“Nay,Crayton. That is impossible. Even if the mon who murdered you and Elspeth liveda very long, full life, he would still be food for the worms by now.”
“Thenthis mon must be his son, his blood. Yemustmake him pay for his father’scrimes.”
“Isuspect this mon is your murderer’s grandson. This mon was older than me, but agreat deal younger than my parents.” She watched as Crayton paced, or so sheguessed from the back-and-forth movements of his head and shoulders. “Andalthough this mon seemed a low sort of fellow, I dinnae believe in makinganyone pay for the crimes of his forefathers. He may be no relation to yourkiller at all. He could just have the same name.”
“Werehis eyes like the cold steel of a dagger blade?”
“Weel,aye—“
“Andwas his voice as cold as the ice cracking o’er a pond on a late winter’s night?”
“Aye,but—“
“AndI would wager that he had a long, narrow face cut in sharp lines and thin, dullblack hair.”
Sorchacursed softly. “Aye, so he is clearly a kinsmon of the mon who killed you. I amsorry, Crayton, but I still cannae extract blood for blood when he wasnae themon who committed the crime. And how would I explain how I learned of the crime?Am I to walk up to him, tell him a ghost told me his forefather killed him, andnow he must die for the crime? I think I would swiftly, and loudly, be decriedas utterly mad.”
“So,ye willnae help me gain the revenge—nay, the justice—I have waited so long for?”
“Ididnae say that. I but said I wouldnae kill a mon simply because his father orhis father’s father committed a crime against you. There may yet be a goodreason to kill him. He is one of the men holding my brother, and if anythinghas happened to Dougal, I will be seeking my own vengeance.”
“Fairenough.” Crayton studied her for a moment. “So, are ye going to go to Sir Ruari’sbed?”
“Yeare like a dog gnawing on a bone. Nay, I willnae play the whore.”
“Ah,then ye willnae care when ye find him gone in the morning.”
“Gone?”Sorcha tensed as she sat straight up in bed. “What do ye mean, gone?”
“Heand that lackwit of a cousin are creeping down the hill.”
“Whydidnae ye tell me this before?” she cried as she leapt out of bed.
“Ihave told ye now, havenae I? ‘Tis good enough.”
“Howfar have they gone?”
“Notverra far the last time I looked.”
“Weel,why dinnae ye go and look again whilst I get dressed.”
Sorchamuttered a curse after Crayton disappeared from the room. The playfulness ofthe spirits could often be highly irritating. Crayton knew she would beinterested in Ruari’s attempt to escape, but purposely withheld thatinformation until he felt inclined to release it. Sometimes she dearly wishedhe was more solid so she could hit him. As she yanked on her clothes she prayedCrayton had not waited so long that Ruari and his cousin had successfullycompleted their escape. She cried out in surprise when Crayton’s face suddenlyappeared in front of her again.
“Willye stop doing that? I shall be aged before my time,” she growled.
Craytonignored her complaints. “Ruari and the laddie will soon cross the moat on thesouthern side of Dunweare. None of the guards upon your walls has spotted themyet.”
“IfI can rouse Robert and his son quickly enough, we can slip through thebolt-hole and catch those two fools as they reach the other side of the moat.If they dinnae drown first, that is.”
Sorchathrew on her cloak and rushed out the door. She cursed the dark every step ofthe way as she hurried out to the stables. Once inside she hollered up to theloft where Robert and his son made their home during the warmer months. It wasa moment or two before a tousled Robert appeared at the top of a thick-rungedladder.
“Isthere some trouble, lass?” he asked even as he buckled on his sword. “I heardno alarm.”
“Thatfool Sir Ruari and his witless cousin Beatham are escaping,” she replied, thenpaced until Robert and his son joined her. “Crayton says they are about tocross over the moat on the south side.”
“Wecan go through the bolt-hole and be there in time to catch them.”
“Aye,just as I thought, Robert. Fetch a good lantern, please. I cannae abidecreeping through that dank tunnel in the dark.”
