aught else. Even Meggie were ordered tae aid in the kitchen or the scullery.”

  Katy was sure the Mackintosh men would not be so reckless, but she knew that Aly was scared and did not want to frighten her more. Casually, she said, “Is the only way out of this chamber to go down the stairs?”

  “Aye,” Aly said flatly. “Our Liam tried once tae climb out my big south window there tae the roof, but the tower roof be like a stack of saucers with smaller and smaller rings of masonry making a peaked cone. He pulled some stones loose, which clattered tae the cobbles o’ the courtyard and might have killed someone had they hit anyone. Father nigh had him flogged for that, so nae one else has tried.”

  “Mercy, were they able to repair the roof?”

  “Aye, one of the men climbed tae it from the wall walk atop the hall and was able tae replace the stones. I think Liam and Colley will see that you get home safe, come morning, though. If they dinna do that, I’ll tell Father who you are.”

  Katy realized that no one at Finlagh could possibly know where she was. If Clydia had gone with Bridgett as they had planned, others would likely have deduced that she had gone with them. When Clydia returned without her, she and Cat would worry but might imagine only that she had visited elsewhere in the woods and lingered longer than expected.

  Since Fin was downstairs with the other men, she need not concern herself with him yet. But if aught went amiss with Malcolm’s plan …

  She shivered. Even if the Mackintoshes did prevent the Comyns from killing them, difficulties would surely arise. No matter how she explained …

  “What is it, Katy?” Aly asked. “You look worried, but you needna be.”

  “Aly, no one at Finlagh knows where I am, and I doubt that my father will accept any explanation for my presence here,” Katy explained. “It is also possible that if my mother becomes too worried, she may come looking for me.”

  “Faith,” Aly said, putting a hand to her lips. “Certes, she wouldna come tae a household consisting almost entirely of men-at-arms without an invitation.”

  Since Catriona was known for both her intrepidity and her impatience, Katy was not so sure of that. However, she could hardly tell Aly that the only reason Cat might not come was her knowledge of the treachery de Raite planned to carry out.

  Even as that thought occurred, another followed, that Cat might hope that a mother turning up in search of her daughter would put an end to any plan of killing.

  Aly had moved to the top of the stairway. “Just listen tae them,” she said fretfully. “They get louder every minute.”

  Katy agreed. The noise had become a din. She was about to ask Aly to shut the door when Aly said, “I mean tae slip down far enough tae see what I can see. You hide in my bed till I return, lest
someone sees me and follows me back up. I leave the bed curtains closed all day, so nae one will think aught of seeing them so.”

  Reluctantly, Katy obeyed. If de Raite saw his daughter, he would be angry, but if anyone saw Katy with her, they would both be in the suds.

  The minstrels continued to play lively tunes from the gallery while their host and his guests enjoyed their food and the music. Wine, ale, and whisky flowed freely, and the banter at tables became merrier and more boisterous until the walls reverberated to the general carousing. Most of the servers and de Raite’s chaplain had long since vanished from the hall.

  Will’s tension had increased, too. His heart was thumping so hard in his chest that he feared he might disgrace himself by losing what little food he had eaten. Since he sat at the end nearest the garderobe, he had consoled himself with the hope that if worse came to worst, he might make it to the latrine in time.

  Then, at last, de Raite stood and raised both hands with his palms out, facing the minstrels’ gallery at the far end of the hall.

  The entertainers, noting the gesture, stopped their antics and proceeded with the few remaining servers, in a single line, out to the screens passage. The minstrels finished their tune, descended from the gallery, and followed the others to the passage, leaving de Raite’s men and their guests alone in the great hall.

  Waiting only until the castle’s heavy main door had clanged shut behind those departing, de Raite shouted, “All of us must now be upstanding, for ’tis time we make our final toast tae each other and this grand night.”

