Malcolm darted inside. He gasped. “There are many cups in here. How do I know which one is the Grail?”
“You must choose,” Nicene said.
The gold cups glistened. Some had jewels, some were plain. Lord Malcolm looked at each one before he chose the largest cup of all. He picked it up and turned toward them.
“Is this the Grail?” Malcolm asked. “It’s hot to the touch.”
The cup glowed bright red and soon Malcolm was screaming as his body burned until he turned to dust. The wind swept into the chapel and picked up the dust, carrying it out and into the woods.
Siena gasped at what she had just seen.
“Lord Malcolm chose poorly.”
* * *
Even though Roderickwould ride through his own land to get to Edinburgh, he chose not to ride with his men so he could move faster.
After he crossed the Scottish border, he knew of many shortcuts that he could take to lessen the distance that he needed to travel.
He must get to Siena.
He rode hard but was forced to rest his mount when they came to a stream, however, he did not sleep and hadn’t for two days. Urgency gave him the strength to keep going. The moon was full tonight and would light the way.
After his mount had rested, they rode through Edinburgh, then on to Roslin Glen, wondering how in the world he would find his wife.
He found St Stephens, the old church, that was partially destroyed. He rode around to the back where he saw four horses grazing. They had been hobbled so they would stay put, so this had to be the way to go, Roderick thought. He dismounted and left Hercules a good distance from the other horses so they wouldn’t fight each other. “Ye stay here until I return,” he told his horse who nudged his hand. Roderick gave Hercules a bit of grain to keep him happy while he was gone.
There was an opening in the foliage that might be the beginning of a path, he entered the lush green forest feeling a little helpless for the first time in his life. He knocked the undergrowth out of his way with his sword until he could see what looked like foliage that had been recently trampled and cut, a good sign.
Barra knew she was needed. After all, Laird Scott was her duty even if he didn’t know that she existed, so she went to find him. And so, she found him traipsing through the woods but going the wrong way. He was swinging his sword to make a path.
Since he couldn’t see her, she would have to give him a few nudges. Oops, he was turning the wrong again.Men had no sense of direction, she thought. Barra bumped him beside his head and whispered, “wrong way.” He turned back to his left and then looked behind him before he changed directions.
Roderick heard a waterfall and came to a dead stop when he found himself on the side of a cliff with a sheer drop to the right. He felt like there was someone with him, but he couldn’t see anyone.
Where in the world was his wife? He didn’t see a chapel. “Blast!” he swore. “Now which way?”
He glanced around. A small slip of white material caught his eye. After he retrieved the small piece of cloth, he felt like someone had bumped his head, so he looked around and then down. There was a small footprint in the dirt. Siena had left him a sign. There also appeared to be a small single path leading straight up.
“So, we climb,” he said with a sigh, moving forward.
“Yes,” Barra whispered.
He found Siena’s cloth ribbons along the way, so he knew he was going in the right direction.
It was a tedious climb. Finally, when he reached the top of the cliff, he saw a knight sitting on a rock staring across the river. He hadn’t noticed Roderick until he said, “Where is she?”
The knight grabbed his sword and swung around. “Who goes there?”
“The Devil’s Laird. I’m not in the best of moods, so I’d speak quickly if I were you.”
Roderick saw the man swallow hard and jump back. His arm was shaking so badly that the sword was waving back and forth in the air. “I—I did not hurt the lady.”
“’Tis good to know. Ye need not be scairt of me, then, but I need to know where my wife has gone.”
“She and Lord Malcolm went into the chapel a short time ago. I heard screaming but no one has come back out. I cannot get across the river so I’m waiting.”
“Ye may leave safely if you go now,” Roderick said, then he moved closer to the stream which appeared to be knee-deep, but the water was swift. It didn’t appear that he had much choice, so he stepped into the ice-cold water.
