Highland Savage

by Hannah Howell

  “We do seem to be backed into a corner,” said William.

  “We will get out of it,” said Lucas. “We still have the ability to spy on them. Aye, that can be a long, tedious way to defeat an enemy, but it works.”

  “Then we will make sure there is always someone listening.”

  “Dinnae ye have anyone in the keep already?” asked Robbie. “Katerina was weel liked and I am sure people would help.”

  “Oh, we have people inside,” replied William, “and ’tis our good fortune that they havenae suffered because Katerina is alive. But they cannae be everywhere and they would rouse suspicion if they were seen outside certain rooms too often. We can listen anywhere the passage lets us go.”

  “Including Agnes’s solar and her bedchamber,” said Lucas. Two places where she feels she can speak freely and has done so already. So, we shall set this out as if ’tis the watch at the gate or on the battlements, each taking a turn.”

  Lucas smiled faintly as he entered the tiny area where the bath was and saw Katerina nearly submerged, her eyes closed and the air scented with lavender. He shooed the chicken off the stool and moved it next to the tub. The way she opened only one eye to watch him only made him want to smile wider. Despite all the lovemaking they had indulged in last night and this morning, the way she suddenly blushed at being caught in her bath finally broke the restraints he had kept on his amusement and he grinned.

  “I cannae believe ye are blushing,” he said. “I have seen—” His words were halted by her wet fingers touching his lips.

  “Tis different and I cannae explain why,” she said. “I dinnae suppose anyone suddenly had a cunning idea that will end all of this and rid Dunlochan of Ranald and Agnes as weel.”

  Taking away the scrap of linen she clutched tightly in her hands, Lucas began to scrub her back. “Nay,” he replied. “We are going to watch and listen more closely than we have been, every hour in fact.”

  “Weel that may help. Agnes has always been one to boast.” She sighed, leaned her head back against the rim of the tub, and said, “It is just that this place which was once a shelter now seems like a dungeon.”

  “I ken it and I havenae been here nearly as long as ye and the others have.”

  “So Agnes has won.”

  “Nay, she just hasnae lost yet.”

  “And ye dinnae think she can win?”

  “Nay against us.”

  “Why? Because we are good and she is not?”

  He smiled. “Nay, because she may be cunning and she may now hold Dunlochan, but she isnae truly all that smart. She also doesnae have the love for this place and its people as ye do. She just wants the comfort, whate’er money she can get her hands on, and the admiration of men.”

  “Aye, that sounds like Agnes, but what does that have to do with her winning this foul game our father started?”

  “There is no patience in the woman, no care for land or people, and, if worst comes to worst, we just have to wait until she finds something about Dunlochan that she cannae abide any longer.”

  “But what would that be?”

  “Agnes is a whore. I think it time that that isnae ignored anymore.”

  “Ye plan to ruin her good name, nay that she has much of one.”

  “What do ye think Agnes will do if she can no longer control people through fear or respect? If she hears everyone whispering about her whorish ways?”

  Katerina smiled faintly. “I believe she will be enraged.”

  “I believe she will be, too, and an enraged Agnes isnae so careful about what she does or says.”

  “’Tis a wee bit thin as plans go, Lucas.”

  “It is, but it also has a verra good chance of working.”

  “I hope so, Lucas, for these walls that have seemed like such a fine haven are truly starting to feel too much like a tomb.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I dinnae think ye ought to go.”

  Katerina sighed as she secured her hair as tightly as possible. “This deadly game has to end, Annie, and those old fools hold the power to see that it does.”

  Annie cursed. “I ken it. I do. ’Tis just that Sir Lucas didnae think it was a good idea and he is a mon with, mayhap, more knowledge of such things.”

  “A lot of knowledge, but the men on the council are nay men ye face with a sword. Ye have to talk to them. We cannae bring them here, either, can we. For one thing, ’twould be like a royal procession,” she muttered. They would lead Ranald and his men right to us and we would all be slaughtered in our beds.”

  ’Ye are in a dark humor, arenae ye.”