  Will’s stomach lurched, but somehow he got to his feet and, as he did, he saw their captain of the guard, in a simple tunic and plaid like everyone else but bearing a silver ewer and goblet on a tray, cross the stair landing from de Raite’s chamber, continue through the archway to the dais, and pass behind Liam, Sir Ivor, Hew, and Malcolm to stand directly behind de Raite.

  Hearing MacNab, his own supposed victim on his left, clear his throat, Will experienced sudden mixed feelings of relief that the moment was at hand, guilt for his betrayal of his father and brothers, and a singular sense of sadness that his actions had been necessary. Drawing a breath and relying on his trust in Katy to steady himself, he looked past the sober Lochan, a visibly less sober Colley, and Katy’s father, to de Raite at the center.

  Lochan was also watching de Raite. So was Sir Fin of the Battles.

  Colley was watching Sir Fin.

  Flanked by Malcolm and Fin, with his own guard captain behind him having poured fresh wine into a goblet and now holding the goblet ready for him, de Raite waited patiently until all the men in the hall had risen to their feet.

  Will reached to touch his dirk, in case he needed to defend himself.

  From his left, MacNab murmured, “Easy, lad, we ha’ nae quarrel wi’ ye.”

  Just then, motion on the landing below the tower stairway drew Will’s startled attention to his sister peeping around the frame of the archway into the hall.

  Raising his goblet, de Raite scanned the scene below from his right slowly to his left and back to the right again as he cried, “Tae all our departed comrades in arms … and tae all o’ them … wha’ will soon join them!”

  At the high table and below, Comyns swiftly drew their dirks, but the Mackintosh men, anticipating them, were quicker.

  Meantime, as de Raite was looking rightward again just before mayhem erupted in the hall, to Will’s shock, Alyssa clapped a hand to her mouth, snatched up her skirt with the other, and whirled around to run back up the stairs.

  De Raite had seen her, too, though. His guard captain, having cast his tray aside, stepped in beside de Raite to engage Fin. De Raite shoved Malcolm toward Hew and raced past them toward the stairs, bellowing, “Vixen! I kent fine ye’d been a-meeting someone, and now ye’ve betrayed your ain family tae that devil, whoever he be! I swear by God, ye’ll pay a dear price for it!”

  Shouting more epithets, he rushed through the still open door to his inner chamber, emerged seconds later with the great sword that had hung on the wall there, and dashed up the stairs after Aly.

  Aly’s redheaded Gil ran across the dais from the lower hall and followed them. By then, though, Will had closed the distance and was right behind Gil.

  Katy, waiting impatiently in Aly’s cupboard bed, heard chaos erupt below, then a deep-voiced bellow that echoed up the stairway in a sudden, brief hush.

  Seconds later, Aly burst through the doorway, running toward the south window.

  A big man with a graying beard and unbound hair, holding a great sword at the ready, filled the doorway, shouting, “By heaven, ye traitorous wretch, I’ll teach ye no tae betray me!”

  “I did nae such wicked thing, Father!” Aly shrieked, jumping onto the window seat. She turned to face him with her back to the big open window.

  “Aye, ye did,” de Raite roared, brandishing the sword menacingly. “I saw the guilt in your eyes wi’ me own, Alyssa, so ye must ha’ told yer damnable lov—”

  “Nae, I did not!” she cried again, now so close to the open window that Katy clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming, for she could not aid Aly one whit by making her presence known. Easily deducing that de Raite believed his innocent daughter had betrayed his plan, Katy feared that, as angry as he was, he would kill Aly or Katy herself, or both of them, and then Will, as well, if she shouted out that she had revealed the plan to Malcolm and Fin.

  “Liar!” de Raite cried.

  Through an inch-wide opening in the bed curtains, Katy saw tears trickling down Aly’s cheeks.

  “By my troth, Father,” she cried desperately. “I swear on Mam’s memory that I have done naught tae harm you.”

  “By God, ye’ll nae swear such a lie on your mother’s name,” de Raite shouted, advancing on her until the point of his sword was inches from her breast.

