Betrothed to the Beast

by Elina Emerald

  Beiste joined the conversation, “Ma uncle Ludan was not with Da. We never found the mercenaries.” Correcting her.

  “No son. It was Ludan who told me the news. I saw him come out of one of the private chambers that day and he told me Colban was dead.”

  Beiste looked at Jonet with a questioning frown. “Ma mayhap you are confused, uncle Ludan was in Northumbria when Da died.”

  “I am not confused son I know what I saw Ludan was here, and he told me the news… didn’t he?”

  Sensing her distress, Gilleain intervened, “Son, if your ma says she saw him, then she saw him.” Jonet settled again and went back to sipping her tea and staring out the window.

  ***

  Provoking the Bear

  That next day Beiste was holding a private meeting with Dalziel, Brodie and Shaun Douglas who represented the guards. They were going over petitions from retainers. Shaun said, “I have a petition here from Ranalf, it’s about property.”

  Brodie looked bored they had just gone through a dozen matters.

  Beiste asked, “What does he request?”

  “He requests a cottage closer to the woods.”

  “Whatever for?” Dalziel asked.

  “He is looking to secure himself a wife and would prefer they lived closer to the woods.” Brodie looked with disinterest.

  Beiste asked, “Who is the lucky lady?”

  “Orla.” Shamus answered.

  “No.” Brodie instantly interjected. The room went quiet as all eyes moved to Brodie.

  Beiste raised an eyebrow. “Do you object to the house or the woman?”

  “Both. Ranalf has too many duties to see to right now, he should not be thinking of home and hearth.”

  Shamus interjected. “But that should not stop him from marrying he cannot stay single forever.”

  “I said No.” Brodie stated emphatically, leaving no further room for discussion.

  Dalziel and Beiste just looked at each other, not sure what was going on with their brother.

  “It’s not like you to be mean spirited, Brodie.” Dalziel added.

  “As Head Guardsman I get final say and I have said it. Move on now, Shaun.” His tone brooked no opposition.

  With that, the men just shrugged and continued down the list. When they adjourned for a meal break Brodie got up and left the room. He had something to do and it could not wait.

  ***

  On Target

  Orla was down by the Archery range again, testing the fresh arrows she had made. It was not long before she felt the familiar presence of her nemesis. Why must he always interrupt her quiet times?

  Brodie knew he would find Orla here, he walked up to her and even before she could turn around, he demanded answers, “I heard you are looking to wed?”

  “What’s it to you what I plan to do?”

  “It’s true then you’re in love with Ranalf?”

  She turned towards him. “Brodie Fletcher, I do not ken how that is any of your concern?”

  “Anything to do with my guardsmen is my concern Orla.” He was moving closer, and she was standing her ground.

  Orla had no idea what was going through his head, she didn’t even know what she felt about Ranalf but it was none of his affair. “Ranalf and I are just seeing where it goes, he’s a kind man, he has shown interest.” She shrugged her shoulders.

  “Have you been sleeping together?” Brodie’s jaw was ticking with the thought of Ranalf touching her, the thought of any man touching her.

  Orla stopped and glared at him as if he had two heads. “That definitely has nothing to do with you, I prefer this conversation ended now.” She was stomping down the target range to pick up her arrows as he followed beside her.

  “Keep your hands off my men, Orla. They cannot be distracted by the likes of you.”

  Orla snapped her head around, “What do you mean by the likes of me?” she seethed, “Am I not good enough for your men?”

  He stumbled slightly, “No, I didn’t mean it like that… I just meant, you know being–”

  “Being what, Brodie? Spit it out.” Orla was getting mad now, beyond annoyed and ready to stab him in the eye with an arrow, mad.

  Orla starred off with the Bear, daring him to say whatever offensive invective thing he was about to say. Brodie kept staring, and he was utterly lost for words because he could not give her one reasonable explanation why he wanted her to stay away from his men, from all men. He had paused too long and realized too late for she had made up her own conclusions by then.