  “Aye, I am. I am tired of all of this, Annie. I am tired of living in caves, nice as they are. I am tired of my own blood and her brutal hireling trying to kill me. I am tired of watching Dunlochan slowly sink into ruin because of those fools up there.” Katerina pointed in what she hoped was the direction of the keep.

  “And ye think talking to these old men will help?”

  “It cannae hurt.”

  “I am nay so sure of that. They have to ken at least some of what has been happening and they havenae done a thing about it all.”

  That and the fact that Agnes had bedded at least one of the members did trouble Katerina, but she could see no other choice. It had been a fortnight since Lucas had started a continuous watch on Ranald and Agnes, but what information they did get did not help them much at all. This was one of the few nights all the men on the council would meet and she felt it was her best chance to get someone to listen to her.

  “Aye, they have been almost useless and it seems they may have been enriching themselves at Dunlochan’s expense, but because my father gave them authority, they are the ones I need to talk to.”

  “Are ye certain it wouldnae be better to wait until one of the men can go with ye?”

  “It might be, but then again he might simply refuse to let me go.” She caught a certain look upon Annie’s face that told her that was exactly what the woman hoped would happen. “I must go, Annie. I must. We have become trapped here, helping no one. Nay, not even ourselves. These old men might be completely useless, some or all of them might e’en prove to be the enemy, but they might also help us. There is nay kenning until someone sees them and I think that someone must be me.”

  “I ken it. I just hope the men do. Go with God.”

  Katerina crouched at the corner of the tutor’s home in the village staring at Daniel Morrison’s home. It looked much finer than it ever had before, but Katerina tried not to let suspicion creep into her heart and mind. She sat calmly watching as each man from the committee entered Morrison’s home after exchanging very formal greetings. Only one was left to arrive for the meeting and when Katerina saw the man hurrying down the road, struggling to untwist the long dark cloak tangling around his legs and hold on to an over-filled box of scrolls at the same time, she had to smile. It was Malcolm Haldane, a distant cousin and a very dear man. No matter what the other members of the council were like, she felt sure she could count on Malcolm.

  She decided to give the men a little time to get comfortable before going in. She would have to do it stealthily for she suspected Agnes and Ranald would have someone keeping an eye on the council. If they had some hold on the men, they would want to be sure none of the men betrayed them, and if they did not, they would be looking very hard for one. The last thing she needed was to be found by any of Ranald’s men right outside the council’s meeting place. She knew they wanted her dead but she saw no reason to give them a reason to torture her for information first

  After what she felt was sufficient time, Katerina took a last careful look around her and slipped into Morrison’s house. She paused in the entry way for a moment, standing in a shadowed corner, and looked at the elegance displayed there. Trying to judge what such craftsmanship was worth and then deciding on how or even if Morrison could afford it gave Katerina the start of a headache. When a young servant hurried down the hall toward a heavy, elaborately carved door, she staye
d close behind him. As she slipped into another small shadowy corner made by the irregular walls of the house, she saw the servant simply open the door and go in. When he left the room he did not lock it behind him. Although the men inside could still lock it themselves, she had a chance to just walk in. That would give her the opportunity to surprise them and that could prove to be to her advantage.

  Once the servant had disappeared she waited again, listening very carefully to see if any other people were close at hand. Deeming it safe, she stepped out of the shadows and walked quietly to the door. Katerina kept her gaze fixed upon the hall the servant had come and gone from while she pressed her ear to the door. When she felt the pinch of guilt over eavesdropping she told herself that she needed to have a little information before she confronted the men and wagered her life on the mere possibility that none of them had allied themselves to Ranald and Agnes.

  “I was wondering if I might have a look at the books, the ones tallying the expenses and income of the Dunlochan keep.”

  Katerina smiled faintly, recognizing that slightly tremulous voice. Malcolm was a brilliant but not a verra brave man.

  “Why do ye need to see them? If ye are in need I shall gladly lend ye some money.”

