The hooded man who had crept out of the castle managed a half laugh, trying to cover his fear at being startled by the sudden appearance of the newcomer. “You gave me a fright, I thought you weren’t coming. That I was too late or something.”
The taller man leaning against the trunk said nothing, only lifting his hand up, palm out.
“Of course. I have it here.” He reached under his cloak and brought out the necklace, passing it to the taller man. He noticed as he placed it on the outstretched palm, just how cold the man’s skin felt. It was like touching ice. His hand remained frozen long after he withdrew it. “She’s got one too, did you ken that? Of course you did, what am I saying? I might be able to get that one for you too if you like. What do you want it for anyway? No, you’re right. It’s no business of mine. You do what you like with it with my blessing. Just remember me when you take over.”
The taller man looked down at the necklace for a moment before it vanished inside his cloak. When his hand came back out an instant later it held a leather coin-purse.
“Be ready,” the taller man said, his voice like dust in the back of the throat, dry and hollow. “When the time comes-”
“Open the gate, I got it. Dinnae worry yourself. Castle MacGregor will belong to the barefoot man soon enough. Today the Highlands, tomorrow the world, am I right?”
The taller man was gone. The hooded man looked for him but saw nothing. Almost at once he began to wonder if he’d done the right thing. Doubt gnawed at him as he walked back to the castle, doubt only assuaged by the weight of the coin-purse he carried at his side.
He was back at Castle MacGregor not long before daylight. He rushed back through the undergrowth, catching his cloak on the brambles once again. After squeezing through the door, he pulled it closed, striding back through the tunnel and then up into the stable. A few minutes later it was as if the stall had never been entered. The flags and straw were back in place and he was taking his place amongst those in the great hall who were starting to stir.
He got up when the others did, stretching and yawning like them. No one suspected a thing. For all they knew, he had slept the night through with them, rather than taking the first step to joining a conqueror at his table. He grinned as he joined the others in line for the garderobe. Soon, he would not be queuing for anything. He would only have to snap his fingers and things would be brought to him for a change. He couldn’t wait.
His smile faded when he caught sight of Mistress Abernathy’s niece being comforted by a couple of the kitchen girls. She looked like she’d spent most of the night crying. It wasn’t like it was his fault the girl had lost her aunt.
If the old bat had just handed over the necklace all the unpleasantness could have been avoided. She had to try and shout and then what choice did he have? He had to keep her quiet before anyone heard her.
He didn’t think about what he would have done if she had handed the necklace over. She would have seen his face. She would have been able to tell Cam who had taken it even if she couldn’t say why. He refused to think about the fact that there was no way she could have been left to talk.
It wouldn’t matter soon. The coins had gone a long way to assuaging his guilt. What doubts he had would fade once the castle was taken. Then it would be him and the barefoot man ruling over the Highlands. Perhaps he might be granted Castle MacGregor for himself. What was the life of one old cook against ruling an entire clan? He would have killed far more people in return for becoming Laird.
Chapter Eight
Rachel dreamed about the fire again. She was soaking wet. Why was that? She looked down. She was a child. Again?
Why again?
She had always been a child. Her parents were outside the room talking in low voices. They often did that after she climbed into bed. She would fall asleep most nights listening to them talking about things she didn’t understand.
Tonight was different though. Why was that?
They sounded different. They sounded scared.
The scream, a single long scream piercing the night from somewhere outside. That was when it all started to move too fast. More screams, the thunder of horses, and then the light coming through the shutters. An orange and yellow light that flickered and faded, snapping and crackling noises growing louder as the screams grew deafening. She sat bolt upright, her arms wrapped around her knees, too frightened to move. What was happening? Where were her mommy and daddy?
The door burst open and an enormous warrior burst in. His shadow cast a long line across the room. He had a sword by his side. Was he going to kill her?
He took a step toward her and she held her breath, too frightened to do anything. Then he walked straight past, stretching out with a key to unlock the cabinet next to her. It was a door that went into a tiny little wardrobe, a space that was barely big enough for a couple of sheepskin blankets that were only needed in winter.
“Where’s mother and father?” her brother asked, sitting up in bed beside her, yawning loudly.
He grabbed her and her brother and shoved them through the doorway.
“What are you doing?” Alan asked, trying to fight him. “I want my daddy.”
“Ahm awfa sorry it has tae be this way.” It was the way he said it that frightened her the most though she couldn’t work out why.
“I can’t fit in there,” she said as he pushed her in, the screams outside growing louder, the room getting hotter. Why was the room getting so hot all of a sudden?
“They will see ye again,” he said, shoving them both through the door.
She winced, expecting to slam into the back wall of the wardrobe. Instead, there was nothing there but darkness. Her brother was beside her, clinging to her arm.
It was pitch black but something was breathing by her ear. It wasn’t her brother, it was something else. Something bad was right behind her. It was there by her shoulder. If she turned to look at it, she knew it would grab her and drag her away. She was absolutely certain it would eat her alive. It reached out. Another second and it would touch her on the shoulder. Something brushed her side and she screamed. She glanced down and saw a pair of bare feet, adult, covered in dust, lit glowing red as if a flame burned within them. The feet belonged to someone she prayed would leave her and her brother alone.