  “I understand perfectly. Your men are too good for a mixed-raced Viking bastard like me, that’s what you meant to say.” With that Orla picked up her bow and arrows and turned to him once more. “You can go to hell Brodie Fletcher because none of you will ever be good enough for me.” With that, she turned on her heels and ran back to the Keep.

  “Damn it!” Brodie cursed. Why did their interactions always have to turn to shit?

  ***

  Pieces

  When the men returned to complete the petitions list after the meeting Beiste still had questions about what Jonet had told him the previous day about his uncle Ludan.

  “Shaun, the morning Da was killed, who was guarding the Keep?”

  ‘‘Twas Gil and his men but there had been a mishap on the road a cart turned over blocking the entrance to the burn twas the only time they left their post.”

  “And who was with my da when he died?”

  “Fergus and Drew and Shamus.”

  “Why did he not have his full guard?”

  “Halfway home word came that the Keep was in danger and under attack. Your da was already injured from an earlier skirmish and couldn’t ride fast he sent us on to check. Fergus agreed to stay with Drew and Shamus to guard your da. We were so close to home, they deemed it safe to leave.”

  “So, what happened?”

  “They were set upon straight after we left. Drew and Shamus were killed only Fergus survived but they had hit him on the head and couldn’t recall much.”

  Something didn’t sound right. Beiste asked, “What happened when you reached the Keep?”

  “When we came home, the Keep was fine, twas no attack.”

  Beiste thanked Shaun and excused him from the room. Dalziel spoke a knowing look over all of them, “It was a diversion. To separate your da’s guards.”

  Brodie said, “Aye, it left him vulnerable and readily able to be taken by mercenaries.”

  “What if there were no mercenaries at all?” Beiste asked.

  “What are ye saying?” Dalziel questioned him.

  “We found no sign of them which is strange but now Ma is remembering things thanks to Amelia’s care. She swears Ludan my uncle was here that morning in the Keep. It was he who told her Da was dead.”

  “Why is that strange to you?” Dalziel asked.

  “He told everyone he was going trading in Northumbria that day.”

  “Are you thinking mayhap Ludan had something to do with your da’s death?” Brodie spoke this time.

  “Tis a possibility.” Beiste continued.

  Dalziel spoke, “But what would he gain from killing your da? He still would inherit nothing because you are the heir.” The three men all pondered his last thought.

  “Ludan was also here the night Caitrin died.” Beiste sobered, “The circumstances of her death still seem strange to me now. She had guards on her all the time, she was overjoyed about the bairn, why would she abort?”

  Dalziel interjected, “If Ludan wanted to inherit the title, he would need to get rid of Colban, and you, and any of your heirs. So far your da has passed and so did your late wife carrying your heir, why not just get rid of you now?”

  Brodie answered, “Because he has guards and us around him all the time.” Brodie sat up straight. “Brothers there’s something else that’s even more concerning.”

  “What’s that?” Beiste and Dalziel spoke in unison.

  “According to Shamus, Fergus was one
of your da’s guards on the day he died. The only one to survive the attack. Fergus was also guarding Caitrin on the night she died, it was supposed to be Kieran but he came down sick with a stomach ailment.”

  Beiste could already feel his heart thundering in his chest, “Fergus was also present on the attack on Amelia outside of Edinburgh, he was the last one to check on the prisoner he claims ran away.”

  Brodie said, “And he was one of the guards watching Amelia the night her cup was poisoned.”

  “Fuck!” Beiste cursed. “Where is Fergus right now?”

  Brodie’s face paled “He’s watching Amelia this afternoon, she was heading to the Village with Sorcha and Orla.”

  “Who else is with them?”

  “Lachlan and Ranalf were also assigned so they should at least be able to keep her safe.” Brodie said this as all the men were already moving towards the door.

  As they were running down the stairs, they entered the Great Hall and saw Lachlan of all people standing near a table where Jonet sat. Beiste roared. “Why the bloody hell are you not guarding Amelia?”

  Lachlan looked confused “I was not assigned Amelia I am to watch Jonet today?”

