Highland Lies (The Band of Cousins Book 4)

by Keira Montclair

  Roddy and Connor exchanged a look. Roddy murmured, “Or mayhap he wished for you to find someone.”

  “Well, I found you. Go make my pony happy. Please?” He whirled around and ran toward the keep.

  Connor’s furrowed brow told him he still didn’t understand what Roddy was leading him to.

  “You’ll see.”

  When they opened the door to the stable, they were surprised to hear the racket coming from the last stall. There were only five stalls, but whatever animal was in the last one was stirring up the straw and making his discontent known.

  Could it be Paddy?

  Roddy and Connor made their way to the end, passing the large warhorses and two mares before stopping at the last stall. Paddy pawed the ground and gave a high-pitched neigh as if he’d been sent out in a storm without a rider.

  “Calm down, laddie,” Connor said, reaching over the gate to attempt to pat his head, but Paddy wasn’t about to take it. He snorted at them both, then sighed as if to tell them to get on with whatever they were there for.

  Roddy whispered, “Connor, I’m going to ask you not to repeat what I’m about to say.”

  “All right, but why are you whispering?” Connor’s hands were on his hips as if he were questioning his cousin’s soundness of mind.

  “Because I don’t want anyone else to overhear us, mostly because I’m not sure whether I believe it myself.”

  “Believe what?” Connor asked, though his tone told Roddy he was thinking of the apparitions from the abbey.

  “Don’t you see? The apparition you’d rather not think about from the abbey told us we had to help ‘her’. Second, Maggie, who’s sister to a seer, has a huge headache. Third, Rose is watched over and protected by an owl, and last but not least, Paddy is restless and unsettled. This is all about Rose. Something really bad is happening at the abbey.”

  Paddy let out a loud sigh as if to say, “Finally, someone understands.”

  Connor took two steps back from the pony, his eyes wide. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We all know what’s likely happening at the abbey, and I got a bad feeling about the place, too, so I won’t disagree with you there. But suggesting spirits and ghosts are involved? Nay. I’ll not go along with that.” Paddy finally shifted his stare from Roddy to Connor, who quickly declared, “And what the hell does that horse have to do with all this?”

  Roddy groaned and said, “If you don’t believe there’s some old spirit guiding that wee beast who’s protecting Steenie, then you need to think again. A spirit sent that owl to protect Rose, too. I’m sure of it. Now tell me what you recall of the ghost we saw, and I’ll be quiet.”

  His cousin used the tip of his boot to push the straw and dirt in circles in the middle of the stable, then moved down to the stable to where his warhorse was chewing on oats. His horse nickered and came over to greet him, and all Connor could do was lean his head on his horse’s withers, rub his mane, and close his eyes.

  Roddy didn’t know what to say, so he allowed the two the moment together. A man and his horse shared a powerful bond, and he knew what he was suggesting was beyond believable, especially for someone as anchored in reality as Connor had always been.

  A few moments later, his cousin whispered, “She said we must help her when she arrives.”

  Roddy nodded, “Rose. She meant Rose. The ghost was sent to us to get help for an innocent lass. And if we don’t heed her message and get Rose away from the abbey, there will be more than wildly flying owls, moody ponies, and headaches.”

  Paddy went back to his oats with a deep sigh.

  Connor whispered, “You’re right. We’ll help her. But keep that pony away from me. He scares me, too.”

  Paddy snorted.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Rose slept in late the next morn, but she bolted up when the door opened. An embarrassed Father Seward stared back at her. He quickly closed the door again, so she covered her legs with her night rail before he opened the door the second time.

  Father Seward stood there, a small smile on his face. “Rose, you’ve slept in, I see. If you please, would you find your way to my office in a quarter of an hour? I need to speak with you.”

  She pretended not to understand everything, so Sister Murreall, who’d come up behind him, did her best to relay the message with her hands and fingers.

  Rose nodded, then pointed to the urn and basin.

