15
It wasmidday and Leila was in the solar, hoping for some hint of Fergus’ return.He was not the only one who felt a portent of doom on this day.
Yet the horizon remained tranquil and devoid of any riders.She turned away from the window and busied herself with tidying the chamber.
Perhaps she looked too soon.
Perhaps she had need of a task to occupy her.
“There is smoke!”someone cried from outside the hall and Leila ran back to the window to look.It was true.A thin dark plume of smoke rose in the southwest, though at considerable distance.
Was it at Dunnisbrae?
Had Fergus set the fire or was he in peril?
She clutched the sill and watched as the smoke grew in volume, until it billowed into the sky in a dark plume that terrified her.
She was more terrified by the movement on the distant hills.The dark cloud of a company approached, all of them on horseback.They rode with haste, dust rising behind them and Leila did not believe their appearance to be a good sign.
“Look!”She ran to the summit of the stairs and called to Enguerrand.“A company approaches!”
He hastened up the stairs and his expression turned grim as he looked upon them.“They ride to Killairic.Is this company from Dunnisbrae?”
“I could not say.”
“I do not think Laird Fergus is amongst them,” the Templar said.“I would recognize his horse.”
“And that of Yvan.”
“There is not a knight amongst them.”
“But still they can do damage.
“Indeed.”Enguerrand left her side and leaped down the stairs.Leila heard him shouting orders to close the gates and see the hall defended, but she was thinking of Fergus’ dream.
Surely Killairic would not be burned in his absence?
Enguerrand returned to her side and they stood together in terse silence, watching the company draw near.Leila caught her breath when she spied the two riders who had pulled ahead of the others.A girl led on a palfrey, her dark hair loose behind her.
“Agnes,” she whispered.
The man following behind rode a larger heavier steed, and the sunlight glinted on his armor.“And I will guess Laird Stewart,” the Templar added.
Leila eyed their course and guessed their destination.“They mean to retrieve the reliquary from her hiding spot,” she said and knew the knight agreed.She pressed the key to the solar into his hand.“I must stop them from continuing to the keep.”
The knight frowned.“But you cannot go alone.And I must remain to lead the defense of the keep in Laird Fergus’ absence.”
“I must go,” Leila insisted.“If he seeks to avenge his wife, only my death will suffice.”
“My lady!”Enguerrand roared, but Leila was already running down the stairs.If the price of saving Killairic was her life, she would gladly pay it.
For Fergus and his future happiness was the only matter of import now.
Agnes wascertain of the success of her new scheme.
Laird Stewart had been disinterested in whatever tidings she brought from Killairic, though he had allowed her to remain at Dunnisbrae with Nolan.Agnes had despaired of retrieving the treasure and putting it to use, but the flight of Lady Isobel had changed all.Laird Stewart had mustered his troops all day and made provisions to attack Killairic immediately to reclaim his wife and son.
He had heeded her tale of the reliquary the night before, though found little merit in her suggestion of negotiating with it to take Killairic without striking a blow.The man yearned for vengeance and only the shedding of blood would suffice.