  Morrison, Katerina decided. That man had obviously found Malcolm’s request an insult. Either Morrison was an extremely suspicious man or he already knew Malcolm would find something amiss in those ledgers. After a few more minutes of hearing nothing but idle talk, Katerina decided she might as well go inside for little was being said that required her to listen stealthily.

  She opened the door, walked in, and yanked the hood of her cloak back. Morrison looked at her as if she had committed some horrible dark sin and was even staring from her to Malcolm and back again as if the two of them had planned this. Morrison was definitely a man to watch closely, she decided. A few minutes after her entrance Malcolm finally shook free of his shock and hurried over to hug her.

  “Tis good to see ye hale and strong, lass,” he said. “I was sorely grieved when all said ye had died. I ken ye would ne’er have committed such a sin as the taking of your own life,” he added in what she supposed he thought was a soft voice.

  “Thank ye, Malcolm,” she said. “I am always pleased to find someone who had enough faith in me to ken that.” She pretended not to notice how the other men in the room flushed under the rebuke that was not so well hidden in those words.

  “Weel, come, come. Sit down, have something to eat and drink and ye can tell us what happened to ye, aye? And where have ye been that ye would leave us all to think ye dead? Aye, I think ye have a fine tale to tell.”

  By the look that crossed Morrison’s face he was obviously struggling with his temper as he watched Malcolm act as if he was the host. Although the man might not be the one cheating her, he was definitely a man to watch. Morrison was enjoying his role as a guardian to the welfare of Dunlochan and would not give it up easily. Some of his anger might come from the fact that he had been leaching money out of the keep and the lands and now someone was going to be looking at all the paperwork and that could be very dangerous for him.

  For a while she just talked with the men, mostly with Malcolm. As soon as she finished her ale, she set the tankard down and looked straight at Morrison, making no attempt to hide her suspicions. If he was stealing from her she wanted him so worried about the consequences that he might even attempt to put some of what he had stolen back.

  The true reason I have come here today is because there have been repeated attempts upon my life,” she said and noticed that even Morrison was looking shocked. Either he was a verra good actor or he had nothing to do with the attacks, was interested only in stealing from her. “I need this matter of who will hold Dunlochan settled. Agnes is still married to a mon we all ken my father never approved of. I cannae understand why ye have left the woman and her acknowledged lover in charge. The signs of their brutality, greed, and immoral behavior are everywhere.”

  Malcolm shook his head, his expression one of honest, deep sorrow. “How it troubles me. Women hurt, men beaten, livestock taken. ’Tis as if we are in a war yet there are no enemy soldiers around.”

  “Save for Ranald’s ugly hirelings,” muttered Brock Heywood, watching Katerina carefully as he idly scratched his thick gray beard. “Seems a fortnight back, mayhap more, mayhap less, that fool lost six, mayhap seven men and he and the woman have been making a nuisance of themselves trying to get money for more men.”

  That would have been when Ranald captured Sir Lucas Murray, hung him up like fresh kill, and began to take wee slices off him. I heard it said Ranald ran the minute he saw men coming. One of the men who surrendered said he means to let it be kenned that Ranald doesnae stand with the men he hires, but runs as soon as the enemy draws too near. I believe the mon wishes he had kenned how swiftly Ranald can change from a leader to just another mon running for his life and leaving his men to fend for themselves.”

  As the men indulged in a round of tales, insults, and complaints about spineless men, Katerina looked around the room. Everything in the room bespoke a man of money and yet she did not recall hearing that Morrison was wealthy. A glance at the man revealed that he was sweating a little, his eyes darting nervously around the room as if he was suddenly seeing it from her eyes.

  Before returning her full attention to Malcolm, Katerina took another look around the room to try and commit it to memory. She tensed as she suddenly realized that one of the men was gone. She had neither heard nor seen him leave. Even worse, she did not know when he had left.

  Katerina suddenly felt her stomach begin to ache. Something was definitely going to happen and the growing ache in her stomach meant that whatever happened it was going to be bad, at least for her. She wanted to flee, but was not sure if that was the right thing to do. She was in a room with four grown men. She should be safe enough, even if they were not all her friends and allies.