  Father Seward hastily closed the door, so she started her ablutions, doing her best to be timely, but she felt as if she were moving in slow motion. She reviewed everything she’d discussed with Roddy, even all the moves he’d taught her. She checked to make sure the dagger was still completely concealed beneath the stand the urn sat on. As soon as she had the opportunity, she’d sew a pocket in her gown as Roddy had suggested.

  When she was ready, she made her way toward Father Seward’s office on the first floor. The blood in her veins roared to life, pounding fear into her heart—why was she being summoned? What was to happen now?—but she forced herself to stay the course.

  She didn’t see anyone, though she moved through the great hall. No students were around, for this was their normal time for chores. Each student was assigned to work in the abbey in some way or another.

  She knocked on the door, and Father Seward swung the door open. The look on his face was far more pleasant than she’d expected. What was this about? An uneasiness crept up her neck. He gestured for her to take the seat in front of the desk, then closed the door.

  “Rose, I’m glad you were able to rest this morn. I wished to let you know the decision I’ve made. I am going to allow Constance to return to your chamber. I do not wish for you to be alone. You cannot hear when someone approaches you, so I’m sure those nasty lasses took you by surprise.” He paused for a moment and peered at her from across the desk. “Am I speaking too quickly for you to read my lips? You…may…stay…with…Constance.”

  She watched his lips, then let the big smile she’d been holding back spread across her face when he repeated his news.

  “Now, I know who did this to you. Ada came forward and told us everything. Since she confessed, she’ll not be punished as severely as the other two. I know it was all Euphemie’s idea.”

  She didn’t react in any way, so he leaned closer and said, “Euphemie. Punished.” Then, as if it were an added thought, he said, “Euphemie did this to you, is that not correct?”

  Rose stared at her hands and nodded.

  “As I suspected. I will send a message to your mother.”

  Rose fought with every bit of self-control she had not to react strongly to his words. This would not go well.

  “Never mind. I’ll handle your mother. She’ll no longer tell me how to handle my affairs. Leaving you alone like that was a travesty, and ’twill not happen again.” He moved to the door and opened it, peeking out into the corridor. “Constance, my dear, please take Rose back to her chamber. You’ll be staying with her again. I’m sure you heard about her attack. If you hear any strange noises in the middle of the night, you are to notify one of the night guards immediately. Is that understood?”

  “Aye, Father,” Constance replied. Rose could see how happy her friend was about being returned to her chamber. “If I may be so bold, may I continue her reading lessons?”

  Father Seward frowned and pulled on his chin for a moment, then said, “I don’t see why not. The lass should have something positive in her life. I’ll speak with her mother. Now, carry on, lasses.”

  The two of them left the great hall and headed toward their chamber. As soon as they reached it, they hurried inside, closed the door behind them, and hugged each other while Constance squealed enough for the both of them.

  ***

  Roddy fell asleep dreaming of a pair of violet eyes. After spending most of the previous night awake, he needed rest before they returned to the abbey the next night. When they did, he hoped to see her, though he guessed she would no longer be in the infirmary. Her wo
unds had not been severe.

  He slept fitfully, but then awakened in a sweat. He’d had the nightmare again, but it had been different this time. This time, he remembered.

  In the dream, he watched Gracie go flying off the end of the dock. She went under the surface and didn’t come right up. Ashlyn stood behind him and screamed, “Mama! Roddy, do something!”

  Roddy dove in because Ashlyn had not been a strong swimmer at the time. He felt around for Gracie but didn’t find her. He went up for air once, and all he could hear was Ashlyn’s terrified screams, so he dove down again. This time he went much deeper, and he hit flesh.

  He remembered feeling Gracie’s arm. She was flailing about, so he grabbed one of her hands and tugged on it, but she didn’t move. He reached for the other, only to find himself snagged in the same tangle of netting that held her captive. Gracie yanked him closer so she could hug him, then he couldn’t set himself free.

