“Nay,although there were a few knocks and bruises as they were caught.”
“Andhow did they get so close?” Ruari asked, frowning at Rosse. “They should havebeen seen ere they got inside the gates.”
“Aye,but I fear the men on the walls, myself included, were diverted by a wee ladywailing at our gates. She cried that she had lost her children and she neededthe hounds and the keen eyes of the men of Gartmhor to find them. It may haveworked except that we were troubled by the fact that we had never seen thiswoman before. Our hesitation as we tried to decide what to do was almostenough.”
“Didye happen to learn who the woman was?” asked Sorcha.
“Ibelieve someone called her Eirie. A few of the Hays did slip free, and theycalled out to her as they disappeared into the dark. I was most surprised athow quickly the lady disappeared with them.”
“Whatdid ye do with the ones ye did catch?” asked Ruari as he finished lacing up hisjupon.
“Wehave secured them in the dungeons,” replied Rosse.
“Thedungeons?” Sorcha cried.
“Dinnaefret, dearling,” Ruari said quietly, and he kissed the tip of her nose. “I willkeep them there but one day and a night then send them back where they camefrom with a message for your brother.”
“MayI visit with the prisoners?”
“Nay.I still believe that placing two Hays together means only trouble for the onefoolish enough to allow it. Ye stay here, lass. I shall not be gone long. I butneed to get the fools to understand that they will be free if they swear toforget trying to capture ye back.”
“Itmay not be easy to get them to do that.”
“Beat ease. I swear to ye, they willnae be left in that dank, dark place for verralong.”
Sorchasighed as she closed the door behind Ruari and Rosse. She was tired, but shedid not feel inclined to crawl back into her now-empty bed. A little smilecurling her lips, she decided what she needed to do was wash and have a verylarge meal, for the night of lovemaking had left her very hungry.
Justas she finished braiding her hair and deciding that it was not too early toseek out something hearty to break her fast with, another knock came at thedoor. Her eyes widened when she opened it, and a very agitated Mary walked in.A little warily, Sorcha closed the door and watched the older woman pace theroom for a moment before sharply turning to confront her.
“Yehave been talking with Ivor, havenae ye?” Mary said, twisting her handsconvulsively in front of her apron.
“Aye,I have seen and spoken with the mon’s spirit,” Sorcha replied.
“Oh,sweet merciful God,” Mary moaned and sat down on the bed, burying her face inher hands. “He wishes us to hang for our crimes.”
“Nay,he doesnae.” When Mary looked at her with blatant disbelief, Sorcha walked overto the woman and gently clasped her shoulder. “Rest easy. Ivor doesnae wantanyone dead.”
“Thenwhy is he haunting this place? I can sometimes feel him, ye ken. I am certainthat he watches me.”
“Hebut seeks someone to tell the truth. Ye didnae give him a verra respectabledeath.”
“IfI tell the truth I will be hanged, and so will my husband. I cannae tell anyonethat my husband and I murdered the laird’s uncle. If I must keep what happenedthat night a secret for the rest of my life, I will, for at least I will stillbe alive and not be cold in my grave with hemp burns on my neck.”
“Itwasnae murder. Did ye or your husband plan to kill Sir Ivor?”
“Weel,nay, but he is dead, and his death was caused by our fighting with him thatnight.”
“Nay,it was brought about by his sleeping with another mon’s wife.” She smiledgently when Mary blushed. “Neither ye nor your husband will be hanged for whatwas no more than a tragic accident.”
“Ifthat is what Ivor believes, why is he haunting this place?”
“Thisis where he died, and what troubles his spirit so that it cannae find rest isthat everyone speaks of him with scorn and laughter. He was obviously a proudman, and having folk think he was so drunk he would stumble out of a window ismore than he can bear. I would guess that it was your enraged husband whotossed Ivor’s braies out the window after his body.”
“Aye,David did that. Are ye sure we willnae hang? This has tormented me for years,and I should dearly like to seek absolution.”
Sorchafrowned. “Ye mean ye havenae even sought absolution from the priest?”
“Nay,”replied Mary, “for he is a Kerr and would tell someone.”