  “Who told you that?” yelled Brodie.

  “Fergus, he… he said plans had changed, and I was to stay here, he went with Ranalf. Why what’s happened?”

  They were already heading straight out to the stables.

  ***

  Perfidy

  Amelia had been feeling under the weather again that morning, so she had decided to just spend a few hours in the solar instead of going to the Healer’s cottage, which had been the original plan. Her grandfather and uncles were down by the Loch seeing to their retainers, Orla and Sorcha would go with her later to the Village and Beiste and his men were busy in meetings. She had sent a message earlier with Ranalf to let the others know where she was and the change in plans.

  Amelia was just making notes when a shadow crossed over her. She turned in a fright, “Oh it’s just you. You scared the life out of me, Fergus.”

  “Sorry mistress, but it’s time to head to the Village,”

  “Oh yes, I’ll just go to my room and freshen up quickly.” She walked to her chambers, noting that something seemed off about Fergus. He was not his jovial self, but then maybe he had a lot on his mind. She freshened up, wore the MacGregor airisaidh pinned together with her Maclean brooch.

  When Amelia opened the chamber door, she looked around and did not see anyone else. She walked down the hall, “Fergus? Are you there?”

  “Here mistress, sorry I just had to check a few things.”

  “Where are the others?”

  “Lady Sorcha and Orla said they will meet us at the stables.” Amelia nodded, not thinking much of it.

  As she was just walking down the hall, she swore she heard Morag’s voice. She whipped her head back but saw nothing then she heard Morag’s voice again this time it was like a whisper next to her ear, “Guard your bairn Amelia, he wants your bairn.” Then the voice disappeared.

  She looked at Fergus, “Did you hear that?” Fergus just shrugged that he had no idea what she was talking about.

  Amelia just shook her head in confusion she must be hearing things, she kept walking then paused. Her bairn, who wanted to harm her bairn? She looked up at Fergus and saw a glint in his eye she had never seen before. She felt frightened and turned to run when a blinding pain exploded in the back of her head and then everything went black.

  ***

  Sorcha had waited patiently in her chambers for a guard to take her to the healer’s cottage. That is where they had all planned to meet before going to the Village, but no one appeared. She looked out her door the hallway was empty. She grabbed her things and stepped outside. She couldn’t see anyone and really did not want to miss a trip to the Village so she headed off by herself.

  She was just coming down the back stairwell when she saw Amelia slumped over someone’s shoulder and they were entering one of the unused chambers on the top floor. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Something was not right. She quietly followed, then peeked inside, but there was no one there. She crept inside the room and looked around, but it was empty. Then she heard it the sound of voices laughing and talking behind the wall. They would hurt Amelia. She needed to get help fast.

  Sorcha ran without thinking she needed to find Beiste. She was coming down the stairs when she ran straight into Orla. Her arms gesturing wildly. “Woah Sorcha, slow down, what’s happening?”

  Sorcha grabbed Orla by the hand and pulled her to the chambers. She motioned to the wall. She mouthed the name Amelia. And with frantic hand gestures pointed to her ear. Orla could hear the voices too, but they were very faint, they had moved far away.

  “Amelia? You saw someone carry her behind this wall?” Sorcha nodded. Orla started looking around the wall for a way to open it. Frantically pressing everything to see if she could find an entryway, she stumbled over something sticking out of the skirting board. When Orla looked down she saw a small latch, she pulled it and heard a click, when she pushed on the stone wall it slowly moved inwards allowing an opening big enough for a person to fit through.

  They both looked on astonished, “Sorcha I need you to get help, find Beiste or any of the others.” Sorcha took off running as Orla plunged headfirst into the darkness.

  ***

  When Amelia regained consciousness, she knew she was in trouble. Her mind was still foggy, and she winced from the pain in the back of her head but she was otherwise all right. She was sitting on a hard-stone floor propped up against a stone wall, she instantly reached for her tummy and noted nothing was amiss, her bairn was all right she needed to keep things that way. She was in a large dimly lit room with wide-open doors she could just make out a passageway beyond the doors only a small candle flickered in the darkness. She had an iron shackle around her wrists attached to a chain on the wall and there were weapons or some tools near the far wall. It was cold and dank and she smelled the metallic scent of blood.