  Every thought came in slow motion: the memory of feeling powerless, of flailing limbs, of wanting to scream at the top of his lungs, of praying someone would save them both.

  In that moment, he’d known that he was about to die. The fear felt as raw as it had that day.

  The dream ended as the memory did—with the strong arm of his father pushing him up toward the surface.

  Roddy hadn’t died, and neither had Gracie.

  Wiping the sweat from his brow, he realized he was panting as if he were still underneath the water, even though he was nowhere near it.

  He remembered everything—the fear, the helplessness, the darkness. Perhaps his fear of dying would be over now that he’d confronted it.

  Perhaps his nightmares would finally end.

  ***

  Rose and Constance tiptoed down the stairs in the middle of the next night, heading deep down into the underbelly of the abbey—the cellars.

  The cellars held barrels of ale, vegetables, and many other treasures.

  But it was also where those who were being punished stayed. They were kept in the cold until God, and the abbess, forgave them their sins.

  Rose had painstakingly communicated Roddy’s message—that they were to find out all they could about the abbey. She’d convinced her friend that they had no time to waste because lassies’ lives could be at stake. They’d agreed to wander around the abbey at night and see what they could learn. So off they’d gone on their mission as soon as the sun dropped. Constance had even spoken to a young guard, who’d been all too glad to show off his knowledge of the abbey, revealing the number of guards they had, and the number of nuns.

  They’d been unable to discover the identity of the wealthy benefactor, though Constance suspected it could be Rose’s mother. Rose was not as convinced—though she’d heard Father Seward discuss a payment with her mother, she’d never had any knowledge of their wealth.

  For the last bit of their exploration, they’d gone here, to the cellars. According to Constance, one of the other lasses had snuck down here the night before to see Euphemie. Apparently, six of the chambers were occupied, all with lasses being punished. She could have simply told Roddy as such, but she thought it best if they verified it first.

  Rose’s heart beat so hard it echoed in her ears as they approached the small chambers clustered at one end of the cellars. She moved up to the first of the doors, finally daring to peek inside the embedded window, and then spun around to face Constance.

  The chamber was empty.

  They quickly checked the rest of the chambers, only to find they were empty, too.

  Constance grabbed Rose’s hand. “Where did they all go?” she asked.

  Rose had her suspicions, but she needed confirmation. She pointed toward the exit, then tugged her friend toward it.

  After much searching, they located the guard with the wagging tongue, the one who’d given Constance all the information before.

  “I heard that someone was punished for attacking my friend.” Constance said.

  The guard nodded importantly. “Aye, she was punished, but she and her friend have been moved. You’ll not see them again, so your friend needn’t worry.”

  “Oh,” Constance said, “I wished to tell her what I think of her. Poor Rose. What a terrible experience she suffered through, and nary a guard saw the whole episode. Where were you when it happened?”

  The guard’s smile disappeared, and he narrowed his gaze at Constance. “You’ll never get the opportunity to talk with her. Judge her if you wish, but do not judge us guards. We’re ordered to do far more than you would ever guess.”

  Constance batted her eyelashes at him, letting her gaze linger on his arms as if in admiration. “What kind of things? I cannot even imagine.”

  Rose did her best not to smile at Constance’s performance.

  “Sometimes we must travel to a neighboring abbey. We have chores you have no idea about and never will.” He crossed his arms and glared down his long nose at Constance. “’Tis not easy.”

  Constance wasn’t easily intimidated. “Neighboring abbey? What abbey is that?”

  “I was informed this was a plan of Father Seward and Mother Abbess. They were given a large amount of coin to build this abbey. They turned the ruins of a castle into a beautiful place, but the king does not… Never you mind. ’Tis not for young lassies to know.”

  “But where is it?”

  “Southwest. The king has not named it, but they call it Abbey for Angels. ’Twill hold many novices in the future, but Father has already sent a few lasses there.”

  Rose had to find Roddy.