  “Are ye feeling ill, child?” asked Malcolm. “Ye have gone verra pale.”

  “I just felt uneasy for a moment,” she said. “I was just realizing that Sorley isnae here and that I hadnae e’en seen him leave.”

  “Why, indeed, he is gone.” Malcolm looked around. “I didnae see him leave either.” He looked at Morrison. “Ye dinnae think he may have taken ill, do ye?”

  Morrison shook his head. “Nay. I suspicion he just needed a wee bit of air.” He winked at Katerina. “He drinks a wee bit too much from time to time, ye ken.”

  “How sad,” she murmured, thinking that someone ought to tell Morrison that kindly uncle tone of voice he was trying to affect was not verra comforting. In fact, she felt sure that he not only saw Sorley leave, but knew where he was going and why. Katerina began to feel even worse and it was difficult to fight down the urge to get up and run and keep on running.

  “I hadnae realized he had such a problem,” said Malcolm, frowning at Morrison. “He drinks verra little when he is in company.”

  “Ye are right, Malcolm,” said Brock, also frowning at Morrison. “I have ne’er heard that about Sorley. He always seems quite a sober mon, e’en a wee bit too stern and serious.”

  The youngest of the group at only two score years, Matthew said, “A wee bit unkind of ye to say so.”

  Despite the strengthening discomfort, Katerina was amused by the way Malcolm, Matthew, and Brock were arguing about the accuracy of Morrison’s claim. She firmly believed that none of those had anything to do with neglecting or even stealing from Dunlochan. That left Morrison, whom she suspected more and more with each passing minute, and the mysteriously missing Sorley.

  Unable to stand the ache in her stomach any longer and increasingly afraid of being caught or trapped or hurt or any of dozens of dire fates her mind was conjuring up, Katerina got to her feet intending to take an early leave. She had intended to stay a little longer, just long enough to glean some more information, but now that she had some hint of who might be guilty, she could do it later or Lucas could for
she had a feeling he was going to be seriously considering locking her up in a very high tower room.

  “Leaving us so soon, m’dear?” drawled a voice that gave Katerina ice-cold chills from her head to her feet. She turned to see Ranald standing in the doorway, two strong men flanking him.

  “What game are ye playing here, Ranald?” demanded Matthew, who then looked around Ranald and his soldiers to see Sorley peeking into the room. “Sorley, what have ye done?”

  “I brought the ones who are looking for her,” replied Sorley.

  “Fool,” snapped Matthew.

  “Ye would turn a wee lass o’er to this mon kenning how he treats women?” asked Malcolm in a tone of utter shock.

  This wee lass could get us all hanged, could e’en take away all we have worked for.”

  Malcolm sighed and shook his head, casting a mournful yet furious look at the small man still hiding behind Ranald. “I worried that ye had been taking what did not belong to ye, but I didnae wish to hear my own conclusions and so I pushed them aside, letting ye raise doubts in my mind about so many things.” He looked at Morrison. “And I am thinking that ye kenned exactly where he went and allowed it. For what? This?” Malcolm waved a surprisingly elegant hand around to indicate all the riches decorating the room.

  “And I think ye may ken more than is good for ye,” said Ranald.

  “Shut up,” snapped Morrison. “Just shut up and get out.”

  Ranald glared at the man. “We are all in this together. Best ye nay forget that.”

  “I am not a part of this,” said Malcolm, “and I willnae allow ye to hurt Katerina.” Even though he paled alarmingly when Ranald pointed a sword at him, Malcolm did not back down.

  Katerina was just about to tell Malcolm not to do anything foolish when she caught sight of Morrison stepping up behind him. Before she could cry out a warning, Morrison struck Malcolm over the head with the thick end of a walking stick. Even though he moved quickly to catch Malcolm before he hit the floor, Katerina did not feel that lessened Morrison’s crime. She suspected Malcolm was going to be as outraged as Matthew and Brock looked now.