  Some time passed when a figure emerged from the dark.

  “Fergus? Why are you doing this?”

  “Aye mistress you are bonnie when you’re curious, tis what the Master wants.”

  “Who is he?”

  “He’s the one you need to worry about.”

  Amelia shuddered. This man was a maniac. “What does he want with me?”

  “He hired us to make sure you don’t get the chance to birth any bairns but with the way you two have been rutting tis a good possibility we are too late.”

  Amelia stiffened. “Who’s we?”

  “Why tis me and my brother?”

  A cloaked man emerged from the shadows. The same one she saw the first day she arrived at the Keep. Amelia trembled. He drew back his hood.

  “Surprise!” Ranalf howled with glee.

  The person standing before her was not the Ranalf she knew, this one was cold and assessing there was nothing in his eyes but violence, he scared her right down to her marrow.

  ***

  Orla stumbled in the darkness, feeling like the walls were closing in on her. She fought hard not to panic, she hated the dark but for now it concealed her. She did not know where she was going, she just kept moving downwards. She had to get to Amelia. She held her dirk in her hand as she felt her way along the walls. She saw a light up a head and she could hear murmuring voices. Then she heard a piercing scream and all fear of the darkness left as she stumbled faster towards the light.

  Ranalf slapped Amelia across the face hard, then held her chin with a crushing grip. His dead eyes stared directly at hers. “Scream for help again bitch and I’ll gut you right here.” Amelia instinctively looked contrite. Ranalf pushed her away from him and ordered his brother to stand her up. Fergus did his bidding.

  Amelia now stood hooked to the ceiling with iron manacles around her wrists and no matter how she tried to wriggle, she could not ease the restraints. Her arms were stretched above her he
ad and she stood almost on tiptoes trying to stay standing and ease the pain in her shoulders. Ranalf left the room to get his whip. He wanted Amelia compliant when he whipped the bairn out of her.

  ***

  Unlocking

  Sorcha had reached the Great Hall. It was mostly empty.

  Jonet called to her, “Sorcha stay here, Amelia is missing, Beiste and the others are headed to the cottage.” Before Jonet could finish Sorcha was already running out of the Keep. It was there she spotted Beiste and his men in the distance down at the stables. She knew they headed to the wrong place. She tried to yell, but nothing came out.

  The quickest way to Beiste was to run straight through the Training Grounds and not around the safety barrier, so she did just that. Sorcha ran straight into the midst of all the trainees sparring, weapons clashing she dodged and weaved her body, eyes set on her brother and his men, she was waving her arm in desperate gestures; she heard yelling as men amid sparring almost cut her in the process and slowly stopped but others oblivious to her presence continued; she ran on.

  Sorcha heard the melee of clashing swords, iron against iron and steel against steel. The thundering sound pierced a memory hidden so deep, it dislodged itself from within the recesses of her mind it transported her back to that day they killed her father. She had snuck out of the Keep and was hiding in the bushes by the side of the road waiting to surprise him he was coming home; she remembered now.

  The swords clashing against shields and blood, so much blood. Fergus fought two guards while her Uncle Ludan bludgeoned her father with an axe to the back of the head she watched as he staggered and fell to his knees on the side of the road a horrified expression in his eyes as he stared right at her, fear etched his features, his right hand reached up to his mouth, an index finger pressed between pursed lips and the last warning he uttered to her before he died “Shh.”

  She remembered staying hidden for hours, willing herself not to move, not to scream, not to speak. As her memory unlocked so did her voice a release of all the fear and the rage and the terror. Her silence served a purpose then, but only her voice could help Amelia now.

  Sorcha saw her brother about to mount his destrier, she took a deep breath, parted her lips let the air expel from her lungs to rattle life back into disused vocal chords and she screamed, “Beiste!…… Beiste!… Beiste!”