  Flinging the curtain aside, Katy screamed, “Nae, don’t hurt her; it was me!” But a louder male shout from the doorway overwhelmed hers.

  In one horrid second, she saw Aly teetering in the window with de Raite’s sword slashing toward her, as another body hurtled forth, blocking Katy’s view.

  Gilli Roy, dirk out, grabbed de Raite by the arm with his free hand and tried to swing him out of his way.

  De Raite whipped the sword toward Gilli, and Aly screamed again.

  Determined to help Gilli fight the murderous de Raite, Katy leaped up from the bed only to be shoved back onto it and see Gilli stumble as a second male body shot toward de Raite.

  The sword in de Raite’s hand wavered toward the open, empty window.

  With a startled grunt, de Raite collapsed, and Katy recognized Will only as he leaped to the window seat with his bloody dirk still in hand, peered down and then turned back toward the others, looking shocked and horrified, his broad shoulders slumping in defeat and tears welling in his eyes.

  Gilli regained his balance only to cry out in dismay and gape at the open window. His dirk clattered to the floor. His face lost all its color.

  Even before Will looked blankly at Katy, she knew what he had seen. “She’s dead, isn’t she?” she said, hoping he would disagree.

  Visibly startled, he focused his gaze on her then, and his angry frown shot an icy shiver up Katy’s spine.

  Gilli said fiercely, “Ye should ha’ let me kill that dastard, Will Comyn. It be wrong for ye tae ha’ your own father’s blood on your hands.”

  “But had you killed him, the tale would spread all over Scotland by sundown tomorrow that a Mackintosh had murdered Comyn de Raite. Not only would the feud resume but his grace might turn his fury on the Mackintosh,” Will said gruffly, tears still glistening in his eyes.

  “He is right, Gil,” Fin said from the doorway. “This tragedy was de Raite’s own doing. His thirst for vengeance did him in, so no one here or still standing below will blame Will for avenging hi
s sister’s death.”

  Starting at the sound of her father’s voice, Katy turned toward him and met as fierce a frown as the one on Will’s face. She opened her mouth to explain, but her throat closed against any words she might have said, so she shut it again.

  Gilli Roy said, “I must go down tae Aly. I canna believe she is dead.”

  “There are cobbles below, Gil,” Will said quietly. “Moreover, she fell nearly forty feet, so you must prepare yourself. I’ll go with you, though.”

  Malcolm appeared on the landing behind Fin. “God ha’ mercy,” he muttered as his youngest son pushed past them.

  “Is all quiet in the hall, my lord?” Will asked Malcolm.

  “Aye,” Malcolm replied. “MacNab followed ye and stood in the archway by the stairs tae keep everyone else away, so Sir Ivor, Lochan, and my own men have all in hand inside and outside, too. I fear, though, that most o’ your Comyn men inside ha’ perished. Only those on the wall walk, the guards at the gate, and innocent minions remain standing. I have offered forgiveness and peace tae all who admit defeat. Such men may choose tae bide here wi’ ye, swear allegiance tae me, or join other Comyn factions elsewhere.”

  “I thank you for your mercy, sir, but pray excuse me now. The others will explain everything, but I must follow Gil. See you, my young sister has likely fallen to her death, but we must see for ourselves that she is not still suffering.”

  Malcolm gave him a steady look, then nodded and said, “Take MacNab with ye, lad, and dinna look too friendly, the pair o’ ye. Though me own men be out there, doubtless some o’ your lot will be, too, and some’un may wonder why ye be the only one o’ de Raite’s sons tae survive this night. ’Twould be best the question doesna come up an ye dinna stay here alone t’night.”

  “I do not want to live at Raitt after this,” Will said flatly.

  “Sakes, lad, it be too soon tae be sayin’ any such a thing. ’Tis true that wi’ de Raite gone, I deem Raitt tae be Mackintosh property again and doubt ye’ll gainsay me, but I ken fine that this business tonight has been a great upset tae ye, and I’m thinking now that Gillichallum Roy be involved, too. We’ll all talk more anon.”