Elliot rubbed his jaw but didn’t bother to get to his feet. “That willna get ye the information about yer son.”
Roderick jerked Elliot up and shook him. “What are ye talking about? What about my son?”
The Elliots were all dismounting, preparing for a fight. The Scotts would be happy to oblige them.
“He can huv two coos, but you’d better tell us what ye know and quickly before blood is spilled here today,” Angus said, hoping they wouldn’t have to do battle. This message sounded very important and he wanted to hear it too.
“Baron Cinge has yer son and he wants to exchange him for yer wife. Now let go of me!” Elliot shoved Roderick in the chest. “Yer choking me.”
Roderick did let Elliot go and for a moment Roderick couldn’t move. His son … his son was alive. Thank God. Michael was alive. He wanted to rejoice but knew the boy was still in danger. Or was this a very bad joke?
Galen and Duncan came up behind Roderick and slapped him on the back. “The boy lives.”
“I knew it even if my hope was slim,” Roderick said.
“I’ll send a couple of men home with the coos and we’ll ride to get the boy,” Angus said.
Roderick shook his head as he watched the Elliots leaving. “First we go home. If we show up without Siena, Cinge is likely to kill Michael.”
“But ye’ll no make the trade?” Galen asked.
“Of course not. But we will make him think that we are going to trade her for my son.” Roderick headed for his mount. “We’ve no time to waste.”
* * *
In no timethey were back at Black Dawn and Roderick and his men were dismounting.
“Water and feed the horses, then rub them down. We’ll be leaving in two hours,” he instructed Garvin. The stableman nodded but didn’t say anything as he took charge of the horses.
Roderick and his brothers made their way up the hill to the great hall. As soon as they entered the door, Roderick called for his steward. “Martin!”
Martin slid as he rounded the corner. “I dinna ken ye were back, sire. There was a message for ye while you were gone.” He reached for the paper that had been left on the desk.
Roderick took the note, then said, “Tell my wife, I want to see her.”
“She isn’t here, sire.”
“Where is she?”
“I dinna ken. I just know she is gone.”
“Yer not making sense, Roderick’s voice was cold and exact. “Find Agatha and tell her I want to see her now.”
Roderick, Duncan, and his brothers walked over to the high table where the servants had sat out a tray of bread and cheese for them. Everyone sat down and grabbed some food as it had been a long time since they last ate.
Duncan said as he poured a cup of ale, “Where do ye suppose Lady Siena is?”
“I have no idea,” Roderick said with a sigh. He took a bite of bread and then unfolded the note and read the words out loud to everyone. “At least Elliott told the truth so ‘twill save me having to go back and end his miserable life.”
“Probably the first time,” his younger brother grumbled.
Just then Agatha came scurrying into the hall. “I told her not to go but she wouldn’t listen.”
Agatha was wringing her hands.
“Calm yerself, Agatha,” Roderick said. He stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Where did Siena go?”
“To her fathers . . . the miserable cur.”