  Chapter Seventeen

  After much discussion, it was decided Maggie would stay at Muir Castle. Braden and Gregor would instead accompany Will on the journey back to the second abbey. Gavin was to join Roddy’s group—while Will and Braden could possibly find naught for their efforts, they knew Sona Abbey was dangerous. It made sense to send the larger group there. Roddy would try his best to get Rose away from the abbey so she could show them the area around her castle. He managed to convince the rest of them that Rose could help them if she were with them. It was possible the cave held more than he’d seen, so it was worth exploring. He’d been able to do it without mentioning the ghost he and Connor had seen.

  Once they finished their separate missions, they were to meet near MacDole Castle.

  Before they left, Maggie called them to her. She sat in a chair in front of the hearth, kneading her forehead. “This headache keeps worsening,” she said, “and I’ve been having dreams are about ships and lassies, so I fear we cannot wait any longer.”

  No one said anything.

  “Then Godspeed to all of you. I shall remain here with Cairstine, Aunt Celestina, and Uncle Brodie. If we receive any more messages, either Uncle Brodie or I will contact you.”

  Their instructions clear, they moved as a group to the stables, a wee lad skipping behind them.

  Steenie caught up with Will, known to the lad as the Wild Falconer. “Are you taking your falcons with you? Which one is faster? Which one is meaner? See how fast I can be.” He raised his arms out like the wings of a bird, flying around the courtyard and pretending to dive and hunt.

  “Like this, Falconer?” the lad pressed.

  Roddy couldn’t help but smile. Steenie was so fond of Will’s birds of prey, he’d taken to dropping Will’s name and just calling him Falconer.

  “Look! Here come your falcons. I see them.” He jumped up and down as he stared up at the sky, his gaze tracking the peregrine and then the smaller merlin. “Will they attack? Are you taking them?”

  Braden strolled over next to Steenie and put his arm around him. “Now, I know you love Will and his falcons, but don’t pester him too much. They’ll go with us on every mission, I expect.”

  Steenie stopped in his tracks, his lower lip protruding. “But I love them. Can I not follow them when they’re here?”

  Braden glanced at Will, who didn’t seem to be bothered by the lad. “Of course you can. Ask your questions.” />
  Will always waited for Steenie to get his questions out before he answered, likely because it would be fruitless to interrupt the lad. When Steenie finally ran out of words, Will said, “They go wherever I go, Steenie. ’Tis your job to stay and protect the women. Protect your mama and cousin Maggie. She does not feel well. You have a big job to do.”

  Steenie’s chest puffed out. “I’ll do a fine job. I’ll help you with the horses. Paddy likes to pretend he’s big like Grandpapa’s horse, but he cannot go with you.”

  The lad raced ahead of them to the stables, so Connor took the opportunity to describe the clearing not far from MacDole Castle where he and Roddy had met before. It would suit their purposes well.

  Roddy’s group headed out several minutes later. They didn’t chat much until they arrived on the outskirts of Sona Abbey. It was nearly midnight, but they had enough time to get inside and then make their way toward the meeting place at MacDole Castle.

  “Shall I sneak in like last time?” Daniel asked Roddy.

  “You trust him to go with you?” Gavin scoffed. “He’s a jester, not serious enough. I’m the best at sneaking about and getting results.” His wide grin told everyone exactly who the jester was.

  Connor laughed. “You must have heard about all the lasses here training to be nuns. You just wish to sneak inside to peek at them.”

  Gavin’s shocked expression didn’t fool any of them. They were all used to the antics of Gavin and Daniel both. The two loved to bounce boasts and jests off each other, much to the amusement of all the cousins.

  “Jest with him all you like once I have Rose out safely,” Roddy said. “Until then, you’re out here with your bow.”

  Gavin grumbled, but not too much because he knew his reputation of being one of the top archers in all the land rivaled his mother and his sister. His goal was to gain the title from both of them someday, but that day hadn’t arrived yet.